Webb's Posse Read Online Free PDF Page B

think,” said Abner Webb. “One man dead, another beat to hell, the town looted and burnt—I expect he’ll want to put together a posse first thing. I sent Bobby Dewitt out to round up some horses and guns from the nearby ranches…if they’ve got any to spare.”
    â€œGood luck on that,” said Summers. After a second’spause, he asked, “Who was it the Peltrys killed here?”
    â€œThat was old Roy Krill. He teamstered freight twixt here and Montydale. Poor old man never knew what hit him, I reckon.”
    â€œNever met him.” Summers spit and ran a hand across his mouth.
    â€œNobody knew much about him,” said Webb. “He was a quiet old fellow, kept to himself. Soon as our lines are back up, I’ll wire Montydale and see if he had any kin there.”
    â€œI don’t envy you riding posse,” said Summers. “All those long hours in the saddle under a blazing sun.
Whew!
”
    â€œYeah, I know,” Abner Webb sighed. “I’ll be living in the saddle for quite some time, I reckon.” But then he took a deep breath, finding some good in the prospect. “It might be the best thing for me though: get away from here a while, let things cool between Daniels and me.”
    â€œGood idea. The Peltrys will be headed straight down across the desert badlands then on into Mexico is my guess,” said Summers. “Ever been there?”
    â€œNope, neither place, but I’ve always wanted to. I’ve heard plenty of talk,” Webb replied.
    â€œAlways
wanted
to?” Summers shook his head, finding the notion absurd. Then he added, “You haven’t missed anything, take my word for it.”
    â€œYou’ve been through the desert and Mexico both?” Webb asked, looking Summers up and down.
    â€œMore times than I ever wanted to,” Summers remarked.
    â€œThen I reckon we can count on you riding posse with us for the good of the town?”
    â€œNope,” Summers said flatly. “If there was goingto be a posse, you should have been on their tails before their dust settled. It could take weeks now—that’s if you ever catch up to them at all. I’m too busy to turn loose right now, not for free anyway.”
    â€œOh, you think you ought to get
paid
for doing something good for this town?” Webb asked.
    â€œYou get paid, don’t you?” Summers responded.
    â€œThat’s a whole different thing, Will.”
    â€œOkay, forget it.” Summers shrugged. “Let’s just say that Rileyville ain’t really my kind of a town. Never was.”
    â€œDamn, Will, you don’t want none of these men to hear you say something like that. Not after what happened here.”
    â€œWhy? My conscience is clear.” He smiled. “Unlike some I could mention.”
    â€œThat’s enough, Will. I mean it,” said Webb. “Here they come now.” He nodded toward the gathering of soot-streaked townsmen walking toward them, some of them dropping empty buckets to the ground as they neared. “Sure you don’t want to cut out while you’re able?”
    â€œYep, I’m sure of it,” said Will Summers. “I’ve done nothing wrong.”
    â€œJust don’t go losing your temper and start talking short to them,” Webb cautioned, his voice dropping quieter as the townsmen neared.
    â€œDon’t worry, I won’t let things go that far,” Summers murmured, keeping an eye on the approaching townsmen.
    â€œYou’ve got some tall explaining to do, Will Summers!” said Ned Trent, leading the men with his fists balled stiffly at his sides, his right fist wrapped tightly around a shovel handle. His breath hissed in and out through his clenched teeth. A black smearstretched down his cheek. Fifty yards behind him and his followers, the Trent Mercantile Store lay in a charred, smoldering heap.
    â€œHow so?” Will Summers asked