My Heroes Have Always Been Hitmen (Humorous Romantic Shorts) (Greatest Hits Mysteries) Read Online Free PDF

successfully, I decided to talk to him.
    " Somethin' wrong?" I asked gruffly.
    He set down the bottle and looked at me. "I just think I'm looking at a dead man, friend." I had to admit…I liked how he said that. It seemed so authentic.
    " So you know how it's gonna go down, then," I said, instead of asking. The bartender nodded but offered no information.
    " Fine," I said as I carried all five shot glasses back to the table. Fine.
    The game ended after a few more rounds, and we chatted about the weather and other useless things. The bar was emptying out , and I wondered why. It was early yet in the evening. Something was happening.
    I had my answer soon enough. Marshal Beau Figgins strode through the swinging doors and went straight up to the bar, demanding whiskey. Mutton Chops glared at me as the marshal swallowed the shot and demanded another. I did nothing.
    Jeb sat back in his chair, relaxed but with his hand near his pistol. The three at our table began nudging each other nervously.
    Figgins swallowed his second shot, then came over to our table and loomed over us.
    " Rocco," Figgins acknowledged. "Hank, Axel. Who are your new friends?" His voice was very deep. It was the perfect cowboy voice. Too bad it was wasted on a slime ball like the marshal.
    Rocco stuck out his chin, defiantly. "This here's Rio and Jeb, Marshal." I had to give him credit. Rocco didn't know me from Adam. He could've saved his own hide and just handed us over. But he didn't. He stood up to Figgins a little. Not much, but a little. I liked that.
    " Rio Bombay and Jebediah Smith," I said with a tip of my hat. "And you're Marshal Beauregarde Figgins…The Scourge of Texas."
    The marshal laughed. It was a long, slow, menacing laugh that made Rocco and his friends jump to their feet and flee the bar. Figgins slid out Rocco's chair and sat down in it.
    " Why are you in town, Rio Bombay and Jebediah Smith? Maybe it's time you left." Figgins fixed me with a stare that summed up his entire career of cruelty. I returned his stare with my cowboy squint. Jeb just looked amused.
    I answered him. "This seems like a real nice town to settle down in. Maybe meet a woman and start a family." I didn't need to say more. The way his eyes widened and his nostrils flared told me he knew I was talking about Miss Penny Philpot. I'd struck a nerve. Just as I'd wanted.
    Jeb didn 't answer—he knew the question wasn't really directed toward him. He just waited to see what would happen, his hand never moving far from his holstered gun.
    " Well," the marshal said as he regained his composure. "You wouldn't like this town. There aren't many available women."
    " What about that lovely redhead at the hotel?" I asked as casually as I could. "She seems unattached."
    I could see the steel forming in Figgins ' eyes. He was very angry now. And angry men did stupid things. That's what I was counting on.
    " You stay away from Miss Philpot, boy," Figgins spat. "And you think long and hard about getting out of town by morning."
    I put on my best innocent expression . "Why, Marshal? I haven't done anything to warrant this kind of hostility." I thought I heard Jeb's throat tighten as he suppressed a smile.
    The m arshal stood and very, very slowly and loudly, slid his chair in to the table.
    " Maybe I'll see you tomorrow then?" he said tightly.
    " Tell you what," I answered back. "Let's make it high noon. On Main Street."
    An oily grin crossed the man 's features. He relaxed a little and nodded. "Sounds good."
    I watched as he walked out of the saloon and then rose to my feet. Jeb joined me.
    " Well, I guess no one will give us any trouble tonight." Jeb sighed.
    " Nope," was all I said as we made our way back to the hotel.
     
    Penny sat down at our table at breakfast and begged me to leave town immediately. While I was happy for her concern for my wellbeing, I told her this was something I had to do. Jeb and I discussed some thoughts about the upcoming gunfight before he left me at the