Free Grizzly Fury by Jon Sharpe

like to see you make us.”
    â€œI’ve already sent word to the army,” Petty revealed. “I expect a patrol to arrive before another week is out.”
    â€œOh, hell,” someone said.
    â€œUntil then, the following rules will be abided by.” Petty counted them off on his fingers. “One. All saloons will close at midnight—” He had to stop for the boos and insults. When they subsided, he said, “I repeat: All saloons will close at midnight. There will be no drinking in public. Anyone caught with a bottle will be fined. There will be no discharging of firearms in the town limits. Anyone caught doing so will be fined. There will be no accosting the ladies of our town. Anyone who imposes on them will be fined. There will—”
    â€œYou going to fine us for breathing, too?”
    Petty was unruffled. “There will be no spitting tobacco except into spittoons. Anyone caught spitting in the street will be fined.”
    â€œGod Almighty,” a man said.
    â€œThose of you who make fires are not to leave them untended. We almost had a forest fire because someone walked off and left his fire burning.”
    A bear hunter seated on a hitch rail called out, “I bet anyone who lets a fire burn will be fined.”
    There was more mirth.
    â€œVery well. Be this way,” Petty said. “The complete list is posted at my office. I advise each and every one of you to memorize it.”
    The meeting broke up.
    Rooster summed up his feelings with, “Did you ever hear so much hogtwaddle in your life?”
    â€œWhat I want to know,” Cecelia said, “is whether we head out now or wait until mornin’?”
    â€œWe’ve already lost half the day,” Fargo said. “It might as well be tomorrow.” He had an ulterior motive which he didn’t mention.
    â€œWhatever you chaps decide is fine by me,” Wendolyn said. “I’m just thankful you invited me.”
    â€œYou might not be before this is done,” Rooster said.

9
    Fanny had on a green dress that made her breasts bulge and clung to her long thighs. She smelled of lilacs. Each time she stopped behind Fargo’s chair and ran her fingers through his hair, he had to force himself to concentrate on his cards.
    Along about ten o’clock one of the players lost his last dollar and got up. His empty seat was promptly claimed by someone.
    Fargo didn’t pay much attention to who had sat down until the man addressed him.
    â€œRemember me?” Leroy asked. Behind him were two of his friends.
    â€œI make it a point to remember jackasses.”
    Leroy’s spite oozed from every pore. “You have a mouth on you, mister. Someone needs to shut it.”
    â€œThe last time you tried it didn’t turn out well.”
    â€œMoose and that foreigner ain’t here,” Leroy said. “It’s just you.”
    â€œEnough gab,” a townsman said. “Are we playing cards or aren’t we?”
    Play resumed. Fargo paid no mind to Leroy’s constant glaring. He won big with a flush and again with a full house.
    â€œLucky bastard,” Leroy muttered.
    Fargo was still ahead an hour later but not by as much. He was dealt two pair and bid cautiously and was glad he did when another player laid down a flush. Another round was under way and he was being dealt new cards when he smelled lilacs and a warm hand fell on his shoulder.
    â€œI got off early,” Fanny whispered in his ear. “Just for you.”
    â€œPull up a chair.”
    Fargo had been given a queen, a jack, a ten, a seven and a two. He debated, asked for two cards, and wound up with a king and an ace. His face a mask, he put all he had into the pot since there was no limit. Two of the players folded. A third gnawed on his lip a while and then he folded, too. That left Leroy.
    â€œI think you’re bluffing.”
    â€œOne way to find out,” Fargo said.
    Leroy counted his