Free Trail of the Hanged Man by Steve Hayes Page A

on out of here.’
    ‘Don’t be a fool,’ Lawless said. ‘You’ve seen Joey’s condition. He can’t leave here, not for a week or two at least.’
    The sheriff rose to his full height, dug out a bag of lemon drops and put one in his mouth. ‘I don’t know what your play in this is, amigo , but unless you’re anxious to be behind bars, best get on your horse and keep riding till you reach Arizona. Oh, and by the way. Don’t count on saving my life to mean anything. You already traded that favor to keep Joey out of jail.’
    Behind him, Deputy Lonnie Davis cocked the hammers on his shotgun and aimed it at Lawless.
    Unfazed, Lawless turned to Latigo Rawlins. ‘What about you?’
    ‘What about me?’
    ‘I’ve known you to do some mighty ugly things, Lefty, but evicting a girl and a shot-up boy in a rainstorm – surely you haven’t stooped that low?’
    Latigo grinned. ‘If you’re trying to shame me into backing you, Ben, forget it. My conscience died on me in the cradle.’
    ‘Ben?’ the sheriff said, disappointed. ‘That’s his real name?’
    ‘Yep.’
    ‘Not Will?’
    ‘Uh-uh. Will’s his cousin.’
    ‘You know that for true?’
    ‘Sure. I know Will Lawless. He, Ben and I used to—’
    ‘That’s enough,’ Lawless warned.
    The little gunfighter bristled. ‘You giving me orders now?’
    Before Lawless could answer, the sheriff said, ‘If they look that much alike, how can you be sure which one it was?’
    ‘Easy. Tell Ben, here, to unbutton his shirt.’
    ‘Do it,’ the sheriff ordered.
    Lawless didn’t move. ‘You’re making a mistake,’ he told Latigo.
    ‘How you figure that?’
    ‘You’re counting on being faster than me.’
    ‘I am faster than you,’ Latigo said. ‘I’m faster than anybody.’ He spoke casually, without bravado, his voice surprisingly deep for someone his size. ‘But that ain’t what I’m counting on. I’m figuring you don’t want that thundergun the deputy’s holding to go off. ’Cause at this range, it won’t only blow daylight through you but through that little gal next to you, too.’
    Lawless sighed. He knew when to fold. Grudgingly he unbuttoned his shirt, revealing the ugly white scar circling his neck.
    Sickened, Violet quickly looked away.
    Both deputies did the same.
    Sheriff Tishman whistled softly. ‘Godawmighty,’ he said. His hand strayed to the rope burns around his own neck. ‘How come you ain’t dead?’
    ‘I wonder about that myself sometimes,’ Lawless said.
    Latigo chuckled. ‘The rurales would rest easier if you were.’
    ‘They the ones who hanged you?’ the sheriff said.
    Lawless made a sound that could have meant anything and buttoned up his shirt.
    But the damage had been done. Even though the scar was no longer visible, the others could still visualize it along with the horrors it conjured up, and remained silent.
    The only sound was the rain hammering on the roof and against the window.
    Lawless said, ‘How about it, Sheriff? Will you let Violet and her brother rest up here till morning? A night’s sleep might mean all the difference to Joey.’
    ‘Couldn’t even if I wanted to.’
    ‘Why not?’
    ‘I’m here to uphold the law. And the law wants ’em off this property – now.’
    ‘Law be damned,’ Violet said contemptuously. ‘Brian Edfors is the one making you do this. It’s his way of spiting me for refusing to marry him.’
    ‘What’s been going on ’tween you and Mr Edfors is no concern of mine,’ the sheriff said. ‘Judge Ainsley signed this eviction notice, and he’s the one who told me to carry out the instructions. I aim to do just that.’ Turning to Deputy Davis, he added, ‘Bring Bjorkman and the boy out.’

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
    The storm had moved on by the time Lawless and Sven finished loading the wagon with trunks and boxes holding Violet and Joey’s personal belongings. The sky was still overcast, but the dark clouds were breaking up and the rain had slackened to a depressing