The Gunsmith 386 Read Free Page B

looking for two strangers,” he said to the mean-looking barman. “They may have come in together, or separately.”
    â€œWhat did they do?” The barman rubbed a big hand over his black stubbles.
    â€œThey tried to ambush me,” Clint said. “Backshoot me.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œThat’s what I’m going to ask them when I see them,” Clint said.
    â€œWell,” the man said, “I ain’t seen ’em, apart or together.”
    â€œSo you know everybody in here right now?” Clint asked him.
    The bartender took a toothpick from his mouth and said, “Everybody but you.”
    Clint finished his beer and left.
    Â â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢Â 
    He stopped into the Jack of Hearts, down the street from the vet’s. He ordered a beer, listened, then questioned the bartender, who looked like the other one’s brother, right down to the stubble and the toothpick.
    â€œTwo men?” the bartender asked.
    â€œThere were three when they tried to kill me,” Clint said. “Now there’s two.”
    â€œAin’t seen ’em,” the man said.
    â€œYou seen any strangers yesterday or today?” Clint asked.
    â€œOnly you.”
    â€œHave you got a brother?”
    The man stared at him.
    â€œYeah, why?”
    â€œI think I just met him a while ago.”
    â€œAnd what did he say?”
    â€œSame thing.”
    â€œExactly?”
    â€œExactly.”
    The man grinned.
    â€œThat was my brother, all right.”
    â€œYou guys aren’t very helpful.”
    â€œMaybe,” the bartender said, “if we saw somethin’, we’d tell you.”
    â€œMaybe,” Clint said, “I’ll ask again sometime.”
    â€œAnother beer?”
    â€œNo, thanks,” Clint said.
    â€œCome back sometime,” the bartender said.
    â€œOh, I will.”
    Clint left the saloon. His intentions were to check the livery stables, but as he left the saloon, he saw Andrea Martin leaving the vet’s office.
    He intercepted her before she could get very far. She started when she saw him, drawing back a foot.
    â€œI’m sorry,” he said. “It seems I’m always startling you.”
    â€œOh, Mr. Adams,” she said. “Were you coming to check on your horse again?”
    â€œNo, actually I was coming out of the saloon when I saw you walking here.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œAnd I thought maybe I could walk you to wherever you were going.”
    â€œWhy?”
    He was taken aback by the question.
    â€œTo be neighborly.”
    â€œBut we’re not neighbors.”
    â€œWell then . . . to look after you. A lady shouldn’t walk alone, especially when it’s getting dark.”
    â€œIt’s hardly dusk,” she said, “and this is my town. I have nothing to fear.”
    â€œI’m starting to think you just don’t want my company,” he said.
    â€œMr. Adams,” she said, “you’re passing through town. You’re a good-looking man. I’m sure you’ve been on the trail a long time and you’re looking for a girl. I’m not that girl. But there are plenty of them in the saloon.”
    Clint stared at her, no words coming to mind.
    Suddenly she frowned.
    â€œI’ve offended you.”
    â€œWell . . .”
    She put her hands over her mouth.
    â€œIs it possible—” she started.
    â€œYou misjudged me?”
    She nodded.
    â€œIf I have, I’m sorry. It’s just that a lot of men come through town looking for girls.”
    â€œI see.”
    â€œIf you’re not that kind of man, I’m sorry.”
    â€œI see. And if I am?”
    â€œNow you’re making fun of me.”
    â€œWell, I won’t do that anymore,” he said. “I’ll be on my way, and you can go and . . . do whatever it is you were going to do.”
    â€œI was going to get something to eat,” she