Tin Badge by Len Levinson

Author:Len Levinson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: civil war, old west, john stone, len levinson, josh edwards, pul western fiction, the searcher
Publisher: Piccadilly Publishing

In his luxurious bedroom, John Stone strapped on his two gunbelts. He put on his hat and left the room, descending the stairs to the main floor of the mansion.

He entered the vestibule, and Esmeralda opened the front door for him. Stone stopped in front of her and gazed down at her face. “You know, you look an awful lot like my old mammy,” he said in his southern drawl. “Been meaning to tell you that.”

“Was she good to you?” Esmeralda asked.

“I loved her with all my heart.”

Esmeralda beamed, and Stone walked out the door. He crossed the veranda and descended the steps that led to the walkway, on the way to his second night as deputy sheriff of Petie.

It was dark, and another full moon hung in the sky over the mountains in the distance. Stone was thinking about the discussion he’d had with Mayor Randlett and Jennifer at the dinner table earlier. It was clear that they wanted to oust Sheriff Rawlins and install him, John Stone, as sheriff. He knew the Randletts would continue their efforts to recruit him, and he wouldn’t be able to get away from their pressure because he was living underneath their roof.

There was another problem with living in the Randlett mansion, and that was Jennifer herself. She was a pretty little thing, and Stone was attracted to her. He thought she was attracted to him too. Sooner or later they’d be alone together in a room of the mansion, and anything could happen.

Stone didn’t want anything to happen, because he was engaged to Marie. I’ve got to find another place to live, he thought.

He was reluctant to move out of the Randlett mansion, because he loved the luxury, but he’d have to move out if he wanted to get some peace of mind. I’ll ask around tonight. Should be able to find something suitable.

In a few minutes he was in the center of Petie, approaching the door of the sheriff’s office, and he noticed that the new window had been installed. The door was unlocked and he pushed it open, seeing Buck Rawlins seated behind his desk. The other desk was vacant; Pritchard had gone home for the day.

“Evening, Sheriff,” Stone said, trying to be friendly.

Rawlins looked up from the shotgun he was cleaning on his desk. “What the hell you think you was doin’ last night?” he asked roughly. “A lawman don’t git into brawls with people. When that cowpoke took a broken bottle on you, you should’ve shot him. You ain’t afraid to shoot somebody, are you?”

“Yesterday when I asked you what the job involved, you wouldn’t tell me anything.”

“I ain’t yer nursemaid. If you didn’t know nothin’ about the job, you shouldn’t’ve took it.”

“I needed the money.”

Rawlins snapped his shotgun together and glowered at Stone. “You want my job, don’t you?”

“I’m leaving this town as soon as my month is up.”

Rawlins snorted. Without another word or even a glance at Stone, he picked up the shotgun and headed for the door.

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