Last Train to Bannock [Clayburn 02] Read Online Free PDF Page A

put out for them-plus a tidy profit."
        Clayburn leaned back in his chair, forcing his shoulders to relax against the tension suddenly building up in him.
        Cora Sorel asked thinly, "Parrish-type profit, Mr. Adler? Or Bannock-sized profit?"
        Adler fashioned another smile for her. "We're in Parrish. It's right here I'd be buying. I'll pay you what the goods are worth here, and enough extra to make it worth while selling to me rather than any of the general stores in town."
        Cora Sorel smiled back at Adler. "Those supplies will be worth twenty times that much in Bannock."
        Adler moved his hand impatiently as though brushing aside her statement. "My offer is your only way out, financially. Unless you plan to hire some man to take Farnell's place in getting your freight to Bannock. And I advise you strongly against trusting anyone that far, with so much temptation."
        "I don't intend to, Mr. Adler. I'm taking my shipment to Bannock."
        Adler shook his head disapprovingly. A deep line of concentration dug itself in between his eyes. "That's foolish-a lone woman, with the rough sort of men you'll need to handle the wagons, that far from civilization. It wouldn't be safe for you."
        "I own a gun," Cora Sorel told him coolly. "And I know how to use it. I've taken care of myself in the uncivilized world for quite some time."
        "You worry me, Miss Sorel…"
        "I'll bet she does," Clayburn cut in softly. "And so did Farnell."
        Adler's cold eyes fastened on him without expression. "What do you mean by that?"
        Clayburn's hard, cynical eyes stared back at Adler steadily. "Two separate wagon trains getting to Bannock about the same time would cut into your profits. There'd be twice as many supplies, cutting down the worth of each item. And with the people there having a choice of who to buy from, you couldn't hold out for the kind of profits you'd like. You'll make even less if she gets to Bannock before you do. Her supplies would be all sold by the time you got there. Bannock's most pressing needs would already be satisfied. You'd have to sell to slightly less anxious buyers."
        "That's a consideration, of course," Adler admitted tightly. "I didn't claim to be offering her charity."
        Clayburn's mouth twisted derisively. Mockery crept into his voice. "What did you offer Farnell, up there in Bannock? Maybe you just warned him. Warned him that if he tried competing with you, you'd find a way to stop him."
        The big bruiser took a step toward Clayburn. Adler stopped him with a quick gesture. He and Clayburn continued to stare at each other. Then Adler turned back to Cora Sorel.
        "I made you a fair offer," he said, his manner now abrupt, the words coming out clipped and hard. "You'd be wise to accept it. As I told you, it's a long way to Bannock, through bad country. Anything could happen to you along the way." He had allowed a faint hint of threat to leak into his voice. Not much; just enough to be felt.
        She continued to smile at him, unmoved. "Thanks for telling me. I like to know the rules before I sit in on a game."
        "This is no game. It could be very dangerous for you-even fatal." Adler stood up. "Think it over carefully. You have time. Until the train arrives tomorrow afternoon. I won't repeat my offer. You can come to me anytime you decide to accept it. My room is in this hotel."
        He turned and walked away without another glance at Clayburn.
        But his two bodyguards went on looking at Clayburn for a moment before they followed Adler.
        

FOUR
        
        Cora Sorel dropped her smile as she looked at Clayburn. "You think he's the one who paid them to kill Farnell."
        "Smells that way." His greenish eyes watched her. "Any chance of your taking Adler's offer?"
        "Not a chance in the world. If he wants to make it a race to Bannock, he'll get one."
        "He'll do