Jefferson's Saddle by Will DuRey

Author:Will DuRey [DuRey, Will]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Robert Hale
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Zeke Clarke cleared the remaining foam from Charlie’s face and pointed the way to the bath-house. As Charlie reached in his pocket for some coins he glanced out of the window to where Dave Champion still waited, but the lad was no longer playing his pipe because he had company. The cowboy with the moustache, the one Charlie thought he’d seen at the Sutton ranch, was talking to Dave. It didn’t seem unlikely that they would know each other, they might even have travelled from the Sutton ranch together that morning. Suddenly, the cowboy flipped a small coin in a high loop towards Dave; then, without a backward glance, set off across the street towards one of the now busy saloons.

Half an hour later, having almost fallen asleep in the warm water and afterwards having tarred the dust out of the only clothes he possessed, Charlie stepped on to the street almost refreshed, almost tidy, certainly hungry. Dave Champion stopped piping so that he could greet him.

‘I’ve got a message for you, Mr Jefferson.’

Charlie was surprised to find himself hoping the answer would be Samantha Sutton when he asked who it was from.

‘I don’t know his name. A man gave me a dime to tell you he had the information you wanted.’

Charlie recalled the cowboy with the moustache flipping a coin to Dave and, when asked, Dave confirmed that he was the one who had sent the message, but he didn’t think he worked for Henry Sutton. ‘He’s a stranger in town.’

‘Are you sure the message is for me?’ asked Charlie.

‘Of course. He asked your name, said he’d seen us together earlier.’

Charlie knew that that was true, although the man had feigned unconcern, he hadn’t fooled Charlie.

‘What’s the message?’

‘He wants to meet you at the livery stable. He said to wait until the horse races had begun along the riverside.’

Charlie wondered if the cowboy was the man called Farraday and if he would be walking into a trap if he went to Gus Brewer’s stable. After paying Dave, Charlie had seen the man cross the street to the Double Diamond. Perhaps he was still there and perhaps it would be to Charlie’s advantage to take the initiative. He slid his pistol out of its holster, checked that each chamber was loaded, then left the boardwalk and took the first pace across the street.

‘Here’s Sammy,’ Dave said, and Charlie stopped to watch the approaching girl.

The eager, jaunty manner of her walk and the smile on her face dismissed any need for enquiries as to her well-being; it was clear that Samantha Sutton had fully recovered from both the physical and mental aspects of the earlier incident, and because of the brightness of her appearance, Charlie was glad that he’d washed away the dust of recent days. He removed his hat while he talked to her, expressing his gratitude for her intervention and speaking of her bravery. Remembering the expression on her father’s face when he’d taken her to the hotel, Charlie

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