Free .44 Caliber Man by J.T. Edson Page B

together, Kenny drew a conclusion
which rang out a warning for him—an instant too late.
    Standing in the
alley, looking along the street, Vicente Flores sucked in a breath
of excitement. The man who had killed his brother Adàn left the
hotel and came in his direction. There could be no doubt about it.
No other man in Fort Sawyer wore such outlandish clothes. It seemed
that the wounded Arturo and later Arnaldo Hogan had spoke the truth
about the man’s appearance. He really did wear a skirt.
    With cold,
calculating eyes, Vicente studied his intended victim. It was a
pity that the man in the skirt was walking with a companion, but
not too great an obstacle. Neither of them appeared to suspect his
presence and would be unprepared when he made his appearance. While
the Texan wore a Colt, he did not have the indefinable air of being
fast with it. As for the man who killed Adàn, he had nothing better
than on old-fashioned, muzzle-loading pistol thrust into his belt.
Vicente nodded with satisfaction. A quick step from behind
concealment, two shots fired and he would be on his horse, heading
out of town, leaving Adàn’s killer dead or dying on the ground.
Then Vicente would see what Tiburcio and Matteo had to say. He,
Vicente, the youngest member of the family, would have avenged
their dead brother while the other two waited outside town in the
hope that the man in the skirt would come to them.
    Instead of
taking the bodies to the mission as Tiburcio ordered, Vicente and
Manuel had left the rest of the party in the dark. Thirsting for
revenge on the woman who had killed his brother, Manuel went
willingly along with Vicente’s scheme. They had stayed well clear
of Onion Creek and arrived on the outskirts of Fort Sawyer shortly
after midnight. Waiting at Arnaldo Hogan’s house until he returned,
they had learned all he knew. More than that, he had explained how
Tiburcio planned to wait until Adàn’s killer left town before
striking. Hogan was to watch and report to Tiburcio when the man
boarded a stagecoach to continue his journey.
    Such a plan had
small appeal to Vicente. The camp on Onion Creek offered none of
the luxuries he craved. Especially as Hogan could not say when the
man might be leaving. So he had decided on his course of action.
Putting aside any notion of finding the man at the hotel, he had
waited until morning. Then, while Manuel went to the Black Bear
Saloon in search of the woman, Vicente had left his horse
loose-hitched close by ready for a fast departure and waited in
hiding for the man to appear.
    Cold pleasure
filled Vicente as he drew and cocked his right-hand Colt. For years
Tiburcio and Matteo had regarded him as a stupid, headstrong boy;
handy for doing casual killing but not worth including in their
planning sessions. After this morning’s work, that would all be
changed. While the older brothers waited outside town, Vicente had
ridden in and avenged the family honor.
    Better not let
them come too close, Vicente decided. That Texan might prove better
with his gun than appeared on the surface. No, it would be safer to
step out while they were still some thirty yards away. At that
distance, there was less chance of being hit at the end of a fast
draw.
    With that
thought in mind, Vicente gripped the Navy Colt in both hands. He
sprang out of the alley, raising the gun shoulder high and taking
sight on the man who had killed his brother.
    ‘ Look out!’ Kenny yelled, throwing himself sideways to crash
into Colin.
    Moving as he
did, Kenny saved Colin and placed himself in danger. The force of
the impact knocked Colin staggering, but its impetus carried Kenny
into the place where the Scot had stood. Before Vicente could
correct his aim, the Colt’s hammer fell. The bullet meant for Colin
ripped into Kenny’s chest. Giving a croaking cry, he started to
fall. Muttering an annoyed curse, Vicente cocked the Colt on the
recoil and brought its barrel around in Colin’s direction. A faint
grin twisted at