Further Adventures of James Butler Hickok (9781101601853) by J. R. Roberts Page B

other people had tried the same thing? There were probably a lot of people who wanted to meet Wild Bill Hickok.
    And why thank him? He did his civic duty by telling the sheriff what he had seen.
    Pleasantly exhausted from his time with Katherine, and refreshed after being released from jail, Clint decided to go for a walk. After all, he’d been looking at the people and the square for two days from a jail cell window. Time to get some fresh air.
    * * * 
    â€œThey let him out,” Paul McQueen said, walking into the Straight Flush Saloon.
    â€œWho?” his friend, Buck Williams, asked.
    â€œThat fella who gunned Leo and them others,” McQueen said. “They let him out.”
    â€œYou sure?” Eddie Gant asked.
    â€œHe’s on the street.”
    The three friends exchanged a look.
    â€œWe gonna let him get away with comin’ into our town and killin’ our friends?” Gant asked.
    â€œNo,” McQueen said, “we ain’t—but we already know he can take three men with a gun.”
    â€œThat means we need more,” Williams said. “A lot more.”
    â€œSo what do we do?” McQueen asked.
    â€œYou,” Williams said, “keep an eye on him.” He pointed to Gant. “You find Levi.”
    â€œLevi?” Gant shivered. “I don’t mind tellin’ you, he scares me.”
    â€œYeah, well,” Williams said, “just tell ’im I wanna see him here. Don’t do anythin’ to get him mad at you.”
    â€œI won’t,” Gant said.
    He and McQueen both headed for the door.
    Williams sat back and poured himself another drink from the bottle. Wild Bill Hickok was in town. Maybe there was some way they could get Hickok to take care of the stranger for them. But then, Levi should be able to do that. Levi Rawson fancied himself a fast gun—faster than Hickok even. Now that would be an interesting showdown, but Hickok was having his own problem with Dave Tutt. That was coming to a head, too.
    There was going to be a lot more lead flying in Springfield, probably before the week was done.

TWENTY-ONE
    Clint walked around Springfield, breathing in the air. It was no fun being locked in a cell for two days. He didn’t know how convicts did it in prison. The air smelled so sweet to him, he wondered what it was like for them when they got out after five, ten, even twenty years inside?
    He crossed the street, decided to stop into a small saloon there, which he hadn’t yet been to in Springfield.
    He also wanted to see if the man behind him would follow him in, or wait outside.
    * * * 
    Dave Tutt was fuming. The word had come to him that Wild Bill Hickok had said he had better not see Tutt wearing the Waltham watch in public. Tutt decided it was time to resolve the issues between himself and Hickok, and the watch was as good a way as any to make it happen. He put on a vest, and tucked the watch into the pocket so that the chain was plainly visible.
    â€œWhere are you going?” Susannah asked as he walked through the living room.
    â€œOut.”
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    He turned to face her.
    â€œYou’re wearing the watch?”
    â€œWhy not?” he asked. “I won it. It’s mine. Why shouldn’t I wear it?”
    â€œBecause you might as well draw a bull’s-eye on your chest.”
    â€œIf Hickok wants to try me, I’m ready,” he said.
    â€œYou really think you can outshoot Wild Bill Hickok?” she asked.
    â€œWhy not? It ain’t like he’s a god or somethin’. Or do you think he is?”
    â€œNo, of course not,” Susannah said.
    â€œMaybe you’re worried I’ll kill him,” Tutt offered. “Maybe ’cause you still love him?”
    â€œI don’t love Bill Hickok, Dave,” she said. “I’m with you. Don’t go out there and kill him, or get killed, out of jealousy.”
    â€œDon’t