The Copper City Read Online Free PDF Page B

cushions, puffing at a fat cigar to match the one in Harley’s hand.
    Harley came to a halt beside the rider. “Back off, Upton.”
    The rider scowled, then touched a hand to the brim of his hat in the barest of salutes. He wheeled his horse and walked it back to his companions. Harley turned to Pete with a frown.
    â€œI know you, don’t I?”
    â€œYou do. The Copper Queen, couple of weeks back. You offered to buy us a drink after my partner took care of a troublesome miner.”
    Harley looked down at Quantro. “Jesus, what a mess. Who did it?” Then before Pete could answer, Harley answered himself. “Don’t tell me, the miner caught up, eh?”
    â€œRight first time.”
    The businessman examined Quantro’s slack face. “This happen down the mine?” When Pete nodded, he scowled. “Okay, where’re you both sleeping?”
    â€œGotta camp outside town.”
    â€œThought as much. Well, he’s in no state to turn down my offer this time. There’re some company houses across the railroad tracks, on Capote hill. There’s a couple empty. Get him there. I’ll get the foreman to see to it.”
    â€œYou’re forgetting one thing,” Pete said, scratching at his whiskers.
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œNeither of us works for the company any longer. He just got fired, and I just quit.”
    Harley’s frown eased into an expansive smile. “Don’t worry about that. I’ll take care of it.” He strode back to the carriage where he spoke to the passenger, then went over to the office.
    Moments later the clerk emerged to fetch a team of horses that he hitched to a buckboard then led them over to Pete.
    â€œMr. Harley said I was to help.”
    Pete grinned. Harley worked fast. “You sure can. He’s too heavy for my old bones.”
    ***
    â€œHe’ll be okay,” the doctor declared, stepping away from the cot. He rolled down his shirtsleeves after drying his hands on a strip of cloth that served as a towel. “Apart from his face there’s just some bad bruising. I don’t think the ribs are broken but I’ve strapped them up in case.” He smiled reassuringly at White-Wing, who was standing close by wearing her best worried frown. “He’ll be back on his feet in no time.”
    â€œRight glad to hear it Doc,” Pete said, relieved that the damage was not as bad as it appeared. “You care for some coffee?”
    The doctor pursed his lips, eyes wandering to the whiskey bottle he had used to sterilize Quantro’s cuts. “I’m partial to it real strong myself.”
    Pete had followed his glance. He laughed. “So am I. Juanita here makes the strongest coffee this side of the border. The Canadian border.” He gestured to White-Wing to fetch the pot, then he and the doctor went outside the little clapboard house and sat down on a bench set against the wall. Pete poured a generous measure into the steaming black java in the doctor’s tin mug. “D’you know this Harley feller well, Doc?”
    â€œNot really. Seems all right. I’ve never seen him do anything to make me change my mind on that.”
    Pete grunted. “Who’s the man with the fancy carriage? Harley was riding with him this afternoon.”
    The doctor polished his glasses, then wound the wire frames around the back of his ears before he offered his tin mug for a refill. “You must mean Bunco Bill.”
    â€œBunco Bill? Never heard of him. I’ve heard of Buffalo Bill and Wild Bill, but not a Bunco Bill.”
    â€œHis real name’s William Green.”
    Pete nodded. “It figures. The man who owns everything ’round here. All the stores and the mine too.”
    The doctor added more whiskey to his mug from the nearly empty bottle. “Yes, he owns practically everything. As well as the mine, he owns the smelting plants and the Cananea Cattle