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Episode Ten concluded
with:
“Guess not.” Emery
decided to change the subject. “You know, just ‘cause Lon has been found guilty
doesn’t mean we have to give up. I’ve been thinking, maybe--”
“Don’t you have a
round to do?” The words were as much a reprimand as they were a question.
“Sure.” Feeling
hurt and a bit ridiculous, Emery retrieved a rifle from the rack and quickly
exited the office.
Rush Hunter
experienced a pang of regret for how he had treated Emery, but he fought it down.
The world was a hard place and the sooner the kid found that out the better.
The sheriff sighed
deeply and looked around him. His deputy had a point. It still wasn’t too late,
he could…
“No” he said
aloud. “The world is a hard place. A very hard place.”
Episode Eleven
***
Rance
Dehner checked his horse at Hard Stone’s livery, checked himself at the town’s
one hotel and then headed for the Lucky Miner Saloon. He ambled inside, ready
for the art of conversation. The detective only had to buy a few drinks and listen
to the bawdy jokes of a talkative bartender before he had all the information
he needed about the bank hold up and the man found guilty of the crime.
Dehner
leaned against the bar and was about to order another beer, this one to be
enjoyed without any professional obligations, when he heard voices being raised
at a nearby table.
“You’re
cheatin’, mister. You’re nothin’ but a dirty cheat!”
“Sir, a
man’s good name is his most precious possession. I must demand an immediate
apology!”
“You low down
snake, I’ll never apologize to you!”
Dehner
moved his head about to see where the trouble was coming from. He laughed and
turned to the barkeep. “I’d know that voice anywhere,--a friend of mine.”
“The guy
who sounds like a limey?”
“Yeah. His
name’s Stacy Hooper.”
“You ain’t
too particular about your friends. That guy is a sharper; I spotted that the
moment he walked in.”
“How about
the other two?”
“Woody
Farnsworth, the guy accusing Fancy Dan of being a cheat, has a real temper but
he rarely draws a gun. The man sitting across from him is Slade Pierson, a
gunslick. Or he wants to be.”
All the patrons
of the Lucky Miner were now watching the drama being played out at the poker
table. Most were keeping a safe distance, but Dehner took a few steps closer to
the table. He had to brace Stacey Hooper. The detective mused to himself that
his profession did lead to odd friendships.
Tomorrow: Episode 12
of Last Job