Cotton's Devil (9781101618523) by Phil Dunlap

you?”
    Cotton was stunned by her perception of what had been going through his mind. “Yup, reckon I do, at that.”
    â€œFirst, you can’t understand how a woman like me could have tied up with Havens in the first place. Right?”
    â€œUh-huh.”
    â€œIt was never what you thought, not what anyone thought. Havens paid me to act as his eyes and ears in town. He never bedded me, nor did he ask to. He did, however, demand complete allegiance to him and his scheme.”
    â€œI assume you went along with him out of a need for a livelihood. Right?”
    â€œI was broke. Destitute. My husband had just been hanged for absconding with some horses and cattle that belonged to someone else. Never made it to a trial. Vigilantes took justice into their own hands. Bastards.”
    â€œI don’t hold with vigilantes, but then I also don’t hold with folks taking things that don’t belong to them. Havens was an old hand at that.”
    Delilah looked away briefly. “I know. But when you’re in desperate need of money, you don’t always have a firm grip on the difference between right and wrong.”
    â€œHow did Havens dealing in counterfeit money play into your moral dilemma?”
    â€œI-I never knew he was using counterfeit money. I couldn’t tell the difference. It never occurred to me to even ask. Thorn didn’t know either.”
    Cotton stroked his chin, puzzling over her claim of innocence. He wasn’t quite ready to be taken in by a beautiful woman, although it would have been easy to do.
    â€œWhen did you figure it out?”
    â€œWhen those folks in Silver City raised a ruckus. We realized we had to get out of there before someone started talking about a necktie party. As it was, the marshal arrested Thorn before we could leave. The citizenry was madder than a coop of wet hens.”
    â€œCan you blame them?”
    â€œWell, no, I suppose not.”
    â€œBack in Apache Springs, you didn’t question why Havens was putting the town’s money in valises separate from his money?”
    â€œNo, Sheriff, I did not. It was only after the marshal in Silver City told Thorn we’d been spreading fake bills all over town that I figured it out.”
    â€œHavens musta figured he needed to keep the monies separate so he could pull the same scheme again in some other unsuspecting community,” Cotton said.
    â€œI imagine so.”
    Cotton began to stare at his boots as if he was thinking of something else. Delilah picked up on his pensiveness.
    â€œIs there something else you wanted to ask?”
    â€œWhen you said that fellow Denby looked familiar, where is it you figured to have met him?”
    â€œI don’t know, but for some strange reason when I saw him, Bart Havens came to mind.”
    â€œYou think there might be a tie between them?”
    Before Delilah could answer, they were interrupted.
    â€œSheriff, you best come inside now,” Mrs. Hardin called out. “Your man is sound asleep. Actually, he’s drunker’n a skunk.”
    Delilah led the way back inside. Thorn McCann was snoring loudly, spread out naked to the waist, wrapped mummy-like in long strips of white cloth. Delilah walked over and sat beside the bed. She put her hand on his arm. Cotton gave Mrs. Hardin a questioning glance.
    â€œCan’t say for certain, mind you, but I got him sewed up real nice and tight. Got the bleeding stopped and the wounds good and cleaned out. If no infection comes on him, he’ll survive. Hope that’s the answer you was lookin’ for, Sheriff.”
    â€œIt was, indeed, ma’am. You think he’ll be able to travel tomorrow?”
    â€œIf ’twas up to me, I’d say let him rest up for a couple more days. Oughta let them holes sorta grow together some on their own. If you’re in a hurry to get on with your own business, he’s welcome to stay for a spell.”
    â€œThat’s kind