Free Funeral By The Sea by George G. Gilman Page B

clothing were heaped untidily in the corner of the stall from which he had taken Vic’s horse. The five twenty-dollar bills were still spiked on the nail. And he collected everything that was his, including the money, and retreated back to where the ash-blonde was waiting.
    Dressing was a painful and exhausting chore, making him realize just how much of his stamina had been drained since he took advantage of the unbolted trapdoors to get out of the basement. The whore had to help him get into his coat and pull on his boots.
    When he was fully dressed, taking long breaths as he rested on his haunches, she whispered, ‘It’s a long way to the boats. And it won’t be easy gettin’ one of them down to the water. You figure the Mexicans will just stand and watch us leave?’
    He nodded. ‘You’re Delroy’s personal whore, lady.’
    Defiance replaced anxiety on her face. ‘I’m what I am, sonny. And I ain’t ashamed of it.’
    Now he shook his head. ‘And I ain’t insulting you. Just saying what the Mexicans and the cantina whores know you to be.’ He reached out to unhook the Murcott from a front rigging ring of his saddle. ‘So with this pressed to your back, I figure they won’t try to stop us.’
    She showed a wan smile and blinked several times. Then , ‘That’s good. But do me a favor if it goes wrong, will you?’
    ‘If I can, lady.’
    ‘Blow a hole in me if there’s a chance of me gettin’ captured alive.’
    ‘It’s a deal.’ He delved into a saddlebag and took out a carton of shells for the shotgun. Transferred this to a pocket of his coat. ‘Let’s go.’
    ‘What about your stuff?’
    ‘It’s no use without a horse to carry it, lady. And I’ve got my hands full right now.’
    He rose and moved slowly ahead of her toward the front of the stable, heard her breathing fearfully behind him. Then heard something else which caused him to reach for her and take her with him as he side-stepped into the first stall on the right.
    ‘What’s wrong?’ she gasped. Then caught her breath as the question was answered from elsewhere - she heard the sound which had triggered his move. The thud of galloping hooves, rising in volume as the horsemen raced out of the ravine, around the slab of rock and along the hard-packed sand toward the community under the cliff.
    Barnaby Gold rasped between his clenched teeth, ‘Goddamnittohell.’
    Emily sagged on to her haunches and leaned her back against the side of the stall, her eyes dull as she groaned, ‘That brute Delroy won’t give a shit about me gettin’ my head blowed off.’
    Gold chanced a look over the top of the stall and saw that Seth Harrow, who had been about to climb up on to the wagon, was now walking disconsolately away from it.
    ‘We’re done for,’ the blonde said helplessly.
    He hunkered down and turned toward her, face expressionless except for a degree of gentleness in his green eyes. ‘Appreciate all your help, lady.’
    ‘And now I can go to hell and take my chances?’ she answered bitterly.
    ‘You can turn me over to them. And believe me when I say I won’t tell Delroy it was you made it so I could get out of the basement. I owe you that much for trying, lady. ’
    Her lovely fact displayed a quizzical expression, with mistrust just beneath the surface.
    ‘Or you can get back to the house while everyone’s interested in what’s happening out on the street. And act as innocent about my escape as the rest of them have reason to be.’
    ‘And you?’
    ‘Take whatever chance comes my way, lady.’
    She swallowed hard. ‘And if they take you? Without killin’ you? Delroy won’t forget somebody had to let you out of the basement. He’ll torture you.’
    ‘Your life has been on the line since you slid back those bolts, lady.’
    The leading riders of the group were skidding their horses to a halt at the front of the house as the whore frowned in hurried thought. A revolver was exploded into the air and a man began to