The Secret Bliss of Calliope Ipswich by McClure Marcia Lynn

Author:McClure, Marcia Lynn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Distractions Ink
Published: 2014-08-17T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

Anxiety pulsed thick in Rowdy’s veins as he dismounted Tucker in front of the livery early the next morning. He had hardly slept a wink—worrying about having seen the appaloosa in town again, thinking on the fact that Judge Ipswich had sent Fox Montrose packing, leaving Calliope free from an entanglement with him. Angst and worry had mingled with hope and gladness all night long, and now Rowdy felt ill-tempered from lack of rest.

“Mornin’ there, Rowdy,” Lou Smith greeted as Rowdy stepped into the livery. He smiled. “I figured I’d be seein’ you today, bein’ that the appaloosa you was wonderin’ over was stabled here again last night.”

Rowdy nodded and said, “Yep. That’s why I stopped in on you, Lou. I was wonderin’…did you happen to get the owner’s name this time?”

Lou nodded his affirmation with pride. “I sure did, Rowdy. The man’s name is Arness. That’s all he give me. I’m not sure if that’s a first name or a last name. He just said his name was Arness. I got the distinct feelin’ he didn’t care to let on anything else about himself.”

As nausea welled up inside him, Rowdy nodded once more. “I see,” he mumbled. “And I don’t suppose he was interested in sellin’ that horse neither.”

Lou shook his head. “No, sirree, he was not. Gave me the stink eye for even askin’.” Lou shrugged. “Guess you’ll have to run on up to Denver or down to Santa Fe if you’re still wantin’ to buy yourself an appaloosa, Rowdy.”

Rowdy exhaled a nervous sigh. “I guess so,” he said. “Thank you all the same, Lou. I appreciate it.” He offered a hand.

Lou struck hands with him and said, “You have yourself a nice day, all right, Rowdy?”

“Same to you, Lou,” Rowdy countered. “And thanks again.”

“Anytime, Rowdy.”

Outside the livery, Rowdy paused in mounting his horse. Leaning against Tucker’s belly, he folded his arms along his saddle and rested his head on them a moment. He felt as if he would vomit.

It was well he knew Arness and his appaloosa, Pronto—too well. Furthermore, he knew that where Arness Morrison went, so went Carson and Walker Morrison as well. The Morrison brothers were infamous for their thieving and murdering ways. They were outlaws—through and through outlaws, and as evil as outlaws came.

But why was Arness riding through Meadowlark Lake? The fact was that Rowdy already knew the answer; he just didn’t want to face the truth of it. If Arness had been to Meadowlark Lake twice already—spent the night at the inn and stabled Pronto in the livery both times—Rowdy knew Arness was looking for a new town to hole up in.

Over the past couple of years, Rowdy had wondered how long it would take the sheriff of Cochise County, Arizona—Texas John Slaughter—to run the Morrison brothers out of Tombstone. He’d heard that when Texas John Slaughter told an outlaw to leave, they left. Sheriff Slaughter was said to be judge, jury, and executioner in Tombstone. And with Arness riding

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