Ralph Compton Death Along the Cimarron Read Online Free PDF

head.
    Earl looked down at his dead brother. “Jesus, what a mess,” he whispered in regret.
    Jorge cut in. “Wants us to go kill them pretty good right now, Boss?”
    â€œYeah, Jorge,” said Earl. “Get on your horse and go kill them both pretty good. ‘They’ll be standing right there in the street where these two idiots left them, just waiting for somebody to come riding in to kill them.”
    â€œSí, then I go kill them right now!” Jorge sounded excited.
    But when he turned, Sherman Fentress grabbed his arm and whispered close to his ear, “Jorge, he don’t mean it. Just stand still here and keep your mouth shut. Give him a minute or two to let things settle.”
    Hearing Fentress, Earl swung around toward him, saying, “Settle? There ain’t a damn thing going to settle! Not until my brother’s killers are both laying dead in the dirt!”
    â€œI know, Boss! I agree with you!” Sherman raised his hands chest high as if Earl might attack him. “I’m ready to ride into hell with you if that’s what it takes. We all are! Right, boys?” He stepped away from Earl and looked to the others for support.
    Earl turned to Dave Waddell. “You’re going to ride into town with us ... point out the best person to take us to this woman’s spread.”
    â€œMe?” Waddell looked stunned. “Earl, I can’t ride into town with you and these men.”
    â€œThe hell you can’t,” Earl barked. “You’re going with me! Don’t think you get a free ride around here, Dave! Everybody does their part!”
    Waddell stared wide-eyed and speechless. They’d just gone over all this. He wasn’t supposed to have to ride with this gang of rustlers. Where did Earl suddenly get that idea? “Earl, I can’t go. My wife’s expecting me back at the house for supper!”
    â€œNot tonight, Dave. If you’re going to be part of this bunch, you might just as well get started.”
    â€œThis makes no sense, Earl,” Waddell coaxed, “me riding into town with you. How are you going to lay low here after letting everybody see that we ride together? That’ll ruin any chance of you using this place for a hideout.”
    â€œHe’s right, Boss,” Dirty Joe Turley offered in a quiet tone.
    Earl simmered down and took a deep breath, giving some thought to Waddell’s words. “All right, Dave, you get on back to your house. Enjoy your supper,” he added with a sneer. “Me and the boys will go take care of this matter and ride by your place afterward.”
    â€œWhy?” Dave Waddell asked. “There’s no reason for you to come by where I—”
    â€œJust to let you know how we did,” said Earl, cutting him off. “Don’t worry. We won’t be staying for tea.” He slid a knowing glance across the faces of the gathered men and added, “Or nothing else we ain’t welcome to.”
    Waddell felt his face tighten with embarrassment. “I was only trying to keep your being here as quiet as I can. What good’s a hideout if everybody knows you’re there? That’s all I’m getting at.” He shrugged.
    â€œWell, thanks for looking out for us, Davey,” Earl said, a sarcastic grin coming to his face. “I believe we’ll be all right.”
    The men let out a nervous laugh, then cut it short as Earl looked at each of them in turn. “Get some shovels and get Ronald in the ground good and deep. I better not come by here in a day or two and find him strung all over the ground with some varmint chewing on his innards.”
    â€œSí, Boss, we take good care of him right now,” said Jorge.
    â€œThen get to it,” said Earl. “Soon as Ronald’s planted properlike, be ready to ride into Haley Springs. We’ll snatch us up a trail guide, then head out to those hills. We’ve got killing to