The Fires of Hell by William W. Johnstone

Author:William W. Johnstone
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pinnacle Books
Published: 2022-11-07T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 23

“Problem is,” Matt McCulloch said, “my plan most likely will get us all killed.”

He lowered his voice, and laid it out as simply as he could. Hell, it had to be simple. There wasn’t anything complex to his idea.

The expressions on Jed Breen’s and Sean Keegan’s faces were about the way McCulloch had imagined.

Breen bit his bottom lip, then spoke with measured tones. “If Boss Linden and his Comancheros get their hands on those cartridges, we will have company in the boneyards.”

“Aye,” Keegan said. “This whole country would be running red with blood.”

McCulloch nodded. “You don’t have to go. Won’t be any hard feelings. I know the risks. But I got to take them.”

Breen started to speak again, but someone shouted, and all three men turned. A puny man was running toward them, waving something in his right hand.

“Karl Lamsdorf,” Breen said. “He’s the telegraph operator here.”

The man slowed down and lowered his hand holding the flimsy telegraph paper. He swallowed and tried to catch his breath, glancing at Breen and Keegan before wetting his lips and locking his eyes on McCulloch.

“Are you Matthew McCulloch, sir?”

“I am.” He held his stare on the little man. Would not, could not, look at the paper. He had never cared for telegrams. They were too cold, too informal. He wasn’t much for letters, either, though at least they felt personal. Truth was, McCulloch preferred to do his talking face-to-face. A man rarely misunderstood the message when words were spoken, or if he did, he could ask for a better explanation. And you could read in the man’s words, his breathing, his eyes what he was saying, know if he happened to be lying to your face.

“This . . . sir . . . it’s for you.”

His hand held the paper tightly that fluttered in the brisk wind.

McCulloch stared at it for a second, then took it into his own.

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