Free Imposter by William W. Johnstone Page B

suitable for a lady to hear,” he replied with a smile.
    â€œOh, I’m not so prudish, Frank. I don’t shock very easily.” She smiled at him. “You might find that out someday.”
    Frank didn’t know quite how to respond to that, so he simply returned the smile and remained silent.
    â€œDid Marshal Tom apprehend that dreadful woman?”
    â€œNo. And I have a strong suspicion Alberta will be caught only when she wants to be.”
    â€œYou may be correct in thinking that. I have heard that many deranged people are actually quite sly about certain matters.”
    Frank nodded his head at that as his eyes locked on to two riders drifting into town. His eyes narrowed as he recognized the pair. Idaho Red Reeves and Jim “King” Burke. A pair of really bad ones. Frank knew they were wanted in several states, but obviously not in California.
    â€œYou know those two men, don’t you, Frank?” Lara asked as she followed his eyes.
    â€œYes. Gunslicks, both of them.”
    â€œThere certainly seems to be quite a number of rowdies gathering in this town.”
    â€œYes, there sure are.” Frank watched as the pair of gunhands dismounted. Idaho Red spotted him and said something to King Burke. Together, the men stood by their horses and stared at Frank.
    Frank stared back, silent, unblinking, unmoving.
    â€œAre those two ruffians laying down unspoken challenges directed at you, Frank?” Lara asked softly.
    â€œYou might say that.”
    â€œAnd you’re picking up on that challenge, aren’t you?”
    â€œI’m not backing down from it.”
    â€œIt must be a male sort of thing.”
    â€œOh, it is, Lara.”
    â€œWill there be shooting?”
    â€œNot now. But it will come . . . in time.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œBecause I’m me.”
    â€œFrank . . . that makes absolutely no sense to me.”
    Frank chuckled. “I’ll try to explain it sometime.”
    â€œPromise?”
    He turned to look at her. Her expression was very serious. “Of course, if it’s important to you.”
    â€œIt is.”
    Frank did not immediately pursue why his feelings were important to the woman. He thought he knew, and if he was correct in his assumptions, he was, at least so far, an unwilling participant in a very dangerous man-woman game.
    â€œThose men are walking over here, Frank,” Lara said.
    Idaho Red and King Burke were walking across the street. Frank slipped the hammer thong off his Peacemaker and waited.
    Idaho Red caught the movement and said, “Whoa, Morgan! We ain’t lookin’ for no trouble here. Just some conversation.”
    â€œConversation is free, Red,” Frank told him. “What’s on your mind?”
    â€œA bath, something to eat, and a bed, for starters,” King said.
    Frank nodded his head and waited.
    â€œMighty pretty lady with you, Morgan,” Red remarked, his eyes mentally undressing Lara. “Yours?”
    â€œNo. Her husband is a local attorney. What are you boys doing here?”
    â€œI don’t figure that’s any of your affair, Morgan,” King said. “Far as I know, it’s still a free country.”
    â€œI can make it my business.”
    Red held up a hand. “Easy, Morgan. We’re just passin’ through.”
    â€œPlan on staying long?”
    â€œMaybe. All depends.”
    â€œOn what?”
    Before either of the gunslicks could reply, a drunk staggered out of the Purple Lily and began cussing loudly.
    â€œHow vile,” a local woman said, stepping up onto the boardwalk. “Deputy, I demand you do something about that miscreant.”
    â€œCertainly, ma’am,” Frank said, touching the brim of his hat.
    Before Frank could make a move toward the drunk, a friend of the man came out and led him back into the saloon.
    â€œProblem solved, ma’am,” Frank said with a smile.
    The woman gave Frank a dirty