High Gun at Surlock (2006)

by Bowers, Terrell L

  ‘Oh, yeah.’ He displayed a sheepish grin. ‘well, the second reason is that I would never draw against my own deputy.’

  Jessie spun about to face Phoenix. He shrugged and made a brief arching of his brows.

  ‘Jessie,’ he said in a matter-of-fact voice, ‘meet Vince Templeton, a deputy US marshal. He was just now deputizing me.’

  Kyler – now Vince Templeton – displayed an apologetic expression.

  ‘Jessie, honey, I—’

  She cut off his sentence with a resounding slap, hard enough to sting her own hand!

  ‘You two-faced, no-good, back-stabbing, double-dealing …’ She couldn’t think of enough names. ‘Blast your sneaky hide! How dare you do this to me – again!’

  ‘Ye-ouch!’ he complained, putting a hand up gingerly to finger his smarting cheek. ‘Hot-dang, gal! Take it easy!’

  ‘Take it easy!’ she fired at him. ‘You make me think you’re dying and force me to kiss you! Now you’ve tricked me into kissing you a second time. You know the saying: “Fool me once, shame on you! Fool me twice, shame on me!”?’

  ‘Yeah, but it’s sort of your own fault,’ he argued.

  She was incredulous. ‘My fault?’

  ‘If you’d ever let me kiss you, just because I love you, then it wouldn’t be necessary to go through all these dramatics.’

  ‘Dramatics?’

  ‘Yeah.’ Vince gave an offhand tilt of his head. ‘You know, having to go to such wild extremes to get the desired results.’

  ‘You’re the most impossible man I ever met!’ she cried.

  But Vince only smiled. ‘I’ll say one thing for you, Jessie, you really are a great kisser when you’re angry. I never imagined any gal could kiss thataway.’

  Jessie was still flustered but it was terribly difficult to stay angry at a man who continued to flatter and express his devotion with nearly every sentence. As she was trying to decide whether she was more angry or simply frustrated she replayed Vince’s words in her mind.

  ‘Wait a minute.’ She was struck as she recalled his argument. ‘Did you say because I love you?’

  ‘It can’t come as any surprise that I’m in love with you,’ Vince replied. ‘You surely don’t think I’d be such an insufferable pest if I only liked you?’

  Jessie waved her hand, as if to dismiss the conversation.

  ‘Huxton knows you are not Kyler Dane,’ she said to change the subject. ‘That’s why I came to find you. I wanted to warn you.’

  ‘Yeah, Phoenix already told me.’

  ‘What is your plan now?’ she asked.

  ‘I thought I’d ask you to come for a nice romantic walk in the moonlight together,’ Vince suggested. ‘Then, when everything was quiet and you were a little vulnerable …’

  Jessie put her hands on her hips and scowled at him. ‘Vince Templeton, don’t make me slap you again,’ she threatened. ‘Stick to business!’

  He raised his hands in surrender.

  ‘Yes, ma’am. Whatever you say.’

  ‘Do you need my brothers and some of our men to help you?’ she wanted to know. ‘I can have eight or ten men here by morning.’

  ‘I believe Phoenix and I can handle it.’

  ‘Nevertheless, I’ll stay at the hotel tonight. If something changes and you two get into trouble I’ll be able to go for help.’

  ‘We are going to wait till first thing in the morning,’ Vince told her. ‘Phoenix said Huxton intends to gather all of his gunmen to outline a final battle plan. We’ll have all of the rotten eggs in one basket.’

  She looked at Phoenix. He gave her a crooked grin.

  ‘Maybe I ought to ask for a kiss for luck too. I’ve never been kissed the way you kissed Templeton.’

  ‘If you had you’d be married now,’ she told him succinctly.

  ‘No kiss, huh?’

  ‘I’ll grant you a smack on the cheek like I gave him afterward,’ she offered.

  He copied Vince’s action by lifting his hands.

  ‘No, ma’am,’ he said quickly. ‘I apologize for even making the suggestion.’

  Vince took hold of her hand.

  ‘I expect to see you, soon as this is over.’ He winked, ‘We need to discuss our future together.’

  ‘You survive this first,’ she retorted, ‘then we’ll see about anyone’s future.’

  Vince displayed a comely smile.

  ‘Whatever you say, Jessie.’

  ‘Remember those four little words, Vincent,’ she teased. ‘You’re going to be repeating them for the rest of your life.’

  Then she whirled about and left the two men on the porch. She should have still been miffed about being tricked into kissing Vince again, but the deception no longer mattered. He had said he loved her … and darned if she didn’t love him right back!

  Vince spent a few hours in bed, but the task which lay ahead allowed him only a few minutes of actual sleep. He was up at dawn and readied himself for the meeting with Huxton and his gunmen. After a quick damp-cloth washing-off he shaved and ran a comb through his hair. Then he spent five minutes oiling and checking the action of his gun. He put in fresh loads, filled his gun belt with ammo and stuck an extra handful into his pocket. He hoped he wouldn’t need a single round, but Huxton probably wouldn’t go down without some kind of fight.

  Phoenix was waiting for him downstairs. He looked well rested, as if he had slept like a baby. The man certainly did not lack confidence.

  ‘Hux called the meeting for seven this morning,’ Phoenix said, removing his pocket-watch. ‘The boys should be arriving as we speak.’

  Vince looked around the room. He had half-way expected Jessie to be there, to give them her support. To cover his disappointment, he said.

  ‘No hotel clerk around this morning?’

  ‘Didn’t see him,’ Phoenix said. ‘He must have slept in today … or he didn’t wish to be here during our war council.’

  ‘You look about as calm as a bear in hibernation, Phoenix. Anyone would think you walked into a gunfight six days a week.’

  The man smiled, without mirth.

  ‘You’ve got that little gal to live for, Templeton. Me, I’ve got only another job waiting for me somewhere, another selling of my gun.’

  ‘Why not change all that?’ Vince asked. ‘Why not try and find yourself a good woman and settle down?’

  ‘The Phoenix rises from its own ashes, so the myth goes. It says nothing about the bird making a lifelong commitment and settling down.’

  ‘You’re not a bird.’

  ‘I had my chance at love,’ Phoenix admitted. ‘I threw it all away. It was the day I died.’

  Vince frowned at his explanation.

  ‘I don’t understand.’

  Phoenix chuckled. ‘Nor do I, my friend. It’s a tragic history that I don’t wish to rehash in my mind or with another human being.’ He lifted his gun and let it settle lightly in its holster. ‘You ready?’

  ‘Strap is the only man I ever killed, Phoenix,’ Vince admitted. ‘I didn’t have time to think about it. I hope I don’t freeze and let you down.’

  ‘You’ll do just fine.’ Phoenix was confident. ‘If it comes to gun-play I’ll take the Monger boys. You take Mugs and Skinny.’

  Without another word the two of them left the hotel. Rather than make directly for Huxton’s office they turned and went down the walk for a hundred feet. That way, if someone was watching from Huxton’s window they would not see them cross the street.

  Vince drew on the self-assurance of the man at his side. Phoenix was without fear. He showed no anxiety, no doubt, no hesitation. Vince walked on uncertain legs, a gnawing in his stomach as though he had swallowed shards of glass. His mouth was dry, his palms were moist and his fresh shirt was already damp from nervous perspiration.

  Once across the street they moved carefully until they reached the entrance to the express office. Phoenix pushed the door open and looked inside.

  ‘Empty,’ he said in a hushed voice, and they
both entered the room. They paused a moment to allow their eyes to adjust to the darker interior of the building.

  ‘They’ll be in his office,’ Phoenix whispered. ‘Even if they happened to see us from the window, they wouldn’t have known where we were going. Besides which, they don’t know we’ve joined forces.’

  Vince put his hand on his gun. The familiar feel helped to calm his nerves.

  ‘Let’s get this over with.’

  Phoenix led the way, past the desk where the secretary usually sat. The special meeting had been arranged before she was to arrive, so there would be no possibility of witnesses or interruptions. Huxton might trust Wanda with his mail and receipts, but he likely didn’t trust her to be around when he declared an open war against the Yates line. They reached the door to Huxton’s office and stood to either side. Phoenix looked at Vince and grinned an invitation.

  ‘Ready to play the hero?’

  ‘I just hope I don’t let you down.’

  ‘Let me down?’ Phoenix said. ‘I’m the one working for you – remember?’

  ‘And I’m thanking you now, in case I don’t get a chance later.’

  ‘They don’t expect us to be together, Vince. We’ll take them by complete surprise.’

  ‘Yeah, sounds good.’

  Then Phoenix pushed open the door. Vince followed him into the room, ready for anything … or so he thought.

  Jessie was seated in Huxton’s chair – bound with rope and a gag in her mouth!

  Skinny and Mugs were on their left, Abe and Pete Monger on the right. Charles Huxton stood behind Jessie, a Remington double derringer in his hand, pointed right at Jessie’s head!

  ‘Come in, gentlemen,’ Huxton slurred the words. ‘We’ve been waiting for you.’

  Phoenix remained as cool as ice.

  ‘I figured you’d want all of us here,’ he spoke as if everything was perfectly normal, ‘so I brought along Mr Dane.’

  ‘You mean Templeton,’ Huxton sneered.

  Phoenix grinned. ‘He doesn’t know we were tipped off about his identity, Hux. I’m thinking he’s a lawman.’

  ‘You can drop the act,’ Huxton was curt. ‘Miss Yates, in an attempt to threaten all of our lives, happened to mention that the two of you had joined forces.’

  ‘I’m a deputy US marshal,’ Vince warned him, battling an inner mixture of fear and rage at seeing the woman he loved in danger. ‘You and your four henchmen are all under arrest.’

  ‘Maybe you didn’t notice, Templeton, but I’ve got a .41 caliber rim-fire derringer pointed at your girl’s head. I believe that gives me the upper hand here.’

  Vince whispered to Phoenix, trying not to move his lips.

  ‘What now?’

  ‘The gun isn’t cocked,’ Phoenix replied softly.

  Vince realized he was correct. The derringer pointed at Jessie had to have the hammer pulled back before it would fire. Again, speaking quietly and barely moving his lips:

  ‘I don’t have a shot.’

  Phoenix smiled to cover his response.

  ‘I’ll take him.’

  ‘What are you two whispering about?’ Huxton wondered aloud. ‘You can’t think you can take the five of us? Not with me holding a gun to this woman’s head!’

  Jessie’s eyes were wide with fright, but there was a grim determination on her face. She was ready for whatever happened. Vince flicked a sidelong glance at Phoenix. The man gave a minute nod, showing he was ready.

  ‘The way this is going to happen,’ Vince told the men in the room, ‘Phoenix and I are going to take all of you into custody. Those of you who choose to fight will die on the spot. We won’t try to wound anyone. If any of you draw against us, you’ll be killed.’

  Huxton laughed at his threat.

  ‘I’m the one holding the gun. Are you blind or just plain stupid?’

  ‘Skinny and Mugs,’ Vince ignored Huxton, ‘you two are charged with the murder of Mrs Glenn and for vandalism and arson of the Yates wagons and supplies.’ He swung his attention to the Monger brothers. ‘And you two are under arrest for robbery of the Yates stage … several different robberies, in fact.’ Then he looked over at Huxton. ‘Lastly, Charles Huxton, you are under the arrest for giving the orders for all crimes committed by these men and Strap Adere, including the murder of Mrs Glenn. I’m also adding the crime of kidnapping.’

  He took a breath and surveyed the face of each man, trying to get a read on their probable response. ‘Which of you wish to surrender peacefully?’ he asked.

  The gunmen exchanged looks, but no one spoke up.

  ‘It’s settled then,’ Vince replied evenly. ‘Unbuckle your gun belts or die where you stand!’

  Huxton started to laugh, but Phoenix’s gun appeared as if by magic. From its muzzle it barked fire and lead hit the man in his gun-side elbow. He howled in shock and pain as the gun flew from his hand. He staggered backward a step, grasping his injured arm.

  Vince matched Phoenix’s speed, drawing his own gun.

  Mugs tried to pull his pistol, but Vince put a round squarely into his chest.

  Skinny started to grab for his gun, but immediately stopped in mid-motion. The Monger brothers were stunned, unable and unwilling to make a move. Staring down the muzzle of Phoenix’s gun, they both knew it would have been suicide for them to try and fight.

  Huxton’s head twisted back and forth, his teeth gnashed in pain and rage.

  ‘Get them!’ he cried. ‘What are you waiting for?’

  Pete Monger pulled a face.

  ‘Me and Abe are only looking at a couple years for them stage robberies. That sure ain’t worth dying for.’

  Skinny carefully unbuckled his belt and let it drop.

  ‘I can tell the judge whatever he needs to hear,’ he said quickly. ‘Hux done give the orders. I only done what he told me to.’

  The four men were stripped of weapons, then Vince removed the rope from Jessie’s hands. She came out of her chair, pulled the gag from her mouth and put a hot glare on Vince.

  ‘What’s the idea?’ she scathed him with a harsh tone of voice. ‘You let Phoenix be the one to shoot Huxton! What kind of a man lets another man save the woman he loves!’

  ‘He had the better angle,’ Vince countered. ‘I might have hit you!’

  ‘Oh, sure.’ She was sarcastic. ‘You can hit two beer-mugs from thirty feet away, but you can’t stop a man from shooting your fiancée with a peashooter!’

  ‘Phoenix’s aim was perfect!’ Vince persevered. ‘He was on the right side to take the shot. I wasn’t!’

  ‘But you couldn’t know he was good enough to make the shot!’ she continued to argue. ‘He has the big reputation, but you didn’t know how good he was.’

  Before Vince could reply again, Phoenix spoke up.

  ‘I’ve heard you two kids argue before,’ he said. ‘I’m going to take these tough guys to jail … or maybe I should say the judge’s tack-shed. I’ll see that Huxton is patched up.’

  ‘Thanks, Phoenix,’ Vince said.

  ‘Abe and Pete, you two bring along the body of Mugs. That’ll keep your hands busy.’

  Within a few seconds Vince was alone with Jessie. She was still simmering about the rescue.

  ‘So?’ Jessie said, moving over to stand toe-to-toe with him. ‘What do you have to say for yourself?’

  ‘I’m glad you weren’t hurt,’ he said gently, sincerely. ‘If anything had happened to you, I’d have spent the rest of my life tending the flowers on your grave.’

  Jessie paused. ‘And why would you do that?’

  ‘You know why.’

  ‘Tell me,’ she said. ‘I want to hear you say it.’

  Vince took a deep breath, let it out slowly and looked right into her eyes.

  ‘I might not be a poet, Jessie, but I swear I’ve loved you since the moment I first set eyes on you. I love you now and I’ll love you to my dying day. In all of the world, you’re the only thing I want out of life.’

  Jessie smiled a
t him at last.

  ‘Maybe you should have written your own material, instead of trying to quote Tennyson.’

  ‘I didn’t want to sound like some sappy kid.’

  Jessie slipped her arms around him and looked up into his eyes.

  ‘Sometimes sounding like a sappy kid is OK.’

  Vince lowered his head and kissed her gently on the lips. When he rose back up she was smiling at him.

  ‘You have to ask Mike for my hand.’

  ‘Mike knows I’m the right man for you, Jessie. We’ll ask for his blessing, but I don’t need his permission to love you.’

  Jessie giggled. ‘I think we can definitely toss out Tennyson. You’re going to do just fine on your own, Vince Templeton.’ With a subtle wink: ‘Yes, you’ll do just fine.’

  By the Same Author

  Yancy’s Luck

  Battle at Lost Mesa

  A Man Called Sundown

  The Shadow Killers

  Spencer’s Law

  The Guns at Three Forks

  The Last Revenge

  Copyright

  © Terrell L. Bowers 2006

  First published in Great Britain 2006

  This ebook edition 2012

  ISBN 9780709098256 (epub)

  ISBN 9780709098263 (mobi)

  ISBN 9780709098270 (pdf)

  ISBN 9780709078982 (print)

  Robert Hale Limited

  Clerkenwell House

  Clerkenwell Green

  London EC1R 0HT

  www.halebooks.com

  The right of Terrell L. Bowers to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988