Texas Killers Read Free Page A

danger of that, ” the Baron declared, slapping his gauntlet-encased hand against the revolver which he carried on the right side of his weapon belt. “We of His Highness’s entourage can protect him, even if you are unable to do so.”
    â€œAgainst a man with a rifle that can kill at close to a mile and who can shoot well enough to do it?” Mark said dryly, not bothering to comment upon the unsuitability of the Bosgravnians’ high riding holsters—each with its flap secured by a metal pin attached to the body of the rig—if a rapid extraction of the revolvers should become necessary. “Because there’s a hombre in Corpus Christie who has one, is good enough and has been paid to kill His Highness.”
    â€œYou know he’s there?” growled Liebenfrau, silencing the aide-de-camp with a glare. “Then why hasn’t something been done to apprehend him?”
    â€œAll we know for sure is that he’s around and that he’s been hired to do the killing,” Mark replied, in a more polite tone than he had employed when speaking to the Baron. “We don’tknow exactly where he is, but that’s being worked on. Which’s why we’re playing things this way.” 4
    â€œThen, for all you know, he may not be in the town,” Liebenfrau pointed out. “He could even have followed you here .”
    â€œHe didn’t, we made sure of that,” Mark declared with complete confidence. “Only the Governor and us boys from the OD Connected know what’s doing. He’ll be hid away somewhere in town, waiting to cut loose when His Highness comes off the boat.”
    â€œThen why do we have to change clothing?” von Goeringwald demanded.
    â€œWe won’t make it to Corpus Christie before he finds put he’s been tricked,” Mark explained, his voice hardening. “Which, unless he’s been found and hawg-tied first, means he’ll come looking for you-all, Your Highness. Not one of you’ll pass, even at a distance, as being from Texas in those uniforms.”
    â€œWe’re in your hands, Mr. Counter,” Rudolph put in firmly and a smile flickered on his handsomeface. “So we will do as you wish. In fact, I for one will be most interested to see how Colonel Liebenfrau will look dressed as a— cowhand— wasn’t it you said?”
    â€œThat’s what folks down here in Texas mostly call us, unless it’s something worse,” Mark replied, appreciating how the Crown Prince’s words had made his task easier. “Which it most time is and’s usually deserv—”
    â€œI hope that the lady’s presence won’t make too much difference to your arrangements,” Rudolph said, noticing that the blond giant was looking at the launch and guessing why he had stopped speaking. “She and her maid are accompanying us.”
    â€œNot too much,” Mark admitted, realizing that he had caught a glimpse of the two women during his earlier interrupted glance at the boat, “They’ll have to ride in a chuck wagon, not a coach.”
    â€œThat won’t worry Freddie,” the Crown Prince declared.
    â€œFreddie?” Mark repeated.
    â€œLady Winifred Besgrove-Woodstole,” Rudolph elaborated and noticed the blond giant stiffen momentarily. “Is something wrong?”
    â€œNo,” Mark answered. “It’s just that I wasn’t expecting a lady to be with you.”
    While that was true, it had not caused the Texan’s reaction. He was wondering what Dusty Fog would make of the latest development.
    Even as the thought was entering Mark’s head, his ranch’s segundo and good friend was for the second time in less than an hour facing a situation fraught with peril.

Chapter 3
I THOUGHT HE MEANT TO KILL YOU
    H AVING DELIVERED THE PUSH THAT WAS PUTTING Dusty Fog’s life in jeopardy, Benjamin Digbry demonstrated one of the reasons why