Free Longarm and the Yuma Prison by Tabor Evans

you took adjoining rooms at the Oasis Hotel.”
    Longarm blew a ring of smoke out toward the street, then he turned and looked at the stranger. “You seem to be a real observant sort of fella.”
    â€œIt’s my job.”
    â€œThen you must be Marshal Jeb Beeson.”
    The man inhaled deeply and let the smoke drain through his nostrils. “I
know
who I am, but the question is . . . who the hell are you and what are you doing with the Ray girl?”
    â€œWhat if I told you we were planning to get married and she wanted me to meet her father up on the hill this coming Sunday afternoon?”
    The marshal was silent for a moment. “Well, I’d say that was a good and reasonable thing to do. However, if you were to stay in my town, then I’d probably come to believe that you weren’t being completely honest about why you came to Yuma.”
    â€œI guess what you’ll have to do is to wait until next Monday to find out if Miss Ray and I are on the outbound train.”
    â€œBut you see, mister, I’m a very curious man and also an impatient one. So I don’t intend to wait until next Monday if you’re intending to stay here.”
    Longarm came to his feet. “Last I heard, Marshal Beeson, this was a free country where a man can come and go as he damn well pleases. So if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to say good night.”
    The marshal came to his feet. He was almost as tall as Longarm and probably twenty pounds heavier. “What is your name?”
    â€œCustis. Custis Long.”
    â€œWell, Mr. Custis Long, Yuma is no place to get married or have your honeymoon. If you have any sense at all, you had better be headed out of town with Miss Ray come Monday or I’m going to have all kinds of unpleasant questions for you to answer.”
    â€œI understand,” Longarm told the man as he walked away.
    â€œLong! You don’t want to cross me!”
    â€œNo, sir,” Longarm called back over his shoulder. “Wouldn’t dream of doin’ such a foolish thing as that.”
    â€œGlad to hear it, and congratulations on catching such a pretty woman even though she sure ain’t goin’ to be no virgin bride.”
    That last comment stopped Longarm dead in his tracks. He took a deep breath, turned, and walked back to stand toe-to-toe with the town marshal. “Marshal Beeson, you are not a gentleman and I don’t like you very much.”
    Beeson laughed and blew smoke in Longarm’s face. “Mister, you are a big man and you look tough. But I’m the most bad-assed fella you ever came across and my two deputies aren’t choir boys. So if you value your health and you really intend to marry that girl, I’d suggest you be on the train come Monday morning.”
    Longarm withdrew the cigar from his mouth and studied it for a moment, then he smiled, shoved the cigar back into his mouth and walked away. He was just itching to jam that cigar down the marshal’s throat, burning end first. Yet, the marshal had given him three full days to investigate and gain some answers before Monday. And considering that as a gift, Longarm decided to let the mean-spirited and uncalled-for remark about Jessica not being a virgin bride pass.

Chapter 11
    Longarm sat across the table from Jessica and watched her finish her breakfast. “What are you up to today?”
    â€œI’m going to open a bank account and put my house sale money where it’s safe.”
    â€œGood idea.”
    â€œThen I’m going to go see an attorney named Kent Hamilton and see if he wants to take on the establishment here in Yuma and try to get my father’s sentence overturned.”
    â€œYou want me to go along with you?”
    â€œNo,” Jessica said. “Kent is honest and he’s always been very smitten with me. I think he’d do a good job for my father.”
    â€œHe may not even want to get involved,”