were times when Reggie knew he was the fool Allan considered him.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The doctor soon arrived to see to Jackson’s wound. After a quick examination, he agreed that the bullet wasn’t in the arm and, although there was a lot of blood, the wound was little more than a deep graze.
‘It’ll hurt and be stiff for a while,’ he said, after he’d washed and bandaged the marshal’s arm. ‘But that’s all. You’re lucky.’
Jackson sighed in relief. It would be bad enough being shot and out of action at any time, right now with feelings running so high it would be disastrous.
‘Try to take it easy for a couple of days,’ the doctor added in warning.
‘Easier said than done,’ Jackson said with a little frown.
Once the doctor had left and the marshal had gone down to the red-light district, Sparks busied himself making coffee.
‘I think I’ll go pay a call on the Mallorys,’ Cobb said, getting to his feet. ‘They might have heard the shots and be worried. I’ll try not to be too long.’
‘OK.’ Neil hid a little smile knowing that Cobb didn’t like sitting about, doing nothing.
‘And if Sparks thinks he can manage here by himself why don’t you go along to the telegraph office, find out if there’s a reply from the judge? Be quick though.’
‘D’you think the attacker will come back?’
‘I doubt it but I don’t want to take any chances.’
The plaza was again quiet when Cobb went outside. Keeping a careful watch out for any possible ambush he hurried through the dark streets to the livery stable, where a lamp burned in the doorway. Both Greg and Amy were inside. When Cobb appeared, Amy turned to him, her face pale in the lamplight.
‘Oh, Mr Cobb, we heard firing and Greg went to find out what it meant. He said there was an attack on Tom. He’s not hurt, is he?’
‘No, don’t worry. Whoever it was missed.’
‘Thank God.’
‘But Marshal Jackson was wounded.’
‘Oh no! What happened?’
‘We chased the attacker but he shot Jackson and got away from me amongst the alleyways. Luckily Owen wasn’t badly hurt.’
‘Know who it was?’ Greg asked.
‘Not for certain.’
He and Amy glanced at one another.
‘What is it?’
‘Reggie Drake was in town this afternoon,’ Amy said. ‘He arrived about five o’clock and he was acting most strangely. Well, even more strangely than he usually does.’
Cobb tried not to grin. He’d felt sure he was rightwhen he said one of the Drakes was responsible for the attempted shooting.
‘He seemed excited as if he had something on his mind and he wanted his horse kept saddled and bridled because he thought he might have to leave quickly. He rode away not long ago. I didn’t see him. But Greg did. Go on, Greg,’ – she nudged her brother – ‘tell Mr Cobb.’
‘That’s right,’ was all Greg managed.
‘And was he in a hurry?’
‘Yeah,’ Greg said with a quick nod and added in a mumble, ‘Rode off real quick.’
‘It’s unusual for Reggie to leave this early,’ Amy went on. ‘He usually stays the night.’ She blushed slightly, so Cobb realized that she meant Reggie slept at the brothel, while Greg frowned at Cobb as if he was to blame. ‘And why should he be in a hurry? It’s not as if the girls he associates with are married or have steady boyfriends.’ Another deeper blush.
Cobb nodded to show he knew what she was talking about and that she needn’t say any more.
‘And while I know Reggie likes to drink in the saloon, perhaps play a game or two of poker, he rarely does anything from which he’d have to run away. And how would he know in advance?’
‘Did he say anything to you?’ Cobb asked Greg, who shook his head.
‘But he looked red-faced as if he’d been running, didn’t he?’ Amy urged.
‘Yeah.’
‘But, Mr Cobb, why would Reggie want to try to kill Tom?’ Amy said in an anguished voice.
‘Because I’m sure he or his brother shot Bannister. Perhaps Reggie believed that with
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