Slocum and the Spirit Bear (9781101618790)

Slocum and the Spirit Bear (9781101618790) Read Free

Book: Slocum and the Spirit Bear (9781101618790) Read Free
Author: Jake Logan
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trembling. “I could definitely use a drink. But . . . shouldn’t we wait here for the law or whoever will clean this up?”
    â€œI reckon someone will find us before we get to the River Wheel.”
    Now that they were walking down the street, Ed could see the River Wheel Saloon up past the next corner. He’d only been to Saint Joseph twice before, which wasn’t enough for him to be familiar with the place. All he knew was the way out of town, but something kept him from taking that very attractive prospect just yet. “I ought to buy you that drink.”
    â€œYes,” Slocum replied with a wry smirk, “you should.”
    They were halfway to the corner when Ed asked, “So you were out looking for that Vaccaro fella?”
    â€œNope.”
    â€œThen you knew there could be trouble?”
    â€œNot as such.”
    Ed kept staring at Slocum, which did nothing to elicit a response. “So what were you doing at that spot at that particular time?”
    â€œI was headed to the general store for some coffee,” Slocum said. “Tomorrow I’m riding out. Speaking of which . . .”
    â€œYes?” Ed chirped as he watched a man walk straight for them with purpose in his strides.
    â€œI still need coffee.”
    â€œMr. Slocum,” the purposeful man said. He wore a dusty Stetson and a rumpled yellow shirt beneath a wool-lined jacket. His wide face bore a smile that was as short on humor as it was on patience. “I heard shots. Am I wrong in thinking you were in the vicinity when they were fired?”
    Slocum stopped and hooked his thumbs over his gun belt. “I was there, Sheriff. Vaccaro meant to kill me.”
    â€œWhat happened?”
    â€œI killed him first.”
    The man in the Stetson turned to face Ed. He placed his hands upon his hips so as to display the star pinned to his shirt pocket as well as the gun strapped around his waist. “And who might you be?”
    â€œEd Warren, sir. I came by to visit a friend of mine from way back.”
    â€œYou know Mr. Slocum here?”
    â€œOnly just got introduced,” Ed said while lifting his chin. “He saved my life.”
    â€œYeah, well, don’t let that color your expectations,” the sheriff said. “Most folks who spend too much time around him just get shot.”
    Slocum took that barb in good humor. “I’m sure you don’t mind the occasional shot being fired around here,” he said. “Especially since it means someone else is doing your job for you.”
    The big lawman nodded. “Speaking of my job, I’ve got some business to tend to right now. I believe you owe me some money.”
    That brought an end to Slocum’s good humor. “What for?”
    â€œThe disturbance just now. Seems there’s a dead body that wasn’t there before.”
    â€œI told you Vaccaro meant to kill me,” Slocum said.
    â€œAnd I believe you, which is why I’m not hauling you away right now. Instead, I’m fining you for disturbance of the peace and for taking the law into your own hands. Also, after your last confrontation with Mr. Vaccaro, I recall asking you to hand in your weapon and not fire another one within town limits.”
    â€œHow much is the fine?”
    After milking the next few moments by scratching his chin thoughtfully, the lawman told him, “Two hundred sounds about right.”
    â€œI don’t have that much.”
    â€œThen perhaps there’s still a cage in your future,” the sheriff said, punctuating his statement with a sharp jab of his finger against Slocum’s chest.
    Slocum stared directly into the sheriff’s eyes. His body tensed in a way that made the air crackle like a storm that was less than a minute away from spilling rain onto the town. Ed could feel more violence approaching and didn’t have the first idea of what to do about it. Before he was forced to run or

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