‘You got Addison,’ he said.
Kitchenbrand didn’t reply. He went to the window and peered along the street.
‘I figure those gunnies aren’t gonna put up much of a fight,’ he said. ‘At least, not if we can get to them.’
‘Most of ’em have been drinkin’ in the saloon,’ Hardy said. ‘They won’t be in a fit state for a fight, especially when they realize what’s happened to Addison.’
‘We just need to get in a better position,’ Kitchenbrand said. He looked about. The gunnie in the cell had resumed shouting, demanding to know what was going on.
‘Come on,’ Kitchenbrand rapped, ‘we’ll go out the back and make our way down the alley towards the saloon.’
They slipped past the cell where the prisoner was continuing to curse and ask questions in a loud voice. Once outside the back door they quickly made their way in the direction of the saloon, the sounds of shooting growing louder as they approached it. They reached a narrow alley leading back to the main street.
‘I figure there’s a couple of gunnies in position at the far end,’ Kitchenbrand said.
‘Pretty stupid of them not to have kept an eye on things here,’ Hardy replied.
Kitchenbrand took a moment to prepare, then hurled himself through the entrance to the alley. Barely had he started running when bullets began to whistle around him. He had the advantage, however; he could see a small group of outlaws outlined against the street behind. With both guns blazing he blasted his way down the alley, followed closely by the deputy. He saw two of the outlaws fall and the rest scatter as he emerged into the open. He continued running, taking up a position behind a water trough from which he concentrated his fire on the saloon. The deputy halted at the opening to the alley and began to blaze away too. Shots were being poured down on the saloon and its nearby buildings from the roof of the livery stable and Kitchenbrand was sure Purdom must still be there.
Suddenly there was a loud explosion and smoke billowed from the saloon. In a few moments ribbons of flame began to flicker out of the building like lizards’ tongues, then the batwings flew open and a group of gunnies emerged, running for shelter in a all directions. Some of them took the risk of untying their horses from the hitch rail and started riding away down the street. Kitchenbrand saw a couple of them tumble from their saddles and couldn’t help grinning. Virginy and the girl were proving their worth.
More outlaws came out of hiding in other buildings and, jumping on their horses, started to ride in the opposite direction. Bullets had been pinging from the side of the water trough and hissing into the water but there was less shooting taking place. Instead, the sounds of gunfire seemed to be coming from further away, from the direction in which the latest bunch of outlaws had gone.
Looking that way, Kitchenbrand was startled to see them riding back again, firing over their shoulders. As they clattered by it became apparent that they were galloping away from a second group of riders who were coming up behind them. He was nonplussed till he heard the deputy shouting to him:
‘Latigo riders!’
As they passed by he could see the brand on some of their horses. So it seemed that Clovis had finally decided that it was time to part company with the Yuma boys. He watched the riders disappear down the street. There was some sporadic firing, then, from various places of concealment, the last of the outlaws emerged with their hands in the air.
Kitchenbrand waited for a few moments and then got to his feet. He looked across at the deputy who had also stepped from cover. He took a stride into the open and then spun to one side as a shot rang out from further down the street. He heard a scream and, looking up, saw a man with a rifle as he lurched and then fell from the roof of a building opposite. He hit the floor and seemed to bounce before lying still.
Kitchenbrand swung round. His finger was closing on the trigger of his six-gun when he saw a familiar figure standing on the sidewalk. It was Virginy and cradled against her shoulder was a smoking rifle.
‘Lords a’ mercy!’ she shouted. ‘That was a close call.’
Behind her the figures of her grandson and Delta Trace came into view; the girl was holding on to Garland’s arm. In less than a minute they were all together facing the cowering remnants of the outlaws.
‘Reckon I’d better take these varmints into custody,’ Purdom said. ‘That jail is sure gonna be full tonight.’
Smoke drifted across the street. Bodies lay scattered about, sprawled in the dust and in the shadow of the gallows.
‘I guess there ain’t gonna be no more trouble from the Yuma boys,’ Kitchenbrand said. He turned to Garland. ‘You won’t have no more to worry about from the townsfolk,’ he said. ‘Some of these varmints will testify that you had nothin’ to do with robbin’ the bank.’
Virginy looked up at the gallows tree. ‘Those coyotes deserve to hang,’ she said, ‘but I never did like the idea of a necktie party. Seems to me the best thing would be to tear it right back down again.’
‘I wouldn’t disagree with that,’ Kitchenbrand said. He turned to Purdom. ‘I guess that just leaves Clovis. The Latigo boys might finally have turned things in our favour but Clovis has still got some questions to answer.’
It was a strange group who gathered in the offices of Hubert Cox, attorney at law, a few days later. Kitchenbrand, his thigh swathed in bandages, was there together with Marshal Purdom and his deputy. Old Virginy had put on a new calico dress for the occasion and with her hair drawn back in a tight bun, fully looked the part of a grand old lady. Ty Garland and Delta Trace sat side by side looking slightly sheepish and it was obvious to the most unobservant eye that there was something between them. Strangest of all was the bowed figure of Landon Clovis.
‘Well,’ said the lawyer, ‘I think that about ties things up.’ In his hand he held a parchment which he proceeded to roll up, fasten with a ribbon and hand to Virginy Garland. ‘Just as a precaution, I have a copy of that document in my safe and we are all witnesses to what it says.’
‘Are you quite clear about this?’ Kitchenbrand said to the deflated ranch owner. ‘That document proves that the property known as the Chicken Track and belonging to Virginy Garland extends beyond its current boundaries to include a big part of your spread, the Latigo.’ Clovis nodded. ‘You were pretty sure about it all along, but you didn’t know about the title deeds.’
‘Is that why you were so keen to get hold of Ty Garland?’ Purdom said. ‘Or was there more to it?’
‘Addison had me by the tail,’ Clovis said. ‘He coulda pinned that bank job on me. I made a mistake ever getting involved with him.’
‘You certainly did,’ the lawyer said. ‘I think you’ve blown any chances you might have had of a political career.’
‘You can thank your men that you ain’t behind bars with what’s left of the Yuma boys right now. You owe them,’ Kitchenbrand said.
‘And you better be sincere when you talk about makin’ reparations to the citizens of Chaparral Bend for some of the skulduggery you been indulgin’ in,’ Purdom added. ‘And although you weren’t directly responsible, you can start with rebuilding Virginy’s ranch house. You might not have broken any laws, strictly speakin’, but I’ll be watchin’ you.’
‘So there really was nothin’ in that story about a lost gold mine somewhere on the Chicken Track?’ Ty Garland said.
‘You always had too much imagination,’ Virginy replied. ‘Still, I might just do some diggin’.’ She gave a cluck of laughter. ‘After all this excitement, what’s an old lady to do to keep occupied?’
The others laughed too, with the exception of Clovis. When they had finished, Virginy turned to Kitchenbrand. ‘We all owe you,’ she said. ‘I know you once said you were just passin’ through, but I hope, after all that’s happened, you’re goin’ to stick around.’
Kitchenbrand got to his feet and walked to the open window. He glanced up at the gallows tree overlooking the lawyer’s office. It was about to be dismantled, but for the moment a bir
d seemed to have found a resting-place on its cross-beam. As Kitchenbrand watched it opened its beak and cawed. Virginy’s mouth opened as she cackled.
‘Looks like old Reba’s backin’ me up.’
Kitchenbrand’s glance fell from the crow to the streets of the town. ‘Then I guess I got to stay awhiles,’ he replied. ‘Those Yuma boys are one thing, but Reba is somethin’ else altogether.’
Six-Gun Nemesis Page 12