Andrew: Boy Slave to Free Rebel by Donald Bryan

Author:Donald Bryan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2019-11-07T18:25:33+00:00

CHAPTER XII

Sam watched the two men as they left his stables. The pair said they were going to the inn. He watched until they entered the inn and followed, except he branched off and went to the jail rather than the inn.

“Will!” said Sam. “Glad I found you.”

“I been telling these people how I want this jail cleaned up. After an auction, this place is downright hard to take a breath in. What’s on your mind? Something wrong?”

“Don’t know. Two fellas came in and asked me to take care of their horses and a mule-pulled buggy.”

“Well?”

“They asked me if I knew anybody who’d buy the buggy and mule.”

“And?”

“The buggy is Martin Blackiston’s. I’d know it anywhere. I never saw the mule before.”

“Martin’s?! Hmm, guess I’d better ask ’em a few questions, huh? Where are they?”

“Said they were going to your inn.”

“Point ’em out to me.”

Turning to the cleaning crew—some slaves, some not—Will said, “I’ve got to leave for a while. Finish cleaning this place. We’ve got a new batch coming tomorrow or the next day. I don’t want ’em getting sick. They ain’t any good if they don’t look good.”

Closing the main door and locking it, Will led Sam to his inn.

The old hound dog was in his usual place at the front entrance. His ears twitched to shoo flies, and as the two men stepped over him, he opened an eye and closed it again.

It was early, and less than a handful of people had arrived at the inn. “Don’t point, Sam. Just tell me if they’re in here, and where.”

“Those’s the two, at the table where Martha’s serving ’em drinks.”

Will put his arm around Sam’s shoulders and led him to the bar. “Make like we’re old friends going for a drink. Got it?”

“Got it.”

They sat down at the bar, and seeing them, Martha said in her shout-across-the-room voice, “Don’t you two go getting drunk on me now. It’s morning, and I’ll not have it. Will, you get your own. I may be your wife, but I’m not going to wait on you.”

“I know, Martha, I know. Don’t get that way. We’re not going to get drunk.”

“Well, you best not!”

“I’ve seen those two before, Sam. They’re bounty hunters. They’ve brought runaways to my jail before, to hold until their owners come with the reward.”

“What you gonna do?”

“Put ’em in jail and ask questions. You armed?”

“No.”

“Me neither, but I will be.”

Will served himself and Sam a couple of small mugs of ale from behind the bar. He reached under the bar and took a loaded pistol from beneath. “Martha!” he yelled. This barrel’s leaking all over the place! Didn’t you notice?”

“Watch your tone with me,” she snapped as she hurried to Will. “Now, where’s this leak?”

Kneeling down below the bar he said, “Here. Where else would it be?”

“Will, what’s the matter with you? You talk to me in a civil tongue!”

Will whispered, “Get down on the floor. There might be some shooting going on in a minute or two.”

She stooped down.

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