“My what?” he responded with an impish grin, causing Little Bit to snicker.
“Your badge,” she said, flushing with embarrassment.
“We don’t always wear our badges,” Webb interjected, “so the outlaws don’t run off when they see us comin’.”
“Oh,” she responded fearfully. She knew then that her suspicions had been confirmed. Meeting her husband’s worried gaze, it was obvious that he had reached the same conclusion. Her foremost hope now was that they would leave, since they had been fed and their horses watered and rested. Seeing Franklin inching his way closer to the pantry door, she frowned at him, trying to discourage him from making any suicidal attempts for the shotgun. He paused with his hand almost touching the doorknob.
“Well, I reckon you fellows are anxious to get on your way,” Franklin said. “I’ll help you saddle up.” He walked to the kitchen door and opened it. None of the men made a move toward it.
“Why, we ain’t in no hurry a’tall,” Bevo said, leering at Ruth. “Are we, boys? We got time to get better acquainted. Now, me, I been wonderin’ how an ugly son of a bitch like ol’ Franklin got himself a spunky-lookin’ woman like you. Hell, I’m as handsome as he is. My wife says I’m like a bull in season when I get to goin’ good. If you ask me real polite-like, I’ll be glad to show you.” He cocked his head to sneer at her husband. “Ol’ Franklin won’t mind. Will you, Franklin?” Bevo’s friends stood there grinning, enjoying the show and anticipating their participation.
“All right, fellows,” Franklin spoke up. “This has gone far enough. We welcomed you and fed you. Now I’m tellin’ you it’s time you got on your horses and left.” He looked at Ruth and said, “You go on back in the parlor till they’ve gone.”
She hurried toward the door, but was not quick enough to evade the lecherous grasp of Bevo Rooks. She uttered a frightened squeal when he grabbed her arm. It seemed to please him. “Sounds like a rabbit when a hawk catches him,” he said with a chuckle. “Let’s me and you go in the bedroom. You got a few gray hairs on ya, but I bet you can still buck. Can’t ya, honey?” He started pulling her toward one of the two bedroom doors.
It was too much for Franklin to endure. “Get your filthy hands off her!” He roared and ran to the pantry, where he managed to get to his shotgun—but that was as far as he got before Webb Jarrett calmly shot him down. Horrified, Ruth cried out once more before her legs collapsed beneath her and she fainted.
Charles G. West
“RARELY HAS AN AUTHOR PAINTED THE GREAT AMERICAN WEST IN STROKES SO BOLD, VIVID AND TRUE.”
—RALPH COMPTON
The Blackfoot Trail
Mountain man Joe Fox reluctantly led a group of
settlers through the Rockies—and inadvertently into
the clutches of Max Starbeau. Max had traveled with
the party until he was able to commit theft and
murder—and kidnap Joe’s girl.
Also Available
Left Hand of the Law
Thunder Over Lolo Pass
Ride the High Range
War Cry
Storm in Paradise Valley
Lawless Prairie
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Outlaw Pass (9781101544785) Page 26