Free The Drifter by William W. Johnstone Page B
Authors: William W. Johnstone
and Frank stayed with Vivian while Hal and Jimmy returned to the hotel to get their belongings. Vivian wanted them to stay in the house, but both gunhands shook their heads at that suggestion. They would stay in the carriage house, behind the main house.
Conrad, his feathers ruffled by Frank's blunt comments concerning his ability to protect his mother, stalked off to bed, leaving Frank and Vivian alone in the dining room. The candles and lanterns had been trimmed, leaving the room in very subdued light.
âIf you had not heard I was having trouble shipping the silverââ Viv said. She shook her head. âI shudder to think what would have happened had you not been here."
âWell, I'm here, Viv. And Hal and Jimmy are good men. They'll get some wires off in the morning to some friends of theirs, and before you know it your silver will be safely shipped. Hal and Jimmy will design the wagons, and they'll be built right here in town. Until Vanbergen and Pine are taken care of, Hal and Jimmy will be your shadows, around the clock."
âAnd you, Frank?"
âI'll be aroundâyou can bet on that. You couldn't run me off if you tried."
She touched his hand. âI'm counting on that."
âYou've got it."
âHal and Jimmy are certainly ... well, capable looking. I have to admit that."
âThey're both tough as wang leather. They're not the prettiest pair in the world, but they're one hundred percent loyal. They ride for the brand, Viv. And they're quick on the shoot. They'll stick no matter what."
âWhy doesn't the law do something about this gang, or gangs, I should say?"
âYou were living back east a long time, Viv. You've forgotten this is the West. It's slowly being tamed, but its still pretty much wild and wooly and full of fleas. There isn't much law out here, not in most places. And it'll be some time before there is."
âI suppose so."
âI taught you how to shoot, Viv. Do you still have a pistol?"
âNo. My husband didn't like guns."
âCan Conrad use a gun?"
âNo. He doesn't like guns either."
Frank shook his head. âMaybe that's for the best. He'd probably brace somebody and get himself shot."
âHe's lonely, Frank. That's his biggest problem. And I don't know what to do about that."
âHe wouldn't be, Viv, if he wasn't such a stuck-up fussbucket."
Vivian tried her best to look offended at that, but couldn't quite pull it off. She gave up, and with a half-smile said, âHe just doesn't fit in out here, Frank. I don't believe he ever will."
âSome folks never do. But those that can't are the folks who want someone else to do for them. You were raised out here, Viv. You know all this."
âThe settled East is an ideal place to forget all that,â she said gently.
âI guess so. Don't know much about the east. Never wanted to go there.â Frank fiddled around with his empty coffee cup for a few seconds.
âMore coffee, Frank?"
âNo. thanks. This will do me. Soon as the boys get back I've got to start making my night rounds and check on the wounded at the jail."
âWhat will happen to those men?"
âThey'll be held here for trial. I'll be checking dodgers to see if they're wanted anywhere else ... and I'm sure they are."
âWhat if their gang tries to break them out?"
âI'll do my best to prevent that."
âYou're just one man, Frank. The combined strength of those gangs, so I'm told, can be as high as forty."
Frank shrugged his shoulders. âI can't help that. I was hired to enforce the law and keep the peace. I intend to do just that."
The gate bell rang, and Marion went outside to let Hal and Jimmy in. Frank stood up. âI'll see you tomorrow, Viv. About midmorning, for coffee."
Frank stood outside the Browning estate for a moment and rolled and smoked a cigarette, then strolled up the boardwalk and stepped inside the Red Horse Saloon for a look around. It was noisy and rowdy, but that
Conrad, his feathers ruffled by Frank's blunt comments concerning his ability to protect his mother, stalked off to bed, leaving Frank and Vivian alone in the dining room. The candles and lanterns had been trimmed, leaving the room in very subdued light.
âIf you had not heard I was having trouble shipping the silverââ Viv said. She shook her head. âI shudder to think what would have happened had you not been here."
âWell, I'm here, Viv. And Hal and Jimmy are good men. They'll get some wires off in the morning to some friends of theirs, and before you know it your silver will be safely shipped. Hal and Jimmy will design the wagons, and they'll be built right here in town. Until Vanbergen and Pine are taken care of, Hal and Jimmy will be your shadows, around the clock."
âAnd you, Frank?"
âI'll be aroundâyou can bet on that. You couldn't run me off if you tried."
She touched his hand. âI'm counting on that."
âYou've got it."
âHal and Jimmy are certainly ... well, capable looking. I have to admit that."
âThey're both tough as wang leather. They're not the prettiest pair in the world, but they're one hundred percent loyal. They ride for the brand, Viv. And they're quick on the shoot. They'll stick no matter what."
âWhy doesn't the law do something about this gang, or gangs, I should say?"
âYou were living back east a long time, Viv. You've forgotten this is the West. It's slowly being tamed, but its still pretty much wild and wooly and full of fleas. There isn't much law out here, not in most places. And it'll be some time before there is."
âI suppose so."
âI taught you how to shoot, Viv. Do you still have a pistol?"
âNo. My husband didn't like guns."
âCan Conrad use a gun?"
âNo. He doesn't like guns either."
Frank shook his head. âMaybe that's for the best. He'd probably brace somebody and get himself shot."
âHe's lonely, Frank. That's his biggest problem. And I don't know what to do about that."
âHe wouldn't be, Viv, if he wasn't such a stuck-up fussbucket."
Vivian tried her best to look offended at that, but couldn't quite pull it off. She gave up, and with a half-smile said, âHe just doesn't fit in out here, Frank. I don't believe he ever will."
âSome folks never do. But those that can't are the folks who want someone else to do for them. You were raised out here, Viv. You know all this."
âThe settled East is an ideal place to forget all that,â she said gently.
âI guess so. Don't know much about the east. Never wanted to go there.â Frank fiddled around with his empty coffee cup for a few seconds.
âMore coffee, Frank?"
âNo. thanks. This will do me. Soon as the boys get back I've got to start making my night rounds and check on the wounded at the jail."
âWhat will happen to those men?"
âThey'll be held here for trial. I'll be checking dodgers to see if they're wanted anywhere else ... and I'm sure they are."
âWhat if their gang tries to break them out?"
âI'll do my best to prevent that."
âYou're just one man, Frank. The combined strength of those gangs, so I'm told, can be as high as forty."
Frank shrugged his shoulders. âI can't help that. I was hired to enforce the law and keep the peace. I intend to do just that."
The gate bell rang, and Marion went outside to let Hal and Jimmy in. Frank stood up. âI'll see you tomorrow, Viv. About midmorning, for coffee."
Frank stood outside the Browning estate for a moment and rolled and smoked a cigarette, then strolled up the boardwalk and stepped inside the Red Horse Saloon for a look around. It was noisy and rowdy, but that
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