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

let out the breath he was holding, briefly thought of going to the sheriff’s office, then decided nothing had really happened that he needed to report on.
    But he sure could use a drink.

TWENTY-TWO
    Owen went to the Red Garter Saloon and started drinking whiskey. After a few shots he began talking about the Gunsmith being in Saint Joseph. This caught the attention of three men sitting at a table, sharing a bottle of whiskey. They decided to invite Owen to their table to buy him a few more drinks.
    Owen’s head was on the table half an hour later.
    â€œHe’s out,” Fred Doolin said, leaning over to check.
    â€œYou think he’s tellin’ the truth?” Ames Connor asked.
    â€œWhy would he lie?” Denny Scott asked. “If the Gunsmith is in town, he’s in town.”
    â€œJesus,” Fred said, “you know what it means to the man who kills Clint Adams?”
    â€œA rep,” Ames said.
    â€œA big rep,” Denny said.
    The three men exchanged an anxious glance.
    â€œHow do we do it without gettin’ killed?” Ames asked.
    â€œWe plan it,” Denny said, “very carefully.”
    * * * 
    Clint got back to his room as it was getting dark. He went to the window and looked down at the street. The sheriff was still the only person in town who had taken any interest in him.
    He was still staring out the window when there was a light knock on his door. He doubted that Bride had fallen fast asleep yet. His own stomach was growling, so the girls must have been hungry by now.
    He answered the door and Bridget said, “Can we go and eat?”
    â€œYou girls eat a lot,” Clint said.
    â€œTraveling with you builds up an appetite,” Bridget said. Across the hall, Bride was standing in the open doorway and she nodded her agreement.
    â€œWe’ll just go down to the hotel dining room,” he said. “I’m sure the sheriff would like me to stay out of trouble.”
    â€œThat’s fine,” Bridget said. “We’ve been eating your bacon and beans for days.”
    â€œLet me guess,” he said, pulling his door closed. “Time for a steak?”
    * * * 
    Fred, Ames, and Denny left Owen Brown with his head on the table as they went outside for some air.
    â€œWhat do we do?” Ames asked. “We know what hotel he’s in. Do we wanna surprise him? Or wait until he comes out?”
    â€œYou wanna face him fair and square in the street?” Denny asked.
    â€œI don’t,” Fred said before Ames could reply.
    â€œNo,” Ames said, “I don’t either.”
    â€œOkay,” Denny said, “then we’re better off takin’ him in his room. We’ll wait ’til it’s late, so he’s asleep.”
    â€œWe gonna kill ’im while he’s asleep?” Fred asked. “How’s that gonna give us a big reputation?”
    â€œNobody’s gonna care how he got killed,” Denny said. “The headline’s just gonna say ‘Gunsmith Killed.’”
    â€œDenny’s right,” Ames said, “this is our best chance.”
    Fred looked worried.
    â€œWhat is it?” Denny asked.
    â€œI ain’t never killed nobody before.”
    â€œDon’t worry about it,” Denny said. “The first one’s the hardest.”

TWENTY-THREE
    They finished eating and returned to their rooms.
    â€œAre you girls satisfied now?” Clint asked in the hall.
    â€œWell . . .” Bride said.
    â€œWhat is it?” Clint asked.
    â€œTomorrow we go back to bacon and beans,” she lamented.
    â€œI tell you what,” Clint said. “When we get to Council Bluffs, I’ll buy some cans of fruit, and the makings for some biscuits for the trip west.”
    The two girls didn’t look thrilled.
    â€œHey,” Clint said, “at least that’ll give us a little more variety.”
    â€œGood night, Clint,”