The Curse of Iron Eyes (14 page)

‘Why
not?’

‘That gang just
slaughtered a whole bunch of innocent folks back at Honcho Wells,’
Calhoon explained. ‘Even women and kids.’

‘Vermin,’ the
bounty hunter growled.

‘They were lower
than vermin, Iron Eyes.’ Calhoon sighed.

Iron Eyes rubbed the
blood off his face with his sleeve and studied the outlaw before
him. The face was carved into his mind, he had seen it on the
poster in his pocket.

‘Harve Calhoon,’
Iron Eyes said drily.

‘That’s my name.
You know me?’ Calhoon asked. He lifted the pair of Navy Colts off
the sand and handed them to the injured bounty hunter.

For a moment Iron Eyes
said nothing. He had trailed this man for weeks and yet for some
reason which he could not fathom, the man had saved his life.

‘I reckon I
ought to thank you, mister.’ Iron Eyes slid both his pistols into
his belt and pulled himself away from the side of the
wagon.

Suddenly the sound of
an army bugle filled the streets of Calico. The three men watched
as every outlaw in the town came running out of the saloons and
gambling-halls and running to their mounts.

As the sound of the
approaching platoon of cavalrymen grew louder, hundreds of men
galloped out of the town.

Iron Eyes turned and
looked at Harve Calhoon.

‘Ride, Calhoon.
The army will slap you in shackles if ya still here when they
arrive.’

‘Reckon ya
right, Iron Eyes.’

The outlaw touched the
brim of his Stetson and ran to his horse. He threw himself on to
its saddle. The man thundered after the fleeing outlaws.

The
bartender took hold of the bounty hunter’s elbow and helped him to
the empty boardwalk outside the Wayward Gun. Iron Eyes sat down on
the steps and pulled out a cigar, which he placed between his
teeth. He watched as the bartender seated himself next to
him.

‘I thought ya
was gonna kill Harve Calhoon?’

Iron Eyes chewed on the
cigar and stared at the bodies before them.

‘There’s enough
bounty on the ground here for me, friend.’

‘And ya might
get a reward for recovering the army gold.’ The bartender
grinned.

‘I hadn’t
thought of that.’ Iron Eyes accepted a light for his cigar and
inhaled the smoke deeply. ‘What they call you?’

‘John Smith,’
the man smiled sheepishly.

Iron Eyes nodded. They
could hear the troopers horses entering the outskirts of
Calico.

‘I believe ya,
but a lot of folks wouldn’t.’

‘Are you about
ready to see a doctor now?’ the man asked.

Iron Eyes chewed on the
cigar.

‘I’m giving it
serious consideration, Mr. Smith.’

Iron Eyes

Irons Eyes the
Avenger

The Spurs of Iron
Eyes

Fury of Iron Eyes

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