Slocum and the Trick Shot Artist by Jake Logan

Author:Jake Logan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2012-06-30T04:00:00+00:00

12

Ferril Abernathy’s camp was similar to Slocum’s in one respect: there was a fire. Despite having been set up in a similar amount of time and under hectic circumstances while trying to avoid being spotted from afar, Abernathy still managed to erect a small tent and find enough time to groom himself. The scents hanging in the air were all that remained of a supper he’d prepared consisting of fried pork loin and greens sautéed in lard. The man himself sat upon a small stool that could be folded up and stored in one of two large packs carried by a horse that had lost its rider.

Compared to the distinguished gentleman who sat upon his stool pruning a narrow strip of chin whiskers with a small set of scissors, the man who paced on the other side of the fire looked like something that had crawled in from the mountains. He was short in stature and narrow of build. The dirt covering his face was more of a thick crust that would require a chisel to remove. A thick coat of whiskers sprouted from his skin and his squint was so severe that it was impossible to determine the color of his eyes. They were simply dark, as was his mood.

“How can you sit there primping like a goddamn woman?” the skinny man asked.

Abernathy lifted his chin and screwed up his face in an expression meant to grant him cleaner access to the whiskers closest to his Adam’s apple. “Contrary to what you may believe, women are not the only ones who need to take care of themselves. Appearances mean a lot, you know.”

“Yeah. I do know. Mostly on account of me bein’ the one who gives you them appearances!”

“Keep your voice down, Justin. No need to share our conversation with every living thing residing in these mountains.”

“If I want to conversate with you, I can do it any damn way I please.”

Although Abernathy’s movements were subtle, there was no mistaking the power behind them. When he turned to look directly at Justin, he did so using precise, perfectly refined muscle control that didn’t force him to move the scissors away from his throat. He even clipped the next few whiskers without using the small round mirror in his hand. “Are you unhappy with our arrangement?”

“Finally picked up on that, did you?”

“Your hints were quite exaggerated.” Setting down the mirror and picking up a small leather case, Abernathy said, “All right, then. Tell me what’s on your mind,”

“I think Slocum may have had a word or two with Rob before he died.”

“That’s funny. How could Rob survive more than a few moments with you gunning for him? After all, you’ve been so anxious to shoot everything full of holes no matter where we go anymore.”

“You don’t like the way I work?” Justin snapped. “Then maybe you should do yer own shooting from now on.”

Abernathy placed his scissors into their leather case and set it down as if there was a spot for the case outlined in the dirt near his feet.

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