.44 Caliber Man by J.T. Edson Page A

the
soldiers had ridden on, the Kid walked from the saloon. Mark came
from the livery barn and joined his companions.
    ‘ What do you reckon?’ Dusty asked.
    ‘ They’re not around,’ Mark replied. ‘Or if they are, the
soldiers’ll keep them off.’
    ‘ Way I see it,’ the Kid went on, ‘Vicente and the other jasper
came in without Tiburcio knowing.’
    ‘ He felt that bad about Adàn being killed?’ Dusty
inquired.
    ‘ Felt nothing,’ scoffed the Kid. ‘He’d do it to show Tiburcio
and Matteo how tough he was. Other feller was maybe kin to the
jasper Miss April shot.’
    ‘ So the gang may not be here after all?’ Colin said.
    ‘ They’re around, somewheres not too far off,’ the Kid
stated.
    ‘ Arnie Ho Hell’s fire, Dusty. I clean forgot to look in on ole
Arnie while I was down there.’
    ‘ Do it now,’ Dusty ordered. ‘Do you want Mark
along?’
    ‘ I can handle it best alone,’ the Kid decided.
    ‘ We’ll wait for you at Ma Schell’s then,’ Dusty
replied.
    ‘ Where can I buy a revolver?’ Colin asked as the Kid strolled
unconcernedly off in the direction of the Mexican
quarter.
    ‘ Down to Hoffer’s store,’ Dusty answered. ‘I’ll come with you.
Mark, you’d best go back to let Ma know what’s
happened.’
    ‘ Sure,’ Mark agreed. ‘Only don’t come blaming Lon and me if the
Flores bunch sneak up and kill you both.’
    With that
friendly warning ringing in their ears, Dusty and Colin headed for
Hoffer’s general store. A few customers eyed them worriedly as they
entered, but said nothing about the incident in the street. The
store carried the usual miscellany of items, including a good range
of firearms. Crossing to the side of the shop devoted to sporting
goods, Dusty and Colin looked into the glass-topped case which held
a number of revolvers.
    ‘ I’d like to look at that one,’ Colin said, pointing to the
required gun as Hoffer joined them.
    Tall, lean,
with an expression of concern permanently on his face, Hoffer
studied the choice for a moment. ‘Sure. I’ve got some new 1860 Army
Colts if—’
    ‘ That’s the one I want,’ Colin insisted, still indicating the
old Dragoon model.
    ‘ Mind if I look it over?’ Dusty asked.
    ‘ Feel free, Cap’n Fog,’ Hoffer replied, opening the case and
taking out the revolver. ‘I got it from the widow of an old Ranger.
It’s been well cared for.’
    Accepting and
examining the Dragoon, Dusty saw that Hoffer had spoken the truth
about its condition. However he wondered if the lighter Army Colt
might be more suitable for the young Scot.
    ‘ No!’ Colin stated vehemently when Dusty raised the point.
‘This’s the kind of gun I want.’
    Colin was
determined to prove himself to Jeanie and make her admit that he
had the stuff in him to be thought of as a forty-four caliber
man.

Chapter
Eight
    Shortly before
noon, the men gathered in Ma’s living room. Only the Kid had not
returned and the others sat around the table eating a meal served
by the women. Colin had bought the Dragoon, three hundred .44 paper
cartridges, powder, lead for molding bullets, percussion caps and
the old Ranger’s gun-belt. This like the revolver, was in good
condition, the holster well shaped for a fast twist hand draw.
However certain alterations were needed to make it fit Colin and
the town’s saddler agreed to make the necessary adjustments. Not
wishing Jeanie to see the gun until he was competent in its use,
Colin had left it at the store.
    On their
return, Dusty and Colin had learned that Kenny was sleeping
comfortably. Ma looked worried as she told them, for she knew that
her son would be unfit to ride for some time to come. Nor could he
be moved around in the wagon. Guessing what troubled her, Dusty
waited for the opportunity to offer any help she might require.
Ma’s pride would prevent her from asking outright, as he knew, and
his own offer must be timed and worded correctly or meet with
refusal.
    The Kid entered
the room and