Free Killing Time In Eternity - Edge Series 4 by George G. Gilman Page B

by.’
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    Warner’s insecure smile wavered a little as his mouth line tightened. Then he shook his head and excused defensively: ‘I did my job as I saw fit, Miss Spencer. And as soon as the marshal told me it wasn’t the way he wanted it done, I quit. Ain’t that right, Ward?’
    ‘Water under the bridge, Clay.’ Flynt eyed Edge quizzically as he took up his reins and prompted: ‘You didn’t say why you were out here, mister? I saw you leave town. And awhile later I noticed that Miss Spencer rode out in the same direction. Some kind of romantic assignation?’ He smiled briefly, but deepening unease undermined his pretence at good humour.
    The woman snorted her irritation as Edge said: ‘Testing my new horse, marshal. And I happened to be headed back this way when the lady showed up.’
    ‘Happy coincidence,’ Warner muttered.
    ‘Coming from your twisted mind, I guess that’s intended to mean something dirty you didn’t say?’ Sue Ellen accused.
    Warner’s now more secure smile stayed firmly in place as he shrugged. ‘I just meant that I reckoned it’d be nice for any man out for a morning ride to meet up with a fine looking woman. That’s all I meant, Miss Spencer.’
    She countered vehemently: ‘I welcome a compliment from a man like you as much as I would the bite of a rattlesnake!’
    She jerked her mount into a wheel and angled him away from the railroad toward the trail on the other side of the hollow.
    ‘As I guess you’ve figured out, Edge, Sue Ellen Spencer and me ain’t exactly the best of friends,’ Warner rasped with a grimace.
    Edge said evenly: ‘I admire your taste in enemies, feller.’
    Flynt switched his gaze rapidly between the two men, the marshal clearly disturbed by the undisguised mutual dislike. ‘Clay and me are old friends , mister. Maybe we don’t exactly see eye to eye in the way to uphold law and order, but Clay’s had valuable experience all over the country. Tracking down wanted men and seeing that justice gets done. I brought him out here this morning to show him what little evidence there is to do with the way Billy Childs died.’
    ‘Hell, Ward, you don’t have to explain yourself to this guy!’ Warner eyed Edge with contempt. ‘A storekeeper who’ll be back saddle tramping soon as he can sell up, the way I figure it?’
    ‘Happen to agree with you about not needing an explanation, feller,’ Edge said evenly and clucked his horse forward, following the line ridden by the woman. ‘But I’m not so sure of my future plans as you seem to be. It could be I’ll stick around, whatever happens with the Quinn store.’

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    Warner growled: ‘Well, you be real careful.’
    Flynt demanded anxiously: ‘What’s that supposed to mean, Clay? I hope you ain’t meaning to threaten – ‘
    Warner showed a broad grin as he nodded toward Sue Ellen Spencer riding across the hollow. ‘Hell, I just meant for Mr Edge here to take care if he has an eye for that fine looking female, Ward. Seemed to me that the last time I was in town she was husband hunting. And she still hasn’t got any jewellery on the third finger of her left hand.’
    ‘Appreciate your concern, feller,’ Edge said sardonically over a shoulder. ‘Especially since I have to allow the name Eternity has a certain ring to it.’
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    CHAPTER • 6
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    EDGE MADE less effort to catch up with Sue Ellen Spencer than she did to be overhauled and they rode side by side at a slow pace in silence for a minute or so. Then they both looked back and saw in the distance that Flynt and Warner had dismounted and hitched their horses to the telegraph pole on which the faded wreath was hung.
    ‘I’ve never been certain that feminine intuition can be trusted as much as some women pretend, Mr Edge,’ she murmured grimly. ‘But at the moment I have a very strong feeling I’m being talked about by those two back there.’
    Edge took out the makings