Troubleshooter

by Alan David

  But he controlled his own passion and set himself the sweet task of satisfying her needs. Their bodies pressed together and he eased forward to penetrate, finding her more than ready to match him, and then she clung to him, gasping as he worked gently to appease her. He held himself in check, savouring her, and glimpsed the reason, in a flash of inspiration, why sex was so important to him. It was the only contact he ever made with any human. He had cut himself off emotionally from the entire human race in order to do his job that much better, but no man was a self-sufficient entity, and every so often he had to make that vital contact to maintain his touch with reality.

  She was crying softly, and the sound brought him back from his wayward thoughts. He compressed his lips, dashing sweat from his brow, and went to work on her with grim determination. He clenched his teeth and made the bed creak with his shifting weight. She was climbing the long, laborious slope to culmination, and he sensed that she normally had trouble reaching the all-important apex. Perhaps the men she had known did not possess the sensitivity required to recognise her failing, but he did and treated her accordingly. It became a matter of pride and honour for him to afford her satisfaction, and his own passions became imprisoned in his mind, to be released only upon the signal of her own orgasm. He could have gone on and worked all night, but she was almost there, and she clutched at him, clawing his back with long nails and drawing blood. She groaned and writhed spasmodically, and then there was sweet pain and the ecstasy of complete surrender to the storm that burst around her and of which she was a part.

  When she finally sighed and relaxed, Manning began to work for his own satisfaction. He had to arouse the desire in the back of his mind, but she was twisting her head from side to side.

  ‘No more! No more!’ she groaned, and he raised himself up on his elbows to look at her pale face. But nothing short of a prairie fire could stop him now and he sensed that his own orgasm was near. He thrust himself against her as if plunging into a river, his strong arms embracing her, holding her prisoner while he poured out his stresses and worries in a torrent of orgasmic fury.

  When he was completely drained he slumped upon her and lay with his eyes closed, experiencing that curious sense of well-being. Only the rasping of his breath broke the silence of the room, and he turned his face to one side and gasped for air in the heat raised by their exertions. Time passed, and it was not until Monte Hudson’s soft voice sounded outside the door that Manning found the strength or desire to move.

  ‘Twenty minutes to train time,’ Hudson warned. ‘I’ll be down in the bar.’

  ‘Thanks.’ Manning eased himself on to his side, then rolled over on to his back. ‘Phew! You’re some woman, Glory. Do you have to work in Hudson’s saloon?’

  ‘A girl has to earn her living,’ she responded, sitting up and sliding her legs off the bed.

  ‘What’s happened in your life? Did your husband die?’

  ‘What makes you think I was ever married?’

  ‘There’s something about you that tells me. I can read a lot from people’s actions and attitudes. All part of my training for the job I do. I don’t have you figured for a saloongirl. You’re better than that, and you’ve fallen on hard times. I don’t want you to go to work in the saloon.’

  ‘Can you suggest an alternative?’ She gazed into his brooding face. The evening sun was almost gone and shadows were creeping into the corners. ‘And don’t say I’d make an excellent school teacher in Buffalo Junction.’

  ‘We’ve got a school marm.’ His tone hardened as he spoke. ‘She was attacked last night. You better be careful around town, Glory. There’s a maniac on the loose and the local law can’t catch him. Several women have been killed and a number attacked. Louise Judd never did anyone any harm. She don’t even seem to be a real woman, come to that. She doesn’t care about sex, and she ain’t too old. But that didn’t stop some galoot from raping her, and with all the saloongirls around just waiting for business.’

  ‘Buffalo Junction sounds just like any other town in the West,’ she responded. ‘Don’t worry. I can take care of myself.’

  ‘You’d be surprised the times I’ve heard a woman say that, then fail to do so.’ He sighed heavily and got up to dress, and she poured him a drink. He gulped it, shaking his head, unable to accept that she had floored him somehow, had got under his guard when not one in a hundred women could accomplish that. But she was different from the general run of saloongirls, and the knowledge tore at his insides.

  When they were dressed he carried her case down the stairs and they paused at the bar. He was the tough troubleshooter once again, and met Monte Hudson’s inquiring gaze with a blank stare. Several men greeted him, and he heard them asking for latest news on the trouble that had come to the Railroad. But he ignored them.

  ‘We’d best be getting over to the depot,’ he said sharply. ‘I wouldn’t want to miss the train.’

  ‘I’ll carry the case.’ Hudson held out his hand and Manning handed it over. ‘If it wasn’t for you we wouldn’t be able to travel on the freight, Chet. Thanks.’

  ‘You’ve earned the ride.’ Manning smiled and thrust back his shoulders as he tried to summon up some strength from inside. She had sucked him dry and he needed to sleep now, to refill his reservoirs in order to be ready for what lay ahead as soon as they reached Buffalo Junction.

  Events were just a blur from then onwards, and he motioned the telegraph operator aside when the man came at him with a flimsy in his hand.

  ‘Asa is madder than a wet hen. He’s gonna give you hell for not riding on to Gadson Flats like he said. He figures it’s a woman kept you here.’

  ‘Did you wire back and tell him he was right?’ Manning demanded with a chuckle.

  ‘Like hell I did! You’ll be in it up to your neck as it is.’ The operator grinned. ‘You’re only young once, Chet, so make the most of it. I sure remember that time in my life, and I don’t have any regrets.’

  ‘You got my horse aboard?’ Manning dragged his thoughts back to duty. The night freight was ready to go and the conductor was standing by the caboose, a lantern in his hand.

  ‘It’s all been taken care of, but they’re waiting for you to board, so make it quick.’

  ‘Thanks. Did your boy take care of my horse like I asked?’

  ‘He sure did!’

  ‘Then give him this dollar.’ Manning pressed the coin into the man’s hand. ‘Be seeing you.’

  He held Glory’s arm as they walked to the crummy, and the conductor was grumbling about losing time. But he ignored the complaints and lurched aboard to throw himself carelessly upon a bunk. He knew nothing more until a heavy hand shook his shoulder some hours later, when he awakened to find Asa Blaine standing over him. Then he knew he was really back on the job.

  Chapter Eight

  ‘What the hell, Chet!’ Asa exclaimed as Manning rolled off the bunk and checked his sixgun. ‘How come you ain’t obeying orders? We got the worst trouble I’ve ever known and you’re lounging around in Miller’s Crossing.’ He turned and glanced at Monte Hudson and Glory Harpe, who were leaving the caboose. ‘Say, you ain’t been playing around with a woman while I’ve been stewing in my own juice here, have you?’

  ‘Just hold your horses, Asa,’ Manning said patiently. ‘We’ll talk in your office. But all I got to ask is this. What would I be doing out at Gadson Flats now if I’d followed your orders, huh?’

  ‘Checking up on the trouble they had there.’ Asa turned to lead the way out of the caboose.

  ‘And staying two jumps behind Yaro all the way.’ Manning firmed his lips and shook his head. ‘If you wanta run the war that way then I’ll go along with it, but you’re on to a beating to nothing and you should know that. We’ve got to be a whole lot smarter than Yaro. I don’t plan on following him around to every bit of trouble he causes. What I want to do is beat him to it and be there waiting for him. It’s the only way to nail him. He’s run other railroads ragged for the opposition, and you know tha
t.’

  Asa paused and turned to peer at him then nodded slowly.

  ‘Hell, if there ain’t a lot of sense in what you’re saying,’ he commented. ‘Let’s go talk some more about this. But first we’ll drop in at the Marshal’s office. Chilvers wants to talk to you soon as you hit town.’

  ‘About those men I killed?’

  ‘Nope. By the way, that third one died around noon, and he didn’t talk. Chilvers has got other things on his mind. You are in the clear about those killings because there were witnesses on the street at the time. And I didn’t get the chance this morning to thank you for looking out for Netta when the shooting started.’

  ‘You don’t have to thank me.’ Manning smiled. ‘Let’s get down to business.’

  They walked along the street towards the law office, and Asa kept turning his head and checking their rear.

  ‘You’re a mite nervous, ain’t you?’ Manning observed.

  ‘Just being careful. If Yaro sent those three to nail you then they might figure on taking me out as well. This is gonna be a dirty war, Chet. But I like the way you think we should fight this battle. Have you got any ideas on how to go about it?’

  ‘No, and that’s the hell of it. It would be useless going out to try and locate Yaro. He’ll be well hidden, and he can pick and choose his attacks. No matter how many men we had we couldn’t hope to catch up with him. We’re gonna need a lot of luck, I guess, but we can do some hard thinking and maybe come up with an idea or two on what he must really hit to hurt us.’

  ‘Yeah. Like those supplies at Gadson Flats. I could kick myself for not thinking of that. If we’d had a strong guard there we might have taken some prisoners at least, and soon as we get someone who can talk we’ll be well on the way to coming up with Yaro.’

  They paused outside the law office. A lamp was burning inside, and Manning, looking through the window, saw Hank Chilvers seated at his desk.

  ‘I don’t reckon to come in there with you,’ Asa said, and there was a trace of awkwardness in his tone which made Manning throw a quick glance at him.

  ‘What’s going on?’ he demanded. ‘We’ve got to get down to some serious talking, Asa, so .come on in and wait for me. This shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes.’ He thrust open the office door and stepped aside for the older man to precede him.

  Hank Chilvers looked up at their entrance, and a shadow crossed his face as he pushed back his chair and sighed heavily.

  ‘What’s on your mind, Hank?’ Manning demanded, pausing in front of the desk. ‘Asa says you wanted to see me.’

  ‘Yeah.’ Chilvers nodded. ‘I’m checking up on every man who was in town last night. It’s about the attack on Louise Judd. I’d like to know what you did when you parted company with Asa at the stable.’

  ‘After the shooting, you mean?’ Manning threw a glance at Asa, who was staring woodenly at the desk top. ‘I rode out to the end of the track, then caught the work train back just before dawn. I’m glad you’re carrying out a check like this. It’s about time you got that maniac. But I hope you don’t figure I’m guilty, Hank.’

  ‘Hell no! But I got to check on everyone. Louise Judd said she heard all the shooting, and it was about thirty minutes after that she left her cabin. When she came back in the man was waiting for her. She’s lucky to be alive.’

  ‘I’m sorry for her, but I can’t help you, Hank.’ Manning shook his head. ‘Me and Asa have got too much on our plates right now to be of any use to you. But you might find it a good idea to talk to all the saloongirls in town. They get to know the men who are a bit strange in their tastes, and I figure it’s got to be one of them you’re looking for.’

  ‘You’ve got a big reputation with the women, Chet,’ Chilvers said.

  Manning smiled. ‘Who hasn’t? Name me one man in town who doesn’t show up at one or the other places available.’ He shook his head. ‘Maybe I’m way out in front of most men, but I prefer women to smoking and gambling. That’s the way I’m made. I’ve had plenty of experience, and I hope to have a lot more before I cash in my chips. That’s what makes me say that the man you want is different from the rest of us. He’s probably having trouble with his women. That’s why he’s attacking females.’

  ‘Maybe you’ve got something there.’ Chilvers nodded. ‘Yeah, I reckon I better change the angle of my investigations. Thanks, Chet, for the tip.’

  ‘I hope you get him,’ Manning retorted. ‘He’s scaring most of the women in town, and if I were a married man I’d be yelling for something to be done, or doing something about it myself.’

  ‘There’s a lot of talk around the town along those lines, and I’m thinking of deputising a number of good men and have them out as prowlers, looking for trouble.’ Chilvers got to his feet. ‘Have you got time for a drink?’

  ‘Nope.’ Manning shook his head. ‘I want something to eat. I’m empty as a drum. Me and Asa have got a lot of work to do and time is important. Maybe later, Hank.’ He turned and walked to the door and Asa followed him. ‘What did you do after I left town last night, Asa?’ Manning demanded with a harsh chuckle as they walked towards Blaine’s house. ‘Did Hank ask you?’

  ‘He did.’ Asa was tight-lipped, and remained silent until they reached the big house opposite the depot.

  Aunt Polly and Netta were in the parlour when they entered, and Netta sat gazing at Manning with hero-worship in her eyes. She was still cold inside over the shooting that morning, but the fact that Chet had saved her life buoyed up her spirits and had filled her with adoration for him. But Aunt Polly looked at him with her sharp gaze and tut-tutted.

  ‘Landsakes, Chet, what you been doing with yourself? You look plumb tuckered out. I’ll bet you ain’t eaten since you were here to breakfast this morning. Asa, you’re working him too hard.’

  ‘I could do with a bite to eat, Aunt Polly,’ Manning replied, grinning as he recalled the reason for his haggard appearance, and a strand of desire made its presence known in his stomach. If he could stay in town through the night it would be worth his while to find out which room Glory would be using at the saloon.

  ‘I’ll get supper for you,’ Aunt Polly declared, bustling out of the room. ‘Asa, don’t you dare send him out again until he’s had the chance to eat. He can’t go on night and day unless he keeps up his strength. You Railroad men may be tough, but there is a limit to the way you can punish yourselves. Sit you down, Chet, and don’t move. I’ll bring you in some food on a tray. Netta, come and help me. If I know your Uncle Asa he’ll want to talk business, and you’ll only be in the way.’

  Netta arose obediently, her gaze upon Chet’s battered face, and Asa muttered something under his breath as he closed the door behind the girl.

  ‘Let’s get down to business,’ he rasped. ‘I’ve been thinking over what you said and I reckon you’ve hit the nail on the head. What we’ve got to do is lay a trap for Yaro,’

  ‘I’m with you. Got anything in mind?’

  ‘We’ll have to use something big as bait.’ Asa scratched his greying beard, shaking his head slowly as his thoughts roved. ‘We know money attracts him.’

  ‘That’s right, and there’s something else I wanta raise.’ Manning sat down at the polished table and leaned his elbows on it. His dark eyes glittered as he held Asa’s gaze. ‘How come he knew that gold he missed last night would be on the eight-twenty to El Paso this morning, and why did he pick the best spot along the line to make his hold-up?’

  ‘He’s the kind of man who looks over his ground before going into action. You can bet that he knows his way around here as well as we do.’

  ‘Okay. But what about Delmont?’

  ‘Delmont? Hell, he’s dead. You killed him.’

  ‘That ain’t the point. If you think about it, he always seemed to know when and where to hold up our trains. He never made one mistake, did he? He never picked a train that wasn’t worth hitting.’

  ‘You’re right. That was a long run of good luck.’

&
nbsp; ‘I reckon it went much deeper than that, Asa. He had good information.’

  ‘Hell, you’ve said that before.’ Asa shook his head in disgust.

  ‘And you won’t have it because you can’t bear to think that someone close to you around here is involved with the crookedness.’ Manning banged a heavy fist upon the table. ‘Look at the facts, Asa. We’re in bad trouble right now and it’s surely gonna get worse. We’ve got to face up to everything, and I’m thinking that if there is a leak around here and we can trace it then we won’t have to look for Ben Yaro. Someone will lead us to him.’

  There was a heavy silence when he stopped speaking, and they gazed at each other for several seconds. Manning’s eyes were bright and gleaming, filled with challenge, and Asa sighed and shook his head, letting his shoulders slump a little as he turned his thoughts to a subject which had been plaguing him for weeks. He sensed that Manning was speaking the truth. There was a leak in their head office, and that meant someone very close to them was passing on information to the outlaws. Now Delmont had gone Ben Yaro had stepped in. It was bad, but the fact had to be faced, and he had never backed down from any problem before.

  ‘You got any suspicions who it might be?’ he demanded.

  Manning shook his head. ‘I’ve been thinking about it for a long time,’ he admitted. ‘I don’t know. Who in hell can we put the finger on? I’ve tried to work it out step by step, but it’s hopeless.’

  Netta entered the room and set a place at the table in front of Manning, accidentally touching one of his big, raw-boned hands as she did so, and started nervously at their contact. He eyed her, noting her taut features, and realised that she was still shocked by what had happened that morning. He felt a spasm of concern himself when he recalled how close it had been and the kind of danger that had threatened.