Man Who Burned Hell! by Sam Clancy

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

Chapter 9

Thunder from the messenger gun filled the room as flame and smoke belched from its cut-down barrel. Most of the buckshot charge shattered the long mirror that hung on the wall behind the bar, smashing bottles on the shelves in front of it.

Sharp shards of glass and wooden splinters rained down behind the bar bringing forth a yelp of fear and pain. The concealed man leaped up covered in glass and alcohol. He brought up his six-gun to fire at Ford, but the deputy marshal had his Peacemaker out and fired.

It bucked in his fist and the man spun around from the bullet strike. With a loud cry of pain, he fell to the floor. Ford swiveled at the hip and lifted the angle of his Peacemaker. The foresight settled on the gunman on the landing, who was in the process of sighting his rifle on Ford’s chest when the deputy marshal fired again.

Two shots this time. Both took the would-be shooter in the chest, and he dropped his rifle and fell forward. He hit just below the top step and bumped and crashed down the stairs until he landed in a jumbled heap at the foot of them.

The Colt swung back to cover Beck and Cordis. ‘You were sayin’?’

Both men remained silent.

‘Eddie, are you still there?’ Ford called over his shoulder.

‘I’m here!’

‘Step inside a moment, will you?’

When she entered the saloon, Eddie immediately moved to her left, keeping the wall at her back. She met a withering glare from Cordis with one of defiance.

‘You need to leave,’ the hotel owner told her in a caustic voice. ‘This ain’t got nothing to do with you.’

A cold smile split her lips. ‘Can I shoot him, Josh?’

‘Only if he needs it.’

‘Oh, he needs it all right,’ she said, raising the messenger gun.

‘You know what I mean.’

Eddie’s green eyes sparkled, ‘Shame. I was looking forward to killing him.’

‘Who the hell are you?’ Cordis snarled.

‘I’m Eddie Yukon. Remember the name for when I do kill you,’ she sneered.

Recognition at the name crossed Cordis’ face.

‘That’s right. My brother was the sheriff here until you bastards killed him.’

‘If you’re all done gettin’ acquainted, would you mind keepin’ an eye on them?’ Ford broke in.

‘With pleasure,’ Eddie said.

Ford moved towards the bar. He walked behind it, glass from the mirror and bottles crunching beneath his boots. He bent down and dragged the wounded bushwhacker to his feet where he could get a look at him.

‘Hello Raven,’ Ford greeted him.

Raven moaned with the pain of his wounds.

‘Looks like you’ll have a date with the rope,’ Ford told him.

Alarm flitted across Raven Morris’ face and his eyes darted to Cordis. ‘I ain’t goin’ to hang.’

‘Shut up, Raven,’ Cordis snapped.

‘The hell with you,’ Morris bleated. His eyes locked on Ford. ‘OK. I’ll tell you what you want to know. But you can’t hang me.’

‘Who put you up to it, Morris?’ Ford asked him.

‘It was . . ‘

The roar of a gunshot filled the room and Morris clutched at his chest.

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