The Honor of the Badge by Scott Connor

Author:Scott Connor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Culbin Press
Published: 2022-02-14T00:00:00+00:00

Sundown found Lincoln hunched over a coffee. The pungent fumes hadn’t cleared his mind, as he couldn’t move past the fact that Moulton had been right and that, since coming to East Town, he had conducted his investigation poorly.

He had resisted the urge to seek solace in liquor and he had chosen the Northern Star, a saloon on the opposite side of town to the bridge which, apparently, the bridge workers never visited. Nobody had approached him, so when a man stopped before his table in the corner with a whiskey bottle and two glasses in hand, Lincoln waved him away.

The man didn’t move. Lincoln raised his head to find it was Stewart Montague.

“You’re taking a risk being seen in public,” Lincoln said.

Stewart shrugged as he sat down. He lined up the glasses and poured them both generous measures.

“I’m not,” Stewart said calmly. “Nobody knows who I am or what I do, but don’t get any ideas. My men are here and if you try anything, this whiskey will be leaking out of a dozen holes.”

Lincoln took the offered drink. While he sipped it, he confirmed that Stewart had told the truth.

“I don’t need a gun to destroy you. One word about who you once were and who I still am will finish you.”

Stewart gulped his whiskey. “They already know. Before, I was secretive only to save you, not to save myself.”

Lincoln snorted with disbelief. “Sending men to kill me is an odd way of saving my life.”

“Daniel Tobin and Kimball Sutherland were my biggest rivals to become the new leader.” Stewart smiled. “I reckoned two armed men would be no match for you, so I used you to help me secure my position.”

“Gloating was never your way. Why are you here?”

“I’m a quicker draw and I have a better aim than you have, but I don’t want to have to kill you. So I owe you one attempt to make you give up before it’s too late. Luckily, you have a way out, as I’ve heard the rumor you’re finished since clearly your judgment is no longer—”

“My judgment is fine!” Lincoln said, gripping his glass tightly. “I reckoned you were the finest lawman I’ve ever known and you could be again. It’s not too late for you, either. Turn your back on this life.”

Lincoln withdrew Stewart’s badge from his pocket, the one he had kept for the last six months, and placed it on the table. When he raised his hand, Stewart planted a finger on the badge and flicked it back at him.

“If you get a new badge, throw them both away.” Stewart filled their glasses. “That’s your only option now.”

“You once told me I should never forget the honor that wearing this badge brings.” Lincoln picked up the badge. “So I live to bring you to justice, or to make you wear this again.”

“Such choices are irrelevant. Whether we wear a badge or not, we all end up in the same place.”

Lincoln sipped his whiskey, nodding as he considered one element of Stewart’s recent history.

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