The Floating Outfit 25: The Trouble Busters (A Floating Outfit Western) by J. T. Edson

Author:J. T. Edson
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Piccadilly Publishing
Published: 2018-07-01T07:00:00+00:00

Nine – A Rival for Miss Woods

‘Hey, Dusty!’ Waco greeted as he walked into the main office at eleven o’clock on Saturday morning. ‘The new folks at that saloon down Main Street have arrived, from the look of it.’

‘Have, huh?’ Dusty answered, looking up from where he sat writing out the desk log. ‘You’re late getting in.’

‘Was a mite late getting up this morning,’ the youngster replied. ‘Where’re the others?’

‘Mark and Lon’re making the first rounds of the day, Frank’s seeing off the two tinhorns we brought in yesterday.’

‘What happened to them in court?’

‘Fined two hundred and fifty dollars each, which same left them with about enough to pay their stage coach fare to Newton. I’ll say one thing for the judge, he sure doesn’t waste any time. They go in and are fined almost in the same breath, and he makes the fines just the right amount, too.’

This did not surprise Waco for he knew that Dusty and the judge met on the first day before court, arranging a schedule of fines for the various minor offenders brought up each morning.

‘Have fun on the buggy ride?’ Dusty inquired.

‘Softest buggy I ever did ride,’ Waco told him. ‘How’s about those two cowhands I had the rim in with over Babsy last night?’

‘We brought ’em ’round and they apologized to you and Babsy in your absence, then went to collect their horses and head out to their outfit’s camp. Didn’t I hear somebody getting spanked last night?’

‘When?’ asked Waco innocently.

‘Right after you hauled Babsy out of sight; and before you say “Where?” it was behind the store next to the hotel.’

‘Now who’d go spanking a lady? Say, let’s go look over these new folks. Tolerable fine outfit they’ve come in with, four wagons of it.’

Laying aside the desk’s pen, Dusty crossed the room and took his hat from the peg in passing. With Waco at his side, he strolled along the street towards the building where four wagons stood in line. There were several empty buildings of various types along Main Street, but each day the number grew smaller as people flocked in to the prosperous and busy trail end town. It appeared that there would be another saloon competing for trade; and from the way men and women hurried back and forward, carrying tables, chairs and other equipment, the new owner intended to commence the competition as soon as possible.

Dusty recognized the big, buxom blonde woman who stood on the sidewalk and directed operations. Clearly the recognition was mutual for she smiled and came forward, holding out her right hand.

‘Howdy, Cap’n Fog,’ she greeted. ‘I heard tell you’d been made marshal down here. Gilgore’s the name, they call me Buffalo Kate.’

‘Right pleased to meet you, ma’am,’ Dusty replied, taking the woman’s hand. ‘Thanks for your warning that day back to Brownton.’

‘Think nothing of it. You’d the whip-hand of that bunch but I didn’t know if you’d recognized Fagan and took him for an honest lawman. I guess what you’d do when you left town, even before I saw Waldo Burkman and the other cattle-buyers pulling out.

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