Anna Finch and the Hired Gun Read Online Free Page B

too, so your anonymity will be easier to maintain. Surely you don’t expect to be an effective shadow if you stick out like a sore thumb?”
    “It’s a dress,” Jeb said as he fought his temper. “Besides I’m going as a guest, remember? I’ll fit right in.”
    His old friend made the mistake of grinning. Only the fact that he owed Hank more than just his life kept Jeb from slugging him. That, and he still ached something fierce from being shot by a girl the previous morning.
    “All right,” Hank said, “I can see your point.” He seemed to think hard on something. “If you don’t want this job, I’ve got something else I can offer.”
    “I’ll take it.” Jeb paused. “What’s the catch?”
    Hank shrugged. “It’s a promotion. More pay, next step up the ladder.” A grin spread across his face. “I can assure you it’ll keep you busy.”
    It only took Jeb a moment to realize what Hank was offering. “Oh no.” He gestured to Hank’s desk. “I don’t want your job. I’ve never been a man who could keep his boots under a desk for long without itching to get some trail dust on them, and you know that.”
    “Fair enough.”
    Jeb gave Hank’s blank expression a suspicious look. “That’s it? You’re making this too easy. Just give me another assignment, and I’llget out of here and let you get back to work. I’ve got something I can see to for a few weeks, anyway.”
    Hank narrowed his eyes. “Carrying the Pinkerton badge gives you access to resources you wouldn’t otherwise have. I reckon that’s come in handy on occasion.”
    “It has.”
    “Like when you’re off hunting Doc Holliday.”
    “That’s not fair, Hank.” Jeb snatched his hat off the desk, where he’d set it when he came in, and jammed it back on his head.
    Jeb bit off the rest of what he wanted to say, though he would’ve given his best saddle to be able to have a real conversation with Hank about Doc Holliday. The other Pinkerton’s instincts were sharp and his network of informants nearly as good as Jeb’s. He’d like to know whether Hank had heard anything about the half dozen trail hands over in Kansas who’d been dispatched to fresh graves just last week by the Georgia dentist. The informant who’d promised to meet Jeb yesterday at dawn had either been scared away by the shooting or never intended to show, so anything Hank could provide would have helped.
    “I haven’t balked at an assignment since you convinced Mr. Pinkerton to give me my job back, but I won’t wear a dress, and I won’t be shackled to a desk.” He paused. “And as for Holliday, you know I work that investigation on my own time.”
    “Doc Holliday’s an innocent man, and until there’s solid evidence to the contrary, there’s nothing you can do about that. As for what you’ll be wearing tonight, I’ll take your complaint about needing a place to carry your gun under advisement.” Hank’s exasperationshowed as he pointed at Jeb’s midsection. “Speaking of guns, it looks like you’ve got yourself a new bullet hole.”
    A glance down at his shirt told Jeb his wound had soaked through the bandage again, despite a day’s worth of healing. “It’s just a scratch.”
    Hank’s snort of disbelief provided a welcome moment of levity. “Don’t suppose I’ll be getting a report on it.”
    “Don’t suppose so.” Jeb changed the subject before thoughts of big brown eyes and chestnut curls derailed his conversation entirely. “Beck’s getting a good man.” Jeb would never admit to Hank that he’d recommended Hank to Daniel Beck after turning down the job himself. The last thing his friend needed to know was that he was Daniel’s second choice for chief of security at Beck Enterprises.
    “So you know. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.” Hank cleared his throat. “About this assignment, I suppose I could refer the client to J. F. Farley down the street at Thiel’s, though I would have to let Mr. Pinkerton know our agent was