Hard Ride to Wichita Read Online Free Page A

that sold candy sticks and sarsaparilla. Across the street were a dress shop and a laundry, which gave the air the bitter scent of bleach at certain times of day. There wasn’t any steaming going on at the moment, but the odors still lingered from earlier on. A pair of horses was led down the street toward John Vassilly’s blacksmith’s shop, providing more than enough noise to mask the approach of the two young men who insinuated themselves into the conversation.
    â€œBefore you think about more profits,” Luke said, “you should settle up the debts you already have.”
    The brothers turned around to get a look at the other two boys, and the younger pair seemed happy to have been removed from the spotlight. “Well, well, well,” Joseph said. “Seems you two finally got finished rolling around on the floor. How’d it turn out?”
    â€œI won,” Luke said.
    Joseph scowled and when he glanced over to Red, he got a subtle nod to confirm the story. “Guess I should’ve stayed around to see what happened,” Joseph said. “Since the two of you barely look scratched, I suppose we didn’t miss much.”
    â€œYou can say that again,” Marty laughed.
    Red took one step forward, causing Marty to reflexively take one step back. “What would you have preferred? Me and him knock the hell out of each other?”
    â€œWould’ve been more fun to watch.”
    â€œWell, it’s not our job to entertain the two of you,” Luke said. “And it’s not our problem that you wandered off. You did mention something about a wager, though.”
    Marty’s eyes widened. “That’s right!” Turning to his brother, he said, “You owe me some money!”
    â€œAnd then you owe
me
some money,” Luke said. “I recall you saying you’d cut me in if I won.”
    â€œThat’s right, little brother,” Joseph said as he smacked Marty’s shoulder. “I recall you saying that as well. Best pay up.”
    The two brothers threw a few halfhearted punches at each other while laughing and making idle treats. When they were done horsing around, Marty turned to Luke as if he was surprised he was still there. “Yeah, well, I can get that money to you later.”
    â€œNo. I’ll take it now.”
    Marty was still smirking as he looked back and forth between Luke and Red. Slowly the grin faded and he straightened up to his full height, which was roughly comparable to Luke’s. “I don’t got it now. I’ll get it some other time.”
    â€œNah,” Red said. “I think we should take it now.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œBecause you’re a loudmouthed little weasel who can’t be trusted any farther than he could be tossed.” Red then looked over to Joseph and added, “That goes for the both of you.”
    â€œI thought we were all friends,” Marty said.
    â€œAnd there’s no reason why we don’t have to be friends,” Luke told him. “Just pay me what you owe.”
    â€œWhat brought this on?”
    â€œIt’s like he said,” Luke replied while nodding toward Red. “I don’t think you’ll pay up. If you do, I’ll apologize.”
    â€œAnd what if I don’t?”
    â€œThen you’ll prove to be every bit the little weasel Red thought you were.”
    The two youngest boys backed away from the other four. After they’d put a certain amount of distance between themselves and the rest, they took off running so they could watch what happened from afar.
    Marty started to inch forward but was pushed back by Joseph. The older brother was a bit taller than Luke and considerably more muscular. Glaring at him from beneath smooth eyebrows, Joseph said, “You’ll take that back.”
    â€œI will as soon as I’m proven wrong.”
    â€œWe don’t owe you a damn thing and you know it.”
    â€œI beg to