Return to Backsight by J. T. Edson

Author:J. T. Edson [Edson, J. T.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

I SMELL TROUBLE

Coming along Backsight’s main street at noon, Mark Counter grinned at Dusty Fog and studied the deserted sidewalks On the outskirts of the town, Doc Leroy held the remuda with the aid of a couple of youngsters from Caldwell’s wagon train Three men would have found difficulty in holding so many horses, so Dusty decided to accept Caldwell’s offer that they travel along with the train During the remainder of the trip, some of the youngsters travelling West helped handle the horses and learned many useful lessons in animal management Reaching Backsight, the travellers halted their wagons pending a visit to the Land Office to learn where they might build their permanent homes. Doc knew that Dusty and Mark looked forward to meeting their friends in Backsight, so suggested that he hold the remuda while the other two rode into town

‘Let’s wake them up a mite,’ Mark said, drawing his off-side Colt and aiming its nose into the air Thumbing off three shots, he gave out a wild cowhand yell The doors of the Bismai Eating House, before which they sat, burst open and Maisie appeared, a double-barrelled ten- gauge shotgun in her hands. Anger showed on her face, but it died, to be replaced by relief as she recognised the two Texans

‘I always knew old Biscuits was lazy,’ grinned Dusty, ‘but I never figured he’d have you doing his law work for him, Maisie ’

‘Where is the fattest marshal west of the Pecos?’ Mark went on

‘In the back,’ Maisie replied, the shotgun’s barrels slanting down to the ground. ‘He was shot last night ’ Pin-wheeling his Colt back into its holster, Mark dropped from the bloodbay and Dusty swung out of his paint’s saddle ‘I’m sorry, Maisie,’ the blond giant stated.

‘You couldn’t have known,’ she answered

‘How’d it happen?’ asked Dusty, getting to the point without waste of time ‘And how bad is it?’

‘It could have been worse, but it’s pretty bad,’ Maisie answered, trying to keep any emotion from showing in her voice ‘He’s still unconscious, lost a lot of blood, so we don’t know much about how it happened ’

‘Is the doctor with him?’ Mark asked, thinking that maybe Doc Leroy’s services might be needed

‘He just left It’s Doctor Wilmott who came out on the train with us.’

‘He’s a good man,’ Dusty said

‘Where’d the shooting happen, Maisie?’ Mark inquired

‘At the edge of town Biscuits must have been making his late rounds when it happened The man shot him from the side, bullet went through his arm at the right. Doc says that’s what saved him ’ Only by exerting all her will-power could Maisie keep the anxiety and concern she felt for her husband out of her voice Yet she knew that every detail remembered might help in locating and identifying the man who shot Biscuits During the trip West and the early days of the town, Dusty had shown considerable ability as a lawman and Maisie wanted him to take charge of investigating the shooting

‘He was shot last night?’ Dusty asked

‘Shortly after midnight.

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