Bodie 3 by Neil Hunter

Author:Neil Hunter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: bounty hunters, piccadilly publishing, neil hunter, mike linaker, pulp westerns, ebook westerns, westerns 1880s, colt revolvers, lone gunmam
Publisher: Piccadilly

Chapter Nine

“Do you have this effect on everyone you meet?” Angela Crown asked as she carefully sponged the congealed blood away from the gash on Bodie’s cheek.

“No. With some people I bring out their best.” His remark was directed at Angela in such a way that she couldn’t stop herself from blushing.

“Seriously, Bodie,” she went on, “Deeks is a bad man to have as an enemy.”

“So is a little old lady if she’s carrying a sawn-off shotgun. I gave him fair warning. Stay away from me and Crown property. Even a simple-minded son of a bitch like Deeks should be able to understand that.”

“But Deeks takes his orders from Jonas Randall,” Angela persisted.

Bodie sat back as she completed her task. He watched her move across the kitchen, liking the way her body curved beneath the clinging dress. He picked up his cup of coffee and took a swallow. “What were you saying about your brother?”

“Ray?” Angela shook her head. “I can’t understand what’s come over him. When I came into the house he looked at me as if he hadn’t been expecting me to come home. He really was shocked, Bodie. Then he recovered and started to argue with me. About the same old thing. That we should sell up and get out of High Grade. Take Randall’s money and run.”

“It’d be a way out,” Bodie suggested.

She turned on him, her eyes flashing angrily. “The easy way. Oh, I know all about that, Bodie. I have to live with it every day. Ray never lets up. I’m sure now that he doesn’t care what happens to the mine. But I do, Bodie. I care that my father spent years making it what it is. That there are good, honest, hard-working men keeping that mine productive. Men who stuck by my father through the bad times. They trusted him and he never let them down. I don’t intend to change things now.”

“Randall would keep the mine going wouldn’t he?”

Angela laughed. “Oh, he’d keep it going. But he’d bring in his own people. Cheap labor. Exploited immigrants, hounded by his damn bully boys. Captain Deeks and his crew. It’s the way Randall works.”

“Lady,” Bodie remarked, “you sure do love a fight.”

She came across the kitchen to stand before him. “I just know what I want, Bodie, and I don’t like having to give up.” She studied him quizzically. “That’s my reason, Bodie. What’s yours?”

“My what?”

“You know what I’m talking about. When we left Ridgelow you’d hired on to see me through to High Grade. We hadn’t really talked over what would happen after we arrived. Now, though, I’m beginning to get the feeling you’ve let yourself become involved. I’m glad. But I’d like to know why?”

“Likely to be a few bounties to pick up. You told me so yourself.”

“No, that isn’t the reason. Bodie, I’ve got to know you pretty well, and there’s more to it than all that talk about bounty.”

Bodie helped himself to more coffee. “Go ahead and tell me. I’m listening.

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