Sunset Trail by Wayne D. Overholser

Author:Wayne D. Overholser
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.
Published: 2008-10-23T16:00:00+00:00

IX

No one made a move for several minutes after Jerry Corrigan left the house. Matt lay on the couch, listening for the buggy to wheel on down the street. Nora and Jean remained where they had been when Corrigan left, their heads cocked as if they, too, were listening. Sammy Bean stood a few feet from Jean, his right hand on the butt of his gun, his gaze on the girl. John Smith, standing near the foot of the stairs, was the most relaxed person in the room.

“He’s gone,” Smith said after the silence had run on until it had become unbearable to Matt. “You were stupid, young lady.” He nodded at Jean. “Next time you had better find out what the situation is before you ask the sheriff to stay overnight.”

Jean turned to stare at Smith. “It’s time somebody told me what the situation is,” she snapped. “Who are you and why are you here?”

“I’m John Smith,” he said. “We have come to rob the bank, with your father’s assistance, of course.”

“That’s a bad joke,” she said. “I want to know why you’re here and telling this crazy lie about being my cousins.”

“It’s no joke,” Smith said, nodding at Matt. “Ask your father.”

“I’m afraid they have a plan to rob the bank, all right,” Matt said. “They think I’ll bring ten thousand dollars home at noon tomorrow and they’ll ride out of the town with the money while everybody’s excited about the governor getting here.”

Jean’s face had turned pale. “I don’t believe this is real. I must be having a nightmare.”

“It’s not a nightmare,” Smith said, “though if any of you, including your sheriff friend, fail to cooperate, it will turn out to be a hell of a nightmare. Believe me.” He motioned at Matt. “Stand up. I want to see if you can. Sammy may have slugged you harder than I intended. You’ve got to be feeling good tomorrow.”

Matt rose from the couch. Again he thought his head would explode, but he stood motionlessly for a few seconds as the floor pitched and rolled in front of him. Gradually the hammering inside his skull faded to a dull headache as the floor leveled out so that it appeared normal.

“Are you all right?” Nora asked anxiously.

“Sure, I’m fine,” Matt answered.

“Good.” Smith nodded at Nora. “Missus Dugan, you and Jean might as well sit down. You won’t be going to bed for a while.” He turned to Matt. “Dugan, where are your guns?”

Matt motioned toward the hall door. “Yonder in a room we call my office. Bring a lamp,” Matt suggested, and walked toward the hall door.

He moved slowly because he was still dizzy. He stopped and clenched his fists as the floor started to whirl in front of him again. When it stopped, he went on. Smith picked up a lamp from the center table and caught up with him, calling back to Nora: “Missus Dugan, you explain to Jean why it will be a nightmare if she doesn’t co-operate!”

Smith followed Matt across the hall into the room on the other side.

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