Cougar's Prey (9781101544846) by Larry D. Sweazy Page A

in his boot, and that was just going to have to be enough if it was someone who had come to look for trouble. He’d had enough of fear and mobs for one day, and it wouldn’t surprise him if somebody like that damned reporter was waiting for him, or a madman set on his revenge for the killing of a Ranger. It was not that hard to imagine, considering the viciousness of the crowd outside the state capitol earlier in the day.
    He kept walking, and it only took Josiah a minute to realize that the person waiting on the porch was Scrap Elliot, his head hung low, pacing back and forth like he had done something wrong. Josiah exhaled heavily, relieved there was no threat, if only for a second or two.
    â€œDamn, am I glad to see you,” Scrap said as Josiah walked up to the porch.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?”
    â€œWaitin’ for you. What the Sam Hill does it look like I’m doin’, sittin’ here whittling away the time?”
    Josiah could smell tobacco smoke as he stopped a few feet in front of Scrap, and he thought he could smell the hint of a beer, too. Scrap was not a big drinker, but he’d been known to spend a little time in some saloons, just like a lot of boys his age.
    There was a soft light on in the house, and Josiah was certain that Ofelia was still up and about, just as he was sure that Lyle was asleep for the night. He motioned for Scrap to step off the porch and walk out to the street so their voices wouldn’t disturb anybody. The last thing Scrap would think about on a good day was waking a sleeping child.
    â€œWhat did you do?” Josiah asked.
    â€œI didn’t do nothin’, I just got a bad feelin’, that’s all.”
    â€œAbout what?”
    â€œWhat the hell do you think it’s about, Wolfe? You shootin’ Feders. Those three stuffed shirts grilled me pretty hard.”
    â€œI figured they would. As long as you told them the truth, then there’s nothing to worry about. Now, go back to the boardinghouse you’re staying at, get a good night’s sleep, and maybe we’ll find out tomorrow what’s going to happen.”
    â€œI told them I thought you did the right thing,” Scrap said, the words almost tripping out of his mouth.
    â€œThat ought to be good enough,” Josiah said, eyeing Scrap warily.
    â€œI couldn’t be sure, Wolfe, don’t you see. I told them I couldn’t be sure that Captain Feders was goin’ for his gun when you shot him, though. But with him bein’ with O’Reilly, and the lighting in the dark sky, and all, well, I just couldn’t be sure.”
    Josiah nodded. “It’s all right, Scrap. Really. I’ve questioned that moment a million times over. If they’ve got reason to cast doubt on the right or wrong of my actions, then maybe it is best that I face a trial.”
    â€œYou can’t mean that,” Scrap said.
    â€œYou saw that crowd outside the capitol today. This thing isn’t going away anytime soon.”
    â€œYou’re no killer, Wolfe.”
    â€œI killed my first man when I was younger than you, Elliot. Pete Feders was not my first, you know that.”
    â€œYou was in the war. You had no choice.”
    â€œI didn’t. But I also had to learn how to live with killing a man over the years. It’s not easy. Wasn’t then, and sure isn’t now, either.”
    â€œI don’t like what you’re sayin’.”
    â€œMaybe I’m not that much different from John Wesley Hardin, Liam O’Reilly, or Charlie Langdon. Maybe I can pull the trigger and walk away like I just killed a skunk and not think a thing about it. Maybe I meant to kill Pete Feders all along.”
    â€œThat’s crazy talk.”
    â€œJust a bit of my thinking coming off of the tip of my tongue, Elliot. I can’t control what happens. I had a choice not to kill Pete. I could have wounded him and let him stand for his crimes. Now I