Slocum and the Warm Reception by Jake Logan

quick.
    â€œAll right,” Luke said. “I’ll go.”
    â€œLeave the pistol,” Slocum warned.
    Having already admitted defeat, Luke dropped his weapon without hesitation.
    Pointing a finger at Matt without taking his eyes off Luke, Slocum said, “I haven’t forgotten about you. Leave that shotgun where you dropped it along with any other guns you’re carrying.”
    â€œB-But them are my guns,” Matt said meekly. “I . . . I own ’em.”
    â€œYou want them back, come and find me some other time. I have a feeling we’ll be crossing paths again.”
    Slocum put just enough of an edge into his tone to make both men carry out the orders they’d been given with haste. Matt was in such a hurry to leave that he didn’t even remember he’d been injured until he made it to the corner. Luke helped his partner along, but not without a steady tongue-lashing to go with it.
    As he collected the guns that had been left behind, Slocum waited for any sign that there were more gunmen to worry about. Although the street remained silent for the time being, he didn’t fool himself into thinking it would stay that way for long.

9
    The Three Star Hotel was where Slocum had stayed the last time he was in town. Back then, it was a modest little place run by a family who’d just gotten started and had thrown everything they had into maintaining their business. The rooms were small, but clean. The meals served were tasty and stuck to a man’s bones. Most important, the beds were a hell of a lot better than sleeping on a bedroll in the middle of the desert. Slocum headed there now because he simply couldn’t recall the name of any other hotels in Mescaline.
    On his way there, he felt more and more eyes staring at him from behind darkened windows and shadowy doorways. After having to endure a long day’s ride and the scuffle in the street, he no longer gave a damn who was watching as he, his horse, and a bundle of recently acquired firearms made their way to the three-story building near the center of town. The outside of the Three Star was much fancier than he recalled, and there were plenty of lanterns burning within. Slocum tied his horse to a post, entered the hotel, and walked up to a desk where a tall, frail-looking woman stood with a pencil already in hand.
    â€œCan I . . . help . . .” The woman’s question trailed off as her eyed narrowed into a harsh squint. She stared intently at the man that had just walked in from the darkness before whispering, “John? Is that you?”
    Slocum nodded and gave her a tired smile. “It is.” When he’d started talking, Slocum couldn’t remember her name. Just seeing the woman’s narrow features and warm eyes brought her right back to the front of his thoughts. “It’s . . . Margaret, right?”
    Her smile had been there before, but now it positively beamed. “That’s right! I didn’t think you’d remember.”
    â€œYou remembered me.”
    â€œWell, after what happened when you were in town last time, it would be next to impossible to forget you.”
    â€œThis time is shaping up to be fairly interesting as well,” Slocum said. “I’d be surprised if you hadn’t heard the commotion.”
    â€œI did hear something, but I guess I just thought it could have been some drunks or the like.”
    Slocum could tell she had more to say on the matter, but he was too tired to press. Instead, he told her, “I could use a room. Do you have anything on the third floor?”
    â€œNo, but I have plenty of nice rooms on the second.”
    â€œSounds fine. Something away from the stairs if you’ve got it. I’d also like a good view of the street.”
    She smiled again nervously. “Now that sounds familiar.”
    â€œYeah, I suppose I did have to watch my back and just about every other