Longarm and the Wyoming Woman (10 page)

“Now what makes you think that?” Reed quickly asked.

“She said you were about the only one in Buffalo Falls that I could trust and that you'd tell me everything you know so long as it didn't get you murdered.”

“She said that?”

“Yes. And that tells me that she not only likes you, but trusts you.”

Rollie snorted. “Yeah, I know that. But she doesn't
love
me.”

“Maybe that will come in time. Both of you are smart and capable young people, and yet neither of you has gotten married. Think about it.”

Rollie picked up a piece of leather and studied it while deep in thought. “I didn't know that her father had been murdered. When Casey rode into town four or five days ago, I just figured that he and Mr. Hudson had had a falling-out. And given that Casey is a tough man, I wasn't surprised that Stoneman put him on the payroll.”

“So do you think that Casey is the one that murdered Mr. Hudson?”

“I have no idea,” Reed said, “but he's sure capable of doing it.”

“Yeah,” Longarm said, “that's what Addie said, too.”

“What are you going to do now, Marshal?”

Longarm thought about that for a moment. “I guess I'll go to Dolly's and get something to eat, then mosey around town for a while. I'll have a beer or two at the local saloons and learn what I can about Stoneman and his operation.”

“Once people discover that you're a federal law officer, you're going to have a big bull's-eye target stitched to the middle of your back.”

“It's happened before,” Longarm said. “If you can help Addie or me in any way, I'd appreciate it.”

“I hear things,” Rollie Reed admitted. “Cowboys and townspeople both come in here and like to talk. They sit around my potbellied stove and drink coffee or whiskey from their flasks and watch me work the leather.”

“Have you heard anything I can use?”

“I know that Stoneman is after the Lazy H Ranch. He's made no bones about the fact that it's his next priority. It's got the best water and grass for miles around. And even more important, the Lazy H butts up against
his
ranch, which makes it even more valuable to the man.”

“I don't think that Addie would ever sell to that man.”

“She might not have any choice,” Reed said. “Best thing she could do is to take what money she can get and go find another town where they need and will accept a woman doctor.”

Longarm stared at the saddle maker for a moment, then asked, “If you thought that someone murdered your father, would you just pack up and leave with your tail between your legs?”

Reed froze. “No,” he said quietly, “I wouldn't. I'd get a gun and I'd find a way to kill the sonofabitch before he killed me.”

“Can you handle a gun?”

“Why do you ask? You looking for a posse?”

“No,” Longarm replied. “But it's always good to know what a friend is capable of in a bad pinch.”

“I'm plenty capable,” Reed said without sounding like he was bragging. “And if it comes to that and it's you and Addie against Stoneman and his gunnies, then you call on me and I'll come running.”

“You really do love that girl.”

“Yeah,” he admitted, “I really do. But don't take that to mean I want
you
dead, Marshal.”

“I won't,” Longarm reassured him as he was leaving.

“You watch out for Dolly!”

Longarm turned in the doorway. “Why do you say that?”

“Because I got a strong feeling that Dolly will take a shine to you. Also, she's got not only the biggest pair of tits in Buffalo Falls, but also the biggest mouth. Anything you say to her can and will be repeated for everyone to hear.”

“Addie told me Dolly loved to gossip,” Longarm said, “but she forgot to mention that Dolly had a pair of big tits.”

“They're fit for a milking cow, only not so hairy.”

Longarm laughed out loud. “Rollie, are you telling me about those big tits from firsthand experience?”

It was the saddle maker's turn to chuckle. “See you later, Marshal.”

“I'd appreciate it if you didn't call me that. Not yet. People around here will learn who I am soon enough.”

“I understand.”

Longarm closed the door and headed for Dolly's and some eagerly awaited food.

“Well, hello, handsome! Where on earth did you come from?” Dolly exclaimed, bold brown eyes raking Longarm's body from head to toe. “Sit yourself down and let Dolly serve you.”

There were at least a dozen other men in the little café, and Longarm could feel his cheeks burn as some of them chuckled with amusement. But there was nothing to do but sit and endure Dolly, so Longarm took a seat near the front window.

“You look lobo-wolf hungry to me,” Dolly said, brushing back a strand of long dark hair. “And this is the place to get taken real good care of.”

“How about a cup of coffee, a steak, potatoes, and whatever else you can cram on a plate?”

“Sure, darlin'!” She leaned over the table so that her massive breasts were straining at the neckline and almost in Longarm's face. “And I'll bet a man like you wants his meat hot, juicy, and pink.”

“I like my steak medium-rare and I like mashed potatoes with lots of gravy,” he replied.

“What kind of dessert do you hunger for, mister?”

“What kind have you got?”

“I got pies, cakes, and sweet-tasting
me
!” She poured him a cup of steaming coffee.

This remark caused the entire café to erupt in laughter. Longarm was embarrassed and angry. He scowled and looked around at the other patrons. “Maybe you boys better wipe those grins off your faces before I teach you some manners.”

“You gonna do that all by your lonesome, stranger?”

Longarm turned to a big man with a busted nose and lantern jaw and replied, “That's right.”

“Stranger, I think you're all talk.”

Longarm picked up his hot coffee and hurled it right into the man's ugly face, causing him to let out a howl of pain. Before the man could clear his eyes, Longarm hit him with a straight right cross that sent him flying out of his chair. The man tried to get up, but when he saw Longarm's expression, he gave up that poor idea.

“Anybody else think I'm all talk?” Longarm challenged.

No one moved and no one was laughing anymore. Satisfied, Longarm sat down and placed his napkin in his shirt. “Okay, Dolly, snap to it! I'm hungry!”

“Yes, sir!” she said, no longer having fun. “I'll put the meat right on the fire.”

“Good. But before you do that, pour me another cup of coffee. I seem to have spilled the first one.” Longarm lit a cigar and smoked in silence as he watched the man he'd punched being helped to the door. Once he and his friends were gone, it wasn't long before conversation returned to the café and things were back to normal.

Fifteen minutes later, Dolly brought him a thick steak bathed in fried onions alongside potatoes and gravy. She hesitated a moment and said, “Listen, stranger, I didn't mean to tease you so bad. But everyone in Buffalo Falls knows I like to have a little fun and don't mean nothin'. Not really. And I apologize for any offense I caused you.”

“If this steak is as good as it looks, all is forgiven.”

Dolly smiled and wiped up a little spilled coffee. Leaning close, she said in a low, soft voice, “But mister, you are a handsome sonofabitch, and if you ain't married or anything, you'd really like my
special
dessert served in a special place.”

Again, he took a measure of the Dolly's big tits, and then he couldn't help but give her a slight smile. “Don't tempt me. I've come here with Addie Hudson.”

“Oh,” Dolly said, not hiding her disappointment. “And next you'll tell me that you and she get hitched.”

“No. I'm just . . . a friend of hers.”

“I'll bet you are. Well, if you need another friend, you keep me in mind. All right?”

“I'll keep that in mind.” Longarm cut into his steak and took a bite. It was delicious and when he looked up, there were those huge tits staring him in the face again.

“You like them?” she asked with a sexy grin.

“Yeah, I sure do,” he answered. “And the steak isn't bad either.”

Dolly beamed and went to serve her other customers.

Longarm was one of the last customers to finish, and he waited until Dolly was starting to clean up behind the counter before he got up from his table and went over to speak to her in a low voice that couldn't be overheard. “Could I have a few minutes?” he asked.

She wasn't expecting that and was pleased. “Why, sure! But it'll take more than just a few minutes if you're wanting what I'm wanting.”

“All I want this evening is information.”

She blinked. “What?”

Longarm decided that maybe Dolly wasn't a good person to confide in yet, so he said, “I'll be back another time.”

“When?”

“I don't know.”

She was confused, and it showed by her expression. “Well, don't wait too long, handsome. I've got plenty of choices around here.”

“I'm sure you do,” he said, paying his tab and tipping her generously before he left.

Longarm figured that by tomorrow everyone in Buffalo Falls would somehow know that he was a federal marshal sent from Denver. That being the case, he needed to circulate in the saloons tonight where whiskey and beer loosened tongues and clouded judgment.

So he headed over to the nearest saloon, called the Big Buck, and went inside. He was hoping that he wouldn't see either Wade Stoneman or Casey, but he immediately saw that Casey was sitting at a table playing poker. It was impossible to miss the white streak in the man's beard and Addie's description was very complete.

Longarm went to the bar and ordered a beer. “Looks like there's a pretty good poker game going on over there,” he said.

“Yeah. Casey is winning tonight, so there won't be any bodies to bury come morning.”

Longarm pretended to be shocked. “Which one is he?”

“The fella with all the chips as well as an even bigger chip on his shoulder. Stranger, you don't want to get into that game.”

“Probably not,” Longarm said. “I'm just here for a drink and maybe a little friendly conversation.”

“You're new to Buffalo Falls?”

“I am. Thinking about buying a ranch.”

“Think twice,” the bartender whispered. “And when you learn a little more about things in this neck of the woods, you'll want to move on.”

“Is that right?”

The bartender looked around and pretended to wipe a spill. “Don't tell anyone I said that, but this isn't the healthiest place in Wyoming these days. And if I wasn't part owner of this saloon, I'd be long gone.”

“Why?”

“I can't say any more,” the bartender whispered as a couple of cowboys entered the saloon and called for whiskey. “But just keep your wallet out of sight and your ears wide open. You'll find out what's up soon enough.”

“Thanks for the advice,” Longarm said, turning his full attention to Casey and the game of poker that he meant to join just as soon as a chair emptied.

A man could tell a lot about another man playing poker against him. He could tell if he was a bluffer or a foolish risk taker. If he was overly confident or reckless. Casey didn't look overconfident or reckless and from the way he wore his gun, he looked like a gunfighter to Longarm.

Why Addie's father had ever hired him in the first place was the biggest mystery of all, and one that Longarm intended to solve before this night was over.

“Damn you, Casey, you're dealin' from the bottom of the deck again!” one of the poker players at the table shouted as he came to his feet and made a stab for his gun.

What happened next took less than a second. While the man was making his play, Casey's right hand appeared with a bowie knife whose huge blade was a silver blur as it slashed the loser's neck wide open, almost decapitating him. Blood burst like a fountain from the man's throat to spray across the poker table, chips, and cards a moment before he fell with his head barely attached to his shoulders.

The killing was so swift, brutal, and shocking that no one in the saloon moved or even took a breath. The dead man flopped around on the sawdust floor for a moment or two, and then was still.

Longarm watched Casey wipe his blade clean on another man's sleeve and then say as casually as if he were commenting on the weather, “He was wrong about me dealin' from the bottom of the deck. Did anybody else at this table see me cheating?”

The three surviving players were pale as ghosts and they couldn't shake their heads hard or fast enough.

“Of course you didn't,” Casey said with a smile. “Bartender, come get this carrion out of here!”

“Yes sir, Marshal Casey!”

It was Longarm's turn to be shocked. Casey was the town's new
marshal
?

Longarm had been thinking about getting into the card game and somehow trying to provoke Casey or maybe even befriending him. Anything that would get the man to open up or reveal his true self. But now that wasn't going to be necessary. By his swift, brutal knife work, Casey had shown his true nature, and it was that of a cold-blooded killer with lightning-fast hands.

Longarm laid some money on the bar's top and went outside to clear his head. It wasn't that he hadn't seen men decapitated or nearly so before, because he had during the Civil War. Yet the cool and casual way that Casey had acted told Longarm that the man was totally without conscience. And how had he suddenly become the town's marshal? How could that be possible?