Rage of Eagles Read Online Free Page B

eat.”
    â€œI could stand a drink.” Falcon stared at the foreman for a moment. “A question or two, Kip?”
    â€œAsk away. You got the right now that you’ve throwed in with us.”
    â€œWhat happened to Angie’s husband?”
    â€œName was Charles. He was a good boy. Him and Angie got married when she was sixteen and he was seventeen. Had Jimmy a year later. ’Bout two years ago, Gilman’s oldest son, Lars, braced Charles in town one afternoon. Hell, Charles wasn’t no gunhand. He was a pretty good shot, but no fast gun. He didn’t want to fight Lars. But you know how it is out here. Lars called him some really vile names and Charles jerked iron. Lars is almighty quick. Remember that, Val. He’s fast. Lars gut-shot him and left him in the street to die. Took the lad about forty-eight hours to die. Died hard, too. I ’spect you’ve seen men who was belly-shot.”
    â€œYes. It isn’t pleasant.”
    â€œNo, it shore ain’t. Well, after the family shook off the grief, the war was on. But John Bailey didn’t start the second round neither. Gilman did. We had ten hands here then. Not countin’ me nor John nor Cookie. One by one Gilman’s men scared them off or killed them off. You ever heard of a man calls hisself Border?”
    â€œOh, yes. Supposed to be one of the fastest guns anywhere around.”
    â€œHe is. Lightnin’ quick. A killer through and through. He’s crazy, I think. He’s been on Gilman’s payroll for about a year now. He can usually be found at the Stampede Saloon in town, waitin’ like a damn rattlesnake for someone to say somethin’ to him so’s he can call them out and either back them down and run them out of town or kill them.”
    â€œNice fellow.”
    â€œJust peachy,” Kip said sourly.
    â€œYou reckon he’ll be there about dawn tomorrow?”
    â€œHe lives at the saloon. Got him a room on the second floor. Why?”
    â€œ ’Cause I plan to be in town about dawn.”
    Kip sighed. “I feel obliged to ride in with you.”
    â€œIf you want to.”
    â€œI’ll meet you at the corral about four.”
    â€œSuits me. Now let’s go eat supper. I’m hungry.”

Three
    The town of Gilman had grown since Falcon had last seen it. And Falcon did not recall it being named Gilman.
    â€œIt wasn’t when we first come out here,” Kip said. “Then Gilman became top dog and decided the town should have his name.”
    â€œThe people didn’t object?”
    â€œThem that did have the courage to kick up a fuss soon changed their mind about it. Or left.”
    â€œSeems like to me the territorial governor would have something to say about this situation.”
    â€œHe don’t even know what’s really goin’ on. He did send a man in, but nobody in town would talk to him. ’Sides, Gilman ain’t really doin’ nothin’ illegal . . . that can be proved, that is. It’s our word against his. If one of us says he done something, he’s got fifty people who says he didn’t.”
    â€œIs there an attorney in town?”
    â€œOne. But he’s in Gilman’s pocket. Gilman gave him a small spread he took away from the Nettles family after Tom Nettles turned up dead one night.”
    â€œDead? How? And what did the sheriff say about it?”
    Kip smiled, rather sadly, Falcon thought. “Sheriff’s two days hard ride away, with two deputies to cover the entire county. ’Sides, Gilman’s bought him off too. He’s not goin’ to do a damn thing.”
    The men were resting their horses on a small rise overlooking the town. Just looking at the town, it seemed quite pleasant. A bank and a church had been built since Falcon had last seen the place, and a dozen or more other homes and businesses.
    â€œGilman owns the bank?” Falcon asked.
    â€œShore does. The