Shotgun by Courtney Joyner

Author:Courtney Joyner [Joyner, Courtney]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Westerns
ISBN: 9780786032334
Google: CVwiAQAAQBAJ
Goodreads: 19200965
Publisher: Pinnacle Books
Published: 2013-12-03T05:00:00+00:00

Devlin Bishop leaned back against the cell wall, almost totally lost in the complete dark that swallowed it. Even though he was just feet away in the same cell, all Dev could see of Beaudine was the shape of a man, sitting on the floor, with something resting on his knees. Not that Dev cared. He knew what his cellmate looked like, and more importantly, what he was worth.

Beaudine hunched over the student’s tablet using the nub of a pencil to write on cream laid stationery. “We’re truly suffering without a pen.”

Dev half-smiled. “We’re suffering anyway,” he said and then, quietly: “And me, for not much longer.”

“I meant this letter is your will and testament, Dev. It should have permanence.”

“I don’t get a real funeral. So if that can be read when I’m gone, it’s enough.”

“No need to fret, it’ll be read.”

“Just what I said?”

Beaudine continued writing. “Exactly your words.”

Dev traced the edges of his moustache with his fingers, neatening its edges. “Maybe you could write something out for the hangman. Make sure things go just right.”

“I don’t think you’ve got much choice in that.”

Dev shut his eyes for just a moment. “Just thinking out loud,” he said, and then he snapped his eyes open at the sound of footsteps coming toward the cell, accompanied by the ghost of a yellow light.

One of the prisoners yelled from another cell, “Is that chow comin’?”

Dev Bishop sat up, wiping the stink of the Tomb from his eyes, as he focused on the man now standing by his cell door. Dev answered back, “It ain’t chow! I’ll be damned if it ain’t my baby brother.”

John Bishop stood near the bars, but not too close, with Smythe holding the candle just over his shoulder. Beaudine was on the edge of the tiny circle of candlelight.

“It’s a fine thing to see you at last.”

Dev took the five steps to the door. “You should introduce yourself, Major. It’s been so long, my brother may think you’re me.”

“I recognize you, Dev.”

“Don’t see how. I never favored Ma or Pa, except her temper. And we sure don’t look alike, but you haven’t changed. Even as a kid, polished and respectable. But I guess brothers always know each other.” Dev gestured toward Beaudine, who kept on writing. “The invitation to come was the major’s. He’s the reason you’re here, Johnny. He puts down my thoughts better than I ever could.”

“I’m here because of you. No offense, sir.”

Beaudine didn’t look up. “None offered, none taken.”

“I’d want to see you, whether you wrote or not.”

Smythe yawned. “And when are you bein’ hung, boy-o?”

Dev paused as if he was figuring his answer. “Four days.”

“Good. I’ve got duty that Wednesday. Wouldn’t want to miss it.”

Bishop said, “Can I talk to my brother?”

“I ain’t stopping you.”

Dev extended his hand through the narrow opening between the bars. “I wish we could have met at the Metropolitan House instead, but fate stepped in. They call this part of the prison the Tomb, ’cause it feels like you’re buried.

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