Bohanin's Last Days Read Online Free PDF

of the Potomac for most of the war. I was transferred to Fort Riley just before Grant took charge.”
    â€œServed the rest of your time in the West, then?” the barber asked.
    â€œYes, chasing Indians mostly,” Bohanin said as he enjoyed the hot towel Anderson was using to soften his beard.
    The shave was refreshing and the bath was just the order. A fresh shirt from his suitcase and the freshly brushed suit made him feel much better.
    â€œI suppose you’ll be spending the night in town,” the barber said as he accepted the fifty cents from Bohanin. “You’ll find Netty Johnson’s boarding house the best place to stay.”
    â€œYes, I’ve heard it’s the best,” Bohanin answered as he observed an odd expression cross the barber’s face.
    Bohanin turned to look out the window to see three cowboys dismounting at a hitch rail across the dusty street.
    â€œI see some of Bochart’s riders are in town. Odd for them to be here in the middle of the week,” Anderson said.
    Bohanin joined the barber at the window. He watched the men as they made their way through the swinging doors of the saloon across the street. They were hard looking and heavily armed. A Mexican was sporting a large knife sheathed along the small of his back in his gun belt.
    â€œKind of a rough looking lot,” Bohanin said.
    â€œThey’re a rough lot. Logan and Augustina Bochart own a big spread south of here. Those men ride for them. I’ve never understood why Logan Bochart keeps such men on the payroll. We don’t have no rustler nor Indian trouble around here anymore.”
    â€œMaybe they’ve been on the payroll awhile. The Bochart’s may have some good hands that they want to keep around,” Bohanin said, hoping for more information.
    â€œI have no doubt that they’re not good hands. They’re just a rough lot. Make a lot of trouble around here on paydays. Been more than once that Logan’s had to straighten out some mess that one of those three has caused. That Mexican named Espironsa; he’s a mean one. Seems to enjoy cutting folks up,” Anderson said as he handed Bohanin his rifle and suitcase.
    â€œI hope you enjoy our town. I’ve enjoyed visiting with you Captain Bohanin,” Anderson said as Bohanin left.
    â€œSame here. I’ll recommend you if I ever get the chance,” Bohanin said.
    Netty Johnson kept a clean, freshly painted two-story structure at the west end of Springfield. Several young cottonwoods, planted about the place promised a nice yard for the future. Johnson was a busty, handsome woman near Bohanin’s age. She offered Bohanin a ground floor room and informed him that dinner was at seven. There would be several eating that night and he needed to be on time if he expected to get his share.
    Bohanin smiled. Judging from the condition of the boarding house and the appearance of the woman, he supposed that there would be plenty of good food for everyone. After leaving his things in his room, Bohanin decided to treat himself to an afternoon whiskey. It would still be a couple of hours before dinner and he didn’t plan on going out after the meal.
    As he stepped through the front door onto the wide, open verandah, Bohanin noticed a tall, striking woman approaching from the direction of the schoolhouse. She had beautiful even features, dark hair neatly fitted under a simple bonnet, deep green eyes, an erect leggy stride. She smiled at Bohanin as he tipped his hat and held the door for her. She was in her early twenties, but she moved with an air of authority and maturity. Normally Bohanin wouldn’t be that impressed with a woman he had met on the street, but she was unusually attractive. Bohanin had his evening whiskey to enjoy and he would find out more about the woman later. She probably stayed at the boarding house and he would see more of her at dinner.
    As he approached the saloon, he noticed Merle