the Iron Marshall (1979) (25 page)

All were armed. "What is this?" he asked. "Another war?"

"It could be. Those are Childerses up there. They say they are hunting you."

"Thanks, gentlemen, but that's my problem."

"Not if there's four of them and you're our marshal." Tom Shanaghy had taken no more than half a dozen steps when there was a rustle of movement and the soft pound of hoofs. Several riders brushed by him. Others came through the intervals between the buildings, slowly converging on the hotel.

He caught a glimpse of the Childers men on the hotel porch, and then they were blocked out by at least twenty riders in the street. Shanaghy paused, and between the horses he glimpsed the Childers men being escorted toward the station by a dozen riders, all with Winchesters. One of the other riders turned and rode toward him. It was Red, the Vince Patterson rider he had seen at their chuckwagon. "We're just a'showin' those boys some horsepitality," he said, "guidin" 'em to the deepot, like. We surely can't afford to let a man get shot who offered to stand for drinks for the crowd now, can we?" "This was my fight," Shanaghy objected.

"What fight?" Red asked, innocently. "Come on, Irishman, keep your derby on.

Let's just head back down to that drinkin' establishment I see yonder." Shanaghy turned and walked back to Greenwood's. He had scarcely reached the bar when Vince Patterson strode in. "Everything all right, Marshal?" "Sure, everything's all right. Have yourself a drink. As Red here reminded me, I'm standing treat."

"With pleasure." Vince Patterson accepted the drink and then said, "A couple of my boys found the body of your storekeeper a few miles south. We brought it in. He'd been shot in the back of the head at close range."

"It's been a trying time," Shanaghy said, "a most trying time." "My boys are glad to be here," Vince assured him, "and I am sure they will cause no trouble."

"Red," Shanaghy said, "will you boys hang up your guns here until you leave town?"

Red shrugged. "Looks like we got no choice." He grinned. "I wouldn't want to get mowed down by those feerocious townspeople you got here." Tom Shanaghy finished his drink and walked outside with Vince. "Why don't we ride out to the Pendletons?" Vince suggested. "I hear there's a young lady out there who is most anxious to see you. And," he added, "she has a gentleman who is recuperating from some serious wounds, a man named Rig Barrett who would like a firsthand report from a deputy he never heard of." It was long after dark when Tom Shanaghy rode into town, and Josh Lundy met him in the street. "Pin McBride escaped!" he said. "Somebody got the door open and let him out."

Shanaghy dismounted and handed his horse to Josh. "Put him up, will you? We'll go hunting for his body in the morning."

"Body?"

"Rig Barrett was out at the Pendletons. Jan got Coonskin Adams to help her get him out there to her place, where they could take proper care of him." "What about Pin?"

"No trouble. I am sure you'll find his body out east of town not far from that water tank. Just look for the carcass of a dead burro. His will be right close by."

Version 1.0 Proofed by Ahawke.