Counterfeit Lawman by Jackson Lowry & Ralph Compton

Author:Jackson Lowry & Ralph Compton [Lowry, Jackson & Compton, Ralph]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2022-03-29T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

Ike ignored the stares from the townspeople as he rode down the main street. More than one of the men touched a pistol stuck into his waistband or dangling in a holster, but no one drew. He took that as a good sign. Several women clutched at their companions’ arms and whispered in concern, but none pointed or called out for “something to be done.” He counted that as a success. Seeing a stranger riding through town with a dead body slung over the back of a horse wasn’t usual, even here on the border. If the town marshal kept a tight rein on folks, this might be the first time many of them had seen such a sight.

He rode slowly past a saloon. Although it was getting toward nightfall, the place was subdued. He heard someone playing a banjo inside, but no one sang along. The expected cloud of smoke boiling outward was thin, and if two lanterns were lit inside, it’d be a surprise. Dark, grim, not the common saloon.

“Eagle Pass isn’t a place for wild partying,” he decided. He had money in his pocket. Since the depot was empty and he’d missed the train Lily rode, he was stuck here for a spell. Or maybe not. He had a horse now. There wasn’t any real reason to keep heading northward after the woman. By now she might be halfway to El Paso.

He drew rein and looked down at a man that could only be described as a short drink of water. Standing barely five-two, the man tried to look taller with a big-crowned hat. He wore a gaudy vest, with red and white stripes running vertically to give an added illusion of height. If his legs hadn’t been so bowed, he might have stood an extra couple inches tall, but Ike saw there wasn’t any reason for the man to puff himself up.

All the authority he needed was there for everyone to see.

He wore a huge shiny silver badge on his coat. Just in case he encountered someone not paying attention, the lawman ran his fingers under his lapels and thrust out the badge far enough that a blind man couldn’t miss it.

“You got yourself a curious set of saddlebags, Mister,” the marshal observed with a wry grin. “Any reason you’re bringing in a body all covered with flies and creating such a public health hazard?”

Ike dismounted and stretched. He wasn’t the tallest man in the world, but he towered over the Eagle Pass marshal.

“He robbed the train from San Antonio,” he said without exchanging any of the usual pleasantries since the lawman had launched right into criticism. “The robbery had the air of being done by an owlhoot who’d done such a thing before. I stopped him and thought there might be a reward on his head.”

“Did you, now?” The marshal walked around, grabbed a handful of greasy hair and lifted. He made a face. “Can’t abide with corpses getting all mushy like this.” He dropped the head.

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