Longarm and "Kid" Bodie (9781101622001) by Tabor Evans

practice.
    Several hours later, they were rolling into Reno.
    â€œNext stop, Reno!” the conductor called out and he moved from coach to coach. When he came abreast of Longarm and Bodie, he said, “Can’t say I’m sorry to say good-bye to that big dog. Are you bringing him back to Cheyenne on this train?”
    â€œDon’t know yet,” Bodie answered.
    â€œI’m going to have to have someone really clean and scrub this passenger car because that mongrel shit and pissed in it, and my boss is going to be especially furious that your damned dog completely chewed the arm off that seat.”
    â€œSorry about that,” Longarm offered. “But we all have to deal with the unexpected. I think you, your boss, and the Union Pacific will survive the trouble and loss.”
    â€œSure, easy for you to say, Marshal. Still and all, I’d be obliged if you could let me know if the boy and his dog are returning with you, so that I can make sure that I’m on a different run.”
    Longarm shook his head. “Conductor, I’ve got a murder to investigate, and it might involve this boy’s mother. So do you really think I’m going to be thinking about your petty inconvenience?”
    The conductor paused and then said, “No, and I really hope that the boy’s mother is safe.”
    â€œThanks,” Bodie said as the train rolled to a stop.
    â€œWell, now the work begins,” Longarm said. “Are you sure you want to go up to Virginia City?”
    â€œI sure do.”
    â€œI’ve got a little matter to take care of before we leave town, but I think I’ll have it wrapped up in a day.”
    â€œDoes that mean we have to stay here a day?”
    â€œI’m afraid that it does.”
    Bodie couldn’t hide his disappointment. “Maybe I could get some ammunition tomorrow morning and do some more practicing.”
    â€œThat would be a good idea. I’ll go with you and then go visit the town sheriff. You and Homer can just take it easy and see the sights tomorrow.”
    â€œI’m getting a lot better with the Colt, aren’t I?”
    â€œOf course you are! Bodie, you’re already more than a decent shot with that pistol we picked up in Rock Springs.”
    â€œI sure can’t shoot anywhere near as good as you.”
    â€œNot yet, you can’t. But I think you’ve gotten to know the gun and feel comfortable handling and firing it. That was our main goal to get done before we hit this town.”
    â€œMaybe I’ll have to use it if someone murdered my mother. I’d kill ’em in the blink of an eye, Marshal. I’d do it even if it meant getting hanged.”
    â€œYou don’t owe your mother your life, kid, and I don’t think she’d want you to swing from a noose on her account. Anyway, why don’t you leave that kind of business to me,” Longarm cautioned. “I’m a federal marshal, and if I have to kill a man, I’ve got some legal protections. But if
you
killed someone . . . even if that somebody was responsible for the death of your mother . . . it would go hard, and the best you could hope for would be prison.”
    â€œI killed that man in Denver and they didn’t do anything to me.”
    â€œYes, you did,” Longarm said. “But I was witness to that shooting and a part of it too, so you were in the clear. What we have now is a whole different thing.”
    â€œMurder is murder.”
    â€œThat’s right, Bodie, and after learning about the tragic death of my friend Gloria, I’ve been thinking that John Stock wasn’t the real target that day we first met on Colfax Avenue.”
    Bodie was quiet for a moment before he asked, “Do you think they really wanted to kill
me
?”
    â€œEither that or capture you and make you sign a document saying you have no rights to any property that might have been left by either your