The Bisbee Massacre by J. Roberts

watch from,” he added. “We just have to circle, but we should be there before her.”
    â€œAre you sure?” Dodge asked
    â€œI’m sure, Fred,” Charley said.
    â€œOkay,” Dodge said. “This is your catch. We’ll follow your lead.”
    Â 
    They followed Charley to a certain point where he called for them to dismount and leave their horses. They’d be traveling over rocks from this point on and the horses’ hooves would make too much noise.
    They crept along, closer to where Charley wanted them to be, and when they got there they all got down on their chests and watched. Charley had been right on the money, for they were mere feet away from where Mrs. Barney Riggs was now waiting.
    Like them, she had left her horse behind and advanced on foot. Before long, and as the sun started to go down, Barney Riggs appeared and approached her. The husband and wife did not embrace, but they fell into a rapid conversation they were not going to finish.
    Charley got to his feet then and moved in on them. Clint and Dodge followed, but they were only backing him up.
    â€œAll right, Barney, throw your hands in the air, partner,” Charley Smith said, gun in hand.
    Barney gave his wife a murderous look, as if he suspected her of leading the law there on purpose.
    â€œTake it easy, Barney,” Charley said. “She didn’t know nothin’ about it. I just decided we should follow her.”
    â€œCharley,” Barney said, “you wouldn’t shoot me, would you?”
    â€œI’m wearin’ a badge, Barney,” Charley Smith said. “It’s my job to shoot you if you try to escape. And if I don’t do it, one of these fellas will.”
    Barney looked past Charley at Dodge and Clint.
    â€œDamn it, Charley, he deserved it—”
    â€œDon’t admit to anythin’ we’ll have to swear to in court, Barney,” Dodge said, quickly. “Just come along quietly.”
    Clint moved in, relieved Barney of a rifle and a six-shooter, and then took the six-shooter Linda Riggs was wearing.
    â€œWhat were you going to do with this, ma’am?” Clint asked.
    She just stared at him.
    â€œI’ll take Mrs. Riggs to her horse,” Dodge offered.
    â€œFine,” Charley said. “Me and Clint’ll walk Barney to his. Come on, Barney.”
    As they walked, Barney asked, “Who’s this fella, Charley?”
    â€œThis is a friend of Dodge’s, Clint Adams.”
    Barney stopped and turned, gaping at Clint.
    â€œYou brung a gunman to kill me?” he asked. “The Gunsmith?”
    â€œHe’s the Gunsmith, but he ain’t here ta kill ya, ya blamed fool,” Charley said. “We’re takin’ ya back to stand trial.”
    â€œFor killin’ that skunk?” Barney demanded. “You know what he was doin’ with my wife?”
    â€œEverybody knows, Barney.”
    â€œWhat?” Riggs asked. “Then I’m a laughingstock? And you’re gonna take me back?”
    â€œYou shoulda thought of that before ya killed him,” Charley said.
    â€œAre they gonna hang me?” he demanded.
    â€œProbably,” Clint said.
    â€œWhat?”
    Clint shrugged.
    â€œYou probably would’ve had a better chance for mercy if you had killed your wife, Riggs,” Clint said.

THIRTY
    Outside of Tombstone, Charley Smith called their progress to a halt.
    â€œMrs. Riggs, you can go on home and tell Ol’ Bannock what’s goin’ on.”
    â€œI want to ride in—”
    â€œYou go on and git, now,” Charley told her. “No tellin’ what’ll happen when we ride in with Barney. Hudson had some friends in town.”
    â€œGo on, Linda,” Riggs said. “Tell Pa. He’ll know what to do.”
    She hesitated, then said, “All right.”
    As she rode off, Dodge asked Barney, “What do you think Bannock’s gonna do,