The Valeron Code Page 7

  The pair turned on him prepared to fight . . . until they saw the muzzle of his gun pointed in their direction. Choosing not to get holes shot through his favourite body, the one man released his hold on the girl as if he’d taken hold of a hot stove. Both men raised their hands.

  The girl didn’t tell them what was going on, but hurried to attend to the injured man on the floor.

  ‘Who’re you?’ one of the pair of ruffians asked. ‘And what for are you butting in on something that ain’t none of your affair?’

  ‘Name’s Valeron,’ Wyatt said, ‘and we’re here to find the man who shot our cousin, Rod Mason.’

  ‘Whoever done the shooting is gonna die!’ Jared barked each word sharply, moving up to stand alongside Wyatt. He narrowed his gaze, hand on the butt of his gun, a deadly glow emanating within his eyes. ‘Was it one of you? Fess up to it here and now and I promise you a quick death!’

  ‘No! We didn’t have nothing to do with it,’ squeaked the man who had been grappling with the lady. The colour drained from his face and he took a fearful step back.

  ‘That would be hell no!’ said the other, his eyes also wide with fear. ‘Me and Connor work for the mayor. We’re in charge of keeping law and order around town.’

  ‘Like Sandoval says,’ Connor added hastily.

  Wyatt harrumphed. ‘I suppose your duties include beating up city-slickers and roughing up women?’

  ‘Uh, well, we was ordered to—’

  ‘Shut up, Connor!’ Sandoval snapped at him.

  ‘Sorry,’ Connor lamented. ‘I didn’t mean nothing.’

  ‘We was just leaving,’ Sandoval, ostensibly the smarter of the two, said carefully. He glanced at the woman. ‘Sorry about this misunderstanding, Miss Brooks.’

  ‘You boys lay hands on a lady again,’ Wyatt threatened in an ice-cold tone of voice, ‘and the next thing either of you see will be the inside lid of the wooden boxes you’re being buried in. Savvy?’

  ‘Yes, sir!’ Sandoval muttered.

  ‘Like he says,’ Connor agreed.

  Wyatt stepped aside and allowed the two men to scramble out of the office. They kept up a rapid pace all the way up the street. With the disturbance past, he turned to the woman kneeling on the floor and asked:

  ‘Is the dude you’re tending to the newspaper man?’

  She raised her eyes intrepidly. ‘I am Lynette Brooks, editor and publisher of the Weekly Herald,’ she informed then firmly. ‘This is my brother, Richard. He tried to defend me and ended up on the floor for his trouble.’

  ‘If he needs to see the doctor, we can carry him over there for you.’

  ‘Sandoval only hit him once.’ Lynette’s tone mellowed. ‘Richard is not a fighter.’

  Her brother had regained his senses and slowly rose to a sit-up position. ‘I should have listened to Mason,’ he mumbled through the cloth he was holding to his face. ‘But it seemed wholly unmanly to run off and let you face those men alone.’

  ‘Mason!’ Jared proclaimed. ‘He’s the reason why we’re here. Is he still alive?’

  The girl helped Richard to his feet. As he seemed steady, she paused to take a full measure of the two men who had intervened on her behalf.

  ‘You two are Valeron brothers?’

  ‘Cousins, Miss,’ Wyatt replied. ‘Most of us Valeron boys share similar features and are on the plain side.’

  ‘You look very . . . comfortable, with a gun in your hand,’ she replied carefully, speaking to Wyatt.

  ‘He ought to,’ Jared boasted. ‘Wyatt is the best man with a handgun in these parts.’

  ‘And you are?’

  ‘Jared Valeron, ma’am.’ He grinned. ‘Best man at tracking or using a rifle in these parts.’

  She could not prevent a simper from surfacing on her lips at his claim. ‘As I said, my name is Lynette Brooks, and this is my brother, Richard.’ She gestured toward the back of the office. ‘Mr Mason is upstairs in my bedroom. We hid the fact that he was alive and hid him until such time as he is able to defend himself.’

  ‘We? Meaning you two and the mayor?’

  ‘The town doctor, actually. The mayor’s job reverted back to the crooks running this town the morning after Mason was shot. He was acting sheriff and the short-term mayor was working with him.’

  ‘Sounds a might confusing,’ Jared said.

  ‘I’ll take you up to see Mason. He can explain the situation to you,’ Lynette offered.

  ‘You going to be all right?’ Wyatt asked Richard.

  ‘Unless my nose is broken,’ he muttered, attempting to stop the irksome trickle of blood. ‘That’s the first time I’ve ever been punched in the face. Mason is the only other man who ever hit me . . . and that was to prove a point.’

  Wyatt laughed. ‘Mason always had a habit of that, even when he was around our side of the family. None of us could ever best him in a fight . . . but it was always in fun.’

  ‘Regrettably, I believe his idea of fun differs dramatically from my own.’

  ‘Follow me,’ Lynette said, and led the way up the back stairs.

  Chapter Six

  Cliff cornered Tish Valeron as she was dispersing the kids for suppertime. She cocked an eyebrow at his approach. He read a warning in her expression. She knew he wanted something . . . and she appeared determined not to give it to him!

  Putting forth his best smile, Cliff greeted her warmly. ‘You’re growing more beautiful every day, Tish. Durned if you don’t put the other girls about your age to shame.’

  Her answer was succinct. ‘The answer is no. N-O. No chance, no way!’

  ‘I haven’t asked for anything.’

  ‘You’re going to.’

  Cliff heaved a worrisome sigh. ‘You remember my brother, Rod, don’t you?’

  The stiff wall of resistance crumbled every so slightly. ‘Last time I saw your brother, I had just turned fourteen. He was about the most handsome guy I ever saw.’

  ‘Rodney?’ Cliff gasped. ‘The guy is tough as horseshoe iron, but handsome?’

  ‘Rugged, manly, virile,’ she maintained. ‘He reminded me of Brett, or maybe my brother, Troy. They are both pretty big, and they are handsome in their own way.’

  ‘Someone shot Rodney in the back,’ Cliff said solemnly, changing tactics. ‘Dirty coward didn’t dare face him.’

  ‘Yes, I heard about it. Dad said Jared and Wyatt left to help him.’

  ‘It should be me,’ he told her tightly. ‘I’m his brother . . . and I owe him. I owe him a lot.’

  Tish again drew her brows together in suspicion. ‘I’m not going to tend Nessy for you.’

  ‘Listen to me, Tish,’ Cliff became deadly serious. ‘I know most everyone thinks I’m an alley-cat when it comes to chasing girls. I’ve always been that way. But this has nothing to do with my character; it has to do with a lifelong debt to my brother.’

  ‘What are you talking about?’

  ‘Rodney is the father I didn’t have. Our dad was always gone, doing work for the railroad. There were months that went by between visits, due to his job. Rodney took care of both me and Mom. And more than that, he saved my hide from angry suitors, big brothers and even a few fathers. He rescued me from more beatings than I can count.’

  ‘He should have let you take your medicine a few times,’ she opined. ‘You’re like a male hound in season. Every girl on the ranch knows better than to be alone with you.’

  ‘But this is my brother, Tish. If this was Troy or Shane, you’d want to be there for them. Well, this is my chance to give something back for all he has done for me. It’s important to me, really important.’

  Tish lowered her guard. ‘You can’t just run off on your own. I’ve heard that you got lost here on the ranch – more than once! Shane said you don’t have any sense of direction.’

  ‘I admit I’m not real good about directions, but Shane is due back at any time. I spoke to your father and he gave the go ahead for me and Shane to ride to Deliverance. But there’s a condition.’
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  ‘Nessy,’ Tish deduced.

  ‘Yes. I can only leave if I can find someone trustworthy to watch Nessy.’ The sorrowful look again surfaced. ‘I know my adopted daughter likes you. I’ve seen the two of you together.’

  Tish’s firm stance wavered. ‘She’s a little doll, and I admit we get along very well.’

  ‘Then, will you do it?’ he pleaded. ‘It would only be for a few days, just until we can find out who shot my brother and bring them to justice.’

  ‘That could take weeks, Clifford,’ she finally agreed. ‘I don’t intend to spend my whole summer tending your child.’

  ‘It won’t take long,’ he promised. ‘Wyatt has tamed a town or two, and Jared is the best tracker in the country. Between them, we’ll find the person responsible in short order.’

  ‘No more than two weeks,’ Tish outlined. ‘If the killer is not found in two weeks, you must return home.’

  Cliff could not hide his elation. ‘I give you my word.’

  Tish displayed a sinister simper, dampening his momentary euphoria. ‘Oh, it’s going to cost you a little more than your word.’

  Landau entered the saloon and ordered a beer. Before the bartender could pour him the brew a man sauntered over to the bar next to him. He glanced at the man and recognized him at once.

  ‘Bernie!’ he addressed him. ‘What’re you doing way up here? Thought you never left New Mexico, unless you were on the run.’

  Bernie was mediocre looking, dressed in a brown suit that had seen better days, with a fashionable western-style hat tipped back on his head enough to show his thick, wavy, ash-coloured hair. He was an inch or two shorter than Landau, as lean as a fencepost, with a natural grin that won him friends every place he went. His weakness was for cards – he cheated a lot – and often left town one step ahead of a host of angry losers.

  ‘I came to Colorado to change my luck and my occupation,’ Bernie said. ‘I heard you pulled out of Brimstone to follow a skirt and work on a ranch or something. Did the gal ditch you for something better?’

  ‘Don’t think I’m cut out to be tied down to one woman or play nursemaid to a bunch of beef critters. What about you? Any luck with a new career?’

  ‘I landed a good job here at the saloon, in charge of the gambling tables.’ He laughed. ‘I told the new boss I could spot a cheat a mile off – ’cause I’ve tried about every underhanded trick there is. He hired me so’s I could spot any of our own people – those who gave away they were cheating – along with tin-horn gamblers and card sharps who come through. It keeps me busy enough that I don’t have time to gamble on my own.’

  ‘You give up playing cards and it will likely add twenty years to your life.’

  He laughed again. ‘Yeah, Landau, that’s the certain truth.’

  Landau got his beer and joined Bernie at his table. They passed the time talking about their days when they were both in the outlaw town of Brimstone. After catching up, Landau questioned him about the saloon owner and the banker. He learned a lot in the next hour and was eager to pass along the information to the Valeron boys. However, he also had to maintain his cover as an out-of-work loner and see what else he could learn.

  ‘Think I might get a job hereabouts?’ he queried, when the conversation lagged.

  ‘Dealer Gilmore already has a real hard-case on his payroll. You looking to sell your gun, or are you willing to tend bar?’

  ‘I ain’t sociable enough to wait on drunks all night.’

  ‘You decide to work here, I’ll put in a good word with Dealer. He might need another man. He and Rutherford pretty much run the whole valley, along with Mike Lafferty.’

  ‘You said that five of them arrived together and took over the town?’

  ‘Yep. Dealer bought the saloon, Rutherford took the bank, and Lafferty ended up with the mayor’s post. The other two in their group are a blowhard named Baron Kent – he’s the hard-case I mentioned – and a big bruiser name Scraps.’ He grunted. ‘Scraps was supposed to be the toughest guy around, but he got his head handed to him a couple days back.’

  ‘I hear tell there was a shooting too.’

  ‘Curious, that,’ he said meaningfully. ‘The man who whupped Scraps was shot in the back the same night. Were I still a betting man, I’d guess Dealer and Rutherford know who pulled the trigger.’

  ‘You think they are behind the drygulching?’

  ‘Dunno for sure. Although a guy rode through a while back who knew a little about their past. He told me they left Texas under a cloud.’ He snorted. ‘A cloud of dust from the law that was hot on their tails. Dealer called the banker “Rudy” the other day and the banker about come unhinged. Funny reaction when you figure Rudy would be a natural nickname for Rutherford. Anyway, he was mad for a couple days afterward.’

  ‘That is strange.’

  Bernie changed the subject. ‘You got a place to hang your hat?’

  ‘I still have a little money to tide me over. I’ll get a room and stick around town for a couple days.’ He grunted. ‘Just don’t expect me to do any gambling here at the casino.’

  ‘Yeah,’ Bernie said. ‘I remember you never were much for games of chance.’

  ‘Money’s too hard to come by to throw it away on dice or cards . . . especially when I nearly always lose.’

  ‘I hear you,’ his friend said. ‘Let me know if you want me to check about a job for you.’

  Landau shook his hand and walked slowly out of the saloon. He had some suspicions and rumours, but nothing to take before a judge. That would take a little more digging. Thinking about the banker who had up and disappeared – ‘digging’ might be necessary!

  ‘You sure enough kicked over the milk bucket, tackling this town on your own,’ Jared ribbed Mason. ‘What did you think would happen?’

  ‘I underestimated the competition,’ the wounded man replied. ‘Soon as I’m able to get around, I intend to put things right.’

  ‘That’s why we’re here,’ Wyatt told him. ‘We intend to lend a hand.’

  ‘Didn’t expect a bullet between the shoulders . . . a miscalculation on my part.’

  ‘Wyatt and me will soon set things straight for you,’ Jared declared. ‘By the time you’re on your feet, this will be a town full of pussycats.’

  ‘You ain’t changed a bit, Cousin,’ Mason spoke to Jared. ‘Worst man I ever seen for simply wading into a war with a gun in both fists.’

  ‘Next to you maybe,’ Jared joked back.

  ‘He favours a noose nowadays,’ Wyatt tossed in his own crack. ‘His new motto is “hang ’em all, and let God sort out the guilty”.’

  ‘I told Mason about the banker,’ Lynette interjected, preventing more playful banter. As she had Wyatt and Jared’s attention, she continued. ‘I talked to the bank teller and he confirmed my own suspicions. Mort Walters wouldn’t have sold out. He loved having his own bank.’

  ‘Any way to check on his background?’

  ‘He once mentioned he had no relatives. Everyone in his family died in an Indian raid. He was attending college at the time. He never married, so there was no one to contact when he went missing.’

  ‘And he hasn’t been seen since this gang showed up,’ Mason contributed. ‘I didn’t get a chance to do much investigating, but I’d wager Lafferty knows what happened to the man.’

  Lynette continued with what she had learned. ‘The teller told me that Connor and Sandoval – the two brutes you met downstairs – cleared Mr Walters’ personal belongings from his house. It happens to be the very house where Dealer Gilmore and Rutherford are living now. They added a porch and ice house and have hired an elderly widow to be their cook and housekeeper. The two of them pretty much live like kings.’

  ‘Connor and Sandoval were downstairs?’ Mason inquired, immediately concerned. ‘You have more trouble with those two grunts downstairs?’

  ‘Richard had them in hand when we arrived,’ Wyatt exaggerated. ‘We had a few words with them and they left without any trouble.’


  ‘Didn’t seem to be the brightest of lamps,’ Jared remarked.

  ‘They are objects of brute force,’ Lynette confirmed. ‘Sandoval is a little smarter than most daisies, while Connor is more on an even keel with a fencepost.’

  ‘We can work with that,’ Jared surmised, looking at Wyatt. ‘Remember those three coyotes, the ones who stole fifty head of our cattle a year or so back, but we didn’t have any proof?’

  Wyatt grinned. ‘I remember your brother, Reese, telling me about it. You and Shane finagled the rustlers into making confessions.’

  ‘Those skunks couldn’t wait for Brett to show up and arrest them,’ Jared confirmed. ‘They were practically begging him to take them to prison.’

  Mason grunted. ‘Every time I talk to one of you Valerons, I’m reminded of why I’m glad we’re related and not enemies.’

  ‘You concentrate on getting better,’ Wyatt said. ‘Jared and I will pick up where you left off . . . other than for getting shot in the back.’ He laughed. ‘We’ll try not to repeat that part of your plan.’

  As the two Valerons left the room, Lynette gave Mason a worried look. ‘Will they be all right? I mean, there were five men who took over this town, and they’ve added a couple more to their number. I don’t see how two men can have much more success than you did alone.’

  Mason smiled. ‘Miss Brooks, had the Valerons been inclined to join the South during the war, we would likely be living in the Confederate States of America.’

  Before the sun set, Mike Lafferty and his two henchmen were back behind bars. Scraps was too stove-up to make a nuisance of himself again, so they let him remain free. Julia assumed the position of interim mayor once more. This time, Lynette printed up a proclamation and posted it on several buildings around town. It stated there would be an investigation concerning the new taxes, the foreclosures of local properties and the disappearance of the banker, Mort Walters. It also announced there would be an election for both mayor and sheriff within a few weeks.

  Deciding to conceal the fact Mason had survived the ambush, Wyatt pinned on the sheriff’s badge. Jared acted as his deputy and talked to the local businessmen, along with some of the farmers and ranchers. Landau was waiting for Jared when he arrived at the livery, shortly after dark.