Read Further Adventures of James Butler Hickok (9781101601853) for Free Online Page B

to turn first,” Clint said, “and make sure you’re wearing a badge. If you are, I’ll drop my gun. No problem. This was a clear case of self-defense.”
    â€œTurn real easy, then,” the lawman said.
    â€œJust don’t get nervous,” Clint said, then when he turned and saw the badge on the man’s chest, he added, “Sheriff,” and dropped his gun.

FIFTEEN
    The sheriff turned the key in the lock of the cell door and then backed away.
    â€œOkay,” he told Clint, “now you can take your hands off your head.”
    Clint lowered his hands.
    â€œGo ahead, sit down.”
    Clint sat on the cot.
    â€œYou wanna tell me what that was all about out there?” the lawman asked.
    â€œI have no idea,” Clint said. “You should know.”
    â€œWhy me?” the lawman asked. “Why should I know?”
    â€œThey seemed to be local,” Clint said. “They wanted me to leave town.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œThey didn’t say.”
    â€œHow long have you been in town?”
    â€œYou don’t know?”
    â€œWhy would I know?”
    â€œYou’re the law,” Clint said. “I thought you’d know when strangers came to town.”
    â€œYou know how long I been the sheriff here?”
    Clint studied the man. He was sixty, with a belly hanging over his belt. He had unruly gray hair and a gray beard.
    â€œProbably twenty years.”
    â€œPretty near,” the man said. “Nothin’ ever happens here.”
    â€œWhat about Wild Bill Hickok?”
    â€œWhat about him?”
    â€œWell, he’s in town.”
    â€œI know that,” the Sheriff said. “I know Hickok’s in town. In fact, I’d expect this kind of thing to happen with him, but all he does is play poker.”
    â€œLook,” Clint said, “there must be some witnesses you can talk to. They’ll tell you I had no choice.”
    â€œYeah, yeah,” the lawman said. “Well, if that’s true, you’ve got nothin’ to worry about. Look, I gotta go and get those bodies taken care of, see who those boys were.”
    â€œOne of them was named Leo.”
    â€œLeo?” the sheriff said. “Jesus, that musta been Leo Worthy.”
    â€œWho’s he?”
    â€œLocal, like you said,” the sheriff said. “He was always lookin’ for trouble.”
    â€œWell,” Clint said, “today he found it.”
    â€œYeah, he sure did,” the sheriff said, “but so did you.”
    â€œLook—”
    â€œJust settle in, son,” the sheriff said. “I’m gonna take care of the bodies and look for some of those witnesses you mentioned.”
    â€œYeah, okay.”
    â€œAnd I’ll get you somethin’ to eat.”
    â€œGood.”
    The lawman left, and Clint leaned back against the wall. The window was right above him, so he stood on the cot and looked out. He could see the square from there. It seemed you could see the public square from everywhere in that town.
    He watched while the sheriff directed some men to remove the bodies, and before long the square was empty again.
    He turned around, climbed down, and sat on the cot with his back against the wall. He’d shot those men in self-defense. Somebody would testify to that fact. He had nothing to worry about.
    Nothing.
    * * * 
    The sheriff brought Clint some dinner that night, breakfast the next day, and dinner again the next night.
    â€œHey, Sheriff,” Clint said, “I’ve been in here a whole day already. How are you coming with those witnesses?”
    â€œStill lookin’,” the sheriff said. “Seems like not too many people want to come forward.”
    â€œWhy do you suppose that is?”
    â€œWell,” the lawman said, “you’re a stranger, and those boys were local.”
    â€œThat’s it?”
    â€œThat’s it.”
    â€œWell, somebody must be