Ralph Compton Sixguns and Double Eagles Read Online Free

didn’t know of her relationship to Nathan, he had his suspicions, for there was bitterness and regret in her eyes, and Barnabas McQueen seemed suddenly uncomfortable. Wes spoke.
    â€œHe didn’t die at the hands of his enemies, ma‘am. They were mine. I wore the badge in El Paso, and a gang of border outlaws came after me. He sided me, meeting them in the street. There were fifteen men against us—impossible odds—and they shot him to pieces. I shot my way to him, but he was already dead. He knew me, but I never knew him as my father until he was dead.” 2
    â€œMy God,” McQueen said, “it’s the kind of unselfish thing Nathan Stone would have done. What became of the outlaws?”
    â€œI followed them into Mexico,” said Wes. “That’s where I met El Lobo. They tried to kill him, and he threw in with me.”
    â€œYou found and killed them all?” Vivian asked.
    It was a foolish, unnecessary question, and Wes said nothing. McQueen again looked uncomfortable, and it was he who spoke.
    â€œWe’d better get Flash aboard. There’ll be plenty of time for talk between here and New Orleans.”
    Empty took a few steps toward the gangplank, as though to follow McQueen, but he turned back and sat watching as the black horse was led aboard.
    â€œHe remembers,” said El Lobo.
    â€œYes,” Wes said, “and I envy him. All I know of my father is what I can learn from those who knew him.”
    â€œThere be plenty time to talk on steamboat,” said El Lobo. “You per‘ap learn much in three days.”
    â€œI’m looking forward to it,” Wes said.
    So elated was he, having met McQueen, that he failed to notice two men wearing tied-down Colts. They had just bought tickets and were covertly eyeing Wes and El Lobo....

Chapter 1
    The big stern-wheeler, with a blast from its whistle, backed away from the landing on schedule. Wes and El Lobo, accompanied by a skittish Empty, had gone to their cabin until the craft was under way. As Wes had predicted, the quarters were extremely cramped.
    â€œWe don’t stay here all the time?” El Lobo asked hopefully.
    Wes laughed. “No, we can spend as much time on deck as we like. I doubt McQueen’s cabin is any bigger than ours. We’ll have to do our visiting elsewhere. Come on, let’s get out of here. Empty’s ready to abandon ship.”
    They found McQueen already on deck, watching the muddy water of the Mississippi roll off the huge paddle wheel. He was alone, and seemed glad to see them.
    â€œVivian decided to stay in the cabin,” said McQueen. “Not me. It’s so confining. I can barely stand it long enough to sleep there.”
    â€œHow long have you been racing horses?” Wes asked.
    â€œMost of my life,” said McQueen. “The first time I saw your father, he and a lady—Eulie Prater—showed up at my place. My late wife Bess rented them one of our cabins for a few days. I mention Eulie because she could gentle horses like nobody I’ve ever seen before or since. Nathan met a government man in town—Bryan Silver—and Silver had some men gunning for him. Nathan saved Silver’s bacon but ended up neck-deep in trouble with Silver’s enemies. Nathan threw in with Silver, leaving Eulie with Bess and me. I had a big black that I couldn’t handle, but Eulie gentled him and rode him in many a race.”
    â€œI know Silver,” Wes said, “and he told me about the trouble in New Orleans, but he didn’t mention Eulie. What became of her?”
    â€œThe gambling syndicate that was after Nathan tried to fix a race by ambushing the lead rider. Eulie was shot and died after crossing the finish line. Nathan blamed himself, and I don’t think he ever got over her. Silver was shot in the same ambush, and Nathan took it upon himself to settle the score with those responsible.” 3
    â€œHe bueno