Read THE DODGE CITY MASSACRE (A Jess Williams Novel.) for Free Online Page B

deposited into my account in Black Creek. I’d give it to you now, but you never know if you’re going to get the money owed. Sometimes, they refuse to pay and sometimes they simply screw up and the money never shows up. I won’t cheat you out of one cent though, you can count on that,” replied Jess.
                  “I know you are an honest man, Jess, and I trust you one hundred percent.”
                  “Good. Now, let’s go and get some supper. I’m starving,” said Jess.
                  They headed down to Dottie’s Eats and ordered some grub and it was damn good. After they finished their meals, they headed for the Long Branch Saloon. When they walked in, the place went dead silent for a few moments. Everyone in town heard what Jess and John had done, killing four of Manny Welch’s best men and facing down Manny Welch and eight other gunslingers. After a few minutes or so, the banter slowly went back to normal. Jess and Bodine scanned the saloon looking for any likely threats or targets. Finding none, they walked up to the end of the bar where two men were standing. Jess always wanted the corner so he could have his back to the wall and have a complete view of the room. He walked over to the two men who didn’t look to be gunslingers. Only one was wearing a six-shooter and it wasn’t tied down. Jess tapped the man with the gun on the shoulder.
                  “Mister, would you and your friend here mind moving down the bar enough for the two of us to take the corner?” Jess asked.
                  “And why should we do that?” the man asked.
                  The other man recognized Jess as soon as he walked into the saloon and he knew all about Jess so he leaned over to his partner and whispered into his ear. The man wearing the gun suddenly changed his demeanor.
                  “Oh, I’m sorry Mr. Williams, I didn’t recognize you right off. Of course we’d be willing to move for you.”
                  “Thank you and I’d be willing to buy you two gents the best bottle of whiskey that the barkeep has,” replied Jess, taking up his favorite position in the saloon as soon as the two men moved over.
                  “That’s mighty nice of you, Mr. Williams. We don’t usually get to drink that good stuff very often since it’s a little too expensive for the likes of us.”
                  “Well, enjoy it and make sure you take whatever is left home with you.”
                  “Hell, what makes you figure that there is going to be any of it left to take home,” the other man said with a big grin on his face.
                  Jess ordered two glasses of good brandy and he and John slowly sipped it while they watched and waited for anyone to come into the bar that might have a bounty on their heads. They waited for over four hours and nothing happened. The two men who had moved had finished the good bottle of whiskey and they were both drunk on their asses. They went back to ordering the cheap stuff, but at least they were smiling and joking around with each other. Jess and Bodine finally decided to leave and go back to their hotel and turn in for the night. There was always tomorrow.
                  When they got to their rooms, Jess noticed that the little stick he always placed in his door below the handle was missing, which meant someone was probably in his room. He put his hand up at Bodine who was just about to unlock his door and he froze.
                  “What?” Bodine asked whispering.
                  “Either they cleaned the rooms or there is someone in my room and possibly yours too. Might be an ambush,” whispered Jess.
                  “How do you want to handle it?” asked Bodine.
                  “First, move away from the door and against the wall.” They