Read Slocum's Silver Burden for Free Online Page B

specials,” the dark-haired woman said. “You’ve got to get out of town.”
    â€œI don’t care squat about specials. If Collingswood had any sense, he would have had an army on that train.”
    â€œYou know why he didn’t,” Tamara said. The uneasiness in her voice caused Slocum to halt. She was more involved with something Collingswood knew nothing about than was healthy for her. All Slocum could figure was that this had to be one of the train robbers, and Tamara was involved up to her plucked, arched eyebrows.
    â€œThe others all lit out. It’s just us,” the man said.
    â€œPlease, Jack. I don’t dare leave right now. He would be suspicious.”
    â€œYou should never have got involved with him. Not like that.”
    â€œI didn’t have any choice. We needed what he knew.”
    â€œThat makes you into some kind of whore, Tam.”
    She spun on the man and slapped him hard. The sound echoed like a gunshot and drew attention all around. Slocum pressed himself against a building to keep from being seen as Jack looked about wildly. The expression on his face, the set to his shoulders, and the fierceness in his eyes said this wasn’t a man who took such abuse. Slocum touched the ebony handle of his Colt Navy, ready to throw down if the man started to whale on the woman.
    To Slocum’s surprise, Jack’s anger faded, and he touched his reddened cheek.
    â€œI’m sorry. Shouldna said nuthin’ like that to you. We all did what we had to.”
    â€œYou killed those men. You told me there wouldn’t be any shooting,” Tamara said angrily.
    â€œThere wasn’t any choice. A couple of them dyin’ was pure bad luck on their part. But it’s over. Come with me right now, Tam. We kin be across the Bay and headin’ north ’fore Collingswood gets wind of it.”
    â€œHe’s got eyes everywhere. I do declare, Underwood is like Argus.”
    â€œI don’t know what you mean. Let’s leave now, and you can explain that to me. You got the book learnin’.”
    â€œYou can learn, too, Jack. You’re smart.” She moved closer. Slocum missed much of what the woman said, but the way she pressed close against Jack took away any need for the exact words.
    After a spell where Slocum heard nothing but seagulls squawking above, the slosh of the tide against the docks, and the heavy wagons in the street, Tamara’s words came clear enough again for him to hear.
    â€œSmart enough to take up with you,” Jack said, but something in his words put Slocum on guard. “I’ll wait until you give him notice.”
    â€œThat might be a week, Jack.”
    â€œYou do that, and we’ll leave here. Together.”
    Tamara chanced a quick kiss, then cut across the street and melted in with the crowd. Slocum’s senses came fully alert. He had heard double-crosses before, and Jack handed the woman one as sure as the sun shone down on San Francisco Bay.
    He hesitated, looking after the woman. Catching her wouldn’t be hard since she hadn’t much of a head start on him, but the envelope with the pay for finding the train robbers and returning the stolen silver rested in his left hand. He looked up. Jack wasn’t in any hurry to go anywhere. Slocum pulled out the map in the package and stuffed it into a coat pocket. The ten-dollar gold pieces slipped into a vest pocket. The rest was a contract he barely glanced at. He stuffed that into his other coat pocket as Jack finally turned and walked away.
    The outlaw’s gait changed from slow to determined. He had reached a conclusion. It had to be about leaving Tamara in the city on her own—possibly with David Collingswood. The outlaw hadn’t taken it well when he mentioned the railroad vice president and how Tamara wanted to stay to deflect suspicion. To Slocum, that said Tamara was playing another hand, one hidden from the outlaw.
    And Jack