Forty-Four Caliber Justice Read Online Free Page B

her. She had big plans for you two.”
    Clay patted his vest pocket, where the new contract lay. It had been more than fair. “Thanks for everything, Mr. Hewitt.
    “Bo, Luke, thanks for all you’ve done. You’re good friends.”
    “Take care of yourself, boy,” Luke said as he shook Clay’s hand.
    “Good huntin’,” Bo said, and patted the sorrel on the rump.
    Clay looked around at the ranch house and yard where he and Sarah had played since they were children. He leaned over and shook Hewitt’s hand. “Thank you. Tell Sarah I’m sorry. Adios. ” He wheeled the sorrel to the south, and with Blue and the buckskin in tow, trotted out of the yard.
    *
    Clay rode out of the hills, north of Uvalde, around noon. He pulled up the horses for a moment, watching the small town. The county seat was bustling with activity. There was a caravan of freight wagons bound for San Felipe del Rio. He watched the town for a few minutes, then trotted forward. He rode through town to the south end, pulled up at the stables, dismounted, and tied his horses. He pulled off his hat and beat the dust from his chaps.
    “Howdy, Clay. Whatcha doin’ with Hewitt’s horses.”
    Clay looked over the grizzled little man. His skin looked like it had been fried in the sun and tanned by the wind. He was so wrinkled it was hard to tell his age. But he still had a spring in his step a young man might envy.
    “Hi, Mr. Johnson. Mr. Hewitt sold me a couple of horses. I’ve got the bill of sale if you need to see it.”
    “No, Son, don’t need to see nothin’. But why in blue blazes are you buyin’ Hewitt stock? Your pa’s got plenty to choose from.”
    Clay walked the three horses to the water trough. “Pa’s dead. Ma and Slim too. Killers hit our place five days ago. I was out working cattle and didn’t find them till day before yesterday.”
    The old man was stunned into silence for a moment. Then, “I’m danged sorry, Son. Your folks were fine people. So was Slim. You have any idea who done it?”
    “No, sir, but I aim to find out. There was six of them. One of them was hit pretty hard, bled a lot in the yard. There’s also a mighty big man with them. They headed south when they left the ranch.”
    “You best tell the sheriff. He’ll see ’bout getting a posse together and git after that scum. You say they killed your ma too?”
    “Yep, killed Ma. But I’ll tell you, Mr. Johnson, I don’t need a posse. I just need to catch ’em.”
    “Boy, what’er you goin’ to do when you catch ’em?”
    Clay turned to Johnson. “Why, Mr. Johnson, I’m gonna kill ’em, every one. Now, would you look after my horses? I’ve got some business to take care of. I’ll be leavin’ town shortly.”
    The tall young man pulled his saddlebags from the sorrel and tossed them over his left shoulder, leaving his gun hand free. Then he turned and headed up the street toward the bank.
    Clay stepped into the bank and paused to let his eyes adjust to the light. The building had few windows, mostly on the front. Only moderate light filtered inside.
    The banker stepped out of his office and saw Clay. “Clay? Uh… how are you doing today? How’s your folks?”
    “My folks are dead.”
    Besides the gasps of the two ladies at the teller’s window, a pin dropping would have been heard by all.
    The banker took his handkerchief from his pocket and, with a trembling hand, wiped his forehead. “How did it happen, Clay?”
    “Mr. Houston, I’ve got some business to transact. Can we go into your office?” Clay could feel all eyes on him as he followed Houston into his office and closed the door.
    “Have a seat, Clay,” Houston offered as he moved to sit behind his desk. “Now tell me, what in the world happened?”
    Clay stated, again, the gruesome details. When he had finished, Houston took off his spectacles and began to clean them on his shirt front. “Really sorry, Clay. Really sorry. Your folks were good people.”
    “Yes, sir, thank you. But