Free Further Adventures of James Butler Hickok (9781101601853) by J. R. Roberts

figuring twenty-five yards was close enough. It was, in fact, very difficult to make an accurate shot from that distance.
    But Wild Bill Hickok drew his gun and fired one shot.
    Dave Tutt fired as well, but no one knew where his shot had gone, or if it had come a split second before Hickok’s, or after. All anyone knew was that Dave Tutt was left sprawled in the dirt.
    Hickok wasted no time. He quickly turned and covered Tutt’s three friends with his gun.
    â€œAre you satisfied, gents?” he asked. “Keep your hands away from your guns or there’ll be more dead bodies in the street.”
    Hal Jayson and his two friends put their hands in the air, away from their guns. Hickok’s shot had been amazing, and they weren’t inclined to try him.
    Hickok walked across the square and reclaimed his Waltham watch from Dave Tutt’s body. Then he paused to wonder what all that other shooting had been about.
    * * * 
    Because of the number of shots, the sheriff responded to the site of Clint’s shooting, not Hickok’s.
    â€œNot you again?” he said to Clint.
    â€œIt was their choice,” Clint said. He’d already reloaded his gun and holstered it.
    The sheriff walked to the dead men, then looked at Clint again.
    â€œFour this time?”
    Clint didn’t answer.
    â€œThat’s Levi Rawson.”
    â€œSo he said.”
    â€œFella, Rawson was fast!”
    â€œHe said that, too.”
    â€œYou gunned him and three others?”
    â€œIt looks that way, Sheriff.”
    At that point, a man came running up to the lawman and yelled, “Sheriff, Wild Bill Hickok just gunned Dave Tutt in the public square. He hit him with one shot at twenty-five yards!”
    â€œJesus,” the sheriff said, “what a day.”

TWENTY-FIVE
    Clint waited for the sheriff in his office. He heard later what had happened when the sheriff went to see Wild Bill Hickok in the public square . . .
    * * * 
    Sheriff Andy Sunshine found Wild Bill Hickok still in the public square. Dave Tutt’s body was lying on the ground, and standing around him were Hal Jayson and two other men.
    â€œWell, Bill,” Sunshine said.
    â€œHe pushed it, Andy,” Hickok said.
    Sheriff Sunshine looked at the Waltham watch in Hickok’s hand.
    â€œOkay, I wanted the watch back,” Hickok admitted, “but he pushed the action. I told him not to wear the watch around town. I warned him not to walk towards me. And he drew first.”
    Sheriff Sunshine looked over at Dave Tutt’s three friends.
    â€œThat’s true, Sheriff,” Jayson said. “Dave drew first.”
    Hickok looked at the sheriff.
    â€œSee?”
    â€œI see.”
    â€œThen I’m free to go?”
    â€œGo?”
    â€œI’m leavin’ town,” Hickok said. “I’ve had enough of Springfield.”
    â€œWell . . . I can’t say that makes me feel too sad,” Sunshine said.
    Hickok started to walk away, then turned and asked, “What was all that other shootin’?”
    â€œNothin’ that should concern you, Bill,” Sunshine said.
    Hickok thought about that for a moment, then shrugged and walked away . . .
    * * * 
    Clint looked up from his seat when the sheriff entered the office.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” he asked.
    Sunshine explained about Bill Hickok killing Dave Tutt.
    â€œA single shot, from twenty-five yards,” the lawman ended.
    â€œPretty good.”
    â€œMaybe,” Sunshine said, “but not as good as gunnin’ four men at one time.”
    â€œI don’t mind if Hickok gets all the attention,” Clint said.
    â€œWell, he won’t for very much longer,” Sunshine said. “He’s leavin’ town.”
    â€œThat sounds like a damn good idea,” Clint said. “I think I’ll follow his lead myself.”
    â€œThe bartender backs your story that the