Killers Never Sleep, page 30
Hutchins raised his arm as if he were a cavalry officer at the head of a column. He lowered his arm smartly, pointing ahead. The two with him obediently followed.
Slash and Pecos watched them vanish down the road before leaving their cover.
“Now don’t that beat all?” Slash said. “You’d think them boys was U.S. Army, only they weren’t wearin’ blue wool coats and brass buttons.”
“You’re right about that,” Pecos said. He lowered the rabbit-ear hammers on his shotgun and tugged it around so it dangled down his back in its usual position. “No officer I ever saw dressed in such finery out of uniform. And none of them wear their combat ribbons. Now, I ain’t an expert in such things but I didn’t recognize a single one of them ribbons.”
Slash nodded.
“Let’s deliver our freight and collect our due. I just hope you don’t get any ideas about spendin’ the money to buy fancy togs like that just to impress your new wife.”
“I’ll let Jay get all gussied up,” Slash said.
“She’d appreciate you takin’ a bath more ’n wearin’ a frock coat,” Pecos said.
Again Slash agreed, then added, “Even one with fancy, colorful ribbons.” Slash pondered why the three riders wore those decorations as he hiked all the way back to their freight wagon. He came up empty about a reason.
William W. Johnstone is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over three hundred books, including the bestselling series Smoke Jensen: The Mountain Man, Preacher: The First Mountain Man, Flintlock, MacCallister, and Will Tanner: Deputy U.S. Marshal, and the stand-alone thrillers Black Friday, Tyranny, and Stand Your Ground.
Being the all-around assistant, typist, researcher, and fact-checker to one of the most popular Western authors of all time, J.A. Johnstone learned from the master, Uncle William W. Johnstone.
He began tutoring J.A. at an early age. After-school hours were often spent retyping manuscripts or researching his massive American Western history library as well as the more modern wars and conflicts. J.A. worked hard—and learned.
“Every day with Bill was an adventure story in itself. Bill taught me all he could about the art of storytelling. ‘Keep the historical facts accurate,’ he would say. ‘Remember the readers, and as your grandfather once told me, I am telling you now: be the best J.A. Johnstone you can be.’ ”
Visit the website at www.williamjohnstone.net.
William W. Johnstone, Killers Never Sleep
