The Loner 23 by Sheldon B. Cole

Author:Sheldon B. Cole [Cole, Sheldon B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: action hero, Colt .45, Elmore Leonard, gunslingers, Louis L'Amour, Piccadilly Publishing, Pulp fiction writing, The Wild West, Western `frontier Fiction, Western series
Publisher: Piccadilly
Published: 2023-05-31T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five – Kill Trail!

THE MAIN STREET was deathly quiet when Rick Jodel and Bart Riviner left Jolly Harper’s saloon just before closing time. Riviner’s uneasiness on learning of Durant’s presence in town, became steadily stronger as he witnessed the growth of Jodel’s black mood during the night. All night Jodel had said nothing, completely unaware of any activity around him. But Riviner knew, from past experience, that Jodel was on the verge of cutting loose.

They’d walked a dozen paces down the deserted boardwalk when Les Ducane rode into town from the south trail. Jodel halted and his black eyes swung onto the closed door of the jailhouse.

Riviner asked, “What about him?”

“We’ll wait him out,” Jodel said and rested against an overhang post, his hands resting on his gunbelt.

Ducane slowed his horse to an easy walk and approached the jailhouse warily.

Without a word to Riviner, Rick Jodel crossed to the opposite boardwalk.

“No matter what, Durant’s mine,” Jodel said.

“Tonight?” Riviner asked.

“If it comes to that. You mess me up, Riviner, I’ll kill you,” Jodel said.

Riviner wiped sweat from his face and cleaned his hands down the side of his Levi’s. He must want Durant real bad, he thought.

Jodel moved on, walking silently through the dark. He quickened pace only when Les Ducane entered the jailhouse, with his gun against Bo Hemingway’s belly. By the time Jodel reached the open doorway, Hemingway was bellowing:

“What the hell you think you’re doing, Ducane? Hold a gun on me and I’ll kick your teeth in.”

“Shut down,” grated Ducane, then Jodel stepped into the doorway, gun in hand. Riviner moved up behind him, keeping his gun holstered, but with hands clenched into fists, ready to hammer anybody who got in his way.

Jodel said, flatly, “That’s as far as your play goes, range man. Drop the gun.”

Ducane spun on his heel, saw Jodel and froze. His gun fell to the floor. His face was tight with rage.

Jodel merely moved across the room and pointed a finger at Durant and said, “To get to him you’ve got to go through me, Ducane. You aren’t up to that.”

Ducane’s breathing quickened before he grated, “Damn you, Jodel, this isn’t your affair. That bastard murdered my wife.”

“I say he didn’t,” Jodel replied easily.

Ducane was taken back. “How would you know, Jodel? You a friend of his? You throwin’ in with a woman-killer?”

Jodel shook his head. “I say he didn’t do it.” His mean-eyed stare moved from one man to the other as Blake Durant came to the cell bars and waited.

Hemingway lifted his hands but growled, “So help me, Ducane, I’ll see you behind bars for this. Durant’s innocent until proved guilty in court. And I’m not letting you take the law into your own hands.”

“This polecat bastard’s mine,” Ducane stressed, moving towards the cell door. Jodel nodded to his sidekick, and despite the cold sweat running down his neck, Riviner lunged at Ducane. Ducane sensed what was about to happen. He turned just as Riviner swung his gun. The gun smashed across Ducane’s forearm and flew from Riviner’s fingers.

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