Read Cotton’s Inferno for Free Online Page A

can’t say for sure. Cotton just wanted me to see if it was possible. That’s all. Thanks for your time, Doc.”
    As Jack strolled back down the street toward the gunsmith’s shop, he decided to make a quick side trip to the saloon for a spot of brandy.
Cotton won’t care if I don’t come back immediately; he’s likely up to his ass in Burnside’s pile of papers, anyway.
    Pushing through the doors, he spotted Melody in deep conversation with Pick Wheeler. He decided against breaking into their exchange, since Melody would probably try to entice him to go upstairs with her.
That
Cotton for sure wouldn’t like. Arlo could sense what Jack was there for and was ready with a glass and his personal bottle of French brandy.
    â€œWhat’s that all about, Arlo?” Jack asked, hooking a thumb in Melody’s direction.
    â€œDunno for sure, but it appears to me the boss lady may be working out some sort of deal with Pick.”
    â€œDeal? Deal about what? That old goat doesn’t have anything Melody could possibly want.”
    â€œI agree, but you know Melody, she’d bet on an ant race if the odds were right.” Arlo chuckled.
    Jack gulped his drink and hurried outside before Melody had a chance to grab him. When he opened the door to the gun shop, he saw Cotton sitting in Burnside’s favorite swivel chair surrounded by what looked like hundreds of papers strewn all about. The look on his face suggested he hadn’t found what he had hoped for. Jack tried his best to enter unobtrusively, but Cotton’s keen hearing betrayed him.
    â€œâ€™Bout time you got back.”
    â€œSorry about that. Had to, uh, answer the call of nature. Find anything useful, Cotton?”
    â€œNo, not yet. How about you go through the bottom two desk drawers while I gather up all the mess I’ve made. I’ve already been through all the cubicles. What did Doc say?”
    â€œSaid it was possible, but he couldn’t say for sure.”
    Jack crossed his legs and sat with a grunt on the hard floor. He pulled one of the lower drawers out and began flipping through the disorganized jumble he found there. After leafing through page after page, he stopped and held up a document rolled up and tied with a string. He thrust the rolled bundle at Cotton, who took it with a puzzled look.
    â€œWhat’s this?”
    Jack just shrugged as Cotton took a couple minutes to read through each page. “Looks like you found what we were lookin’ for.”

Chapter 7

    I expect you’ll be wantin’ to look the mine over before investing that kind of money, Miss Melody. Be more’n happy to ride out with you to have a look-see,” Pick said, all smiles.
    â€œI’d be a fool not to, Pick. I’ve been a businesswoman for a long time, and I don’t intend to begin making bad investments out of a clear blue sky.”
    â€œWhen would you be wantin’ to make the trek?”
    â€œFirst thing in the morning. I’ll have my riding clothes and boots and my buggy and horse all ready. I’ll meet you at the livery. That suit you?”
    â€œYou
do
know the mine is far up in the hills, totally inaccessible by buggy, don’t you? And walkin’ a narrow, rugged trail filled with sharp stones wouldn’t do much for a lady’s fancy boots. I think you better ride an animal better suited to the rough terrain, like maybe a
mule
.”
    â€œA mule! Me, on a mule? Not on your life.”
    â€œIt’s the only way to get there, Missy. Sorry.”
    â€œYou do know I’m offering you a lot of money for a hole in the ground, don’t you? Two thousand dollars is nothing to sneeze at.”
    â€œOh, yes, ma’am. And grateful I am, too. But that still don’t get us up there any easier.”
    â€œOh, all right. Be here at seven, sharp. Got it?” Melody pursed her lips and pushed up from her chair. Pick followed suit. He left as