Longarm and the Lady Hustlers by Tabor Evans

Author:Tabor Evans
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group

Chapter 11

It got mighty quiet in the U.P. waiting room as Longarm waited to see what happened next, managing by sheer willpower not to let his tense tingles show.

A million years went by and then another member of the pack quietly asked, “Boss?”

Duke Roberts said, “I’m still studying. I’m afraid I wasn’t paying attention to the onset of this situation. Did you just cuss that lady, Alamo?”

Alamo Jack Aherne stammered, “I just asked her nice to make room for you, boss.”

The imperious older man fixed Longarm with one bright blue eye half shut and the other beaming like a locomotive headlight at him as he asked, “What can I tell you, mister? Whether he’s in the right or in the wrong, he rides for me and there’s seven of us and one of you.”

Longarm said, “I noticed,” as he shot a disgusted glance at the other male customer seated at the far end. Then he asked the cattle baron, “What can I tell you? A gentleman who don’t call a coward who’d cuss a woman ain’t no gentleman and we all got to die some day. If I can’t take you all with me, I can try to take some and like the dog soldiers say, this is as good a day to die as any other. So what’s it going to be?”

Duke Roberts laughed and said, “By jimmies, I think he means it! You better tell his sweetheart you’re sorry, Alamo!”

Alamo Jack paled and protested, “Are we gonna let this dude in a lavender coat back the D Bar D down, boss?”

Duke Roberts said, “The D Bar D never cussed no lady and you don’t work for it no more, Alamo. You hired on to fight for me, not for me to fight at times and places of your own choosing.”

Then he swept ten gallons worth of Stetson from his white head to bow with a flourish to Phoebe Blake as he added, “Your servant, ma‘am, and I hope you understand this beef is not betwixt the D Bar D and you two sweet-hearts.”

“He’s not my sweetheart, and I never asked nobody to fight over me!” the little sparrow flustered, blushing like a rose behind her veil.

The bluff stockman shot Longarm a startled look, shrugged, and told Alamo Jack, “You’re up against a gallant sap or a homicidal lunatic and either way you are purely on your own. So it’s time to fight, it’s time to run, or it’s time to tell the lady you’re sorry, old son!”

Alamo flushed beet red and couldn’t meet Phoebe’s eye as he managed to stammer, “I didn’t mean nothing dis respectsome, lady. I was only out to make way for my boss and if I used any dirty words I disremember, I am sincerely sorry and I ask you to forgive me.”

The flustered little sparrow managed to reply, “Of course. Oh dear, I think I’m fixing to cry!”

Then she turned away to move down to the far end of the counter and bury her face in the shirt of the grown man who hadn’t lifted a finger in her defense.

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