Slocum and the Hired Gun by Jake Logan

Author:Jake Logan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group

Carl Jimson had finished up his breakfast of ham and eggs and was walking down the street toward the governor’s office in the capitol. Buttermilk was lurking in the shadows between two buildings along the way. He thought that he had kept himself well hidden. He had moved out ahead of Jimson, knowing that Jimson would make a beeline for the capital, and he meant to keep his eyes on his boss to make sure that the old man ran into no trouble. He hadn’t yet seen Snider that morning. As Jimson walked by the narrow passageway where Buttermilk was skulking, he said, “You might as well come on out of there, Buttermilk.”

Buttermilk, humiliated, came out, but Jimson had not slowed his pace. Buttermilk hurried to catch up and walk alongside Jimson. “How’d you know I was in there?” Buttermilk said. “I thought I was pretty well hid.”

“Hell, I’ve known you were following me since yesterday morning,” Jimson said. “Whose bright idea was that anyhow?”

“Aw, Slocum told me I had ought to follow along,” said Buttermilk, “just in case them men of Young’s should try anything else. You know, after they had tried to stop the coach. You ain’t mad about it, are you?”

“No,” Jimson said. “I appreciate your concern. Slocum’s, too. But I don’t think they’ll try anything here in the capital. There’s too many lawmen here in this town.”

“They might try again on your way back home though,” Buttermilk said. “And besides that, one of them’s here.”

Jimson stopped walking and turned to look Buttermilk in the face.

“Here at the capital?” he said. “One of Young’s men?”

“Yes sir,” said Buttermilk. “That’s right. He come along behind me out on the trail, and I fell back and got behind him. He ain’t tried nothing yet. He’s just been keeping an eye on you. Hell, I imagine he’s watching us right now. It’s that Snider is who it is.”

“His assignment might just be to find out what I accomplish here,” Jimson said. “If he had anything more in mind, he wouldn’t likely be alone. Well, keep a sharp lookout just to make sure he don’t try anything more than spying.”

“Yes sir,” Buttermilk said. Jimson started walking again at his previous brisk pace. In a few more minutes, the two men walked together into the big capital. Outside the governor’s office, Jimson said to Buttermilk, “Wait here.” Then, as Buttermilk took a chair, he moved on over to a receptionist sitting behind a desk. “Hello. I’m Carl Jimson,” he said. “I’m here to see Governor Davis.”

“Do you have an appointment?” the lady asked.

“No,” Jimson said, “but my business is urgent, and if you’ll just announce me, I’m sure the governor will see me.”

“The governor is very busy today, Mr. Jenson,” the receptionist said. “Let me make you an appointment for—”

“I rode a stagecoach for two days to get here,” Jimson said. “I have some serious business to discuss with Bob, and my name is Jimson, not Jenson. Now if you don’t go in there and tell him I’m out here, I’ll just barge on in unannounced.

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