Fire Wind Read Free Page B

ask?”
    Edgar retreated from his interested verbal
probing by saying, “Just a hunch given your last name.”
    “What about my last name?”
    Edgar had gotten up and opened the door to
the jailhouse. Holding it open he gestured to the outside, “What
say you to getting a bit of fresh air and something to eat?”
    I didn’t like him not answering my question,
but the mention of food overwhelmed everything else. I got to my
feet and headed for the door.
    Passing through it we began to make our way
down the upraised boardwalk. A sudden sensation of nakedness had me
feeling at my side for my gun.
    “It’s back at the jail. Do you need it?”
    “No, I’ll be fine.” I said, but the truth was
I felt naked without it.
    On the heels of the revelation of my lack of
a gun I remembered that I no longer had my horse and without the
saddle bags it bore I was stone flat broke.
    “I don’t have any money to pay you or buy
food with.”
    Edgar waved my statement away, “No matter.
The mystery of your survival is payment enough to satisfy my
penchant need for discovery for many months to come.”
    The man made no sense and yet I liked the
affable nature that he had about him. It didn’t sit well with not
being able to pay my way though.
    Sitting down in the town’s café I found
myself the source of attention of almost everyone in the room. I
nodded to them and for the most part that seemed to invoke the
response of receiving the same back from them and the return to
their own business.
    The door of the café opened and a tall
middle-aged man that had a presence largely brought about by his
size of stature stepped in. Seeing Edgar and I he headed straight
for our table and extended a big hand to me, “Welcome to Orlaca!
I’m the blacksmith and when misfortune calls the undertaker of our
small community.”
    I took the man’s hand and met his iron grip
with all the strength I could muster of my own rightly figuring he
was the type of man who liked to crunch others hands by way of
asserting his dominance. It had been fine as a boy, but now I
didn’t care for that game anymore.
    The man looked at me approvingly before
releasing my hand and asking Edgar, “Mind if I join you?
    “No, have a seat Thaddeus. Taran Collins this
is Thaddeus Smith.”
    I nodded cordially as the big man pulled up a
chair and sat down. The atmosphere was getting a little close, as
by nature I am a private individual, and the close proximity of
others at the table was growing wearisome.
    A kindly looking woman arrived at the table
with a rustle of skirts and began pouring cups of coffee, “Well now
look what the doc drug in. Ya do look in the need of some fattening
up. Just be a moment and I’ll be back with some fiddles to do the
job of welcoming you back to the land of the living.” She said, as
she gave me a good-natured smile before hurrying off.
    “That kind lady is the Widow O’Brien.”
Thaddeus said before turning his eyes to me to size me up
speculatively.
    “So Taran where are you headed for?” Thaddeus
asked.
    Putting my coffee cup down I said, “No place
in particular. Not anywhere for a while seeing as I lost my horse
and have no money. Are there any jobs to be had in this town?”
    Edgar and Thaddeus shared a glance before
Edgar said, “Well there is one I think you would be uniquely
qualified for. You see we need a Marshal. What do you think?”
    “Aye what do you think?” Thaddeus commented
boisterously as well.
    Looking between the two I asked in a measured
out tone, “Why do you think I’m uniquely qualified for the job? You
don’t know me.”
    “Ah Taran there be more ways of knowing what
a man’s about then by what he says and the look about you is all of
one that spells out confidence. Ya have the look of a man that can
get the job done every time. Don’t you think so Doctor?”
    “Oh yes I do. A most intriguing man.”
    I looked between the two before asking, “Are
there any other jobs?”
    “Well I could use