Maverick Marshall Read Online Free PDF Page A

on the pay of a horse wrangler) he’d never seen Mrs. Church let go of two words without first peering at Sam or Will for permission.
    Young Will shook his shoulders together, glance bright with venom as he twisted his head from one side to the other. “You ain’t done with this,” he said thickly. “Gimme that gun.”
    “You ain’t got sense enough to pack a gun, damn you. If you ever fetch another one into this town I’ll lock you up like any other nuisance. Now get going,” Frank growled, swinging away from him.
    Men stepped back. Frank found his new hat and picked it up, cuffing the dust off. The outer fringes of the crowd began to dissolve in search of other amusement. The girl’s voice called, “Marshal — ”
    Frank walked over. “You all right, Miss?”
    She eyed him curiously. “Of course. You won’t need that gun to speak with me.”
    Frank looked down at Church’s pistol and put it away. The remains of his anger was still reflected in his cheeks and the weight of regret over losing Tularosa sawed across his morose thoughts till he glanced up and found her smiling. He looked more closely then, for the first time really seeing her.
    She was not the kind a man would easily forget. She had shape and there was an attraction of some kind emanating from her that compelled his sharpest interest. It was like a current running between them. Her voice took hold of him too. She said, “I haven’t thanked you — ”
    “No thanks called for, Miss.”
    He saw the flash of her teeth and, annoyed with himself, decided her attraction was simply the lure of the unplumbed. Because she was new and unknown to him —
    The man with the lantern, coming up, touched Frank’s arm. “Sorry to cut in but some of the boys over there is beginnin’ to talk rope, Frank.”
    “Rope?” Frank looked at him blankly.
    “If you don’t want him hoisted you better git over there.”
    Frank grabbed the lantern and strode into the crowd. Kelly stepped in front of him, barring the way. “We’re takin’ care of this.”
    Frank brushed him aside and came through the mob, not daring to believe, and saw the shape on the ground. He brought up the lantern, feeling the breath swell inside him. Luck! He remembered the scream then and looked for blood. He rolled Tularosa over with his foot without finding any. Caught by a hoof maybe, simply knocked out.
    “Couple of you gents pick him up and come with me.”
    Frank heard growls. No one moved. Frank’s narrowing eyes saw what he was up against. He set down the lantern. “Pick him up, Kelly.”
    “Stay outa this, Frank. That bastard’s killed five men in this town!”
    “That gives you the right to string him up?” Frank looked at them bleakly. “Not while I’m packing tin.”
    “Kinda feelin’ your oats, ain’tcha?” One of Kimberland’s outfit pushed up with a hand sliding over the brass of his shell belt. “Go sit in your office if you don’t like the play.”
    “Take him!” somebody yelled from the back, and when Frank twisted his head the whole crowd surged against him. A Church cowhand swung at him, numbing the nerves at the side of Frank’s shoulder. Frank rammed the flat of an arm into the fellow, driving him backward. A growl welled out of the mob. Someone fetched Frank a staggering blow on the head. Another tried to climb on his back. Frank shook him off and brought up Church’s gun.
    “If you want to play rough you’ll find out what rough is.”
    Those nearest Frank backed off a little. He dropped into a crouch, got Tularosa half upright. Frank let the man sag across his left shoulder. He lurched erect, darkly considering the crowd, knowing that when he moved they’d make their try.
    “Don’t be so damned proud,” Kelly growled from the left of him.
    Last year Kimberland had lost two riders to Tularosa. Kelly, teamstering for Kimberland, certainly understood the temper of this bunch. There were other Kimberland riders in sight and these were getting set,