Dakota by Matt Braun

Author:Matt Braun [Braun, Matt]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-312-99783-0
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group
Published: 2005-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

The sun was lodged high in the sky. Roosevelt rode into town the next day shortly after the noon hour. The boardwalk was crowded with shoppers as he reined to a halt before the store and stepped out of the saddle. He left Manitou tied to the hitchrack.

On the way into town he’d decided to talk with Joe Ferris before taking the matter further. He trusted Sewall’s account but it was secondhand information and therefore open to interpretation. He wanted it straight from the source.

Ferris was waiting on a customer when Roosevelt entered the store. He glanced around as Roosevelt stopped by the counter and his face first registered surprise, then shock. He excused himself and quickly turned the customer over to one of his clerks. He hurried forward.

“Mr. Roosevelt,” he said anxiously. “What are you doing in town?”

“I spoke with Adam Sewall,” Roosevelt said. “He relayed your message about Jake Paddock.”

“Well, sir, I think maybe he didn’t relay the whole message. I told him to tell you to stay out of town for a while.”

“Under the circumstances, I do not see that as an option. Assuming, of course, that the circumstances are as Sewall reported.”

“We need to talk about this in private.”

Ferris led him to a door along the rear wall. The door opened onto a storeroom jammed with boxes and crates and an assortment of hardware. They had the room to themselves, and Ferris quickly closed the door. His features were etched with alarm.

“You’re not safe in Medora,” he said. “I thought I made that clear to Sewall. Didn’t he tell you?”

“Yes, he was quite adamant,” Roosevelt said. “As a matter of fact, we had an argument before I left Elkhorn this morning. He accused me of playing the fool.”

“Then if you don’t mind my asking, what the devil are you doing here? Why didn’t you listen to Sewall?”

Roosevelt waved it off with an indulgent smile. “I am here because I wished to speak with you personally. Is it true Paddock has threatened my life?”

“Of course it’s true,” Ferris said tightly. “Why else would I’ve sent you a warning?”

“How did you learn of this threat?”

“Last Saturday, after you fired Morrill, word spread all over town. The next night, Paddock swore he was gonna kill you.”

“Do you know if Morrill left town?”

Ferris nodded. “He caught the stage Sunday mornin’ for Deadwood.”

“Hardly a coincidence,” Roosevelt said. “Morrill departs Sunday morning and Paddock threatens me that night. I suspect one was linked to the other.”

“No doubt about it. Paddock was raisin’ holy hell about the way you posted Morrill out of town. Said you was gettin’ too big for your britches.”

“Where did this occur?”

“Down at the Alhambra Saloon,” Ferris said. “That’s Paddock’s regular hangout, and he was talkin’ to Jess Hogue, the owner. Didn’t care who heard him, either.”

“How do you know?” Roosevelt asked. “Do you have personal knowledge of all this?”

“Lots of folks know we’re friends, Mr. Roosevelt. I heard about it bright and early Monday mornin’. One of the fellows that told me was in the Alhambra.

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