The Man from Waco by William W. Johnstone

Author:William W. Johnstone
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pinnacle Books
Published: 2024-02-12T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

“I’m ready to go now,” Wick Justice announced. “Are you ready, Elwood?” Elwood replied that he was ready. “I reckon I don’t have to ask you, John. I know you’re ready to get out of this office.”

Bannack broke out one of his seldom used grins and said, “Yes, sir, it is kinda like a prison cell, only a lot bigger.”

“Maybe that’s the reason I like riding the circuit better than these sessions in the capital,” the judge said. “Do you have that feeling, too, Elwood?”

“No, sir,” Elwood answered. “If I have to be honest, I have to say I like it better in town.”

They walked out into the hallway and stood for a moment while Elwood locked the door to the outer office. There was a man standing a short distance down the hallway who seemed to be taking a casual interest in them. He was taller than average, a rather slender-looking man, dressed in black shirt, trousers, and hat. Bannack noticed all that in a glance and he also noticed the holster riding just right for a quick draw. The man said nothing but continued to watch them until they walked out the door at the end of the hall.

When they had gone, Trace walked back and tapped on Judge Grant’s door. When Spencer opened the door, Trace said, “I saw him. He’s a big cat all right. I’ll show him what happens to big cats who come around here lookin’ for trouble.”

“You’ve got to get him to stand up to you in a duel,” Judge Grant immediately reminded him. “I don’t want to see you in my court on a murder charge.”

“That won’t be no problem,” Trace assured him. “He’ll either fight or run. Either way, he ain’t gonna be around to bother you.”

“I prefer him dead,” Grant confessed.

“You’re the boss,” Trace replied and turned to leave.

* * *

“Evenin’, Judge Justice,” Sam Garland greeted them when they got to the stable. “I brought your horses up front for you. They’ve been fed and watered. I gave ’em a portion of grain, like you said. I saddled yours and Mr. Wilson’s horses. I tried to saddle that buckskin you rode in on,” he said to Bannack. “But he made it pretty plain to me that he don’t want no saddle, so I gave up after a couple of times. I figured it weren’t no use gettin’ him all riled up.”

“He can be cantankerous,” Bannack said. “He just needs to know he ain’t been sold again, I reckon. I’ll take care of him.” The judge and Elwood were already in the saddle, so he said, “You can go on. I’ll saddle him and catch up with ya.” When the judge hesitated, Bannack said, “If I don’t catch up, I know the way back.” It wouldn’t have taken him but a minute to saddle the buckskin, but he wanted to take a couple of minutes to give the horse a little attention.

“Well, we aren’t going to be riding that fast, anyway.

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