Free Town of Two Women (9781101612125) by J.r. Roberts Page A

to have to hurt you. Wouldn’t you rather have a couple of drinks?”
    â€œWell, yeah.”
    â€œThen go,” Clint said. “I’ll see you later.”
    Clint started back across the street.
    â€œMr. Adams?”
    Clint turned.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYou seen me right from the beginnin’?” Harley asked.
    â€œRight from the start, Harley.”
    â€œJeez,” Harley said as the Gunsmith went back across the street. He swallowed hard as he realized the Gunsmith could have killed him anytime he wanted to.
    *   *   *
    â€œWhat was that about?” Amy asked.
    â€œHe’s been watching me since I got to town.”
    â€œHarley? He’s usually only worried about his next drink.”
    â€œWell, seems like the sheriff’s got him on a short leash while he’s watching me.”
    â€œWhat did you do?”
    â€œGave him some money.”
    â€œHe’ll go get drunk,” she said. “He’ll be in a lot of trouble with the sheriff.”
    â€œI told him I’d be at Doc’s later, and to meet me there,” Clint said. “The sheriff won’t hear from me that he went for a few drinks.”
    â€œI hope he doesn’t hear it from anybody.”
    â€œLet’s make this quick,” he said, “and nobody will have to get into trouble.”
    â€œOkay,” she said. “This way.”

TWENTY-FOUR
    The house was small, and musty from having been closed up for so long. Amy led Clint there as it was getting dark. Once there, she opened the door, and lit a lamp that was hanging on the wall.
    â€œThere’s not much here anymore,” she said. “A chair, a cot. There’s a stream out back where you can get fresh water. I think there’s still a bucket.”
    Clint looked around. The house had only two rooms. There was an old stove against one wall.
    â€œThe stove might still work if you put some wood in it.”
    â€œShe won’t be here long enough to want to cook,” Clint said. “But this will do.”
    â€œYou want to bring her here tonight?” Amy asked.
    â€œI’ll go back and see if she can walk,” he said. “If I need a buckboard, it’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”
    â€œI have a buggy behind the café,” Amy said. “I can bring her here.”
    â€œYou’ve done enough—”
    â€œTonight’s the time to do this,” Amy said. “You made sure that Harley will be drunk. No one’s watching.”
    â€œThe danger—”
    â€œWe should stop arguing and go do it now, Clint.”
    Clint stared at her, saw in her face that she would not be deterred.
    â€œAll right,” he said. “Let’s go.”
    *   *   *
    Clint went back to the doctor’s office while Amy went to fetch the buggy. Before he went inside, he looked around. No one was watching.
    As soon as the doctor opened the door, he asked, “Where have you bee—”
    â€œCan she walk?” Clint asked Mathis.
    â€œI suppose so,” the doc said, “but she shouldn’t ride.”
    â€œAmy’s bringing a buggy around,” Clint said. “I have a place to take Mary to keep her safe.”
    â€œWhere?”
    â€œThe less you know, the better.”
    â€œI still have to treat her.”
    â€œI’ll come and get you, and bring you to her,” Clint said. “For now, just help me get her down the stairs and into the buggy.”
    *   *   *
    With Clint on one side and Mathis on the other, they walked her down the stairs. She was wearing the dirty clothes she’d had on when Clint found her.
    Amy was waiting with a buggy, as promised.
    â€œAmy,” Mary said. “Why are you doin’ this?”
    â€œI just want to help, Mary.”
    Mary didn’t seem to know how to respond, but finally she just said, “Thanks.”
    Clint and Doc lifted her onto