The Iron Wagon Read Free

of Denver’s federal office building downtown on Broadway.”
    “That’s right.”
    “And some of Brockman’s deputy marshals are standing with him while Brockman towers over them.”
    “Yes, I’ve seen him many times. He is very tall—well over six feet.”
    “Yeah,” said Kail. “And this other photograph on the front page shows Brockman at his desk in the Denver office.”
    Chad nodded again. “Mm-hmm. Handsome fella, isn’t he?”
    Kail gritted his teeth. “He killed my brother. As far as I’m concerned, he’s the ugliest man I’ve ever seen. This article goes on to give a brief history of Brockman. It says how for several years all over the West, the Stranger helped people in various kinds of trouble and also aided the law by bringing many outlaws to justice.”
    Chad smiled. “Uh-huh. He’s really a good guy.”
    A sudden scowl twisted Kail’s features, and his eyes blazed with wrath. “I don’t care how good a guy Brockman is in the minds of the people of the West. I’m gonna kill him!”
    “I warn you, Kail, if you challenge Chief Brockman to a quick draw, you’ll lose.”
    Kail sneered. “I know better than to do that, Uncle Chad. I would never make that challenge. I’m gonna find a way to sneak up on Brockman and shoot him in the back. I’ll put a bullet right through his heart.”
    The old man turned pale, shaking his head. “Don’t you do it! It was Kent’s fault he got killed.”
    Through clenched teeth, Kail hissed, “I
have
to kill him! I’ve got to pay him back for taking my brother from me!”
    The old man clutched at the left side of his chest, and he could hardly get a breath at all. His face went white as he gasped, “I—I’ve got to take some of my medicine.”
    A worried look framed Kail’s face. “Can I get it for you?”
    Struggling to move off the sofa, Chad said weakly, “No. Just help me into the kitchen, please.”
    Kail stood and helped his uncle to his feet. He gripped the old man tightly as he staggered toward the kitchen.
    “Please, Kail, just leave town and forget about killing John Brockman,” Chad wheezed. By the time they entered the kitchen, the pain in Chad’s chest had increased, and he could hardly get his breath at all.
    He pointed to a small cupboard. Kail guided him to it and steadied his uncle as Chad removed a bottle of pills. With shaky hands, he opened the bottle and shook out two white pills into his trembling left hand. He popped them into his mouth, then picked up a water pitcher from the counter, poured a cup about half full, and drank it down.
    Kail frowned. “Is it your heart?”
    “Oh, just a touch of indigestion. Like a boiling pot in my stomach that’s sending the pain up into my chest. I’ll be all right once those pills get into my system.”
    Chad was doing his best to disguise the pain in his chest, not wanting his nephew to know the seriousness of his heart problem.
    “Oh. Okay. I just don’t want you keeling over.”
    Chad forced a grin. “Not a chance. But…but—”
    “But
what?”
    “I really think you should leave town and forget this revenge against Chief Brockman you’ve got in your head.”
    Kail frowned fiercely. “Like you just said, Uncle Chad.
Not
a chance!
” Then he helped his uncle settle himself back on the parlor sofa.
    Several hours later, when the clock on the wall neared four o’clock, Kail got up from the overstuffed chair, woke his uncle, and told him he had to leave.
    Chad blinked. “I’ll walk you to the door.” He decided to try one more time. He gripped Kail’s upper arm with a trembling hand. “Please, Kail! Don’t kill Chief Brockman! That’s not going to bring Kent back.”
    They drew up to the door. Kail yanked his arm from his uncle’s grip, opened the door, and looked into his tear-filled eyes. “No, killin’ Brockman won’t bring my brother back, but it’ll sure make me feel better!”
    As Kail headed toward his big, black-maned, gray-bodied horse tied to the small