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Authors: E.V. Thompson
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my duty.
Connolly glared at Aaron for a long time before saying, ‘Damn you, Marshal, I’ll report your insolent manner to the Attorney-General and have your badge for this. What did you same your name is?’
‘I didn’t, but it’s Marshal Aaron Berryman – and I don’t think you will find the Attorney General accommodating. I’ve been appointed direct by President Ulysses S. Grant to come West and let it be known that United States law doesn’t stop at the Mississippi. Any complaint from you will only remind him that the river gang we took on yesterday had been operating in the vicinity of your State without hindrance, or any action from you, for longer than a year. He might feel it time for changes to be made in order to deal with lawlessness in States along the river.’
The mention of Aaron’s name had filled Senator Connolly with dismay. He was aware that Aaron had served with the United States President during the late Civil War and that the two men were close friends.
He was also aware of Aaron’s formidable reputation as a Peace Officer. He realized he had chosen to lock horns with a man who probably had far more political power than he himself possessed.
‘I’ll take my son off to his cabin and see what he has to say for himself in the morning. I am not saying I am entirely satisfied with what has happened here tonight, but I would not question your integrity, Marshal Berryman. I’ll bid you good night.’
CHAPTER 8
When Connolly had taken his son from the gambling saloon, Wes thanked Aaron for his intervention with the Louisiana Senator, but the US Marshal made light of it.
‘I expected no more and no less from Connolly,’ he said. ‘He’s one of the most pompous men in the Senate, also one of the most insecure – and he knows it. I doubt if he’s ever made a decision or put forward an original idea since the day he was elected. He bends with the wind, always chasing popularity … but it’s something he has never managed to achieve. President Grant would be pleased to have him out, but by doing nothing Connolly makes no mistakes. He knows I am close to Grant so he’ll not do anything that might upset me.’
Wes realized, not for the first time, that chance had thrown him into friendship with a very special man who had a great many influential friends.
‘Would you really have shot the Senator’s son had he managed to draw his gun?’ he asked.
‘Would you have been likely to die had he shoved the gunin your ribs and pulled the trigger?’ Aaron responded. Not waiting for a reply he added, ‘There’s someone coming across who you’ll enjoy talking to far more than to me. I’ll speak to you later about the need to keep a gun on you at all times now you’re heading out West.’
Turning his head, Wes saw Anabelita heading towards them and Aaron nodded an acknowledgement to her as he made his way back to the seat he had been occupying before trouble broke out in the saloon.
When she reached Wes, Anabelita smiled at him and said, ‘I want to thank you for coming to my aid just now, but I am sorry to have put your life in danger as a result.’
‘It was no fault of yours,’ Wes replied, aware that Anabelita was even more attractive close to than she had appeared at a distance, ‘but I might not have been quite so brave had I known he was carrying a gun.’
‘I do not believe that,’ Anabelita replied, ‘but I would not have allowed him to play at my table had I known. Guns are strictly forbidden in the gambling saloon.’
‘Does that rule apply to croupiers too?’ Wes asked, with apparent innocence.
Anabelita looked at him uncertainly for a few minutes then, with a faint hint of embarrassment, she replied, ‘I think Lola has been saying far more to you than she should.’
‘Perhaps,’ Wes agreed, ‘but, as a matter of interest, have you ever needed to make use of such a … deterrent?’
‘Once or twice,’ Anabelita admitted, ‘… but never while I have been
Connolly glared at Aaron for a long time before saying, ‘Damn you, Marshal, I’ll report your insolent manner to the Attorney-General and have your badge for this. What did you same your name is?’
‘I didn’t, but it’s Marshal Aaron Berryman – and I don’t think you will find the Attorney General accommodating. I’ve been appointed direct by President Ulysses S. Grant to come West and let it be known that United States law doesn’t stop at the Mississippi. Any complaint from you will only remind him that the river gang we took on yesterday had been operating in the vicinity of your State without hindrance, or any action from you, for longer than a year. He might feel it time for changes to be made in order to deal with lawlessness in States along the river.’
The mention of Aaron’s name had filled Senator Connolly with dismay. He was aware that Aaron had served with the United States President during the late Civil War and that the two men were close friends.
He was also aware of Aaron’s formidable reputation as a Peace Officer. He realized he had chosen to lock horns with a man who probably had far more political power than he himself possessed.
‘I’ll take my son off to his cabin and see what he has to say for himself in the morning. I am not saying I am entirely satisfied with what has happened here tonight, but I would not question your integrity, Marshal Berryman. I’ll bid you good night.’
CHAPTER 8
When Connolly had taken his son from the gambling saloon, Wes thanked Aaron for his intervention with the Louisiana Senator, but the US Marshal made light of it.
‘I expected no more and no less from Connolly,’ he said. ‘He’s one of the most pompous men in the Senate, also one of the most insecure – and he knows it. I doubt if he’s ever made a decision or put forward an original idea since the day he was elected. He bends with the wind, always chasing popularity … but it’s something he has never managed to achieve. President Grant would be pleased to have him out, but by doing nothing Connolly makes no mistakes. He knows I am close to Grant so he’ll not do anything that might upset me.’
Wes realized, not for the first time, that chance had thrown him into friendship with a very special man who had a great many influential friends.
‘Would you really have shot the Senator’s son had he managed to draw his gun?’ he asked.
‘Would you have been likely to die had he shoved the gunin your ribs and pulled the trigger?’ Aaron responded. Not waiting for a reply he added, ‘There’s someone coming across who you’ll enjoy talking to far more than to me. I’ll speak to you later about the need to keep a gun on you at all times now you’re heading out West.’
Turning his head, Wes saw Anabelita heading towards them and Aaron nodded an acknowledgement to her as he made his way back to the seat he had been occupying before trouble broke out in the saloon.
When she reached Wes, Anabelita smiled at him and said, ‘I want to thank you for coming to my aid just now, but I am sorry to have put your life in danger as a result.’
‘It was no fault of yours,’ Wes replied, aware that Anabelita was even more attractive close to than she had appeared at a distance, ‘but I might not have been quite so brave had I known he was carrying a gun.’
‘I do not believe that,’ Anabelita replied, ‘but I would not have allowed him to play at my table had I known. Guns are strictly forbidden in the gambling saloon.’
‘Does that rule apply to croupiers too?’ Wes asked, with apparent innocence.
Anabelita looked at him uncertainly for a few minutes then, with a faint hint of embarrassment, she replied, ‘I think Lola has been saying far more to you than she should.’
‘Perhaps,’ Wes agreed, ‘but, as a matter of interest, have you ever needed to make use of such a … deterrent?’
‘Once or twice,’ Anabelita admitted, ‘… but never while I have been
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