Free Longarm and the Stagecoach Robbers by Tabor Evans Page A

week.
    â€œSay, you’re that fellow that knocked out Lennox last week, aren’t you? Well, let me shake your hand, mister, and buy you a drink.”
    It was a sentiment Longarm heard over and over during the next several hours. By noon he was awash in cheap beer and cheaper whiskey, to the point that he was feeling the effects.
    â€œExcuse me, gents. I have t’ go out back an’ make a contribution,” he said, disengaging from the boisterous crowd.
    It was lunchtime but he was not at all hungry. Aside from having the late breakfast, he had been munching on the free lunch items available at Ikey Tyler’s Bearpaw Saloon. Those were even cheaper than the beer, but they filled a man’s belly and the heavy application of salt on everything contributed to his thirst.
    But then there was no such thing as a free lunch.
    Longarm returned to the Pickens House and used the outhouse behind the hotel then went inside.
    â€œWhat can I do for you, Marshal?”
    â€œI could use the tub an’ some hot water to fill it,” he said.
    â€œComing right up,” Nathan told him. The desk clerk turned his head and bellowed, “Johnny!”
    Longarm hustled up to his room and stripped off his clothing.

Chapter 33
    Monday morning before dawn Longarm was back at the express company, busy building the hitch by the light of a lantern that was nearly out of oil so he had to work quickly before it sputtered out.
    He looked up to see Will Carver working just as quickly on the other side of the rig. Will did not speak to him, very pointedly refraining from so much as acknowledging that Longarm existed. Longarm understood and took no offense. Will was still having trouble coming to grips with the fact that his mother was a sexual human being. And even more trouble accepting that Longarm was fucking her.
    Between them they made short work of the routine tasks and had the day’s team in place before the sun broached the horizon.
    Longarm climbed up to the driving box and took the coach around to the front. Will grunted once but that was as close as he came to speech. He went inside when Longarm took the rig. He did not show himself to Longarm again that morning.
    Charlise came out looking like she had not slept in two days. And perhaps she had not. Her face was puffy from crying, and her hair was unkept. Neither was at all like her. Apparently, Longarm guessed, she and Will were still having their difficulties. Longarm did not envy either one of them.
    â€œI have some freight to go but no passengers this morning,” she said.
    At least Charlie was speaking to him, Longarm thought. When he climbed down to load the packages consigned to Bailey and one to Guffey as well, Charlie stepped close to him and took him by the arm.
    â€œTonight,” she said. “Come to supper, please.”
    â€œAll right.”
    â€œYou can stay the night if you like.”
    Longarm looked at her and raised an eyebrow.
    â€œHe doesn’t like it, but I think he is beginning to understand,” she said.
    â€œWill he be at supper, too?”
    â€œI don’t know. I invited him. And I told him you would be there.”
    â€œDid you say I’d be staying after?” Longarm asked.
    Charlie nodded. “I did. He didn’t like that, but I was telling him, not asking his permission. I think he understands that much anyway.”
    â€œAll right. I’ll be there. I hope Will joins us.”
    â€œIt’s his choice.”
    Longarm gave Charlie a kiss then set in to loading the packages.

Chapter 34
    He made the deliveries, changed horses at Lake George, picked up five passengers in Hartsel, and arrived back in Fairplay well before dark.
    Will Carver was there waiting to help break the hitch and tend to the horses. He again worked without speaking to Longarm.
    When they were done, Longarm went back to the Pickens House to wash and change out of the dusty clothes he had worn on the road. He paused