Kentucky Showdown by J. R. Roberts Page A

“You pay me now?”
    â€œYou did your job,” Clint said. “I’ll pay you now.”
    Sun Horse reined his horse in. Clint went a few more feet before he realized the man had stopped. He turned and looked at him.
    â€œYou mean right here, in the middle of the street?” he asked.
    â€œI do not like the law,” Sun Horse said. “I don’t want to go to the sheriff’s office.”
    Clint rode back to Sun Horse, reached into his pocket, and pulled out some money. He counted out the amount they had agreed upon into Sun Horse’s hand. The Cherokee then nodded and tucked the money away in his war bag.
    â€œIf you need Sun Horse again,” he said, “I will be in the saloon.”
    â€œWhich one?” Clint asked.
    The Cherokee shrugged and said, “All of them.”
    Clint watched as the man rode away, then shrugged himself and continued on to the sheriff’s office.
    * * *
    Sheriff Ted Hackett looked at Clint as he came in the door.
    â€œFind Sun Horse?”
    â€œI did, thanks.”
    â€œHe get the job done for you?”
    â€œYes, he did.”
    Hackett had been standing at the gun rack when Clint entered. Now he turned and seated himself behind his desk.
    â€œWhat else can I do for you?”
    â€œTell me about a man named Fontaine.”
    â€œPete Fontaine?”
    â€œThat’s the one.”
    â€œPete Fontaine is a man nobody wants to cross,” Sheriff Hackett said, “not even the Gunsmith.”
    â€œWell,” Clint said, “maybe you can elaborate on that for me?”
    Hackett opened his bottom drawer and came out with a bottle of whiskey.
    â€œThis’ll take a drink,” he announced.

TWENTY
    â€œFontaine is a gambler,” Hackett said. “And I don’t just mean that he plays poker or bets on horses. He gambles with his whole life. And the chances he takes always pay off.”
    â€œSo he’s a businessman.”
    â€œYes,” Hackett said, “but he takes that to the next level.”
    â€œIs he dangerous?”
    â€œHe’ll do anything to make money.”
    â€œAnything?”
    â€œI mean anything.”
    â€œSo why would he have a man watching me?” Clint asked. “It was more likely he was watching Whirlwind.”
    â€œIs that what Sun Horse found out for you?”
    â€œHe tracked the man to the Fontaine ranch.”
    â€œDid you talk to Fontaine?”
    â€œNo,” Clint said, “I wanted to get your take on him first.”
    â€œMy take,” Hackett said, “is that he’s always up to something.”
    â€œI’ll keep that in mind. Thanks.”
    As Clint walked to the door, Hackett asked, “You gonna go and talk to him now?”
    â€œNo,” Clint said. “I’m going back to the Canby place first.”
    â€œGood,” Hackett said. “Talk to Ben about Fontaine.”
    â€œAre they friends?”
    â€œThey are definitely not friends,” the sheriff said.
    â€œI see.”
    â€œAnd be careful if you go to Fontaine’s place,” Hackett said. “Watch your back. Fontaine employs men who are good with a gun.”
    â€œAnybody in particular?” Clint asked.
    â€œFella named Blacker.”
    â€œNever heard of him.”
    â€œThat’s his biggest asset,” Hackett said. “Nobody’s ever heard of him.”
    â€œOkay,” Clint said. “Thanks for the information.”
    â€œBut do me a favor, will you?”
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œTry not to kill anybody in my town,” Hackett said. “At least, not until after the Derby.”
    â€œI’ll give it my best shot.”
    * * *
    Blacker entered Peter Fontaine’s office. His boss looked up.
    â€œWhat have you got?”
    â€œWord from town.”
    â€œAbout what?”
    â€œAdams tracked me from the Canby place to here.”
    â€œWell, how did that happen?”