Bounty Killers by Paul Lederer

Author:Paul Lederer
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781480487871
Publisher: Open Road Media

SIX

Billy Gillis was being mauled by an unseen adversary. His face had been driven into the packed earth ground of the stable; his ribs were being hammered by clubbing fists. Billy twisted, writhed and fought back wildly until he was on his back, looking up into the flaccid, sadistic face of Virgil Spangler.

Spangler grinned with dark satisfaction and slammed his fist into Billy’s jaw before he could roll his head away from the incoming blow. Flailing wildly, Billy was suddenly aware of an intruding shadow. Virgil had his arm cocked, ready to hit Billy again when a hand reached in, grabbed Virgil by his collar and yanked him away. Virgil was panting, his fists pawing wildly at the air as he was cast aside.

Standing over Billy now was Cody Minor, wearing a neat white shirt and black string tie, his eyes amused. ‘You OK, boy?’ he asked. Virgil sat to one side, knees drawn up, dull-eyed and seething with anger.

‘What’ve we got here?’ someone else asked, and Billy rolled his head to see Pearly, hatless, approaching. Cody Minor turned to respond.

‘Couple of pups playin’,’ Cody said.

Rising to an elbow, Billy saw his cousin glance at Vida Minor who was standing nearby, her slender body rigid. Pearly nodded his understanding.

Virgil Spangler rose unsteadily and complained to Cody: ‘He was mauling Vida. All over her. I saw it!’

‘Vida can take care of herself,’ Cody said coldly. ‘If she can’t – I’m her brother, and I take care of things, understand me, Virgil?’

Virgil intended to say something else, but the dark eyes of Cody Minor blunted his retort. He answered the gunman in a near whisper.

‘Yes, sir, Mr Minor.’ Then, still simmering, he clomped away, sparing Billy a single poisonous glance across his shoulder.

‘The kid’s not too bright,’ Cody Minor said to Billy, to Pearly or to himself. He leaned down, stuck out a hand and tugged Billy to his feet.

Billy stood swaying, then stepped back to lean against the side of the water wagon. Vida gave him one glance and then started off toward the house, followed by Pearly and Cody. Billy was left alone in the empty yard for a few minutes. He straightened, sucked in a deep breath and went to the lean-to stable where he rinsed his face and hands in the horse trough, wiping back his dark curly hair. He spent a few minutes visiting his dun pony, who alone seemed happy to see him. Beyond the lean-to Billy could see the sky slowly begin to redden as the sun heeled over toward the western peaks.

He hated this life! Hated everything about it, everything that was sure to come. He wanted nothing more than to leave, to follow the nameless man down the rugged trail to nowhere …

But there was Vida. He wanted her even more than his freedom, his safety, his life. Slowly, heavily, Billy replaced his hat and started back toward the ranch house.

He entered it to find Vida recounting the story of the men at

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