Ticket to Yuma (13 page)

FORTY-FOUR

Clint stood outside Yuma Territorial Prison, dressed in his own clothes, alongside Eclipse, who had been too impressive and valuable an animal for anyone to harm back in Prescott.

When the Yuma doors opened, Warden Gordon came walking out and joined Clint.

“Harlan Banks will be out soon,” he said. “Several of the other ‘unofficial' prisoners have already been released.”

“And the people who put them here?”

“That'll be up to the prisoners, if they want to go back and face them.”

“But you'll help?”

“Of course,” the warden said. “You saved my life, Adams.”

“Well, it was lucky for us that you like rare guns, and you keep one fully loaded. We really needed that seventh shot.”

“Yes, indeed.”

“What about your deputy, Simon?”

“He's in a cell of his own,” the warden said. “I'm, not sure yet, but I might put him in with the general population eventually.”

The door opened again and Harlan Banks came walking out, dressed in his own clothes. He took a deep breath of free air, then saw Clint and the warden standing there.

“Mr. Banks,” the warden said. “I'm so sorry for what you went through.”

“Yeah,” Banks said without looking at the warden. “Clint, thanks.”

They all shook hands.

“Will you be going back to Prescott for your revenge?” the warden asked.

“Not revenge,” Clint said. “Justice. The chief of police and the mayor can't be allowed to keep on the way they are. God forbid one of them actually gets elected to a higher office.”

“Sounds to me like they'd be perfect for politics,” the warden commented.

“Probably right,” Clint said.

“Well,” the warden said, “good luck.”

“What about Amanda King?” Clint asked.

“Oh,” the warden said, “her. Sorry, but I can't let her out. I checked up on her. She actually is guilty.”

Clint frowned.

“Sorry,” the warden said, and went inside.

As the warden left, Clint said, “Come on, let's get you a horse.”

“What about him?” Banks asked. “We just gonna let him keep running Yuma? Sooner or later he'll miss the money and start up again. Maybe even let Deputy Simon out of his cell to help.”

“Nope,” Clint said, “we're not going to leave him in there. We'll go to the state capital, and after we've finished exposing Chief Blake, Mayor Halliday, and Deputy Simon, we'll take care of Warden Gordon's career.”

 

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