Ralph Compton Train to Durango Read Online Free PDF Page B

light,” said Silver, “but I have some business with a bank, and I must post a letter. We’ll be maybe two hours later than planned.”
    â€œMight be just as well,” Wes said. “I’m ready, and so is El Lobo, but not so with our women. After near two weeks of sleeping on the ground, they were ready for a bed.”
    Silver laughed. “I don’t reckon you and El Lobo keeping them awake late had anything to do with ‘em not being up this morning?”
    â€œMaybe,” said Wes. “It took considerable time, telling them about the Golden Dragon. That, and we had to bullyrag them some. We told ‘em you’d never seen a naked female before, and you was totally mortified.”
    He said it with a straight face, but he couldn’t maintain it. Silver paled, and Wes had to laugh at his shocked expression.
    â€œDamn you,” Silver said, “you have your daddy’s poker face. He could and would bluff with a pair of deuces.”
    â€œYou should have brought Molly with you,” said Wes. “Then you’d have somebody to talk to you.”
    â€œYou could be in for some surprises,” Silver said. “Even Nathan didn’t understand my every move, and neither do you.”
    El Lobo came in, accompanied by Empty, who had been waiting in the hall.
    â€œTamara don’t be awake,” said El Lobo.
    â€œI’m not surprised,” Silver said. “You likely kept her awake all night.”
    â€œSangre de Cristo,“ said El Lobo, “she keep me awake.”
    â€œLet her rest a while,” Silver said. “I have some business to attend to, and the banks won’t open for another two hours.”
    â€œSince we’re gettin’ a late start,” said Wes, “Renita and Tamara can eat when they’re ready. I’m hungry now.”
    â€œSo am I,” Silver said. “I can eat now, and again before we leave town.”
    â€œ
Bueno
,“ said El Lobo.
    With Empty following, they headed for the cafe. They were on the boardwalk, away from the protection of the hotel, when the roar of a Winchester shattered the early morning stillness. Wes stumbled as a slug ripped through his upper left arm, while a second one sent El Lobo’s hat flying. Silver had his Colt out, but instead of firing, he had started across the street in a zigzag run. El Lobo was right behind him. Wes remained where he was, for there were no more shots from the bushwhacker. Men hurried from the cafe, and several from the hotel lobby, including the desk clerk.
    â€œCharlie, fetch Doc Padgett,” the desk clerk ordered.
    One of the men from the hotel hurried away, as Silver and El Lobo returned.
    â€œThe varmint lit out when he saw us comin’ after him,” said Silver. “There’s an alley with rat holes everywhere.”
    â€œI’m not hard hit,” Wes said. “It missed the bone.”
    â€œCome on back into the lobby,” said the hotel desk clerk. “I’m sure the sheriff will be wanting to talk to you.”
    Several blocks away, Baker and Olson crouched in the shadow of a vacant building.
    â€œDamn it,” Olson said, “you missed the Indian. Now they’ll be on their guard, and we may not get another chance.”
    â€œYou didn’t do no better,” said Baker. “You just nicked Stone in the arm.”
    â€œWe’d better get back to our roomin’ house and stay there for a while,” Olson said. “I look for the sheriff to be nosin’ around, asking questions.”
    â€œYeah,” said Baker. “That old woman we’re rentin’ from has been askin’ around, tryin’ to find out where our money comes from. I’m tempted to tell the old bat we’re robbing banks and stages.”
    When Dr. Padgett arrived, he quickly cleansed and dressed the wound. There was no sign of the sheriff.
    â€œI’m goin’ back to my room for a clean