Free High Gun at Surlock (2006) by Terrell L Bowers

another long look. ‘I can usually see it in their eyes,’ Phoenix said.
    ‘What’s that?’ Kyler asked.
    ‘Fear.’
    Kyler smiled to hide the tremor of alarm which shot through his body.
    ‘Why should I be afraid of you? We’re on the same side.’
    ‘Yes, we are … for the present,’ Phoenix replied. Then he turned about and lifted a hand in farewell. ‘I’ll be seeing you.’
    Kyler watched the man walk away. He moved like a slinking wolf, never looking in any one direction, yet constantly surveying all that was around him.
    ‘What did the honcho want?’ Nat asked, having walked up without Kyler hearing his approach.
    ‘He was wondering where I was the night Mugs and Strap came into town tied over the backs of their horses.’
    ‘He buy your innocent act?’
    Kyler tossed a quick look at Nat.
    ‘Somewhat.’
    ‘I admire how you risked your neck to stop those two from burning down the Yates place. But if Phoenix finds out, I’ll be stomping dirt over your final resting-box.’
    ‘I should think the bruises on my face from Big Mike’s beating ought to remove the doubt of anyone else. Most fellows don’t beat up the man who saved their barn from being burned to the ground.’
    ‘Unless it has to do with his sister,’ Nat pointed out. When Kyler did not reply, Nat continued: ‘The boys have always been protective of the only girl in the family.’
    Talking about Jessie only made Kyler wish things were different between them. He turned back to business.
    ‘You’re the one who sent for help, Nat. How do we prove Huxton is behind trying to run the Yates family out of business?’
    ‘I’m only a hostler, son. You’re the smart jack who has to figure that out.’
    Kyler thought for a moment. ‘Once they trust me,they might ask me to do a job.’
    ‘You’re doing the job they want,’ Nat replied. ‘You make sure no one messes with their deliveries while they raise the devil with every load of freight or stagecoach the Yates bunch tries to move.’
    ‘We can’t help the Yates family if we can’t prove anything against Huxton.’
    Nat rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ‘The local banker threw in with Huxton right off and has cut off any financial help to the Yates family. If he is involved in the overall scheme, he might be the weakest post along the fence.’
    ‘The banker, huh?’
    ‘George Glenn is his name. He’s a weasel. Got his stake from marrying a wealthy woman … who died shortly after H and B Freight came to town.’ At Kyler’s inquisitive look, he shrugged. ‘It might have only been a coincidence.’
    ‘They have a good marriage did they?’
    ‘George’s wife dug her spurs into him at every jump seven days a week. He opened the bank, but she was the one who ran the household.’ Nat squinted intently. ‘She had herself an accident while riding in her buckboard,’ he related. ‘Her scarf became tangled in the wheel and she was strangled to death.’
    ‘Anyone see it happen?’
    Nat grunted his disgust. ‘A couple of H and B employees … Skinny and Mugs.’
    ‘Sounds suspicious. I wonder if there is a way to get to the truth of the matter.’
    ‘You just met Mr Death, sonny,’ Nat alluded toPhoenix. ‘You sure you want to test your luck against a man like him?’
    ‘That’s the last thing on earth I would want to do, Nat.’
    The old gent laughed. ‘Yep, it would be the last thing you would do too!’

CHAPTER SIX
    Kyler had just dropped off his dirty laundry when he came face to face with Jessie.
    ‘I’m glad I found you,’ she said, while blocking his path.
    ‘Funny.’ He tried to lighten the tension between them. ‘I didn’t know I was lost.’
    No smile. Jessie was obviously concentrating on what she wanted to say.
    ‘I want you to know that I didn’t ask Mike to beat you up.’ She skewed her face into a frown. ‘Not that you didn’t deserve a thrashing for taking my clothes.’
    ‘I was going to return them.’
    ‘Yes, Mike brought them home clean