Free The Quiet Gun - Edge Series 1 by George G. Gilman Page B

it sounded like he could’ve maybe shot Emily. I just grabbed Jake’s rifle and did the best I could to stop him. Wasn’t thinking anything about money at the time.’
    He shared a pleading gaze to be believed between Edge and Bannerman.
    ‘You did what a responsible citizen ought to do, Billy.’
    Williams muttered something about wishing something then turned to head off disconsolately toward his drugstore.
    Edge said: ‘When you came out of the law office just now, you looked like those two Mexicans had given you a hard time, feller?’
    Bannerman grimaced. ‘They’re mad as hell about Shannon getting out of jail.’
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    ‘Did they come far to get him?’
    The big man spat forcefully between his feet and scowled in the direction of the law office. ‘Some place with a name I don’t remember. And sure wouldn’t be able to say properly if I could. Four days on the trail to get here. Shannon killed some bigwig politician down over the border. Sanchez and Mendoza aren’t your ordinary run-of-the-mill lawmen. They’re government agents.’
    ‘Seems to me that whatever beef they got is between them and McCall.’
    ‘Yeah, I know. But I got a certain standing in this town, Mr Edge. Which caused me to feel I had to go over to John’s office and tell them more of the details than they said you told them out along the trail. I didn’t like their attitude: acting like they had some kind of authority here in Dalton Springs – which ain’t even in their country! Seemed to me from how they looked and spoke that they called John and the rest of us some dirty names.’
    Edge made to move away and Bannerman was disconsolately reluctant to end the exchange, searched his mind for something to say and finally managed:
    ‘What’ll happen, you figure?’
    ‘No idea, feller.’
    ‘Yeah, it’s not your concern, I know that. You’re just passing through.’
    ‘Maybe. But I need to make a living. And it could be there’s a way for me to do that around here. In town or out of it.’
    Bannerman’s frowning face became shiny with sweat unconnected with the hot morning air. And once more Edge was aware of the musky smell of the big man who looked as if he was steeling himself to say something disturbing. Then blurted:
    ‘Look, Mr Edge – the standing I got in Dalton Springs is that I’m the elected mayor of the town. Which ain’t much of an office to hold. But I take it seriously. We don’t get too much bad trouble around here and when we do, either John McCall or Phil Raine has always taken care of it. But I figure in this situation I got a duty to do what neither of them is around to carry out?’
    Edge replied evenly: ‘Whatever you say, feller. But don’t count on me to lend a hand. If my plans work out whatever line of business I take up won’t have anything to do with the law. Just be doing the best I can to stay on the right side of it.’
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    Bannerman shook his head, his fleshy face set in the familiar morose expression. He said hurriedly: ‘Trouble is, it seems to me I ought to arrest you for killing Sam Kress. Hold you in jail until John gets back to Dalton Springs. Let him decide if – ‘
    Edge cut in: ‘Tell you what I’ll do.’
    Bannerman looked nervously unconvinced that he would be able to accept whatever suggestion was going to be put to him. And his sorrowful gaze shifted constantly back and forth between Edge’s impassive face and the revolver that jutted out from the waistband between the unfastened jacket.
    Edge took the recently recovered money from his back pocket, counted off twenty dollars and held the bills out toward Bannerman. ‘You keep this for Ephraim Rider, feller. Which will mean the twenty bucks bail money in the law office safe is mine.’
    The saloonkeeper accepted the bills but looked uncomfortable as he murmured: ‘I’m not sure if I can go along with this and – ‘
    Edge jerked a thumb toward the funeral parlour and said with a shrug: ‘You’ve seen how much I