Texas Killers by J. T. Edson Page A

following the Crown Prince over the tree with an agility many a younger man would have been hard put to better. Waiting until Mark had helped the Lady across the trunk, he went on, “And now, Mr. Counter—”
    â€œI think that the explanations can wait until after we’ve been introduced, Colonel,” Rudolph interrupted. “Am I correct in assuming these gentlemen are part of our escort, Mr. Counter?”
    â€œThey’re part of it, but the ‘gentlemen’ part is debatable,” Mark replied and indicated the youngster with what might have been considered a derisory wave of his left hand. “He’s Waco.”
    â€œJust ‘Waco’?” the Crown Prince inquired, when the introduction was not extended beyond the one name.
    â€œâ€˜Just’ just about sums him up,” Mark drawled.
    â€œHe gets called plenty of other things, though,” the Indian-dark Texan commented, strolling over followed by a clearly angry von Farlenheim. His admiring gaze flickered to the Englishwoman as he concluded, “Only we don’t use such language afore ladies, deacons or children.”
    â€œHe’ll likely try to tell you his name’s Loncey Dalton Ysabel, ma’am,” the youngster whose only name was Waco 5 informed the Lady. “But he’s better known, or worse, as the Ysabel Kid. Don’t let that, or how he looks fool you. He’s older ’n’ more ornery—”
    â€œYou keep your lips together,” the blond giant ordered, but his attitude was that of an older brother addressing a favorite sibling. “Unless you-all want to tell us what kind of fool game you pair’ve been playing at.”
    â€œIt was all Lon’s fault’s usual,” Waco protested, jerking a thumb in a gesture filled with contemptat the Ysabel Kid. “He’s full of right smart notions. Trouble being, he only turns loose the bad ones.”
    Carrying on, the youngster confirmed the theory Mark had already formed over what had happened. Listening from the concealment of the woodland after the Crown Prince and his retinue had landed from the Nantucket ’s barge, the two OD Connected cowhands had heard the doubts which were raised about their competence as his bodyguard. So the Kid had suggested that they gave an exhibition of their ability to move silently and undetected close by while the party were walking to the Coast Road. Keeping slightly ahead of Rudolph’s portion of the party, Waco had seen the danger and had acted in the only way he could. Realizing how the youngster’s behavior might be misinterpreted, the Kid had taken measures to prevent harm befalling him before he could explain what he was doing.
    â€œWhich I should’ve known a heap better’n do any fool thing he suggested,” Waco concluded, aiming a glare of well simulated disdain at his Indian-dark amigo. “All doing it proved’s that we’re sneaky and, looking at him, nobody needs to have that proved.”
    â€œYou proved more than that, ” Rudolph objected. “I’ve never seen anybody who could drawone revolver so quickly, much less two, then shoot with such accuracy.”
    â€œShucks,” Waco replied, flushing a little. “I wasn’t figuring on hitting the snake when I cut loose. All I did was throw lead down there and hope it’d make you jump backward instead of down this side of the tree.”
    â€œHe can’t shoot worth a cuss,” the Kid stated. “And, way he was stomping around, I figured you’d hear him for sure.”
    â€œI never saw or heard either of you,” the Crown Prince objected. “Did you, Colonel?”
    â€œNo, Your Highness,” Liebenfrau answered and directed a sour scowl at von Farlenheim who was approaching with the three sailors. “Nor did anybody else!”
    â€œIt’s not real likely any of them heard or saw us, Colonel,” the Kid drawled.