Trailsman #360 : Texas Lead Slingers (9781101544860) by Jon Sharpe Page A

wrapped pieces of cloth or burlap around the bottom so the edges wouldn’t dig into the dirt.
    â€œI’ll be damned,” Fargo said.

16
    The senator was in the parlor, a drink in one hand and a cigar in the other, regaling his constituents, and he didn’t appear particularly happy when Fargo nudged him and said that they needed to talk in private. Deerforth excused himself and ushered Fargo to a far corner.
    â€œWhy so somber, my friend? Don’t tell me there’s been another attempt on your life?”
    â€œNo,” Fargo said, and explained about Roselyn and the face at her window and the flattened grass.
    Deerforth tipped the glass to his mouth, and frowned. “Let me be sure I understand this. You seriously believe that one of the men who tried to murder you was spying on my daughter?”
    Fargo nodded.
    â€œTo what purpose? How is she involved?”
    â€œI wish to hell I knew.”
    â€œOn the face of it, it seems preposterous.” Deerforth gnawed his lower lip. “Then again, I can’t afford to ignore it. I’ll have Garvin post a man outside below her room. That should discourage whoever they are. Now if you’ll excuse me.” He walked off to find the overseer.
    Fargo made his way to the stairs. As his hand fell on the banister, a hand fell on his shoulder.
    â€œWhere are you off to, handsome?” Lacey Mayhare had a drink and a tipsy smile on her pretty face.
    â€œWhat do you want, bitch?”
    Lacey took a step back. “Here now. Is that any way to talk to someone you’ve shared your bed with?”
    â€œYou do remember handcuffing me to the bedpost?”
    â€œDon’t tell me you’re still upset? Goodness, you hold a grudge.” Lacey laughed and smacked his arm. “Come on. I’ll get you a drink.”
    â€œNo.” Fargo started up again but she snatched his sleeve. “Let go.”
    â€œHaven’t you ever heard the expression, ‘eat, drink and be merry’?”
    â€œYou played me for a sucker last night. It won’t happen twice.”
    â€œI apologize, all right? It’s not as if you were hurt by it.”
    Fargo placed his hand on her shoulder and looked her in the eyes. “Lacey, when I call you a bitch, I mean it. You think of yourself first and everyone else last. You lie. You cheat.”
    â€œSo?”
    â€œSo I’d be a jackass to make the same mistake twice. Go find someone else to toy with. I don’t want anything more to do with you.”
    â€œAren’t you mister high and mighty? I have half a mind to punch you.”
    â€œBut you won’t.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œI’ll punch back and I hit a lot harder.”
    Lacey sniffed and tilted her nose into the air and marched into the parlor.
    â€œGood riddance,” Fargo said to himself. He climbed to Roselyn’s room and knocked on the door.
    She asked who it was and opened it a crack. She was bundled in a robe.
    â€œI was just about to turn in.”
    Fargo told her about his find, and that her father was posting a guard.
    â€œThank you, Skye,” she said in obvious relief. “I can’t wait to tell Garvin I was right.”
    â€œKeep your door bolted, just in case,” Fargo advised.
    Roselyn opened the door wider and reached out and squeezed his hand. “I do so like you,” she said. “You’re a lot nicer than everyone says.”
    â€œHell.” Fargo went around the corner and along an adjoining hallway to his own room. He was ready for sleep. Tomorrow was the last day of the tournament and he needed to be sharp. He was about to open his door when someone called to him and Virginia Deerforth bustled up.
    â€œHere you are. I wanted to talk to you in person. Marion just told me about the man at my daughter’s window.”
    â€œI don’t know any more than I told him,” Fargo informed her, and thinking that was the end of it, he gripped the