Free The King Hill War by Robert Vaughan Page A

expect to use a lawyer for free,” Creed said.
    Gilmore shook his head. “I’m not talking about my fee. I’m talking about what we will have to pay Hodge Eckert.”
    “Eckert? From the government land office?”
    “Yes.”
    “What has he got to do with it?”
    “The open range is government land. Eckert is in charge of it. For a fee, we could convince him to get a court injunction that would prevent the sheep from using it.”
    “For a fee?” Creed said. Then he smiled. “You mean for a bribe, don’t you?”
    “No, not a bribe. If you pay a bribe, I could be charged with setting it up, and you could be charged with paying it. But if it is a fee, and the fee turns out to be illegal, only Eckert could be charged with wrongdoing.”
    Creed’s smile grew broader. “I like the way you do things, Gilmore. Do you think the court will give us aninjunction?”
    “Yes. Since Eckert represents the government, that gives the government an interest in the case. At least until there is a hearing on the matter.”
    “Yeah? Can you guarantee that the hearing will rule in our favor?” Creed asked.
    “No, of course I can’t guarantee it,” Gilmore said. “But it doesn’t matter, because the injunction will be in effect until the hearing is actually held. And, with a little manipulation, we can put the hearing off indefinitely, thus giving the injunction the authority of law.”
    “How do you put off the hearing?”
    Gilmore stroked his cheek. “Oh, if you have a skilled and motivated lawyer, there are many ways to accomplish this.”
    “Uh-huh,” Creed said. “And you know where I might get this skilled and motivated lawyer?”
    “Skilled I am, Mr. Creed,” Gilmore said. “It is the motivation that you must deal with.”
    “Would five hundred dollars motivate you?” Creed asked.
    Gilmore smiled broadly. “I think it would motivate me quite well,” he promised.
    “What about Eckert?”
    “Oh, I doubt that his fee will be more than one hundred dollars.”
    “All right, come to the bank with me and I’ll draw out the money,” Creed said. “But I’m counting on you to get that injunction.”
    “You will have it within the week,” Gilmore said confidently.
     
    Some 130 miles away from King Hill, in the town of Eagle Rock, Clay Morgan was sitting at a table in a saloon, his back to the wall, playing a game of Solitaire. He didn’t even look up when Sheriff Majors entered. Morgan had been in town for a week now, and though the sheriff had come into the saloon several times during that week, Majors had not appeared to take notice of him. Morgan knew that was because he was afraid. And that was good. As long as men were afraid of him, he would always have the edge.
    He started to go back to his card game, then noticed something that caught his attention, something different.
    Sheriff Majors was carrying a shotgun. There was also another man with him. And like Majors, the other man was wearing a start on his vest.
    “Clay Morgan?” Sheriff Majors said.
    Morgan felt all of his senses heighten. It was a familiar feeling, one that he always felt just before he killed.
    He felt giddy, almost excited.
    “You know who I am, Sheriff,” Morgan said. “I’ve been sitting here at the same table for a week now, and you’ve seen me every day. Why the sudden interest?”
    “This is Deputy Colmes from over at Squaw Creek.”
    “Squaw Creek? I was just there a few days ago,” Morgan said. “Nice town you have there.”
    “Muley Thomas and Quint Weathers,” Deputy Colmes said. “Do those names mean anything to you?”
    “Yes.”
    “You killed them,” the deputy said.
    Morgan nodded. “As a matter of fact, I did.”
    “Good Lord, he’s not even denying it,” Majors said.
    “They were a couple of horse thieves. I was serving a warrant.”
    “Turns out there was no court warrant on those boys,” Deputy Colmes said.
    “Oh? Ask Jack Yancey about that.”
    “Yancey is in jail. He’s about to be tried