and I'll toss in a rope, halter, and set of hobbles. You'd have everything you need to catch Eli and his murdering friends.'
'Fifty-five dollars total.'
'That's right.'
Longarm knew that, if the horse was as sound and sensible an animal as he appeared to be, it was a very fair price. 'Saddle him up and let me ride him around.'
'Sure!'
The sorrel was light-mouthed, quick-reining, and alert. Longarm was no cowboy, but he could recognize a horse that was well trained and eager to please. 'I'll take him. I'm expecting a telegram and wired money this afternoon.'
'He'll have a fresh pair of shoes and be ready when you are,' the liveryman promised.
Satisfied that he had bought himself a good horse, Longarm next went to the general store, where he purchased food, a bedroll, supplies, and a heavy, waterproof canvas sack in which to carry everything.
'I'm also going to need a pair of woolen underwear and a leather coat,' he told the proprietor.
'We can fix you right up,' the man said with a somber expression. 'And I'll tell you something else, Deputy. I'm not going to take a cent of profit.'
'You're not?'
'No. I'm selling everything to you at cost because I want you to catch and bring those men to justice. The engineer on board that train that died was one of my best friends. So you find those killers and give them no quarter, hear me?'
'I hear you,' Longarm said. 'And that brings me to the last thing I need, which is a rifle. I haven't got a lot of money, so if you've got something used but serviceable and that shoots straight, that would be fine.'
'You want a.30-30 carbine?'
'Maybe something heavier.'
'I've a fine Remington Rolling-block.50 I could offer at a good price.'
'That's an excellent rifle, but I'm in need of something that holds more than one shot.'
'I see. How about a Winchester Model 1873? I've a battered but serviceable fifteen-shot with a twenty-four- inch barrel. It's heavier than the.30-30, being a.44-40 caliber.'
'Let me see it.'
The rifle's stock had been broken and crudely repaired with nails and wire, and then covered with tightly stretched rawhide. The Winchester wasn't anything for looks, but the ugly stock felt solid and Longarm figured that he might need a fifteen-shot weapon with reaching power.
'How much?'
'Ten dollars.' The man smiled. 'That's what I paid for it. Bought it off a Cheyenne, but not before I tested it for accuracy. It shoots straight and the action is smooth.'
'Sold.'
Longarm left the general store and returned to Martha's house. She wasn't home, so he packed his things, put on his new clothes, and headed back into town. After receiving directions, Longarm ended up at the fancy law offices of Noble, Evans, and Black.
'Excuse me,' he said to a clerk wearing a green eyeshade. 'I'm looking for Miss Noble.'
'She's in conference with Mr. Evans and Mr. Black. If you could come back later.'
'I don't think so,' Longarm said, pushing past the clerk.
'Hey, you can't go in there!'
But Longarm was already 'in there,' pushing open the door to the private office, and surprising Martha and two older men.
'Custis!'
'I apologize for this sudden and unannounced interruption,' Longarm said, 'but I'm about to leave Cheyenne. Martha, I thought I ought to say good-bye.'
Martha's smile died and she jumped to her feet. 'You're leaving so soon?'
'I need to get on the outlaws' trail,' Longarm said. 'If it snows again, the tracks are lost. Every hour I delay is an hour that it will be tough to make up.'
'Any idea where they might have gone?' one of the well-dressed men asked.
'No,' Longarm admitted. 'They seem to have the ability to vanish into thin air. They might even have dispersed in all directions. Today, given the telegraph and so many law enforcement agencies, a really smart gang comes together only when they have a stage or a train to rob.'
'That would make it tough to apprehend them,' the other lawyer said.
'Damned tough,' Longarm agreed, not able to take his eyes off Martha, who looked beautiful and very competent in a black pleated skirt and white silk blouse.
Martha took his arm. 'Gentlemen, you must excuse me for a few minutes while I say good-bye to my friend.'
The lawyers did not look pleased, but nodded in agreement. 'We'll be waiting, Miss Noble.'
