The Collected Short Stories of Louis L'Amour, Volume 1 by Louis L'Amour

Author:Louis L'Amour
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
ISBN: 9780553898842
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2003-01-28T16:00:00+00:00

In the kitchen, Kate Breslin had taken an old .31 Colt from her valise, and she slipped it into Ruth’s hand. “Only if the chance is just right,” she whispered. “Then give it to him.”

Pete walked out to the road. “Not much more time, Lute.”

“No.” Lute glanced around the room. “They don’t know the women are here, anyway. They can’t know, with the only stage since Burnett was hurt going out the other way. We’ll hide them … put ’em in Burnett’s room.”

Tracey got up. “What about Talon?”

Ruth came into the room and crossed to the table where Talon sat. Lute watched her with bright interest, never missing a move. The butt of the little Colt was visible to Talon from under Ruth’s apron, but he carefully ignored it. Ruth fussed with the dishes, waiting, and suddenly Robeck began to laugh.

“He’s yellow! Yellow! Ruthie, you picked yourself the wrong man!”

Ruth turned away from the table and instantly Robeck motioned to Tracey, who grabbed the girl and shoved her across to Robeck, who jerked the apron from her, and the gun. “You little fool!” He slapped her wickedly across the mouth. “Who do you think you’re fooling?” He shoved her back against the counter and slapped her again. Instantly, she lashed out and slapped him, then kicked him on the shins. There was a momentary struggle, and then he shoved the girl from him and slapped her again, thrusting the pistol into his waistband.

Talon stood flat-footed, watching, but making no move away from the table. His expression had not changed as he watched the brief struggle. When it was over he stepped over and helped the girl to her feet. Angrily, Ruth jerked away from him. “Don’t touch me, you coward!” she flared.

Robeck laughed.

Pete ran in from the road. “Here she comes!” he said.

Tracey grabbed Ruth and shoved her toward the bedroom door. Robeck stood watching Talon and smiling. “No hurry,” he said. “They’re bringing it right to us.”

Tracey ordered Kate from the kitchen and into the bedroom. “If they make a wrong move,” Robeck ordered, “use your gun barrel. And I don’t care how hard you hit.”

Lute Robeck walked to the door and looked out. The stage was rolling into the yard. “All right.” He gestured to Talon. “Walk out there ahead of us and don’t say anything or make a wrong move.”

Whatever happened now would depend on fast thinking and breaks, and the shotgun guard must do some fast thinking, too. He walked outside with Lute beside him; Jones and Pete moved up behind. Talon angled toward the stage, knowing the men behind him would spread out. If the shotgun guard started shooting, which Robeck well knew, Talon would be the first man killed.

The stage whirled into the yard and came to an abrupt stop in a cloud of dust. The shotgun guard was staring from the door to the waiting men, and as Talon slowly turned he saw a rifle barrel glinting from the bedroom window.… Tracey was going to kill the guard.

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