Cotton's Law (9781101553848) Read Online Free PDF

to if we know where he hangs out. Come back to town as soon as you know anything. But do not confront him or let him know you are following him.”
    Henry Coyote gave a nod, mounted up, and spun his pony around in the opposite direction of Apache Springs. Cotton watched as the Indian picked up the trail, locking on to it like a hound dog.
    Cotton went straight to the jail as soon as he got back. Jack wasn’t there, but he probably wouldn’t be hard to find. Cotton crossed the street, stomped onto the boardwalk, and pushed through the swinging doors to the saloon. Along one side of the narrow room, at the end of the bar, leaned Jack. He was chatting with Melody, talking and laughing like they’d just met for the first time. When he saw Cotton, Jack broke off his conversation and walked toward the sheriff.
    “What’d you find?”
    “We tracked the shooter to a vacant shanty above Cedar City. He met up with some other owlhoot. They split up with each goin’ in a different direction.”
    “How do you know all that?”
    “I was with Henry Coyote, remember?”
    “Oh, yeah. Dumb question.”
    “Yeah.”
    “Where do we go from here?” Jack said, ignoring the fact that Melody had gone to the back room with the bartender.
    “We keep our eyes open for a skinny ‘lunger’ with a big gun.”
    “You sayin’ he’s got that consumption, like Doc Holliday?”
    “That’s what Henry says. Pretty uncanny what all the Indian picks up on.”
    “That’s for sure.”
    “I figure the man was headed back this way for the same reason he came in the first place: to kill someone. I’m the likely target, given that Bart Havens could be involved, but that doesn’t mean you couldn’t attract some stray lead, so stay alert.” Cotton turned and walked out of the saloon and down the street to the bank. He had an itch that needed scratching and he figured the bank president was just the person to see about it.
    “You’re thinkin’ that rumor about Havens might be true?” Jack asked, as he followed Cotton through the bat­wings, then peeling off to go back inside.
    “I’ve seen it before.”
    When he reached the Apache Springs Bank and Loan, Cotton saw Darnell Givins sitting at his desk, thumbing through a newspaper. He pushed through a low swinging gate and sat down in front of the president.
    “Mornin’, Sheriff. What can I do for you?” Givins said.
    “Heard a rumor, and I wondered if maybe you’d heard the same.”
    “I try hard to ignore rumors, Sheriff. Usually nothing more than nonsense.”
    “If this one’s true, it could spell trouble for you, me, and the whole town.”
    “Okay, I’m listening. What is it?”
    “You ever heard of a man named Bart Havens?”
    “The town killer? Who hasn’t? What’s this got to do with me?” Givins said, his face turning ashen.
    “I hear he may be fixin’ to start up some competition for your bank.”
    The stricken look that came over Givins was unmistakable. He drew his handkerchief from his coat pocket and began mopping his suddenly moistened brow. He obviously hadn’t heard that particular rumor, and it wasn’t sitting well.
    “I pray you’re wrong, Sheriff. I certainly do.”

Chapter 6

    “W here you goin’, Melody?” Jack asked as he watched her gathering her belongings and stuffing them in several bags and a trunk.
    “I’m taking a little trip back to Gonzales. Got some business I need to clear up. I plan to be back in a couple weeks. You can live without me for that long, can’t you, honey?” She smiled coyly and planted a kiss on his cheek.
    “I’ll make do. What kind of business you got?”
    “I’ll tell you all about it when I get back.”
    “Sounds pretty secretive.”
    “No, no secret. Just don’t want to put a hex on my deal, that’s all. Don’t fret. I promise I’ll be back soon. Don’t forget, I need you as much as you need me,” she said, fastening the last strap on her trunk and scooting it across the floor to the door. “How about