Hardcase Law

by Neil Webb

  ‘I’d like that,’ Glory Stott said. ‘Tell me, are you attracted to Aggie Porter?’

  ‘I’ll tell you one thing,’ Latimer promised. ‘I’ll kill whoever is responsible for all the trouble round here. That means your father or Colley Rand, or both.’

  ‘Aggie isn’t as pretty as me.’ Glory fluttered her long lashes. ‘I’ve been in love with your picture for years. You’re even nicer than that picture, Link. Do you think you could love me?’

  ‘It wouldn’t be a hard job,’ Latimer said, grinning. ‘There’s a lot of range inside KS fences.’

  ‘That’s all Colley Rand wants me for,’ she flashed. ‘But I want a man who is more interested in me.’

  ‘You’ve got the same strong passions as your father,’ Latimer said. ‘I wouldn’t want to fall foul of either of you unless I was looking for a fight.’

  ‘I’d kill in a temper,’ she told him in matter-of-fact tones. ‘And I always get what I want. I want you, Link. I made up my mind to that a long time ago. You’d better not start getting interested in Aggie Porter.’

  ‘Cool off,’ Latimer advised. ‘I’m not interested in anyone. There’s a lot of trouble on this range without you adding to it. Come on, ride faster, I want to see town before sundown.’

  FIVE

  The sun had passed beyond the western ridges two hours before Latimer and Glory Stott rode into town. The heat of the day had dissipated then, and a cool breeze was blowing in from the range. Latimer sat slumped in his saddle. He was tired and uncomfortable. For the last ten miles he had ridden with his mind closed to the continuous chatter of his lovely companion. Her voice was just a meaningless drone in his ears. As they rode along mainstreet, she leaned towards him and poked a finger in his ribs.

  ‘I don’t believe you’ve heard a word I’ve said,’ she accused.

  ‘That’s right,’ he confessed. ‘I’m just about all in. There’s nothing as wearying as a woman’s tongue. I expect you’re ready for a bath and a meal. I’ve got to see the sheriff now, but I’ll take you to the hotel first.’

  They reined in outside the hotel and hitched their mounts. Several townsfolk were present on the hotel front, and there was an excited buzz of conversation. Latimer grinned tiredly. He guessed that most of these people had written him off as dead from the moment he had ridden out of town with Walker. Well, he thought, he had proved that one could fight Stott and live.

  ‘I’ll clean up,’ she told him, ‘and wait for you to take me to supper.’

  ‘You may have to wait quite a while,’ he advised. ‘I don’t know how long the sheriff will keep me. Then I’ve got to clean up. If I was you I’d go right ahead and eat. Perhaps the sheriff has another job lined up for me. I’m a deputy, remember, and an honest man can’t call his soul his own.’

  ‘Then you’ll come and see me later? There is something else I want to talk over with you.’

  ‘There can’t be anything else,’ he protested. ‘You had a big say on the ride into town. What else could there be which you haven’t already covered?’

  Glory Stott was about to answer when she saw Aggie Porter emerging from the hotel. Latimer saw the changing expression on Glory’s face and swung round. He pursed his lips in a soundless whistle of admiration when he saw Aggie.

  ‘Well,’ he said breathlessly. ‘You’re looking a picture.’

  ‘I’ve been worrying about you ever since it got dark,’ Aggie told him. ‘I wouldn’t put it past Stott’s gunmen to have followed you until the sun went down then shoot you in the back.’

  ‘You two girls know each other?’ Latimer asked. He looked from one to the other. Both women were beautiful. Aggie, in a new light-coloured dress — it was too dark for Latimer to see whether it was green or blue — which had a low neckline and short puff sleeves, was lovely in a soft, appealing way. Glory in dusty range clothes, was also greatly attractive. Looking at them, Latimer felt his emotions stirring.

  ‘We have met before,’ Aggie said coolly. ‘Did you ride in with her, Frank?’

  ‘I did,’ he replied easily. ‘Miss Stott was coming this way, and didn’t like to travel alone.’

  ‘She’s never ridden alone before,’ Aggie said flatly. ‘Have you killed Colley Rand? He hasn’t let her out of his sight once in two years.’

  ‘I’m right sorry to hear about your folks,’ Glory said quietly. ‘If there’s anything I can do for you just let me know.’

  ‘There is one thing,’ Aggie replied harshly. ‘I could never get as close to your father as you can. Next time you see him, you can gutshoot him for me.’

  ‘I don’t see why my father should take the blame for what some of his ex-riders have done,’ Glory flared, and Latimer noted two red anger spots glowing in her cheeks. ‘The men who raided your place had been fired by my father because they wanted to ride out killing for him, but he didn’t want bloodshed.’

  ‘He brought those killers into the County in the first place.’

  ‘He didn’t want to, but with men like your father as neighbours, trying to steal range or stock, a big rancher has to take unpleasant measures to protect his interests.’

  Latimer stepped between the two angry women. He held up his hand placatingly. ‘Now, now,’ he soothed. ‘If I was you, Miss Stott, I’d go book a room. I’ll see you later. Aggie, perhaps you’d walk as far as the jail with me. I’ve got to see the sheriff now.’

  The women turned away from each other. Glory Stott stumped furiously into the hotel. Aggie turned about and fell into step with Latimer as he set off along the sidewalk.

  ‘She shouldn’t be allowed in town,’ Aggie said angrily.

  ‘Why not?’ demanded Latimer. ‘If your father robbed a bank you wouldn’t expect to suffer for it, would you? Don’t talk silly, Aggie. There’s nothing wrong with Glory Stott.’

  ‘Trust a man to say that,’ Aggie flashed. ‘Show a man a trim ankle or a pretty face and he won’t look further. Can’t you see that Glory Stott is as blackhearted as her father?’

  ‘I can’t see it yet,’ Latimer retorted. ‘I’ve only just met the girl. But she hasn’t killed anyone, or robbed a bank, has she?’

  ‘She hasn’t. But there’s nothing nice about her. I wouldn’t repeat some of the talk I’ve heard about her.’

  ‘Folk talk about me too,’ Latimer said, grinning. He changed the subject quickly. ‘Have you had supper?’

  ‘No. I’ve been waiting for you. I was too worried to eat.’

  ‘There’s no need to worry about me. I’m well able to take care of myself. I’ve done that for a long time now.’

  They reached the law office just as Barr emerged. The big deputy halted in mid-stride and shook his head in wonderment.

  ‘It beats me how you do it,’ Barr ejaculated. ‘I’ve been out to the Stott fence several times, but could never get any nearer to Stott headquarters. I guess those fence riders didn’t take me seriously when I said I was on law business.’

  ‘Folks have only to look at my face to see that I’m a serious-minded man,’ said Latimer. ‘They seem to know instinctively that I’m no joker. Did Walker get in alright with his prisoner?’

  ‘Yeah. That makes two Stott riders in our calaboose. Things are looking up. We’ve never had Stott men in before. How did you make out with the big man himself?’

  ‘Come on in and hear my report,’ Latimer said. ‘It should make good listening.’

  Barr followed Latimer and Aggie into the office, where Walsh sat behind the desk. Walker was not present, Latimer noted, as he recounted his experiences out at KS. When he concluded his report, Walsh grunted non-committedly.

  ‘Well, it’s something that Stott is coming into town tomorrow. Though I can’t say I like his story of how he fired those riders before they attacked the Porter place. I don’t think we shall be able to prove otherwise, I’m thinking. So it’s likely he’ll get away with it.’

  ‘That’s how I figure it,’ said Latimer. He went on to tell the sheriff about his conversation with G
lory Stott on the ride to town. ‘What do you think about that?’ he asked. ‘Could Rand manage to get Stott riled up with those nesters? Is it possible for two factions to each believe that the other is out to cause trouble? You’ve been here a long time, sheriff. Has Stott changed his character since Colley Rand came on the scene?’

  ‘I think he has,’ Walsh replied slowly. ‘I remember he used to have an open house and no fences, and he didn’t need an escort every time he came to town.’

  ‘So Rand could be behind this. If he plans to marry Glory and get control of the KS, Kenton Stott will have to be put out of the way before he could really take over. If Rand killed Stott there is a chance that he wouldn’t get away with it. But if he made Stott think that the smaller ranchers were after his range and stock — he could stage a little rustling with his own gunmen, Stott would fight. Then Rand could put the heat on the smaller ranchers to make it appear that Stott is a cold-blooded killer. It’s a deep game, but the stakes are high.’

  The sheriff shook his head doubtfully. ‘I’d say it’s more likely that Stott has gone bad.’

  ‘What have the prisoners to say?’ Latimer asked. ‘Have you questioned them?’

  ‘The feller Walker brought in from the Porter place is a mighty sick man,’ Barr said. ‘He ain’t in no shape for talking. But the feller you arrested today is a different proposition. He’s a loud mouth. He reckons he’s going to kill you for busting his gun hand. I figure he’ll talk if a little pressure is applied to him. He might come up with a set of answers if he’s handled right.’

  ‘Then we’d better have a talk with him,’ said Latimer. ‘I figured he had too much mouth when he made his play at the fence. Perhaps we can persuade him to loosen up.’

  ‘No rough stuff,’ Walsh warned. ‘We’ve got to be careful. The man is a State prisoner. The days when you can rough up a man to get at the truth are coming to an end.’

  ‘We’ll be gentle,’ Latimer promised. ‘Come on, Barr.’

  Barr got the keys and led the way into the jail block. He unlocked the cell door while Latimer stood looking in at the prisoner. It was the man that Latimer had shot through the hand at Stott’s gate. A blood-stained bandage was wound tightly around the man’s hand and wrist.

  ‘Get on your feet,’ Barr ordered as he opened the door.

  The prisoner arose, scowling when he recognized Latimer. He stood with his back to the far wall of the cell, favouring his shattered hand. His eyes were filled with hatred. Barr stepped aside and Latimer entered the cell. He stood towering over the prisoner. The silence inside the jail was heavy, broken now and again by the low groans and ejaculations of pain from the prone occupant of the next cell. Latimer’s eyes flickered over the neighbouring prisoner. He was the man Walker had brought back with a broken arm and leg from the Porter place.

  ‘I want some information out of you,’ Latimer said. ‘I don’t care much how I get it. It’s up to you whether you get hurt any more or not. Just co-operate and you’ll walk out of court tomorrow a free man. But if you don’t come through, then you’ll find yourself in the State Pen doing up to ten years.’

  ‘You’ve got nothing on me,’ the man protested loudly.

  ‘You call an attempt to murder a lawman nothing?’ Latimer’s face darkened. ‘If you don’t come clean I’ll add a few charges to the ones I’ve already got against you.’

  ‘That’s perjury!’

  ‘It would be your word against mine,’ Latimer said calmly. ‘You’re a Stott rider, and that name stinks around here. My evidence could put you away for fifteen years.’

  ‘Stott takes care of his men,’ the prisoner retorted. ‘He’ll send a dozen riders into this town to take it apart. They’ll get me out of here as easy as busting beans out of a can.’

  ‘Who is the boss of Stott’s crew?’ Latimer demanded. ‘Does Stott or Rand give the orders? Is it true that Rand is duping Stott and causing all this trouble just to get his hands on KS?’

  ‘Ask Rand. He’ll tell you. I don’t know nothing, being just a line rider. Why ask me?’

  ‘You know where your orders came from.’

  ‘Sure. They came from Stott.’

  ‘Through Rand?’

  ‘Sometimes. More often than not Stott gives the orders.’

  Latimer thrust out his bottom lip. ‘I’m talking about war orders. That’s Rand’s side of it, isn’t it?’

  ‘Sometimes. Like I said — sometimes Rand, sometimes Stott.’

  ‘Who ordered the attack on the Porter place?’

  ‘I don’t know. I wasn’t on that. Most of those fellers were killed by some gun wizard.’

  ‘I killed them,’ Latimer said quietly. ‘And I plan on sending a few more of you gun slicks the same way. That’s why I say you’d better lay your cards down on the table. Stott doesn’t know it yet, but his days of riding rough-shod are numbered. The law is coming to town, and to Stott range.’

  ‘I can’t tell you any more, deputy. Like I said, I’m only a line rider.’

  ‘Men talk,’ Latimer said harshly. ‘You would have heard all that went on.’

  ‘I can’t tell you anything. Why don’t you ask the feller in the next cell? He was on the Porter raid. Likely he can tell you everything you want to know.’

  ‘If I were in your boots,’ Latimer said in a menacing tone, ‘I’d sit right down now and search my memory for any information that might walk me out of here. You have all night to think it over. I’ll see you again in the morning.’

  Latimer left the cell and Barr locked the door. Latimer looked into the next cell. He shook his head slowly when he saw that the man inside was unconscious, groaning and twisting in agony that must be stabbing him to his very soul.

  ‘He’s been like that all day,’ Barr volunteered. ‘The Doc has been in to him twice. He’ll be like that for about a week, Doc said.’

  Latimer walked back into the sheriff’s office. He shook his head in answer to Walsh’s questioning gaze.

  ‘I figure I’ve given him something to think about,’ Latimer said. ‘We’ll see what a lonely night will do to him. I got an idea that might help us. Don’t let him come up before the Judge tomorrow. I mean the one I winged today. If we keep him in here we can tell Stott that he has talked. We can run a little bluff. We can say he’s told us Stott is the boss, or we can say that Rand is the boss. That should cause a stir, especially if we locked up Stott and Rand. Which line do you figure we should take, sheriff?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ the sheriff said. ‘I think Stott is the boss, and that Rand has done a little on the side, on both sides, to stir things up. Rand is definitely after KS, and my guess is that he doesn’t care how he achieves it. I think his patience is now beginning to run out. At first he could wait while things moved slowly. But now the war with Art Fuller is done he wants to push on a little faster. But that will likely prove his downfall. It means we’ll have to sit tight with our cards close to our vests and wait until he shows his hand.’

  ‘We should do something now, sheriff. My experience yesterday has put a little stiffening into the men of this town. If time is allowed to pass they’ll forget, and Stott or Rand will have the advantage again. Something’s got to be done now.’

  ‘Well there’s nothing more you can do today, that’s certain.’ Walsh shook his head. ‘This is the second good day you’ve had against the KS. Walker and Barr are going to do watch-about in town. I suggest you go and get some shut-eye, Latimer. You’ve done a lot of travelling today, and tomorrow is likely to be another hard one. Get some grub and a couple of beers, then turn in. See you in the morning. Watch your back, and sleep sound.’

  ‘Good night, sheriff.’ Latimer opened the door and stepped aside for Aggie to precede him. As he and the girl walked along the sidewalk, he spoke to her.

  ‘If you’re not too hungry yet, I’ll step across to the hotel and get cleaned up before we go eat. Then I’ll do what the sheriff suggested and have a couple of drinks before hitting the sack.’

/>   ‘You promised to go and see Glory Stott again,’ Aggie reminded him, her voice expressionless.

  Latimer smiled wryly as he followed her. He detected jealousy in her tone. He raised his eyes to the stars and sighed. As they continued along the darkened street he felt her hand slide through his arm. He sighed again. There was enough trouble before him without the jealousy of two intense females adding their complications. He would have to be careful, he knew. Glory Stott had already informed him of the burning desires in her heart, and of the lengths to which she would go to realize them. It was possible, too, that she was the key to the whole trouble. So he would have to play carefully with her.

  His thoughts turned to Aggie, walking silently beside him, and an unaccustomed softness flowed through him. He glanced sideways, sniffing at the faint perfume that floated like a tantalizing aura about her. He frowned. His heart quickened as he hoped that further complications were not about to engulf him. But he admitted that there was something pathetic and compelling about Aggie Porter which attracted him greatly.

  After supper with Aggie, Latimer went to the saloon and had a couple of beers. Then he went to the hotel and turned in. He was deathly tired and slept until early morning. Then he arose, cleaned his guns and breakfasted, and was walking along the street before the sun was throwing long shadows across the town. He went to the jail to relieve Barr, and mulled over his conversations with Glory Stott and Aggie Porter. But of the two, it was Glory he was more afraid of.

  The girl was deadly serious about her intentions to ensnare him. He smiled fleetingly as he thought of her. She knew how many beans made five, although she was still very young. But Aggie was different, and he knew it keenly.