The Law of a Fast Gun Read Online Free PDF Page A

and onto the island. He had sent a couple of riders out, one to the south and one to the east, to check on other herds that might be coming to the railhead. He expected them back tonight.
    As he dismounted in the camp, Jessup saw, and smelled, the stew Poke was cooking in a big, black, iron kettle.
    “Hello, Major,” Poke said.
    “Poke,” Jessup replied as he tied off his horse.
    “I hope this camp is all right by you. It seemed like the best spot,” Poke said. “There’s water and shade, and I don’t think the creek’s going to rise.”
    “This is fine,” Jessup said. “Especially since we are going to be here for a couple of weeks.”
    “If you don’t mind, I’ll probably go into town tomorrow right after breakfast and get some supplies,” Poke said.
    “I don’t mind,” Jessup replied, filling a coffee cup. “Fact is, I’m going to let the men who take the first batch of cows in spend some time in town after they get them loaded. It’s been a long, hard drive and they need to let off a little steam.”
    “They’ll appreciate that, that’s for sure,” Poke said as he went back to peeling potatoes.
    Before Jessup finished his coffee, two of his riders, Deekus and Arnie, showed up. He had sent them out to scout for any other herds that might be approaching.
    “Did you see anyone?” Jessup asked.
    “Yes, sir, Charley Townes is bringing up the Rocking T herd,” Deekus said.
    “How many head?”
    “Mr. Townes said they started with twenty-five hundred. They lost a few along the way, but not many.”
    “How long before they get here?”
    “Four or five days at the most.”
    “What about you, Arnie? What did you see?”
    “The Slash Diamond is comin’ from the west,” Arnie said. “Tucker Evans is bringin’ about two thousand head.”
    “Damn,” Jessup said. “If that many head are shipped, it’s going to drive the price down. I’ll do well to break even.”
    “Sorry, Major. I wish I could’ve brought you better news,” Deekus said.
    “Ahh, don’t worry about it,” Jessup said with a dismissive wave of his hand. “We’ll just have to deal with it, that’s all.”
     
    In Braggadocio, Hawke was sitting at the table nearest the piano. Harder was at the table with him, as was Marshal Matthew Trueblood. The saloon was nearly full but it was relatively quiet. The girls were moving from table to table, smiling and flirting with the men, sometimes taking off a customer’s hat and running their fingers through his hair.
    Although Cindy had not come over to talk to Hawke, he did catch her looking in his direction several times. He was trying to stay detached, but couldn’t help but recall last night, when her nude body lay next to his. His blood warmed and he forced himself to look away in order to get her out of his mind.
    Instead he looked toward the bar, where Bob Gary was busy with customers.
    “You’re doing a pretty good business tonight,” Hawke said.
    “Yes, it looks like we are,” Harder replied. “But everyone seems to be local.” He turned to Marshal Trueblood. “Are you sure the Bar-J is here?”
    Trueblood nodded. “I’m sure. Todd Bailey is renting them his pastureland. He said they’d be getting in today.”
    “Well, if they’re getting into Bailey’s place today, like as not they’ll be comin’ into town tomorrow,” Harder said.
     
    Out at the cow camp the next morning, Jessup addressed all of his riders.
    “I’m going to let those of you who take the cows in todayto stay in town for a while. Have a good meal, take a shower, have some drinks. Enjoy yourself, but be back in time to take another bunch in tomorrow.”
    “All right!” someone said.
    “Hey, you reckon they got’ny women in that town?”
    “Of course they do, it’s a town, ain’t it?”
    “I don’t mean women, women. I mean whores.”
    The other cowboys laughed.
    Jessup held up his hand to get their attention.
    “Now, the only way we can do this is to keep some people back to