Free Outlaw Pass (9781101544785) by Charles G. West Page A

a man like you.”
    â€œWell, I ain’t interested,” Adam quickly replied in no uncertain terms. “I’ve got no part in the trouble the miners are havin’ in these gulches. Like I told you, I’m just lookin’ for my brother. Soon as I find him, I’m gone. I wish the honest folks here the best of luck, but it ain’t none of my concern.”
    Although somewhat disappointed, Mutt said, “I reckon I can understand how you feel, and I can’t say as I blame you.” He shrugged off the discussion. “Let’s go in and have a drink. Bonnie’s probably already hitched up another couple fellers to buy her whiskey.”
    Inside, they found Bonnie waiting for them at the bar. She was alone, but it was not for lack of trying. There were a few younger women in the saloon, and each one commanded the attentions of a group of admirers. It was still a bit early in the evening for Bonnie. Her usual hunting season was in the wee hours of the morning when the volume of whiskey already downed by the patrons had effectively erased the lines of age in her face. Turning to greet them, she said, “I was beginning to think you had forgot about me.” Then she turned to aim a remark at the bartender. “See, asshole, I told you I had friends coming.”
    â€œWell, pour us a drink, bartender,” Mutt ordered grandly.
    The bartender set two more glasses on the bar and poured. “She’s already had two. Said you’d pay for’em,” he said.
    Mutt cocked a wary eye in Bonnie’s direction, but pulled out his poke. Adam put up his hand to stop him. “I’ll take care of the lady’s first two,” he volunteered. After settling with the bartender, he turned to Bonnie and asked, “Do you see the girl you told me about, the one you said Jake was sweet on?”
    â€œYes, I do,” Bonnie promptly replied. “Lacey Brewer. That’s her sitting at the second table with those four men.”
    Adam turned to follow the direction of Bonnie’s gesture. The girl he saw was young, as Bonnie had said. He could not call her a pretty girl, but she did present a neat appearance, and he could not help comparing her to Bonnie. He could understand the attraction that Jake felt. “Did you talk to her?” he asked. “Ask her about Jake?”
    â€œHell no,” Bonnie replied, “and I don’t recommend you asking her, either, until you can catch her away from that crew she’s partying with.”
    â€œWhy is that?” Adam asked.
    Before answering, Bonnie shot a knowing glance in Mutt’s direction. “Because that bunch is some of the sheriff’s friends, and they might resent the intrusion.” Mutt nodded his silent agreement.
    Adam was rapidly getting the impression that Mutt had not exaggerated when he implied that the outlaws had overrun the town. “Why do the honest folks stay here?” he asked Mutt. “If the placer minin’ has dried up, like you say, why don’t they just move on?”
    â€œIt ain’t that simple,” Mutt said. “These folks is kinda trapped here. They can’t get out with what gold they found because the damn outlaws are watchin’ every road outta here. The only time they ain’t watchin’ every road is when the winter sets in hard, and then the snows close up the mountain passes and you still can’t get out.” He glanced over his shoulder then to make sure no one could overhear. “It’s changin’, though, and pretty damn quick. Like I said, the honest citizens has had enough.”
    â€œVigilantes?” Adam asked again. Mutt nodded in reply. “Well, I’m awful sorry the folks hereabout are in such a fix, but I’ve got to find my brother. So I’m gonna go talk to that young lady. What was her name?” Bonnie told him again. “Lacey Brewer,” he repeated.
    Mutt caught his arm as he turned