Read Online Trail to Shasta (9781101622049) by J. R. Roberts - Free Book Online

knob, his gun in his right. Abruptly, there was a knock on the door, which surprised him. He opened it, saw a man with a badge standing in the hall. He was tall, very thin, with a lock of gray hair hanging down from beneath his hat.
    â€œYou won’t need that,” the man said. “I’m the law.”
    â€œI see the badge,” Clint said.
    â€œI earned it in an election,” the man said. “You wanna come down to the lobby and ask the desk clerk?”
    Clint thought a moment, then said, “No. You want to come in, or you want me to come out?”
    â€œIn is okay,” the sheriff said. “I just wanna talk.”
    Clint backed away from the door and said, “Come on in, Sheriff.”

TWENTY
    â€œMy name is Sheriff Steve Cargill,” the lawman said. “I got word you were in town, kinda made me curious.”
    â€œSo you took a look at my wagon already, right?” Clint asked. Instead of returning his gun to the holster on the bedpost, he tucked it into his belt.
    â€œI did.”
    â€œThe man at the livery?”
    â€œOwen is also a part-time deputy.”
    â€œAh.”
    â€œWere you gonna come and see me?”
    â€œI would have,” Clint said, “if I was going to be in town past tomorrow morning.”
    â€œSo you’re just passin’ through?”
    â€œLiterally,” Clint said. “I’m on my way to Council Bluffs.”
    â€œTravelin’ alone?”
    â€œNo, I’ve got two young ladies with me.”
    â€œWhores?” Cargill asked with a frown.
    â€œNo,” Clint said, without taking offense, “I haven’t taken up pimping. They’re a couple of sisters from Ireland who want to see the country on their way to Shasta County, California.”
    â€œWhat are they gonna do there?”
    â€œOne of them is getting married,” Clint said. “The other one is her sister.”
    â€œMail-order bride?”
    â€œSomething like that.”
    â€œThat’s not your usual kind of job, is it?”
    â€œIt’s not a job,” Clint said, “it’s a favor.”
    â€œThat’s a lot of time to put in for a favor,” the sheriff said. He was still trying to figure out if Clint was lying to him or not.
    â€œSheriff,” Clint said, “there’s nothing here in Saint Joe that interests me. Believe me, we’re moving on in the morning.”
    â€œUh-huh.”
    â€œI don’t blame you for being suspicious.”
    â€œThat’s my job.”
    â€œI know it,” Clint said. “I take no offense that you went through my wagon. You didn’t find anything unusual, did you?”
    â€œNo,” Cargill said.
    â€œWell, there you go,” Clint said.
    â€œOkay,” Cargill said “I’m gonna take your word for it—for now. But if you don’t leave in the mornin’, I’m gonna wanna know why.”
    â€œAgreed.”
    â€œGood night, then.”
    â€œGood night, Sheriff.”
    The lawman opened the door and stepped out into the hall, leaving the door ajar. As Clint went to close it, the door across the hall opened and Bridget peered out.
    â€œIs everything all right?” she asked.
    â€œEverything’s fine,” Clint said. “I just got a visit from the local law.”
    â€œMay I . . .” she said, hesitating.
    â€œCome right in,” Clint said.
    Bridget left her room, closing the door behind her, and entered Clint’s room.
    â€œWhat did he want?” she asked as Clint shut and locked his door.
    â€œWhat all lawmen want when I ride into their town,” he said. “They want to know why.”
    â€œWhat did you tell him?”
    â€œExactly why we’re here,” Clint said. “And that we’ll be leaving first thing in the morning.”
    â€œWhat did he say?”
    â€œWhat could he say?” Clint asked. “He’s still suspicious. He’ll watch us