Apache Vendetta Read Online Free

away.”
    â€œDid you hear what I do to bastards who annoy me?”
    â€œSurely you wouldn’t strike an unarmed man?” Jaster said smugly.
    Fargo was out of his chair before the muckraker could blink. He drove his fist into Jaster’s big belly and Jaster folded like an accordion and squealed like a hog. Gasping for breath, he clutched at the table to keep from falling even as Fargo seized him by the front of his shirt and jerked him upright.
    â€œGo find someone else to pester,” Fargo said, and gave Jaster a shove that sent him teetering on his heels.
    Most of the saloon’s patrons had stopped what they were doing to stare. One man hollered, “Here, now. What’s that about?”
    Fargo looked at him and the man quickly turned away. To Jaster he said, “Why are you still standing there?”
    The newspaperman was red in the face with anger as much as pain. “You shouldn’t ought to have done that. I don’t like being manhandled.”
    â€œAnd I don’t like slugs.”
    â€œYou’ll regret this,” Jaster said, backing away. “Just see if you don’t.”
    â€œI’m trembling in my boots,” Fargo said.

7
    Fargo’s mood improved considerably after he won over forty dollars at poker. Lady Luck smiled on him with a full house and a straight, and toward midnight she granted him four tens to beat three kings. He was raking in the pot when a warm hand fell on his shoulder and familiar perfume wreathed him.
    â€œI’m done for the night if you’re still interested,” Tandy informed him.
    â€œAm I ever,” Fargo said. He filled his poke and pulled the drawstring and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Lead the way, fair lady.”
    â€œIt’s down the street.”
    Fargo pushed on the batwings and stepped out into the cool night air. He was so fascinated by her jugs that he didn’t realize two men had moved from the shadows until the pair barred their way.
    â€œWhat do we have here, brother?” one of them said.
    Fargo looked up.
    The pair was big and brawny and both wore coats, even though it was summer, and floppy hats.
    â€œWhat the hell do you want?” Fargo demanded.
    â€œI know these two,” Tandy said. “They’re the Bascomb brothers. They drink here all the time.”
    â€œWho cares?” Fargo gestured with his almost-empty bottle. “Out of our way.”
    â€œListen to him,” the one who had spoken before said. “He sounds right mean, don’t he, Link?”
    â€œHe’s not as mean as us, Gant,” said the other brother.
    Fargo let go of Tandy. It struck him that the pair were stone sober and not just two drunks spoiling for a fight.
    â€œWhat are you two up to?” Tandy asked them. “Leave us be, you hear?”
    â€œOut of the way, gal,” Gant said. “We have work to do.” And he shoved her.
    Fargo’s temper snapped. He swept the bottle up and around and caught Gant on the side of the head. The bottle shattered and Gant stumbled, and the next moment Link lunged at Fargo with his fists balled.
    Fargo sidestepped a kick to his groin and let loose with an uppercut that rocked Link back. He followed with a looping left that spun Link halfway around. Before he could finish him, though, Gant recovered enough to throw his arms around his, pinning him.
    â€œI’ve got him, brother! Wallop him good!”
    Link shook his head to clear it, and waded in. “I surely will.”
    Fury filled Fargo. He arced his right foot between Link’s legs and Link stopped cold and squawked. A surge of his arms, and Fargo was free. Whirling, he punched Gant on the jaw. It drove him back but only for a second.
    â€œStop this!” Tandy was shouting. “Stop it this instant, you hear?”
    The brothers ignored her.
    So did Fargo. His dander was up and he wasn’t about to stop until he pounded them into the dirt. He countered