The Lawman

Walking behind Raquel Diaz all the way to the doctor’s office was an experience in itself. It made Decker wonder if he hadn’t made a mistake in not taking her up on her offer in the bath.

When would there be another like it?

Raquel Diaz was having thoughts along similar lines. She was sorry that Decker had not joined her in the bath. She still needed a man, and Decker certainly attracted her.

She would have liked to sleep with him before killing him.

Chapter Thirteen

Moran had not enjoyed the fight. He could think of better things to watch two women do than fight, even if they were fighting over him.

When the fight had started he decided to pick up his clothes and leave, so he didn’t know what the outcome had been. Rosa had anger on her side, but Carmen had size and weight. He wondered if this meant that he was going to have to choose between the two of them.

Maybe there was a new girl in town, but if there were she’d have to really be special to take his interest away from Carmen and Rosa.

Moran walked around the town, checking to see if it had changed since he’d been gone. He was glad to see that it hadn’t. There was no sign of progress, anyway.

Progress meant more people, and if more people started coming into San Louisa, he’d have to stop coming here.

“Senor Moran!”

He turned and saw the mayor, Eduardo Felipe, walking towards him. The mayor was a bandy-legged little man with a pencil-thin mustache who bowed and smiled a lot. He remained mayor because no one else wanted the position.

“Hello, Mayor.”

“Senor, I have a huge favor to ask of you.”

“What’s that, Mayor?”

“You have come to San Louisa at just the right time, senor Moran.”

“Why is that?”

“We have had a problem here in the past few weeks, and I know you will be able to help us. You are obviously a very capable man, senor.”

“Mayor,” Moran said, “could you get to the point, please?”

“The point? Ah yes, the point. Ah, we here in San Louisa find ourselves in dire need of a sheriff.”

“A sheriff?” Moran repeated, wanting to be sure that he had heard correctly.

“Si, senor. A sheriff—ah, the man with the star…on his chest? Am I not saying it correctly?”

“And you want me—” Moran said, laughing now.

“Si, senor,” the mayor said, puffing his chest out. “As mayor of San Louisa I ask if you would accept an appointment as sheriff…”

“Senor…?”

“Why are you laughing, senor…?”

“Did I say something funny?”

Moran couldn’t answer. This was so funny, so ironic, that as soon as he could answer—as soon as he could stop laughing—he was going to accept.

Sheriff Red Moran, of San Louisa, Mexico.

Chapter Fourteen

The doctor pronounced twenty-three of the bandidos dead, and three so badly injured they probably would not last the night. There were the three from the livery who were thrown in jail, and Gilberto, who was patched up and tossed in jail with them. Raquel was given the second cell in the two-cell jailhouse.

“If you want me, senor” she told Decker seductively as he put her in her cell, “just come and get me.”

“That’s very tempting,” he admitted.

The doctor had bandaged his shoulder wound—which was not as bad as Juanita’s—and announced that both Juanita and her father would survive.

One of the townsmen had been killed, and one injured.

Decker found Jose sitting behind the desk in the sheriff’s office. He hung the cell keys on a hook on the wall.

“You have a sheriff’s office, but no sheriff?” he asked.

“Well, to tell you the truth,” Jose said, opening a drawer, “before Gilberto and his men…adopted…this town, I was the sheriff.”

To illustrate his point he took a sheriff’s star out of the drawer and pinned it to his chest.

“You gave us back our town, senor, and for that we thank you.”

“Why didn’t you do it before?”

“We needed a leader.”

“You were the sheriff.”

“Ah, yes, but I was never a leader, senor. I knew that. If Gilberto ever thought I was, he would have killed me.”

“So now you’re the sheriff again.”

Smiling, Jose said, “Thanks to you.”

“I get the feelin’ I was used, Jose, and I don’t like it.”

“Senor? I do not understand?”

“Never mind. Enjoy your town.”

“Senor Decker.”

“What?” Decker asked at the door.

“Wouldn’t you like to stay with us—at least until your wound heals?”

“My wound will heal fine in the saddle. I’ve got a man to find.”

“Aman?”

“That’s right. That’s my business, just like yours was taking care of your town—only I take care of my own business…Sheriff.”

“I am sorry I do not meet with your approval, senor. Perhaps I can help you. Who is this man you seek?”

“His name is Moran.”

“I do not know the name. Perhaps if you described him for me?”

Decker did, giving the description that was on the poster, and then he showed Jose the poster.

“Ah, of course. I know this man!”

“You know him?”

“Well, I saw him.”

“When?”

“A week or so ago. He passed through here, stayed for one night.”

“This man?” Decker asked, tapping the poster while it was still in Jose’s hand. “You’re sure.”

“He ate over at the cantina. Even played poker with us. You can ask Paco and Juanita.”

“I will,” Decker said, taking the poster back. “Which way did he go when he left?”

“He continued south.”

Well, at least he had a definite direction in which to go, now.

“Will you be staying in town for the night at least?” Jose asked.