Free California Crackdown by Jon Sharpe Page A

head.
    Fargo didn’t want to ask just what tales Jim had heard.
    “Damn,” Walt said. “We missed all the fun.”
    “I have a feeling the fun is just beginning,” Fargo said. “If you call men getting shot fun .”
    “If the man deserves to be shot, yeah I do,” Walt said.
    Fargo glanced at the strong kid and said nothing.
    “Any news about Cain?” Jim asked.
    “Nothing,” Fargo said. “We’ll find out soon enough. Right now we have to find Daniel.”
    “He was part of the bunch that robbed us and shot his father,” Walt said, his words showing his disgust and anger. “I couldn’t believe it, but he was. I had a clear shot at him and didn’t take it. Wish I had now.”
    “I had a clear shot as well,” Fargo said. “Daniel may have had reasons for what he did, or maybe he was duped by Sarah Brant. We have to find him and find out. He’s in town somewhere. Or at least he was yesterday.”
    “I’ve heard stories about that Brant woman,” Jim said as they reached the sidewalk and Fargo led them toward the center of town. “They say her mother left because of her.”
    “I was warned to stay out of her clutches because she liked to cut off men’s privates,” Walt said, shuddering. “But everyone says she’s a looker.”
    “I met her once,” Fargo said. “And I don’t doubt either story. And if Daniel was wrapped up in her charms, there’s no telling what he would have done for her. But right now we’ve got to find him.”
    “Mind if I pound some sense into him if I find him?” Jim asked.
    “Yes, I do mind,” Fargo said. “You find him, either of you, and you come and get me. My gut tells me this kid is in danger. We have to find him before they do, now that they think his father is dead.”
    “I sure hope he’s not,” Walt said.
    Fargo couldn’t do anything but agree with that. He wasn’t letting himself think about Cain dying.
    When Fargo reached a general store close to the center of town, he told Walt to go south along Main, checking out every hotel and saloon. “Ask the desk clerks if Daniel Parker has checked in.”
    Fargo sent Jim north doing the same thing.
    “I’m going to check some of the brothels,” Fargo said.
    “You get all the good jobs,” Walt said, smiling.
    “Just had more experience in those places,” Fargo said. “We meet right back here in an hour. And remember, don’t let him see you if you can help it. Just come and find me. Don’t do anything to spook him.”
    Both men nodded. Fargo left first. Before Walt and Jim separated, Walt said, “Not everybody’s gonna believe us.”
    “Believe us about what?” Jim said.
    “Working with Fargo. The Trailsman.”
    Jim laughed. “You’re probably right. I met a newspaperman once—he told me he didn’t think that Fargo even existed.”
    “I’ll bet some of it’s exaggerated, though,” Walt said.
    “Some is. But not by Fargo. People just like to have heroes and they make up things about them.”
    “One thing I heard was that he fought two black bears at a time.”
    Jim laughed. “I’m pretty sure that didn’t happen.”
    “Another thing I heard was that down in Louisiana he killed an alligator with his bare hands.”
    “Now that one I know is true. Met a man who actually saw it.”
    “But he ain’t—I mean, he could still be killed.”
    “Sure he could. Just like us.”
    “He’s prob’ly been up against tougher men than Brant before.”
    “Tougher, maybe. But not any greedier.”
    Walt nodded agreement and the men went on their separate ways.
    After three times out and back, none of them had had any luck, so Fargo bought them all lavish steak-and-potato dinners. If Cain lived, he wouldn’t mind feeding the men who were trying to save his son. And if he didn’t live, he wouldn’t care that Fargo had spent his money.
    In the three hours, Fargo had personally visited more than a dozen brothels, been propositioned by a dozen women, and been tossed out of one house by a madam who knew him