Trail to Shasta (9781101622049) by J. R. Roberts

you?”
    â€œThat’s right.”
    â€œThis way.”
    He started off and Clint said, “No, that one.” He pointed to a table in the back.
    â€œOkay.”
    They walked to the table and sat down.
    â€œWhat can get you?” the waiter asked.
    â€œSteaks all around. Coffee for me, tea for the ladies.”
    â€œNo,” Bride said, “I will have coffee.”
    â€œSo will I,” Bridget said.
    â€œYou heard the ladies,” Clint said. “Coffee all around, too.”
    â€œYes, sir. Comin’ up.”
    Clint kept his eyes on the door, and the windows. He didn’t see the Lane brothers on the street, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t show up.
    * * * 
    The hotel clerk looked up as two men came in from the back, having used the rear door to enter. Actually, he smelled them before he saw them.
    â€œWho’s the good-smellin’ man, Leo?” Zack asked.
    Leo tried to answer and not breathe at the same time.
    â€œHis name’s Clint Adams, Zack.”
    â€œYer lyin’,” Ben said.
    â€œI ain’t,” Leo said. “He wrote it right here in the register.”
    â€œThen he’s lyin’,” Ben said. “Ain’t he, Zack?”
    â€œI don’t think so, Ben,” Zack said. “Not the way he stood there talkin’ to us.”
    â€œThen if he’s the Gunsmith . . .”
    â€œHe would’ve killed you easy,” Zack said. “Without a thought.”
    â€œJesus . . .”
    â€œHow long is he stayin’?” Zack asked Leo.
    â€œOnly ’til mornin’.”
    â€œAnd who’s he got with him?”
    Leo smiled.
    â€œTwo of the prettiest gals you’d ever wanna see,” he said.
    â€œThat a fact?” Ben asked.
    â€œThat’s a fact,” Leo said. “And they smell real nice, too.”
    Zack and Ben exchanged a glance, and then Zack said to Leo, “Okay, little brother. Thanks.”
    â€œSure, Zack.”
    Zack and Ben returned to the rear of the hotel, stepped out the back door, and stopped short.
    â€œWhat the—” Zack said.
    There were five men standing there, all armed.
    â€œTake it easy,” Troy Ahern said, “we just want to talk.”
    â€œAbout what?”
    â€œAbout a subject we’re all interested in,” Ahern said. “The Gunsmith and his two ladies.”
    Zack and Ben exchanged a glance.
    â€œWe’re also buyin’ the drinks,” Ahern added.
    â€œWell, okay, then,” Zack said. “We’re willin’ ta listen.”
    â€œWhat’s a good place to drink?” Ahern asked him.
    â€œMy brother and me got just the place,” Zack said. “Follow us.”

THIRTY-TWO
    â€œYou look worried,” Bride said while they ate.
    â€œI am.”
    â€œAbout getting killed?”
    â€œI’m worried about the two of you,” Clint said. “If something happens to me, how will you get to Shasta?”
    â€œNothing will happen to you,” Bridget said.
    â€œWell, we had a close call in Saint Joe,” he said. “We still don’t know if somebody’s following us from New York, and now we have to worry about these two jaspers who smell like bears.”
    â€œWell then,” Bride said, “maybe you should tell us how to get there from here, just in case something does happen.”
    â€œBride!”
    â€œNo, she’s right,” Clint said. “You girls should know how to get to Shasta on your own, just in case.”
    â€œWell . . . all right,” Bridget said.
    â€œLet’s go back to the hotel so we can talk about it.”
    â€œLet’s have some pie first,” Bride suggested.
    * * * 
    It was the last building in Council Bluffs—or the first, depending on which end of town you entered from. It also looked like the oldest building in town. It was one story, only because the second