The Lawbringers 6 by Brian Garfield

Author:Brian Garfield
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: miners, death wish, gunfighters, the old west, revenge story, western ebooks, piccadilly publishing, wild west stories, western adventures, best western eboook
Publisher: Piccadilly

The gruel Owney Nash provided as breakfast was all but inedible. Hazard swallowed it because he had to. He refused to satisfy Nash by acting hungry; he simply ignored the tiny deputy when Nash came and went. Nash shouted curses at him and Hazard paid no attention. Presently, livid with rage, Nash slammed out of the jailhouse.

Evelyn Miles came down with her father at ten o’clock. Old Zachary Miles looked drawn and beaten. He said, “I’m sorry as hell about this, Jason. Sorry about Joe Lawrence and sorry about you. Listen, I can rip this ramshackle hoosegow down around Owney Nash’s ears and get you out of here.”

“No,” Hazard said. “Wait for the trial, Zach—let them have their fun.”

There was something out of place in the look Evelyn gave him. She stood beyond the bars looking preoccupied. There was a strange set to her features: determined, slightly angry, and yet still so beautiful he could not help but be stirred.

Zachary Miles said quietly, “Vicky Lawrence came to me last night. She wanted me to buy her mine. Said she didn’t want to run it any more, now that Joe’s gone. I couldn’t help her out—we’re just about flat broke ourselves. My last two payrolls were hi-jacked on the coach road, and just this morning there was a cave-in down in number seven shaft that will set us back three weeks. Vicky told me she was going to see about selling the mine to Vic Olsen.”

Evelyn said coolly, “At least Vic seems capable of handling his business affairs.”

The use of Olsen’s first name was not lost on Hazard, but he said nothing. Her father was staring angrily at the girl. “The man’s a cheap crook, Evelyn, and you know it. I wouldn’t doubt for an instant that he was behind those payroll robberies.”

“What if he was? At least it’s better than murder.” Evelyn’s pale eyes clashed defiantly with her father’s.

Inside the cell, Hazard watched her face, and felt a slow hollow emptiness creep into his heart. He had a feeling he knew exactly what Evelyn was going to say to him.

But Zachary Miles seemed blind to that; perhaps his own misfortunes had dulled him. He managed a ragged smile and said, “Well, I’ll leave you two alone. I understand you’ve got a lawyer—Ted Logan’s a good man. As good as you’ll find in this bailiwick, anyhow. Evelyn, I’ll leave it up to you to cheer him up. Anything you need, Jason?”

Hazard shook his head. Miles glanced at his daughter and walked slowly out.

When her father was gone the girl moved up against the bars and put her fists around them. “Well, Jason?”

“You’ve got something to say,” he said. “Go ahead.”

“Kiss me, first.” She pressed her face between the bars. “Please, Jason.”

Her lips were cool, all but unresponsive; but then she reached through the bars and clutched his collar, drawing him forward. Her mouth opened and he felt a sudden heat in her kiss. Then, just as abruptly, she drew back and laughed at him—a brittle, cold laughter that made him narrow his eyes and clamp his lips tight.

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