Missing Patriarch (9781101613399) (12 page)

FORTY-ONE

Donovan stopped his men just outside of town. The street ahead of them was empty.

“What's the matter?” Carter asked.

“The street's too empty for a town this size.”

“We are in Mexico,
señor
,” Rodrigo said. “Siesta.”

Donovan thought a moment, then said, “Yeah, okay,” and started forward again.

*   *   *

Clint saw the gang stop at the head of the street and suddenly knew why. The damn street was too empty, but the sheriff had not wanted to take a chance that any civilians would be hurt. Clint couldn't blame him for that, but if Donovan changed his plans and the gang turned around, they'd be tracking and chasing them again.

After a few tense moments, however, the gang started forward again.

This was going to happen.

*   *   *

Jimmy McCall was nervous. Throwing in with Clint Adams against Donovan's gang may not have been the smart thing to do, but it seemed the only thing to do. After all, his kids had sent Adams to find him, and to help him. But if this didn't work, he could end up dead, and then what would happen to his kids?

But it was too late to turn back now.

*   *   *

Lou Willis's heart was pounding as he stared out the window of the bank. He could see Clint across the street, as well as the sun glinting off the sheriff's badge. He didn't know where McCall was. Hopefully, the man wouldn't change sides again.

Behind him the bank tellers and clerks were all quiet and nervous. That included the bank manager. But the sheriff had agreed with Clint to brace the gang outside, so there was no chance they'd get inside and put these people at risk.

The two guards at the other window were older, experienced men. The deputies were sharing a window with him, and the young men seemed as nervous as he was. He only hoped that they—and he—would acquit themselves well.

*   *   *

Donovan led the gang right up to the front of the bank. They remained mounted while he looked around. At the slightest hint of something not right, he would turn and ride out. But he glanced around only in passing because he was impressed by the size of the bank. This would be a bigger haul than the bank in Windspring.

He looked around at his men, and then nodded.

They began to dismount.

*   *   *

Clint's last suggestion to Sheriff Latham was that they wait until the gang was in the act of dismounting. The sheriff agreed. The gang would be off balance with one foot still in the stirrup.

As the gang began their dismount, the sheriff stepped out into the open and shouted, “Hold it right there!”

*   *   *

Donovan froze—as Clint had hoped—with one foot still in his stirrup. He looked across the street, saw the man with the badge, then saw two other men step out into the open—and one of them was Jimmy McCall.

They'd been had!

He went for his gun and shouted, “Have at it, men!”

*   *   *

As the gang drew, Clint, McCall, and Latham began to fire. Two men who had remained in the saddle—probably to watch the horses—were the first to be hit. The bullets took them from their saddles and dumped them on the ground.

From behind the gang came the sound of shattering glass as the guards and deputies broke the windows and began to fire. They now had the gang in a cross fire.

*   *   *

Donovan knew they were done. His only hope was to try to get away. The gang's horses were scattering, frightened by all the gunfire. He grabbed his, though, because the saddlebags held the money they'd stolen so far.

Rodrigo had the same idea. He grabbed his horse and tried to remount. The two men thought to ride out of town amid the action.

*   *   *

Jimmy McCall saw Donovan remount and knew what the man was going to try.

“Donovan!” he shouted, and moved farther out into the street.

*   *   *

Clint knew what McCall was doing. He wanted a clean shot at Donovan, but he was also opening himself up to gunfire from other members of the gang. Clint stepped out to cover the man's back while he took his shot at Donovan. He had to kill three gang members who were drawing a bead on McCall, but Jimmy got his shot off.

*   *   *

Donovan felt the bullet strike him in the back, between his shoulder blades. It knocked the wind out of him, but he thought he would be able to stay in the saddle, right up until the time he felt the ground come up and strike him in the face.

Rodrigo saw Donovan fall, knew the other members of the gang were done, but he continued to ride, and was the only member of the gang to escape.

*   *   *

McCall scrambled and caught Donovan's horse before the animal could run off. He led it back to the bank, where Willis and the others had come out.

“Mr. Willis,” McCall said.

Willis turned.

McCall reached into one of the saddlebags and brought out a fistful of money.

“It's all here, sir,” McCall said. “Your bank's money.”

“Thank you, Mr. McCall,” Willis said. Then he looked at Clint. “Thank you.”

FORTY-TWO

The door to the house opened, and all four kids stepped out. Jason and Jenny each held their brother and sister, Jesse and Simon. But when the children saw their father dismounting, they all ran to him.

Clint watched as the four children inundated their father, dragging him to the ground with the force of their hugs. He dismounted himself and simply watched the family reunion.

“Are you back to stay, Pa?” Simon asked.

“I'm back to stay, squirt.”

“Really, really?” Jesse asked.

“Yes, sprite,” McCall said, “really, really.”

McCall got to his feet, put one hand on Jason's shoulder, and the other on Jenny's.

“Mr. Adams told me how responsible you two have been,” he said. “I'm real proud of you.”

“You're not gonna have to go off again, Pa, are you?” Jason asked hopefully. “I mean, for a job or somethin'?”

“No, son,” McCall said. “We should be okay for a while—thanks to Mr. Adams. I think from this point on, you can go back to bein' a kid. I'll be the pa.”

And, Clint thought, thanks to the reward the Windspring bank had paid him. Clint and Willis had both hidden the fact that McCall was part of the gang, and Willis arranged for the reward. It was more money than the family had ever seen before, more than McCall could make in two years of working at a steady job—if he could even find one.

Jesse walked over to Clint and yanked on his arm. When he looked down, she crooked her little finger at him. He bent down.

“Thank you,” she said. She threw her little arms around his neck and kissed him soundly on the cheek.

Jenny ran to Clint and also hugged and kissed him firmly.

“I'm gonna make a big welcome home supper,” she said. “Will you stay and eat with us?”

Clint looked over at the others, and they all seemed to be watching him expectantly.

“That'd be real nice, Clint,” McCall said.

Clint looked back at Jenny and said, “That sounds like an offer I just can't refuse, Jenny.”

 

Watch for

TICKET TO YUMA

373
^rd
novel in the exciting GUNSMITH series

from Jove

Coming in January!