something in the middle. In fact, I think that most men fall into that category. And those people can often be appealed to in a decent, understanding manner. They respond to reason, not the constant threat of fear.”
“That’s bullshit!” Kane removed his pocket watch and said, “I need to continue on my rounds, and Custis, you need to take this innocent young lady back to her room. Therefore, I think this is the end of our little tour of Bodie. It probably wasn’t a very good idea anyway.”
Longarm saw Megan’s cheeks flame with anger, but he took her arm and, while leading her away, called back, “I’ll be talking to you soon, Marshal.”
“Do yourselves a big favor and buy a stage ticket back to Reno!”
“We came here on horses!” Megan screeched.
“Then saddle them up and ride,” Kane yelled as he marched on down Main Street, hand shading the butt of his gun, eyes constantly shifting.
“What are we going to do!” Megan whispered, her voice filled with fury and anguish. “That man is terrible.”
“He didn’t used to be that way.”
“But he is now!”
“I think I’m going to have to get some evidence against him and then see that he is removed.”
“By whom! You’re a federal officer and he’s a local constable.”
“There is a federally chartered bank here in Bodie. A federal post office too. And Wells Fargo and Company operates out of here and they have federal contracts,” Longarm said. “Billy Vail knows that and he’ll expect me to use it all to put my foot down hard and straighten this mess out.”
“I don’t think you can,” Megan said.
“I’m not afraid of Ivan Kane.”
“You should be,” Megan said. “And if you think that he is operating this … this fiefdom on his own, you are wearing blinders.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means that, as sure as the sun will come up tomorrow morning, Ivan Kane has people that hold even him accountable. Men who use him to retain their power and influence.”
“You sound pretty sure of that.”
“I am sure! Kane has the gun, but even if they’re paying him two hundred dollars a month, that’s nothing compared to the money that is supposed to be coming out of these mines. And I can tell you something else.”
“I’m not sure that it’s something I want to hear.”
“You’re going to have to hear it anyway,” Megan said. “This town is not only evil, it’s rotten to the core. I will bet you anything that there are things going on here that will put Ivan Kane behind bars for the rest of his natural life.”
“I hope you’re wrong, Megan. He’s a legend.”
“He’s a tyrant! A killer with a badge.”
Longarm took Megan’s arm and escorted her back toward the hotel. As they were about to pass a man, he stepped in front of Longarm and, after looking up and down the street, said, “My name is Henry Olliver. Stuart Kirkwood said you’re a federal marshal.”
“I am.”
“A friend of Marshal Kane?”
“An acquaintance,” Longarm said cautiously. “Why do you ask?”
“We desperately need help.”
“You want to talk about it in private?”
“Yes!” The man was practically quaking in his shoes.
“All right,” Longarm said. “We’ll meet tonight. Where is best for you?”
“North end of town outside of Harkin Livery. Ten o’clock. And don’t let Marshal Kane follow you!”
“I won’t,” Longarm said tightly.
The man hurried away.
“See,” Megan said as they went back to their hotel. “I told you things were rotten in Bodie.”
Chapter 8
Longarm climbed out of bed and looked down at Megan. “I think we’d better rest for a while.”
She stretched and ran her hands down across her flat belly and then her muscular thighs. Just looking at her made Longarm begin to ache again with passion, but he knew that he had to start getting ready for his meeting with Henry Olliver.
“I’ll be waiting up for you,” Megan said with a slow smile. “Don’t be too long, Custis.”
“Get some sleep.”
“Sleep, my darling, is not what I hunger for right now.”
