Free The Legend of El Duque by J. R. Roberts Page A

side door to the livery, opened it, and stepped in just as Mano was introducing him to the two men.
    â€œ. . . both end up dead.”
    â€œWhat?” one of them asked.
    â€œClint Adams?” the other asked.
    â€œSí,”
Mano said, “now step aside.”
    Clint eyed the two men and made a snap judgment about them. He thought Mano could handle them, but he made himself ready, just in case. He moved farther into the stable, into a stall alongside a horse.
    * * *
    Montero saw Clint go in the side door, decided he could not follow that way. He went around to the back and entered the stable that way, listening intently.
    â€œI won’t tell you again, step aside,” he heard someone say.
    He moved into a position from where he could watch.
    * * *
    Mano decided that taking the initiative might be the way to go, since these two seemed slow to make up their minds.
    Mano drew his gun.
    The two men seemed startled, and if he expected them to step aside or run, he was disappointed. They went for their guns.
    â€œDon’t—” he said, but even as he did, he was firing. He pulled the trigger three times, and the two men fell to the ground.
    â€œMadre de Dios!”
he swore, looking around.
    * * *
    Clint saw Mano draw, and knew what was going to happen. He drew his gun, but Mano reacted quickly as the two strangers went for their guns. The young man fired, then quickly glanced around.
    Clint stepped out and said, “It’s okay, Mano.”
    Mano turned and stared at Clint with wide eyes. Clint stepped past him and checked the two men.
    â€œAre they . . .” Mano asked.
    â€œYes, dead,” Clint said. “Reload and holster your gun. The law should be here soon.”
    â€œWhat will we tell them?” Mano asked.
    â€œThe truth, that these two men tried to rob you and you killed them.”
    â€œWell,” Mano said, holstering his gun, “that is sort of the truth.”
    â€œYes, it is. Did they ask about the money I’m carrying?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAnd that’s when you told them who I was?”
    â€œSí,”
Mano said. “I thought it would scare them. I did not want to kill them.”
    Clint looked out the door, did not see the man who had been on lookout. The shots probably scared him away.
    â€œWhat is it?” Mano asked.
    â€œThere was a third man,” Clint said. “He probably ran off.”
    â€œSo what do we do?” Mano asked.
    â€œWe’ll wait,” Clint said. “The sound of the shots should bring the law. It would in most towns.”
    Mano looked around the interior of the livery.
    â€œWhere’s the owner?”
    â€œHe must have run off, too,” Clint said.
    Mano looked down at the two men.
    â€œThe first time’s always the hardest, Mano,” he told the young man.
    â€œActually,” Mano said, “it was a lot easier than I thought, even though I am not Clint Adams.”
    * * *
    Montero heard the name “Clint Adams,” and knew he had to get out of that stable. He hadn’t bargained for having to deal with the Gunsmith.
    He had to get back to the rancho.
    * * *
    Clint turned and looked at the back of the stable.
    â€œWhat is it?” Mano asked.
    â€œI heard something.”
    They both walked to the back. Clint looked around, directed his attention to the dirt floor.
    â€œFresh tracks,” he told Mano.
    â€œSomebody was here?”
    â€œYes,” Clint said. “Watching you, or us.”
    â€œThen he heard who you are,” Mano said, “and he ran.”
    â€œYes,” Clint said, “yes, you’re probably right.”
    â€œJust hold it right there, you two!” they heard someone say from behind them.

TWENTY-FIVE
    The sheriff walked Clint and Mano to his office at gunpoint, their guns tucked into his belt. He already had men removing the dead bodies from the