“That’s all right, Marshal,” Sam said. “If he gets convicted on the other charges he’ll go to jail—and we’ll be around when he gets out.”
“And if he doesn’t go to jail,” Jubal said, “we’ll still be around.”
“If anythin’ happens to him, I’ll have to come after you two,” Carson said, pointing his index finger at them.
“That’s something we understand too, Marshal.”
“All right, then,” Carson said, “suppose you two fellas get out on the street and try and put this town back in order.”
“Yes, sir.”
They headed for the door. Jubal opened it but Sam turned to face the marshal again.
“Marshal?”
“Yeah?”
“What about the ranch? Who does it belong to?”
“Nobody, right now,” Carson said. “I impounded it, but if everythin’ can be proven—and with the help of this letter and Burkett’s actions, I think it can’the judge should probably be returnin’ the ranch to you fellas. You better decide what you want to do with it.”
“Burkett’s got a lot of money…” Sam said.
“I hope you’re not implying that either I or the judge can be bought.”
“I’m not implying anything, Marshal,” Sam said. “I’m just sayin—…”
Carson eyed Sam critically and said, “All right, McCall, I understand what you’re sayin—.”
Sam nodded and followed Jubal outside.
“What are we going to do now?” Jubal asked.
Sam looked up and down the streets of Vengeance Creek.
“Well, we’re stuck here until the judge comes to town.
Who knows when that will be?”
“And then after that, if we get the ranch, we’re going to have to stay around and figure out what to do with it.”
“Well, you could live on it,” Sam said.
“We could live on it,” Jubal said. “Maybe even you and Serena—”
“Whoa, boy, don’t be jumpin’ to no conclusions.”
“Don’t call me boy!” Jubal said. “I see the way you look at her—”
“Whatayou know about lookin’ at a woman, you young PUP?”
“I know enough…”
They started down the street, Sam walking with a slight limp, still arguing about who might marry Serena and who might live on the ranch, and who knew what about women, two brothers who were closer now than they had ever been in their lives—and as close as they might ever be.
CRITICS ARE WILD FOR
ROBERT J. RANDISI!
“Randisi always turns out a traditional Western with plenty of gunplay and interesting characters”
—
“Each of Randisi’s novels is better than its entertaining predecessor.”
—
“Everybody seems to be looking for the next Louis L’Amour. To me, they need look no further than Randisi.”
—Jake Foster, author of
“Randisi knows his stuff and brings it to life.”
—
“Randisi has a definite ability to construct a believable plot around his characters.”
—
Other books by Robert J. Randisi:
Thrillers:
COLD BLOODED
BLOOD OF ANGELS
EAST OF THE ARCH
CURTAINS OF BLOOD
BLOOD ON THE ARCH
IN THE SHADOW OF
THE ARCH THE SIXTH PHASE
ALONE WITH THE DEAD
Westerns:
THE MONEY GUN
BLOOD TRAIL TO KANSAS
TRAPP’s MOUNTAIN
BACKSHOOTER
THE FUNERAL OF TANNER MOODY
LANCASTER’s ORPHANS
MIRACLE OF THE JACAL
TARGETT
LEGEND
THE GHOST WITH BLUE EYES
Copyright 1991 by Robert J. Randisi
