Free Lawless Trail by Ralph Cotton Page B

told us the Traybo Gang hit the bank in Maley,” Sam said. He took Folliard’s Colt and Crane’s Schofield from behind his belt and gave them to Garand. The detective leader accepted them with an embarrassed expression.
    â€œYeah, they did,” he said grudgingly. “They emptied the rail pens, sent a stampede down the middle of town—killed a rail pen worker, one of my detectives and some innocent widow, never harmed a living soul in her life.”
    The Ranger looked at Hardaway with a grim expres-sion.
    â€œThere goes the part about the Traybo Gang not killing innocent people,” he said. “I expect taking them in alive is out of the question now.”
    â€œTake them in alive?
Ha!
” said Garand. “I’ll take in their heads on the end of sticks. Don’t kid yourself, Ranger. This bunch is as bad as they come. Try taking them alive, all it will get a man is a hard fall and an early grave.”
    â€œIt was just a thought, Garand,” Sam said. “I’m always sorry to hear about innocent people dying. Who identified the Traybos?”
    Garand stalled for a second, then said, “The thing is, this was a setup. We got word to the Traybos through a source I won’t reveal. We knew it was them coming in.”
    â€œLet me get this straight,” Sam said. “You knew they were coming? Still they did all that to you?”
    â€œDon’t judge me, Ranger!” Garand raised a gloved finger. “You had to be there to see how bad it went. We weren’t prepared for a cattle stampede. One of my detectives shotgunned one of them in the bank. I expect that one’s dead. We caught one of them making their getaway. Had him ready to break—about to tell us everything about where the gang’s headed!”
    â€œWhat happened?” Sam asked.
    Garand stared hard at him, but then he let out a tight breath and continued.
    â€œAll right,” he said. “Wes Traybo rode back, freed him at gunpoint, kidnapped the town doctor and a young Mexican dove and rode away in a buckboard.” He jerked a nod toward the dark trail behind them. “We found the buckboard back there. That’s what made us think this might be their campfire.”
    â€œYou think they would build a fire, a posse on their trail?” Sam asked flatly.
    Hardaway chuffed and shook his head.
    â€œThat’d be as stupid as tracking them with torches,” he cut in before Sam could stop him.
    â€œYou son of a bitch!” shouted Garand. “No long- riding, four-flushing trash tells me how to do my job!”
    Sam stepped between the two men as they both lurched toward each other.
    â€œWait a minute, both of you,” Sam said, holding out a hand in each direction. “Save your fighting for the Traybos, Garand,” he said to the posse leader. To Hardaway he said, “This is law talk. Keep your opinions to yourself.”
    Garand settled, as did Hardaway.
    â€œWhat are you doing riding with this known felon, Ranger?” Garand asked again.
    â€œThe fact is, he’s no felon,” Sam said. “The only charge he had against him has been dropped. The man he killed was wanted dead or alive by the state of Ohio. He acted as bounty hunter. I’m accompanying him to see to it he draws his reward without some lawman blowing his head off.”
    â€œIf you’re thinking about changing your plans and going after the Traybos, forget it,” said Garand. “I’ve got them cold.”
    The Ranger didn’t reply.
    Garand turned a cold stare to Hardaway.
    â€œBounty hunter, my dead uncle’s ass.” He sneered at Hardaway. “Sam, you’ll be lucky if this one doesn’t murder you in your sleep. I won’t have you riding the trail ahead of me, not with him in tow. He’ll warn the Traybos if you get close to them.”
    â€œYou don’t tell us what to do—” Hardaway tried to cut in.
    Sam stopped