Free The Gunsmith 387 by J. R. Roberts Page A

you,” Clint said. “For another, he’s been trying to recruit me for some ‘trouble’ that he feels is coming. He wants to be my friend.”
    â€œAnd he is not the kind of man you would take as a friend?” Avery asked.
    â€œWell, I usually make up my own mind about that,” Clint said. “Now, here I am talking to other people about him.”
    â€œMaybe you should go back to making up your own mind.”
    Clint finished his second glass of whiskey, waved off a third, and said, “Maybe you’re right.”
    â€œWhat about the priest?”
    â€œWhat about him?”
    â€œThe sheriff is interested in him, too, isn’t he?” Avery asked.
    â€œAnother case of a man trying to leave his past behind,” Clint said.
    â€œBut the sheriff is interested in him as well.”
    â€œAnd I warned him,” Clint said. “You and I are friends, Avery. The priest, Father Flynn, he and I are two people who knew each other once. We were never friends.”
    â€œSo if the sheriff decided to go after him, you wouldn’t help?”
    â€œI wouldn’t help either one,” Clint said. “I’d leave it to them.”
    â€œAnd if he comes after me?”
    â€œI’ll be here. Right by your side.”
    â€œI appreciate that,” Avery said, “but I’m not so far gone, so old, that if one man comes after me, I can’t face him, mano a mano.”
    â€œSorry,” Clint said, “not what I meant. Let me just say that I’d be here if you decided you needed me.”
    Avery nodded and said, “I appreciate that. I’ll let you know.”
    Clint nodded and stood up.
    â€œThanks for the drinks,” he said.
    Avery stood up and walked Clint to the stairs, and down to the beach.
    â€œLet me know what happens,” Avery said as Clint mounted Eclipse again.
    â€œI will,” Clint said. “If something happens, you’ll be the first to know.”

TWENTY-FOUR
    Chance stopped at a hotel and checked in, telling the clerk the same thing he’d told the hostler. That he’d be staying for several nights.
    â€œWelcome, señor,” the clerk said, handing him a key.
    â€œThanks.” He took the key. “Can you tell me where I can get a good meal, a drink, and a woman?”
    â€œAll in one pace, señor?” the clerk asked, smiling in a knowing way.
    â€œI don’t care how many places I’ve got to go.”
    â€œI can direct you, señor . . .”
    Â * * * 
    He went to his room, tossed his saddlebags in a corner, where he leaned his rifle against the wall, then sat on the bed and bounced. Might be too soft for sleeping, he thought, but good for fucking. He hoped the beds at the cathouse were good.
    But first he needed to fill his belly with some good food. The clerk had given him several choices for good food. He was going to go to the closest one.
    He left the room, visions of meaty tacos and burritos in his head.
    Â * * * 
    Clint took Eclipse for another run on the beach, this time in the other direction so that he did not pass by Avery’s beach house again.
    When he brought Eclipse back to the livery, Pablo was not around, so he unsaddled the horse and put him in a stall himself. The horse immediately stuck his nose in his feed box.
    â€œSee you later, big guy,” Clint said, giving his rump an affectionate slap.
    He left the livery, walked from there to the sheriff’s office. Avery’s advice was good, and it was something Clint had been thinking about anyway. He should be making his own mind up about Sheriff Vazquez, and not making any decisions based on what others had to say.
    He entered the office, hoping to find the sheriff sitting behind his desk. Instead, he found a deputy there, cleaning a rifle. The young man looked up as Clint entered.
    â€œHello,” he said. “May I help you, señor?”
    â€œI’m