Free The big gundown by J.A. Johnstone Page B

man.”
    Augustine shrugged. “You’re fast enough on the draw to kill a couple of men who were pretty gun-handy, and tough enough to chop down a miner who’s been known to take on three or four men at once and thrash them all. I think you’re exactly what Edward Sheffield is looking for. I think you should talk to him, anyway.”
    The Kid was about to repeat that he wasn’t looking for a job, when a hunch occurred to him.
    “These outlaws…what do you know about them?”
    “Nobody knows much of anything, but I have my suspicions. I think they’re led by an ex-army colonel who’s turned renegade, a man named Gideon Black.”
    The Kid didn’t allow any reaction to show on his face. “I’ve heard of him,” he said.
    “He’s been around these parts for a while. Sheriff Stewart doesn’t have any proof that Black’s involved in anything illegal, but from the looks of it, Black’s been recruiting hard cases and putting together a pretty good-sized gang. Mr. Sheffield thinks that they’re the ones who have held up a couple of his trains.”
    The Kid finished off the brandy in his snifter. “I didn’t know that. I’d heard that Black was looking for some good men, though. As a matter of fact, that’s why I’m here.”
    Augustine’s rather bushy eyebrows rose. “Then I may have spoken out of turn, if you’re planning on joining up with the colonel.”
    “I haven’t made any plans,” The Kid said. “Just heard the rumors and drifted into town to get the lay of the land. I’m open to the best opportunity…whatever it is.”
    “Then you’ll want to talk to Edward Sheffield. He’ll pay top dollar for a man who can put a stop to his trouble.”
    The Kid set the empty snifter on the bar. “You know, Mayor Carmichael told me that Black’s been spending a lot of time in your place, Augustine. I got the impression that you and the colonel were friends. Now it seems more like you’d rather give Sheffield a hand.”
    Augustine smiled. “Just like you, Mr. Morgan, I’m open to the best opportunity. If Colonel Black and his men want to spend their money in my saloon, I’m perfectly willing to take it. At the same time, I wouldn’t mind getting on the good side of a man like Edward Sheffield. As I told you, he’s probably the most important man in this part of the territory.”
    “In other words, you’re playing both sides against the middle.” The Kid’s words were blunt, and he didn’t soften his voice or smile as he delivered them. He wanted to get a rise out of Augustine, if there was one to be gotten. That was one thing he had learned from his career in business: if you got under a man’s skin, he was liable to let more of the truth slip than he intended to.
    But Charles Augustine just chuckled in response to The Kid’s accusation. “Say it however you like. I’ve never apologized for wanting to make money, and I’m not going to start now.”
    “Fair enough,” The Kid responded with a nod. “Where do I find this man Sheffield?”
    Augustine took a heavy gold turnip watch from his vest pocket and flipped it open to check the time. “You just got into Bisbee a little while ago, didn’t you, Mr. Morgan?”
    “That’s right. About an hour ago, I reckon.” It seemed longer ago than that, The Kid thought. But it also seemed beyond belief that only this morning, the Williams family and their vaqueros had still been alive and happy. This day full of violence and death had lasted a hundred years.
    “Why don’t you get yourself something to eat and maybe find a hotel room, then come back here in about an hour? The Bisbee House would suit all those needs, since it’s the best hotel in town and also has a fine dining room. And a stable for your horse, for that matter.”
    “How do you know I can afford a place like that?” The Kid asked with a faint smile.
    “I don’t, of course. But I assumed that a man who’s familiar with fine brandy would also be accustomed to staying in the best