Wolf Creek Read Free Page A

and
Forty …” Jules
Traynor smiled affably, “ the district court may grant a
divorce to a husband or wife based on multiple grounds, including abandonment
for one year, extreme cruelty …”
    Childress
released Maudie ’ s
wrists and turned toward the trio of men. The deputies continued
inching in his direction.
    “… habitual drunkenness, gross neglect of
duty … just to name
a few, ” recited
Jules. “ I left
out adultery, impotence and imprisonment, but Miss LeJeune is
welcome to provide any such details as she desires. She must reside
within the state for one year before filing; sufficient time to
spur her memory, I am sure. ”
    Maudie wondered
how much of Childress ’ s rant Jules and the deputies had overheard. Somehow, she
felt her secrets were safe, no matter how long they had been
standing nearby.
    Childress,
glancing from Quint to Seamus, finally found his voice. “ Gentlemen,
there ’ s no need
for force. I have lodging at the Imperial and, if
you ’ ll allow me,
I ’ ll be on my
way. I can continue this … this dispute with my wife at
another, more convenient time. ”
    Seamus, who was
a head a half taller even without the macabre top hat, stepped
within a few feet of Childress and leaned down to peer into the
newcomer ’ s eyes.
He dusted off the shoulders of Childress ’ s fine suit with his big freckled
paws, then backed up to rejoin Quint and Jules.
    “ Oh, it appears to me that the dispute is
settled, Mr. Childress, “ said Jules. “ Deputy O ’ Connor here, the officer of this
impromptu court, will drop by tomorrow to escort you to the train
station. ”
    Seizing the opportunity to absent himself,
Childress nodded to the men, and then to Maudie. He struck out west
on Lincoln Street, with long strides, toward the Imperial
Hotel.
    Maudie took a few tentative steps, and then
ran to old Jules Traynor. He wrapped his big Arkansas farm boy arms
around her and comforted her like she was his own.

    * * *

    At two
o ’ clock the next
afternoon, Antonio poured two cups of steaming chicory-laced
coffee. He could hardly wait to share the town gossip with Maudie
when she stopped by. Franco and Vittore had witnessed Deputy
Marshal Seamus O ’ Connor urging a well-dressed, albeit rumpled, man into a
freight car on this morning ’ s eastbound train. According to the
boys, the stranger boarded the train willingly, in spite of the
hindrance of having a deep oozing cut over one cheek and both his
eyes blacked.
    Seamus
O ’ Connor was
heard to say, “ Damn fool should have folded before he played that last hand
of his. ”

 
    NEVER BET ON ANOTHER MAN’S HORSE
     
    By James J. Griffin
     
    1
     
    “Mr. Huntington, you’ve taken more than
enough time. Either show your cards, ask for different ones, or
fold. However, we cannot wait much longer for you to decide. Other
players are waiting in the wings.”
    Sam Jones, house gambler at the Lucky Break,
was losing patience with the snail-like play of the man at the
table opposite him. Shelton Huntington was one of the slowest card
players he’d ever come across.
    “I just have to consider every possibility,
Mr. Jones,” Huntington answered. “Surely you aren’t trying to push
me into a rash move, are you?”
    “No, but I would like to finish this game
sometime before next week,” Sam said. Huntington had to be the most
exasperating man he’d ever faced over a deck of cards. “I don’t
know how folks in Wichita play cards, but we’re a mite faster here
in Wolf Creek.”
    “All right, all right.” Huntington threw his
cards on the table – three queens and two jacks. “Queens over
jacks. I reckon my luck’s finally turned.” He started to rake in
the pot.
    “Not quite so fast, Mr. Huntington.” Sam
threw down his own cards – three aces and two jacks. “I believe
aces over jacks beats queens over jacks, every time.”
    Huntington fell back in his chair, stunned.
Sweat popped out on his forehead.
    “That, that can’t be possible.