Simon Hawke - The Six Gun Solution

They get the silver?” Behan asked.

“No. they didn’t get it. They didn’t have a chance ‘the horses ran off soon as they shot Bud. One of the passengers took a bullet, too. Name of Peter Roerig, was sittin’ in the dickey seat up back. He looked bad. They took him to the doc’s, but I don’t think he’s goin’ to make it.”

Virgil and Morgan had arrived. “We’re gettin’ up a posse.” Wyatt told them. “Outlaws just robbed the stage and killed Bud Philpot. If we get a move on, we might catch ’em.”

“Wait a minute. Wyatt,” Behan said. “I’m the sheriff. I’m takin’ this posse.”

“Fine, then, take it. But we’re comin’ along.”

Behan looked as if he was going to make an argument of it, then changed his mind.

“I’m goin’ too. Wyatt,” Paul said.

“You sure you’re up to it?”

They got Bud.” Paul said, with a hard edge to his voice.-I’m goin’.”

Within moments, the posse was organized and mounted, galloping out of town on the road to Contention, about eight miles northwest of Tombstone. Lucas found himself riding next to Neilson, but aside from a curious look, nothing else passed between them. Lucas wondered if Neilson was being watched by someone in the posse and was aware of it. He was playing it very cool. Until he had a chance to speak with him alone, he’d have to follow his lead. Neilson could have discovered more about what was going on here since the time he’d last made his report.

It was late by the time they reached the place where the robbery had occurred and the darkness slowed them down, making the trail hard to follow. They were still tracking the outlaws when daylight came.

“Looks like the trail’s leading to Len Redfield’s place,” said Virgil.

“Somehow I’m not surprised,” said Wyatt, dryly. “Len’s real friendly with Ike Clanton.”

The trail, as Virgil had predicted, led straight to the ranch, where they discovered several horses in the corral that had been ridden very hard.

“Looks like they might have traded horses here.” said Wyatt, as Lucas rode up beside him.

Suddenly a shot cracked out.

“Hold it right there, mister!’

It was Neilson who had yelled and fired. Lucas frowned.

That was getting a little too involved. The man who had taken off running from the corral, heading toward the house, stopped in his tracks and raised his hands in the air.

“Don’t shoot!” he shouted.

“It’s Luther King.” said Behan, riding over to him. Wyatt and Bob Paul followed.

“Virg, you and the others go and check the house.” he said. “And watch yourselves.”

“I didn’t do nothin’!” King protested. “What the hell did you shoot at me for?”

“Why’d you run, Luther’?” Wyatt asked, looking down at the man from his horse.

“How was I supposed to know who you were?” protested King. “I thought you might be outlaws!”

“Did you, now?”

“Well, how was he to know?” asked Behan.

Wyatt gave him a hard look. “Why don’t you go and check the house. Johnny? See if your friend Len can tell us anything.”

Behan hesitated, again seeming as if he was about to argue, then once more thought better of it. He wheeled his horse and trotted toward the house.

“Been out ridin’ tonight, Luther?” Wyatt asked.

“I’ve been here all night.” King replied, nervously. “I didn’t have anything to do with it.”

“You didn’t have anything to do with what, Luther?” Wyatt asked, calmly.

“With.. with whatever it is you boys are out for.”

“Somebody tried to rob the Kinnear stage tonight. Luther.” Wyatt said. “Bud Philpot was shot and killed. I don’t suppose you’d know anything about that?”

“How the hell would I know? Like I told you. I was here all night.”

“Were you? What were you doin’ out by the corral?”…

“I came out to milk the cows.”

“You always strap your guns on when you go milkin’. Luther?”

King hesitated. “Man can’t be too careful these days. Might have been Indians around.”

Morgan Earp snorted with disgust, “Indians, my foot! You were one of them Luther, weren’t you?”

“I told you. I was here all night! I didn’t have nothin’ to do with it! Ask Len!”

“How do we know that Len wasn’t involved’!” asked Wyatt. “You’ve got some horses over there in that corral look like they were ridden pretty hard. You got anything to say about that?”

“Yeah, well… there was some riders came by not long ago. Wanted to trade some horses.”

“Who were they?”

“I.. I don’t know. I didn’t know who they were. I never saw ’em before.”

“You’re lyin’, Luther.”

“I ain’t lyin’! I told you, I don’t know anything about any robbery!”

“It’s more than robbery, Luther.” Wyatt said. “It’s murder. Bud Philpot’s dead.”

“Passenger got wounded, too,” said Virgil. “Looks like he might not make it. That’ll be two murders.”

“Three. Virg,” Wyatt said. “Don’t forget Katie.” Virgil frowned. “Katie?”

“Isn’t that right. Bob?” Wyatt said, turning to Bob. “Didn’t you tell me Katie Elder took a bullet? Killed her on the spot, you said. Doc just about went crazy when he heard about it.”

Bob Paul picked up on it, “Yeah. that’s right. I never saw Doc like that before. It was somethin’ terrible.”

“Doc Holliday’s woman was on that stage?” asked King. his eyes wide.”She was headin’ out to Benson, to take the train and visit some relatives for a spell,” said Wyatt. “When Doc found out she’d been shot, he swore up and down he’d get every last one of those outlaws if it took him the rest of his life.”

“Oh, my God.” said King.

“If Doc gets in his head you were involved, Luther. I don’t know that there’s anything in this world that will stop him,” Wyatt said. You know how he is.”

“Listen, Marshal, you gotta promise me you’ll tell Doc I had nothin. to do with it, I swear!” said King, in a panic. “Well, now, I don’t know that for a fact. Luther.”

“Marshal, please! You gotta believe me! Look, you gotta tell Holliday it wasn’t me! I didn’t do any of the shootin’.

God’s my judge! I only held the horses! You gotta tell Doc, I only held the horses! I never even fired my gun! I wasn’t even there! I was just down the road a piece! I didn’t know there was goin’ to be any killin’! I swear. I didn’t! Please. Marshal, you gotta tell him!”

“Well now. I might, Luther, if you were to tell us who the rest of ’em were.”

“It was Head. Leonard and Crane!” said King. “I don’t know which one of ’em shot Philpot! I heard the shootin’, but I didn’t see it! Like I said, I only held the horses!”

“Head, Leonard and Crane, eh?” said Wyatt. “Where are they now’?”

“They rode out a while back. I ain’t sure where they went and that’s the truth, I swear it! The whole thing went wrong! But you gotta tell Holliday I didn’t do any shootin’. Marshal. You gotta tell him!”

Wyatt glanced at Bob Paul and grinned. “I always knew that had temper of

Doe’s would come in handy one day.”

Sheriff Johnny Behan and his deputy. Billy Breakenridge, took charge of the prisoner and rode back to town with him while the rest of the posse continued on the outlaws’ trail. Lucas took the opportunity to ride back with the prisoner, expecting Neilson to volunteer to do the same, only the Montana Kid continued on with the posse. Not so much as a meaningful look had passed between them. Andre was waiting at the hotel when he returned.

“Did you learn anything?” she asked. “Did you have a chance to talk to Scott?”