Read Name On The Bullet - Edge Series 6 for Free Online Page B

the southern end of the street. But neither of these men came to his window to look out as the cluster of riders moved slowly and unobtrusively by.
    ‘So this is Brogan Falls?’ Hannah Foster was sneeringly scornful as she surveyed the dark length of the empty street flanked by the meagre scattering of buildings. Then her tone implied embittered criticism of Munro when she added: ‘I got to say it ain’t exactly what I was expecting, Vic.’
    O’Brian spit a stream of tobacco juice as he reined in his horse out front of the law office and warned: ‘Pretending like you ain’t never been here before won’t wash with the court when it comes time to stand trial, woman. Guess you don’t need me any more, Gene?
    There’s some chores I have to take care of ahead of tomorrow’s stage.’
    ‘Sure, Arnie,’ Hooper allowed wearily. ‘I’m obliged for your help with the capture. All of you men did a fine job for the county. Get on back to your places now, but I’ll be obliged if somebody lends me a hand with the prisoners?’
    Edge offered: ‘No sweat.’
    Then Mann swung silently down from his horse and led it across the street toward his store directly opposite the law office. O’Brian drawled his goodnights and headed out over the bridge to the blacksmith shop and stage line depot on the other side of the slow running stream. Costigan asked:
    ‘Do you want me to take care of the couple’s horses, Gene? I reckon Mr Nelson will be happy to stable them on his place for awhile?’
    ‘Appreciate that, Mike. And you tell Owen that the town will meet any expenses involved.’ Hooper sounded uneasy as he dismounted. ‘I have to do everything right in the way I handle this thing.’
    Munro appeared oblivious to what was happening around him as the posse broke up: his gaze fixed on a point down and across the street. Then he was startled out of his grim faced reverie when Costigan said:
    ‘You want to pass me your reins, mister? I’ll see to it the animals are well tended to on Mr Nelson’s spread.’
    ‘Same as you and your lady friend will be well looked after in my jail, Munro,’ Hooper assured. ‘Despite the cold blooded killing you’re accused of - providing you behave yourselves. You keep them both covered, Edge. And bring them inside after I’ve got the lamp lit.’
    Edge opened his coat to reveal the walnut butted Colt in the tied down holster then hitched his gelding to the rail out front of the law office while the ranch hand led his own and the prisoners’ horses out over the bridge behind O’Brian.
    Hooper went into the office and struck a match.
    The scowling Munro said evenly to Edge and loud enough for Hooper to hear: ‘I ain’t making no promises about what I will or won’t do. And if I get treated bad for whatever reason, it won’t be anything I’m not well used to.’
    ‘That sure is for sure,’ Hannah Foster confirmed with a grimace, then softened her expression as she rested a hand on his arm. ‘But those times before . . . there’s no doubting you deserved a whole lot of what you got, uh Vic?’
    ‘I’d be lying if I said otherwise, honey.’ There was a trace of sardonic humour in his tone and on his pallid, gaunt featured face as he made the admission.
    ‘I figure you’ve served time in bigger jails than this one?’ Edge said as Hooper made unobtrusive sounds moving about inside the office.
    ‘You can smell the big house on me, I guess?’
    ‘You’ve got a prison lack of colour, feller.’
    Munro nodded and ran the fingers and thumb of one hand down over the dark bristles on a sunken cheek. Then he grinned sardonically as he asked: ‘Does it take one to know one?’
    ‘I’ve been close: but I never did spend any time behind bars in any jailhouse much bigger than the one here. Unless you count a Confederate prison camp.’
    ‘Okay Edge, bring the pair of them inside,’ Hooper called as flickering brightness from a newly lit lamp spilled out through the open