LONGARM AND THE YUMA PRISON GIRLS
By Tabor Evans
CHAPTER 1
'Come in, come in!' United States Marshal Billy Vail called from behind his huge and cluttered desk. 'I've been expecting you.'
Custis Long removed his Stetson, beat a cloud of trail dust from his clothes, and entered from the outer office. To Billy he looked the very picture of a frontier lawman. Custis was a big man, just over six-two and broad- shouldered, with a deeply tanned face and gunmetal gray eyes. He wore a handlebar mustache, fashionably curled at the tips, and on his hip was a well-used double-action Colt Model T. caliber.44-40. Custis always looked formidable, but today even more than usual as he slouched into a chair, removed a nickel cheroot from his pocket, and jammed it into his mouth. 'Want a light?' Billy offered.
'Nope, prefer to chew the damned things now, I expect you know that, Billy.'
'Sure.' Billy regarded his best marshal with some concern. 'You look worn down, Custis. This last assignment was pretty tough, huh?'
'Damn right it was,' Custis growled around his cigar. 'You told me to find and arrest Trace Hollaway. But what you didn't tell me was that he had a whole pack of brothers that were every bit as mean and trigger-happy as he was.'
'The brothers gave you trouble?' Billy asked.
'Sure they did! I caught Trace in Central City,humpin' a whore and I smacked him on the head with my sixgun. Hauled his naked ass out the second floor of the whorehouse and was lashing him across the back of my packhorse when those ornery brothers came rushing up to help.'
Billy leaned forward in his chair. 'I expect that was quite a fight, huh?'
'You damn sure betcha it was. I tried to explain that I had a warrant for Trace's arrest and was doing everything legal, but they wouldn't listen. One of the fools went for his gun and I had to kill him, then I shot the rest of 'em all to pieces. It was a real mess.'
'How many did you kill?'
'Four,' Longarm spat. 'Well, three, actually. One lived, but he'll be a gimpy sonofabitch for the rest of his life. My last bullet caught him in the hip. I expect he won't be sending me any love letters.'
Longarm's eyebrows forked downward and he jabbed a finger at his boss. 'Billy, why didn't you tell me that Trace had four meaner-than-snakes brothers?'
'I thought they were still hiding out in Wyoming,' Billy explained. 'There was a stagecoach robbery up there and the four were identified.'
'Well,' Longarm said after a moment, 'it's clear that they came back to Colorado. It would have helped me some to have known about 'em. That kind of thing can get a man killed.'
'It sounds as if it did.'
'Gawdammit, I meant me,' Longarm snapped. 'If you knew about those other four, I should have had some backup.'
'I apologize,' Billy said with a very benign and disarming smile.
'You do?' Longarm leaned back in his chair. He'd worked for Billy Vail a good many years now, and while this wasn't the man's first apology, it was one of a very few.
'Yes,' Billy said in complete agreement. 'And I mean to put your name in for a Governor's Commendation as soon as I get your written report. Those four brothers were wanted for stage and train robberies in at least three states, including this one.'
Longarm actually smiled. 'Any chance of picking up a little reward money?'
'Of course not! You know better than that. A reward doesn't come with your job.'
'A job,' Longarm groused, 'that is long on commendations but damned short of cash.'
Billy chuckled as he leaned back in his big, soft chair and steepled his short, pudgy fingers. In contrast to Longarm, he was round and jovial-looking, although that was quite deceptive. Billy had a very impressive record from his years of working as a deputy marshal out in the field. He was so harmless-looking that he always managed to lull his opponents into a false sense of security before making his move. Billy Vail had courage, and there was muscle under that thick layer of flab. Now Billy's eyes twinkled. He plucked a cigar from an open box, but replaced it after a moment's consideration and returned his attention to the deputy marshal. 'I've another assignment waiting for you, Longarm.'
'Oh, no!' Longarm stopped chewing his cigar. 'You told me that I could have a week off after I brought Trace in for sentencing and that's what I mean to do, take a full week off.'
'And you richly deserve that week and much more' Billy exclaimed, nodding his head so emphatically that his double chins quivered. 'But this is a special assignment, my friend! Very special.'
'I don't care if it's to escort the Queen of England! I need a rest, Billy. I haven't even had time to spend my last six months worth of government paychecks.'
'Then you should save them,' Billy said earnestlY. 'You know, field work is for young men. And how old are you, Custis?'
'You know damn good and well how old I am, Longarm spat. 'I'm old enough to be seasoned and still plenty young and quick enough to handle whatever trouble comes in my direction.'
