The Red River Ring Read Online Free PDF

clean through it. All the way in one side and out the back.”
    Colredge smiled uneasily. “Soap should have been more careful.”
    Pommel placed one foot on a chair by Colredge’s desk, leaned on his knee, tipped back his hat and smiled. “That’s what he said to me. Said he should have been more careful. There he was trying to do one job and ended up getting aced by another with a similar plot in mind.”
    â€œWhat plot was that?” Colredge asked uneasily.
    Pommel stepped around the desk, looked down at Colredge and slowly closed the center drawer. “Bushwhackers come in all sizes and types. Some are dressed like bums and have to scramble for every penny. Others come well dressed, don’t much need the money, and just plain enjoy the sport of it all. One kind is slinky and doesn’t do very well. The other kind is careful, good at the work and don’t miss. It’s that second kind to worry about. He’ll give one warning, mostly out of sport, then he’ll just shoot the son-of-a-bitch the first chance he gets.”
    â€œI’ll keep that in mind,” Colredge said harshly.
    â€œHow about you, two-gun? Will you keep that in mind as well?”
    Blake’s hands closed on the arms of his chair. He wondered how clear his guns were and whether he could clear leather from a sitting position. He nodded slowly.
    â€œYou might make it with the left pistol but the right is wedged under the chair arm. No wait, now my right is your left. Kind of confusing, ain’t it?” Pommel said coldly.
    â€œMaybe I should stand up,” Blake said.
    â€œBetter do it fast two-gun. I’ll blow you through that window if you’re too slow.”
    Blake sat uneasily for a few tense moments then slowly shook his head.
    Pommel smiled and slowly went for the door. “Well, I sure enjoyed our visit. I hope you boys got as much out of it as I did. I wouldn’t come through this door for a spell until I was sure the stairway was clear. It’s dark and a fellow could fall or something.”
    â€œPerhaps we’ll run into each other again,” Colredge said.
    â€œHope not. They’ll be some dying to do if that happens. But then, if you and the Ring steer clear of the Palo Duro, you shouldn’t have to worry.”
    The door closed and Pommel was gone.
    Colredge sat in a pale stare at the door. Blake examined the position of his holsters, turned his chair and watched the street below.
    â€œShit, that was a surprise,” Colredge finally said.
    â€œNever did see him leave. You suppose he’s waiting in the stairway?” Blake asked.
    â€œNo, he’ll pack out. He made his show and gave his warning. That’s all he intended.”
    â€œWhat now?”
    â€œTom won’t be back for several days. Get McPherson and some of the boys. See if you can find where this guy is laid up. I will feel a lot easier if you can shoot his ass off.”
    â€œWhat about the raid?”
    â€œSoap didn’t know about the raid so he couldn’t have told. Tom wants to close out the McMurphys in one big hit. This guy’s showing up won’t change that a bit. We need to move fast before any other sons-a-bitches come out of the woodwork.”
    â€œWhat do you know about this guy?”
    â€œNothing. He left long before I came here. Tom knows something about him and of course there’s the connection with Pac.”
    â€œWhat do you suppose Tom will do?”
    â€œWhat does Tom always do?”
    â€œRight. I’ll get the boys and see if we can break his trail in the morning.”
    â€œYou do that.”
    Colredge opened his desk drawer and lifted a Remington .41 double barrel derringer to the desk top. He opened it and checked the loads. It was loaded.

Chapter V
    I
    The gunsmith shop had a lamp lit so Pommel decided that he needed to pay a visit before leaving town. He had no idea how long it would be before he would see a