The Intruders by William W. Johnstone

Author:William W. Johnstone
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pinnacle Books
Published: 2021-04-19T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20

Dr. Emily Downs struggled to keep up with Trammel’s long strides as they walked back to her wagon. “Well, what do you think?”

He grabbed hold of her by the waist and hoisted her into the wagon box without asking her first. She normally would have taken offense at him handling her like she was a child but knew there was no malice behind it. He was so troubled by their conversation with Charles Hagen that he probably had not even realized he had done it.

During their short time together, Emily Downs had learned that there was a time and place to talk to Buck Trammel and this was not it.

He climbed atop the horse he had borrowed from Elias’s livery as she snapped the reins and got her horse to begin pulling the wagon back down the hill toward Blackstone.

As cumbersome as it may be at times, Emily Downs had grown fond of using her wagon instead of a single horse. She had always found riding sidesaddle almost as uncomfortable as a regular saddle. And the wagon afforded her more room to haul things if and when she needed it. In her line of work, she never knew when she might need the extra room, especially given what was happening in Blackstone these days.

She watched Buck grind his teeth as he rode his own horse beside her. She knew he normally rode much faster than this but was riding slower for her sake. She could tell he was upset by their conversation with King Hagen. He always ground his teeth when he was annoyed.

She waited until they were well out of earshot of the ranch house before saying, “Enough brooding, Buck. What did you think of our talk with King Charles?”

“I think there’s more horse poop in that den than there is on this road,” Trammel said. “Bookman didn’t keep a diary, nor that handbill neither. Bookman and the others didn’t ride into town on some crusade. He did it on Hagen’s orders just so he could hit Adam where it hurt most. And do you want to know the worst part? I’m kind of sorry Bookman didn’t get his way.”

“You don’t mean that,” Emily said. “Think of all the people who would have died.”

“Most of them are already dead,” Trammel said. “Their bodies just haven’t figured it out yet. As for the Celestials, it would’ve taken Hagen a while to replace them and the laudanum, too. Would’ve made Blackstone a livable town again. There’s no denying that.”

Trammel spat off to the side of his horse and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Now all we’ve got is a big mess brewing with that damned march of Albertson’s only a few days away.”

Emily hoped her services would not be needed during the march, but she was also a realist. “I wonder where Mr. Hagen got that handbill for the march. I agree it wasn’t in Bookman’s place.”

“Probably got that with the rest of his mail or found it someplace.

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