Trailsman #360 : Texas Lead Slingers (9781101544860) by Jon Sharpe Page A

not right in the head, Mother,” Roselyn said. “You’ve gone insane.”
    Fargo had put up with all he was going to. He stroked the Henry’s trigger.

27
    At the blast, mother and daughter started.
    Oster raised his head but showed no alarm. “What in hell did you do that for?”
    Fargo had fired into the ground. He worked the lever and took aim. “To get everyone’s attention. Not another damn peep out of any of you until I say so.”
    â€œDoes that mean me too?” Roselyn asked.
    â€œAnd me?” Ginny said.
    â€œAll of you.”
    â€œWhy are you so mad?” Ginny asked. “We haven’t done anything.”
    â€œShut . . . the . . . hell . . . up.”
    Ginny raised a hand to her throat. “Well, I never. Here I thought we were friends.”
    â€œYou really should let me tell you what I know,” Roselyn said. “It’s important.”
    â€œNot now, dear,” Ginny said. “He’s in a mood.”
    â€œBut—”
    Fargo glared at Roselyn and her cheeks flushed red and she clamped her mouth shut. In the few seconds he took his eyes off of Garvin Oster, Oster started to rise. Turning back, Fargo said, “You’re not that quick.”
    Garvin sank down. “I’m quick enough. You’ll find that out soon enough, by God.”
    Fargo went around Oster to Oster’s horse and helped himself to a rope. He tossed it on the ground near Oster’s legs.
    â€œTie your ankles. Do it good and tight.”
    â€œLike hell I will.”
    Fargo shrugged. “Either that, or I’ll shoot you in the foot.”
    â€œYou wouldn’t,” Ginny said.
    Fargo ignored her. He was tired of her prattle. Wagging the Henry, he said to Oster, “I’ll count to five and I’m already on four.”
    Garvin Oster was no fool. He slowly rolled over and slowly sat up and took hold of the rope. “You have no notion of what you’re doin’.”
    â€œSays the jackass who stole a hundred thousand dollars and kidnapped two women.”
    â€œIt’s not what you think.”
    â€œYou’re stalling,” Fargo said. “And like she said, I’m in a mood.”
    Oster looped one end of the rope around his ankles. “If Ranson and Jules had done what they were supposed to, you wouldn’t be holding that rifle on me.”
    â€œThey worked for you?”
    Oster didn’t answer.
    Without being told to, Ginny dismounted. She brushed dust from her dress and fluffed her hair. “I haven’t been out in the sun so much in years. It’s not doing my skin any favors.”
    Fargo used to think she was a sweet old gal. But she was an idiot. “Has he hurt you in any way?”
    â€œGarvin hurt me?” Ginny laughed. “Oh, please. He wouldn’t harm a hair on my head.”
    â€œHow about you?” Fargo asked Roselyn.
    â€œYou told us not to talk, remember?”
    â€œIt’s all right to talk now,” Fargo said, keeping one eye on Oster.
    â€œI don’t want to. You were rude.”
    â€œSave it for the marshal then,” Fargo said.
    Ginny put a hand to her throat. “Marshal Moleen is after us too?”
    â€œWhat else did you expect? He organized a posse,” Fargo said. “I’m part of it.”
    â€œOh dear. Who else is with him?”
    â€œYour husband. The banker. Lacey Mayhare and Vin Creed. And two deputies.”
    â€œOh dear,” Ginny said, and again, “Oh dear.”
    â€œI thought you’d be glad to hear it,” Fargo said.
    â€œI’d hoped they wouldn’t come after us,” Ginny said sadly. “Things haven’t gone as they should.”
    Fargo’s patience with her grew thinner by the minute. “You were abducted, for God’s sake. Did you figure the law would overlook that? Or your husband would sit around twiddling his thumbs waiting to hear from you?”
    â€œNo, you