Free Shotgun by Courtney Joyner Page B

offense.”
    â€œLiving in that head of yours must be a hell of a thing. I’d hesitate killing you, but I’ll shoot. Or, you can come upstairs with me for a moment.”
    Beaudine stood. “I understand. Opiates have poisoned your reasoning.”
    â€œNo, they just keep my aim relaxed. Afterwards, I wouldn’t mind having a little late supper, since you’re spending the night.”
    Kate moved around the desk as Beaudine stood. He didn’t put his hands up, but kept his eyes on the Colt pistol following him. “Are you really that worried I won’t be paying your whore her piddling amount?”
    Kate said, “This is the problem, Beaudine. You can’t follow the path of a conversation: we’re talking about something bigger than what you owe. Understand? Come on. Let’s see if you can make it upstairs without straying.”
    Kate opened her office door. “Major.”
    Voices, mild groans, and laughter from the other bedrooms drifted about the hallway in a mix as Widow Kate and Beaudine made their way to the small set of curved steps that led to the attic bedroom. She kept the Lightning close to his spine, and he buttoned his tunic and flattened his lapels before going up.
    Kate said, “Your session was fine, and I trust you’ll pay what you owe. It’s what happened afterward that’s a problem.”
    The cramped attic room was the same as Beaudine had left it, except the redheaded girl was lying on the bed, night clothes shredded, her head cocked at an impossible angle with deep purple bruises smothering half of her face and the sides of her neck. Kate stood behind Beaudine, close enough to see a shimmer of sweat on the back of his neck, but there was no other visible reaction, even as she gently prodded him with the barrel of the gun, poking his ribs. He ducked under the doorframe to enter, then took a few steps to the bed.
    Kate said, “You claimed you forgot something and had to come back up. Remember?”
    â€œNo, I do not.”
    â€œBut that’s what you told me, Major . Then the girls and I heard the screams, and found this.”
    Beaudine bent down, brushing his fingers across Thelma’s strawberry curls. His mouth went slack, as he leaned just an inch from her face and blackening lips, before looking back at Kate. “It’s the one I knew as Nellie.”
    â€œYou can call her any name you want, it don’t make no difference to the law.”
    Beaudine swallowed his words. “You’re trying to hoodwink me, Madame. It’s not appreciated.”
    â€œBut we all heard it. Thelma screamed at you, disobeyed orders, and you set her straight. Now the Marshal likes to stay over when he’s riding through the territory; would you like him to know about this and the treasure, or should we keep today’s interview between us?”
    Beaudine stepped away from the corpse, his fists clenched. “Is this supposed to frighten me?”
    â€œNo, but your loss of freedom might. Your gold quest will be a damn sight tougher if you’re in a jail cell, waiting for the hangman.”
    â€œI’ve been there, and now I’m here.”
    Kate met Beaudine’s hard look. “Don’t act like I haven’t taken everything into account. I’m not one of the dog-tail felons you ride with. I’m talking real business—are you up to it?”
    Beaudine slumped against the doorjamb, his shoulders and arms sagging with all that he was carrying. He looked to Kate, rubbed his temples. “My mind’s swimming, and that’s a dangerous thing.”
    Kate said, “I’ve got just the cure for that downstairs.” “You have me at a disadvantage now, Madame, but tomorrow won’t be the same. All this betrayal will come into focus, boiling my blood. I’ll be hell-fired for sure.”
    Kate eased Beaudine out of the room, pulling the door shut behind them, “We’ll