Blood Trail: A Western Adventure Novel (A Sean Prentis Western Book 4) by Stuart G. Yates

Author:Stuart G. Yates [Yates, Stuart G.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: DS Productions
Published: 2022-04-18T00:00:00+00:00

13

Charlie came out of the merchant’s store, a gleaming Remington revolver in his hands. He was studying its fine lines with such intent that he did not notice Deputy Keyhoe stepping up next to him until the man clapped him on the shoulder, causing his heart to leap up into his throat.

“Glad to see you’re tooled up at long last, Charlie! Do you know how to use it?”

Charlie slipped the revolver into its newly purchased holster. “It’s a Remington Army, eighteen-seventy-five model.”

“Is that what the storekeeper told you, Charlie?”

“I know a little about guns, Sam. Not much. These past few years I have exchanged farming tools for shooting practice. Some days you could find me using an old Sharps to keep the wolves and coyotes from worrying my horses but … Yeah, I know a little about guns.”

Chuckling, Keyhoe turned and gestured toward the Sheriff’s office. “You told Adams about our plan?”

“Not exactly. He’s interested in the new guest at the hotel, though. Told me to wait there for him.”

“Oh …” Keyhoe appeared troubled. “Look, I’ll come clean with you, Charlie. You’re a man I can trust, I believe.”

Intrigued, Charlie stared long and hard at the young deputy. “Thank you. From where I’m standing, Sam, I’d say you were a man who is coming to a big decision.”

“You could say that.” He sucked in a deep breath. “I don’t get on with Adams. Never have. A lot of that is down to my daddy putting pressure on him to take me on as his deputy. Adams was never happy about that arrangement, made his feelings clear to me many times. He sees me as lazy, a good-for-nothing as he often says. But I ain’t, Charlie, I’m just unhappy at being a lawman. It’s not something I’m cut out for.”

“Then why not simply leave, Sam? You could—”

“You don’t know my daddy, Charlie. He is a man who does not accept the word ‘no’. Not from anyone, least of all me. So I’m stuck, trapped in a life I don’t want. But I’ve made a decision. I met Katy by chance, got talking and little by little we got to know one another. Real well, if you take my meaning. Thing is, as we’ve grown close over the last few months everything is now very clear in my mind.” With trembling fingers, he unpinned his badge of office from his shirt front, looked at it for a moment, then pressed it into Charlie’s hand. “Do me a favor, would you? Tell Adams I quit. I’m going to make my own way. I have my horse ready and I’ll be leaving directly.” He put out his hand. “I hope to meet up with you again one day, Charlie.”

They shook hands. Although he did not know this young man very well, Charlie felt a lump developing in his throat. “Me too, Sam.”

“You take care with that stranger, Charlie. I wish I could stay and help you but—”

“No, it’s all right, Sam. Adams and I can sort it if it needs sorting.

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