her.
âYou know how to shoot, donât you?â
âIâll think about it,â Fargo lied. It would be a cold day in hell before he did anything so foolish as go up against half a dozen killers alone.
âYou do that.â Amanda smiled. âWell, Iâve done my good deed for the day so Iâll be off.â She rose and nodded and walked out.
Fargoâs food came. He was famished, and he put Hoby Cotton from his mind to devote himself to an inch-thick steak sizzling with fat, a baked potato drowning in butter, and peas. He washed it all down with four cups of piping hot coffee.
He was in good spirits when he left the restaurant but it lasted only a couple of steps. Across the street, Marshal Coltraine and Deputy Wilkins were jawing with a pair of citizens. The lawman saw him coming and moved to meet him.
âStill no sign of Timbre Wilson. Iâd say heâs long gone and you have nothing to worry about.â
âHave any plans for tonight?â
âAfter the past couple of days, I reckoned Iâd kick back and take it easy. Why do you ask?â
Fargo told him about Amanda and her claim about the Cotton Gang.
âShe told you but not me?â the lawman said in surprise.
âI wondered about that too,â Fargo said.
âBut you came to me, anyway. Good thinking.â Coltraine squinted skyward. The sun had almost set and the gray of twilight was spreading. âWeâll wait till dark so no one sees us ride out.â
Fargo didnât see why that was important but he didnât bring it up.
âIf what she said is true,â Coltraine had continued, âwe can put an end to the Cotton Gang once and for all.â
âHow big a posse this time?â
âYou and me,â Coltraine said.
âIs that smart?â
âYou saw what I had to work with before. It would be the same all over again. Iâd rather have someone at my side who knows what heâs doing. And you do.â
âWhat about Deputy Wilkins?â
âSomebody has to stay and mind the town,â Coltraine replied. âNo, the two of us are enough.â
Fargo hoped to God he was right.
15
Stars sparkled overhead when Fargo climbed on the Ovaro and rode around to the rear of the marshalâs office. Coltraineâs bay was already tied there, waiting.
The door opened and the lawman emerged. âYouâre right on time. Good.â He was carrying a Spencer, which he shoved into his saddle scabbard.
âItâs not too late to round up a few others,â Fargo mentioned.
âI didnât take you for skittish.â
âYou shouldnât take me for stupid, either,â Fargo told him.
âI was willinâ to risk those cowpokes and a few clerks and whatnot for Amandaâs sake, but not now. Letâs drop it.â Coltraineâs saddle creaked as he swung on. âIâm pleased enough havinâ you along. Folks consider me hell on wheels but a manâs got to know how much he can and canât do.â
âWe agree there,â Fargo said.
There was no moon. The starlight lent a pale cast to the prairie grass and was barely enough to see by. Now and again a coyote yipped and once a streaking meteor cleaved the heavens.
Marshal Coltraine was grimness personified. âThey better be there,â he commented at one point. âI want to end this.â
So did Fargo. The sooner it was over, the sooner he was shed of Horse Creek and everyone in it.
Half an hour out, the silhouettes of hills appeared.
Fargo took his bearings by the North Star. Apparently, Coltraine didnât need to. The marshal never once glanced at the heavens. âYou know where weâre headed?â
âEveryone hereabouts knows about the Kemp place. Itâs been there since the town started.â
Presently a small square of light broke the night, and they drew rein.
âThat would be it,â Marshal Coltraine
Sharon Kleve, Jennifer Conner, Danica Winters, Casey Dawes