Stranglehold by William W. Johnstone

Author:William W. Johnstone
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2018-12-14T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

The women who were not engaged in the actual physical labor of constructing the walls prepared meals, then served them from long tables made from planks stretched across sawhorses in the middle of the street.

Lucy and Meagan were among the women who were preparing the meals, and at the moment Duff and Meagan were sitting on the edge of the porch in front of Sikes Hardware, each with a plate balanced on their laps. Across the street from them, they could see Lucy and McGregor sitting in front of the Norton and Heckemeyer Law Office, doing the same thing.

“Miss Culpepper and the leftenant colonel seem to be getting along well,” Duff said.

Meagan laughed.

“What is it? Why do ye laugh?”

“Have you no eyes, Duff MacCallister?” Meagan said. “Can’t you see that they are in love?”

“What? ’N would you be for telling me why you would say such a thing?”

“It is as obvious as the nose on your face,” Meagan said. “Why, I saw it the first time Lucy came to our table, the way she and Mayor McGregor looked at each other. She won’t do anything about it, though, because she has a sense of obligation to her father.”

Elmer stepped over to talk with Duff and Meagan. “Duff, did you see that feller that went into the Hidden Trail Saloon just a minute or two ago?”

“Nae, I dinnae notice.”

“Well, I was up on the roof o’ the hotel just a-fore dawn this mornin’, visitin’ with Buddy Cox when I seen him come ridin’ in. Cox said he warn’t from here. I been pretty much keepin’ an eye on ’im all day, ’n he ain’t done one lick o’ work to help anyone out. But he sure has been curious ’bout what all it is that we’re a-doin’. I can tell you that much.”

“Spying on us, do you think?” Duff asked.

“I’d bet a kiss from a pretty girl that he is.”

“Ye may be right.”

“If you don’t mind, I think maybe I’ll step inter the saloon ’n see if I can find out who he is, ’n what he’s doin’ here.”

“I think that might be a good idea,” Duff replied.

Elmer stepped up to the bar a few minutes later and ordered a whiskey.

“Hello, Mr. Gleason,” Ethel Marie greeted.

“Why, hello, Miss Ethel Marie,” Elmer replied with a friendly smile

She started toward him.

“Just a minute. Hold on there, woman!” Yancey called out to her. “What are you doin’ walkin’ away from me like that?”

“Why, I’m doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing, honey,” Ethel Marie replied. “I’m greeting the customers.”

“Yeah? Well he don’t need no greetin’. I mean look at ’em, an old man like that? Why would you be a-wastin’ your time on someone like him anyhow? I’m a customer, and besides which, I’m the one that bought you a drink,” Yancey insisted. “That means you ain’t got no right to be a-spending any of your time with anyone else.”

“Now, look here, Mr. Yancey. You may have bought me a drink, but you didn’t buy me,” Ethel Marie said.

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