Ralph Compton - Bluff City

“That’s far enough, the both of you!”

Marshal Vale stopped. “Has it come to this then, Barker? You hide behind a woman’s skirts? Let Miss Stanley go. Turn yourself over to me and I give you my word you will get a fair trial.”

Barker said something to Charles.

“Look out!” Melanie screamed.

Clay did not need the warning. He had seen Charles take aim. He swept his arm up and out, shooting instinctively.

The Colt and the Winchester cracked as one, and Charles twisted and stumbled against the rail. Clay fired again. So did Charles, but not at Clay. Nearly dead on his feet, Charles worked the Winchester’s lever and fired blindly, sending two slugs into the person he happened to be pointing the rifle at.

That person was Harve Barker.

Clay reached the stairs just as Melanie came to the bottom. She threw herself into his arms, and for a while there was just the two of them and no one else, despite the mad scrambling and shouting all around them.

Then a hand fell on Clay’s shoulder.

“It’s over,” Marshal Vale said. “Barker is dead and the Stark gang is no more.” His face split in a lopsided grin. “Who do I thank? Neville Baine or Clay Adams?”

“Neville Baine died on the Kansas prairie,” Clay said. “From here on out there is Clay Adams and only Clay Adams.”

Melanie nestled her cheek against his neck and happily declared, “You have just made me the happiest woman alive.”

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ISBN: 1-4295-3900-3

Copyright © The Estate of Ralph Compton, 2007

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