A Colt for the Kid Read Online Free PDF Page B

tough foreman could stand, and Stone felt his senses slipping. Johnnie, on the other hand, felt nothing at all. He saw Stone’s face through a red blur and desired nothing but to kill the man. He slammed the foreman’s head downwards a third and fourth time before he felt the hands tugging at his shoulder and thevoice imploring him to stop. Then suddenly the blur vanished and he saw Stone’s face clearly again. The face of an apparently dead man. He got to his feet slowly and became aware that it was Lucy who had been tugging at his shoulder and yelling for him to let up. He looked at her, his mind filled with the conviction that he had killed Stone and now there could be no escaping the law. He expected to see either anger or repugnance in her eyes, but instead they glinted with something very like glee.
    ‘You don’t have to half kill every man who insults me,’ she said.
    ‘You mean he ain’t dead? Look at him, he ain’t stirring.’
    ‘You look at him. Can’t you see the rise and fall of his chest? Get the canteen from the wagon, you’ll soon see how much alive he is. No, wait a minute. Pick his gun up and unload it.’
    Johnnie stooped and picked up the weapon. He handled it so badly that Lucy shouted:
    ‘For land’s sake put it down again. You’ll kill one of us.’
    Johnnie dropped the weapon hastily. ‘I ain’t ever—’ he began, but Lucy stopped him.
    ‘I can see you haven’t. We’ll attend to that as soon as maybe. Meantime, I’ll see to it.’
    She picked up the gun and rapidly ejected the shells. ‘There, that’ll give Mr Stone time to cool off if he feels like blasting at you. Now pour some water over him.’
    Johnnie removed the stopper from the canteen and allowed water to trickle over the foreman’s face. In a second or two, Stone began to splutter and gasp, then he sat up with a jerk. It was a moment before full comprehension returned, but as soon as it did he placed both hands on the ground with the intention of heaving himself to his feet. He gave the heave and then a howl of pain as his right wrist crumpled under his weight.
    Johnnie looked at him in some surprise. ‘Seems like you’ve busted that wrist, Mr Stone.’
    Stone got up with difficulty. ‘ I’ve busted it ! Why, you young cub, you did that when you ripped my gun out of my hand.’
    He picked up the gun that Lucy had thrown down again, and left-handedly thumbed back the hammer. ‘I’ve half a notion to drill you full of holes, you young snake-in-the grass, but as it is I’ll let you live and run you out of the country. Ever been run out of a place afore? You runs in front of my hoss, see? An’ if you start to lag I quicken you up with a slug as near to your boots as I can manage. Go on, get movin’.’ He waved the six-gun at Johnnie. ‘Go on, before I try a shot at your toes.’
    ‘I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Stone,’ Lucy said.
    ‘Oh, and why not?’
    ‘Because I took the precaution of pulling the shells from your gun and because Johnnie, who handled you when you had two hands and a gun, can certainly manage you now you’re one-handed. I suggest you climb on your horse and go back to your boss. Give him my answer, which is also Sam’s answer, and explain to him how you got your wrist broken.’
    Johnnie braced himself to his full height which was close to six feet. ‘There’s your horse, Mister, and you heard what the lady said. Now get riding.’
    Stone went towards his mount. ‘I’ll meet you again, you young fool, and next time I’ll cut you down to size.’
    Johnnie watched him ride off, then climbed with Lucy to the seat of the rig. He gave an involuntary grunt of pain as he reached for the reins. Lucy glanced at him with some concern.
    ‘Does it hurt badly, Johnnie?’
    ‘No, ma’am. At least not more than when Josh Manders used to belt me around.’
    ‘Josh Manders! Oh, yes, I remember, he was the sheepieyou used to work for. How long were you with him?’
    ‘About six years,