Lawman from Nogales (9781101544747) Read Online Free PDF Page A

rail.
    â€œWhere’s the Frenchman got you running off to, Hector?” Glory asked. She and three other doves were lounging on the boardwalk, watching with curiosity.
    â€œMind your own business, all of you putas !” the Mexican said over his shoulder to the giggling women. He ran along the street, leading his horse behind him.
    â€œHector,” Glory called out, “if you’re in a hurry, why don’t you ride that cayuse?”
    In his excitement, Hector almost stopped in his tracks and climbed up onto the horse, but hearing the doves giggle louder behind him, he stared back with an angry, embarrassed look on his face and kept running.
    When he and his horse stopped beside Three-Hand Defoe, the Frenchman looked back at the laughing doves out in front of the cantina.
    â€œWhat is so funny to those whores?” he asked Hector.
    â€œIt is nothing,” Hector said, out of breath from running in the pressing heat. “What do you want me to do?”
    â€œI want you to ride out to High Pass,” said Three-Hand, his dummy right hand always stuck down into his coat pocket, his real right hand resting on his holstered Lefaucheaux.
    â€œPase Alto?” Hector said. “That is an overnight ride from here.”
    â€œYes, it is,” said Defoe, “so you’ll need to get going right away.” He gave a thin smile. “Tell Sonora Charlie to get himself back here fast, pronto, extra-hurry. Tell him it’s important.”
    â€œSonora Charlie, the asesino ? How will I find him?” Hector asked. “Where do I look?”
    â€œDon’t let me down on this,” said Defoe, wondering for a brief moment if he’d made a mistake. “You won’t have to worry about finding him. All you must do is show up in High Pass. He and his man Clyde will find you.”
    â€œAll right, I go,” Hector said. Then he stalled and added, “But will I not need some food to take with me, some coffee, something?”
    â€œ Damnez-le, Hector!” said Defoe, cursing in French. “Must I do this myself?” He stared pointedly at the Mexican. “You see that Freddie is dead. I need someone I can count on to take his place. Are you the man who will do that?” As he spoke, he leaned down and picked up the discarded, sawed-off shotgun from the dirt. Wiping it off, he thrust it into Hector’s hands.
    â€œ Sí , I am that hombre,” Hector said, looking down at the shotgun, seeing the leather reload pouch hanging from its stock by a short length of rawhide. As he spoke, he turned to his horse and climbed quickly up into his saddle.
    Â 
    At the livery barn, Sam stepped down and reached a hand up to assist Erin out of the saddle.
    She appeared almost taken aback, unused to such a courteous gesture, but then she smiled, took his hand and swung down beside him. She straightened her dusty, disheveled dress.
    â€œWhy, thank you, Mr. . . .” Her words trailed.
    â€œSamuel Burrack, ma’am,” he said, his Colt still in hand. “ Arizona Territory Ranger Samuel Burrack, that is,” he added. He tipped his sombrero with his free hand.
    â€œI am happy to make your acquaintance, Ranger Burrack,” she said. “I’m Erin Donovan. Please call me Erin.”
    â€œI’d be honored to, ma’am—I mean, Erin ,” he said correcting himself. “Feel free to call me Sam.”
    She smiled. “Sam,” she said, as if testing out the sound of it. “I like that.”
    They walked into the barn, the Ranger leading the dun behind him, his Colt still out, should he need it.
    â€œHe’s up there in the hayloft,” Erin said, lowering her voice a little, as if afraid she might disturb her brother. She stopped at the ladder to the hayloft, turned to Sam and said, “Bram can be difficult, Sam, especially with the snakebite keeping him so feverish and ill. I hope you can overlook any