Longarm and "Kid" Bodie (9781101622001) Read Online Free PDF Page A

charities here in Denver as does dear Rose. We are good and caring people. It’s just that I cannot take any more heartache and disappointment from Ruby or her child.”
    â€œBut,” Longarm vigorously protested, “Bodie has never caused you any heartache.”
    Ida stood up suddenly, her face tight with strain. “You just told us that this child named Bodie shot a man to death! Do you not think that in and of itself isn’t a heartache to his grandmother?”
    Longarm conceded the point with a solemn nod of his head. He came to his feet and turned to Gloria. “It appears that we have come here out of the mistaken belief that Bodie’s grandmother and aunt would want to help a boy who has nothing but a badly wounded wolf dog. We had better start thinking of what we need to tell Sheriff Miller tomorrow morning in his office that will help Bodie.”
    Rose spoke up. “What does Sheriff Miller have to do with anything?”
    â€œHe’s looking for publicity. He needs some issue to help himself get reelected. I think he’ll probably try his best to put both Bodie and me in a very bad light.”
    â€œBut you are a United States federal marshal,” Rose argued. “Sheriff Miller can’t hurt you for firing on and killing a man in self-defense.”
    â€œThat’s true,” Longarm admitted. “So he’ll have to try to smear the boy. Put him in jail or send him to some reformatory or house for criminally insane children.”
    Rose’s hand flew to her mouth and she looked as if she might faint. Ida paled, let out a small gasp, and collapsed deeper into her sofa chair.
    â€œMrs. Clark,” Longarm said, suddenly filled with concern. “Are you going to be all right?”
    â€œYes,” she whispered, “but please go away!”
    Longarm straightened and turned away from the two women. “Gloria, we need to go right now.”
    Gloria looked at the two wealthy and very distressed women and nodded. Nothing more was said as she and Longarm walked stiffly down the polished floor and let themselves out. It was dark outside. The perfume of roses filled the air and crickets were chirping madly.
    Gloria linked Custis to her with her arm, and they walked several blocks before either one could think of a word to say. Finally, Longarm stopped under a lamp on a street corner and turned to Gloria. “That went pretty bad, didn’t it?”
    â€œIt was awful,” Gloria replied. “One part of me understands completely why Ida Clark turned such a cold face on her grandson. But another part of me simply cannot understand.”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter if we understand what Ida and Rose feel,” Longarm said quietly. “We stated the case for Bodie and they made their decision. Now the boy’s fate is in my hands.”
    â€œ
Our
hands,” Gloria corrected.
    â€œBut you haven’t even met Bodie.”
    â€œDoesn’t matter. He’s a boy, and all he has is that badly wounded dog. If Sheriff Miller plans to use Bodie for his personal and ambitious gains, then I’ll fight him, and I can be a pretty formidable opponent when I know that I’m right.”
    For the first time in a while, Longarm smiled. “Gloria,” he said, “I think you and I are going to make a damned good pair.”
    She looked up, and in the lamplight her face was shining with tears. “You really think so?”
    â€œI’m sure of it.”
    â€œI hope so, Custis. Now, why don’t we go back to my rooms, pour some more of that whiskey, and I’ll make us both something delicious to eat while we figure out what we can do tomorrow morning to protect Bodie from the sheriff.”
    â€œI was hoping we might do something to help us tonight.”
    She laughed. “I think I can guess what you have in mind.”
    â€œThat right?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œLet’s just have a few