Easy Pickings Read Online Free PDF Page B

tails.
    Outside, she smiled. Whenever life was out of kilter, she suddenly smiled. That was how she was. And Leary saw it, and smiled, too.
    â€œSo that’s how you are,” he said.
    â€œHis kinfolk are more important to him than justice, and he’s not got a lick of kindness in his head,” she said. “So now I have another enemy. He’s got nephews and a niece to protect, even if they decided they wanted a gold mine.”
    â€œAre you going to the Beacon ?” he asked.
    â€œWith an obituary,” she said. “Let him worry about a story for a few days. Let him fear the widow’s word.”
    â€œYou know, madam, and I hope you’ll forgive me for saying it, but it’s no longer about a gold mine someone’s trying to nip from a widow. It’s about a family’s honor. That little copper, he’s got it in his craw now. You’re telling a story that makes his niece and nephews look bad. The three look like schemers and maybe killers, too. You’ve told a story that could put Roach’s relatives in the state pen for a long time.”
    â€œIf he’s half a lawman, he’ll look into it and do his duty.”
    â€œI would not want Roach making life painful for me,” he said.
    â€œWell, I thank you for your help, then.”
    â€œNo, I didn’t mean it that way, Mrs. McPhee. I’m in. I was speaking of his power to make life miserable for you. He has his ways. He’s a rattler without rattles. He’s in thick with the district judge, you know, and the pair have emptied the pockets of a lot of good people, including plenty of my customers. Now, you may think you’re safe up there, at the mine, where the constable has no powers, but you’ll be dead wrong. And that reminds me. You have no place. How are you going to live at the mine?”
    â€œI don’t know,” she said. “But I will, and soon enough I’ll see who comes for the gold, and I’ll know who killed my son and tried to kill me.”

 
    Five
    It was no easy thing to return to the mine.
    â€œYou shouldn’t be there alone. Where’ll you stay? What’ll you eat? Who’ll protect you?” the barkeep asked.
    She dealt with him sternly. “Mr. Leary. I am thankful for your help. Now I will leave you and I’ll manage.”
    â€œSure, and there’ll be another victim, this one a woman alone.”
    â€œYou have your business to run, Mr. Leary. Yes, I like to be watched over, just as you did last night. I woke up, saw you sitting there, watching over me, and I knew what safety is. I will never forget it. But now I wish to be alone with my memories. It’s what I need now.”
    She watched Tip Leary wrestle with it. Her intentions ran counter to his every instinct, and he couldn’t let go of it.
    â€œI’ll come by and watch over you, then, and bring a little to eat. You have enemies, and they’ll take advantage, and you need a man.”
    She was touched. “We’re almost strangers, and I marvel that duty summons you so strongly. You are a fine man, Mr. Leary. The thing is, I’m a stubborn Scot, and there’s nothing more bullheaded than a certain type of Scot, who’s rooted into the ground like a hedgehog and won’t budge.”
    He accepted the defeat. “You’ll be calling on me, any hour, if there’s a need, and I’ll be doing what’s in my powers. You have that from me.”
    She took his hand boldly. “I’ll be looking for you at the mine, and you’ll be welcome.”
    She left him there in the clay street. The morning was not even half spent. She felt his gaze upon her as she made her weary way to the far side of town, and turned off into Long Gulch, which would take her into the mountains.
    She was inexpressibly weary, and scarcely noticed the vaulting slopes, the pine forest, the giant shoulders of the wilderness. But then she climbed the