Massacre at Bluff Point by I. J. Parnham

Author:I. J. Parnham
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Culbin Press
Published: 2024-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“So you’re the man who can lead me to Duggan, are you?” Ethan asked, keeping his voice calm.

Behind him Lansford grunted with irritation. Then, with a jab of the gun into his back, he directed him back into the house.

“Nope, I’m just here to get you,” he said. Lansford backed away a pace as the door opened and Miguel came back inside. “This one doesn’t know anything about Ansel, but you do.”

With the gun no longer pressing into him Ethan turned around. Miguel raised his eyebrows, putting on a mocking shamefaced look.

“Except here I am asking the same questions as you are,” Ethan said. “If I knew anything useful, do you think I’d do that?”

“You’d better know something I can use because it’s the only thing that’s keeping you alive. Now answer my question or I’ll blast you away.”

“I have no interest in the bounty. I just want to find these bandits to get hold of Duggan and clear my name. Surely the two of us can admit we have a common goal and work together.”

Lansford snorted his breath. “I should have known I was wasting my time rescuing you from the train. Now I’m stuck here with no clues as to where to go next, and it seems to me that your usefulness ends here, too.”

“I’m a resourceful man,” Ethan said, speaking quickly, but Lansford raised his gun to aim it between Ethan’s eyes.

“This is your last chance,” he said.

Ethan opened and closed his mouth soundlessly as he fought to find something to say that might help him, but his mind remained blank. Then Jeff spoke up from the shadows beyond the open door, breaking the silence.

“Let Ethan speak,” he said.

Lansford flinched, as did Ethan, and both men turned to the door. Jeff stood framed in the doorway as he stepped into the light, his gun drawn and aimed at Lansford’s back.

“Has this man got the guts to pull that trigger?” Lansford said, not moving his gun an inch. “From what I’ve heard he isn’t suited to this kind of work.”

Jeff gulped. “I’ll guess there’s only way I’ll find that out, except you won’t live long enough to enjoy the truth.”

“We don’t want to do that,” Ethan said before Lansford could retort. “We’re all after the same people. Lower that gun, Lansford. Then I’ll tell you everything I know about Ansel and you can tell me everything you know about Duggan.”

Lansford sneered and firmed his gun hand. “Your friend has ten seconds to lower his gun or I will blast him, too. Then you’ll have ten seconds to start talking or you’ll get the same.”

“Lansford, listen to sense. Jeff has a gun aimed at your back.”

“Aimed, yeah, but he’s never killed a man before and the thought of that first time is tearing him up inside. I haven’t got the same problem, and he’s already used up five of those seconds.”

Lansford started to count down, but Miguel did a double-take and then turned to the window.

“That time has come all the sooner,” Miguel said.

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