Matt’s eyebrows rose. “The whole state?”
Bickford nodded. “That’s right.”
“But…but you can’t just get rid of booze in the whole state!”
“It’s done,” Bickford insisted. “Governor St. John signed the law into effect and swore in a force of special marshals to see that it’s carried out. We’re empowered to deputize men to help us.”
Sam jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “That’s why you were after those men in that cabin?”
“That’s right. They’ve been brewing and selling illegal whiskey. We called on them to surrender, in which case we would have simply taken them into custody and destroyed their still, but they refused and opened fire on us.”
“So you tossed a bomb at them,” Matt said.
“And blew up their still,” Sam said. “That’s what caused the explosion to be so big. They must have had some of their whiskey stored in there.”
Bickford nodded. “Quite a bit, in fact, judging by what happened. It’s fortunate for them that they all got out in time.”
“What if they hadn’t?” Matt asked.
Bickford’s beefy shoulders rose and fell in a shrug. “Then the state would have been spared the expense of trying them on charges of violating the liquor act and attempted murder of sworn peace officers. Those fellas will be behind bars for quite a spell, I’m afraid.”
“Well, no offense, but tryin’ to blow up somebody just because he’s been brewin’ a little Who-hit-John seems to me like a damned sorry way to make a livin’,” Matt said.
“It’s the law, son,” Bickford replied. “And you don’t really care whether you offend me or not, do you?”
“Come to think of it…no, I sure don’t.”
Bickford smiled. “That’s all right. Any lawman learns pretty quickly that he’s got to have a thick hide to do the job, at least if he intends to do it right.”
“Is there a town around here?” Sam asked.
“Sure is. Nice place called Cottonwood, about ten miles east.”
“Do they have any saloons there?” Matt asked.
“Not anymore. Town’s dry as a bone, just like the rest of Kansas.”
Matt growled in disgust. “I don’t believe it. How’s a fella supposed to cut the dust from his mouth when he’s been on the trail all day if he can’t even get a damned beer?”
“Buttermilk’s good for that,” Bickford said.
Matt made a face. “Never did care for that clabber.”
“You could probably get a phosphate at the drugstore.”
“Ah, just forget it!” Matt lifted the reins and urged his horse ahead of the other two riders.
Bickford smiled over at Sam. “Your friend’s a mite hotheaded, isn’t he? Can’t say as I really blame him. I used to enjoy a drink every now and then, too. But the law’s the law, and I’m sworn to uphold it. I hope you boys understand and won’t give me any reason to look you up again in my official capacity.”
“We’re not moonshiners, Marshal, and if we get thirsty enough, I suppose we can head for Nebraska or Texas, or turn around and go back to Colorado. I assume they still have plenty of whiskey in those places.”
“I reckon they do.”
“I have to say, though,” Sam went on, “I don’t envy you your job. I have a hunch you’ll be a very unpopular man wherever you go.”
“Like I said, a lawman’s got to have a thick hide. So long, Mr…. What is your name anyway?”
“Sam Two Wolves.” Sam nodded toward his blood brother, who was riding about twenty yards ahead of them now. “That’s Matt Bodine.”
“Bodine.” Bickford repeated the name like it meant something to him. “I’ve heard of him. You, too. I used to be a Dickinson County deputy sheriff, over Abilene way. You fellas have quite a reputation among lawmen.”
“For helping them out, you mean?”
Bickford grunted, and after a second Sam realized the sound had been a laugh. “More like for always being around whenever there’s trouble.”
“Unfortunately, there’s something to what you say, Marshal. But we try to avoid it when we can.”
“Uh-huh.” Bickford didn’t sound convinced, and in truth, it was a pretty feeble claim considering the evidence, Sam thought. “Are you headed for Cottonwood?” Bickford asked.
“We need supplies. That would be the closest place to get them.”
“Yeah, I suppose it would. Well, be careful. I’d better get back and help transport those prisoners.”
Bickford lifted a hand in farewell and wheeled his horse around. Sam heeled his mount into a faster pace and drew even with Matt again a moment later.
“You finish talking to that loco hombre?” Matt asked without looking over at his blood brother.
“He didn’t strike me as loco.”
“Anybody who thinks he can stop folks from drinkin’ is plumb crazy,” Matt said. “When people get thirsty, they’ll find a way to take a drink.”
“You’re probably right about that,” Sam admitted. “Still, Marshal Bickford and the others are just trying to do their jobs.”
“Like I said, it’s a sorry excuse for a job.”
Sam let the subject drop. He knew there wouldn’t be any changing of Matt’s mind, and anyway, Sam thought that Matt was pretty much right in his opinions this time.
“We’ll stop in Cottonwood and pick up some supplies. That’ll take just about all of our cash, though, so we might have to try to find a poker game.”
“Didn’t you hear Bickford?” Matt asked. “There aren’t any saloons in that town. They’ve all been closed down because of that stupid law.”
“They may not be selling liquor anymore, but I’ll bet there’s someplace in town where poker games still go on.”
Matt shrugged. “Maybe. We’ll have a look around.”
He was an excellent poker player, and could usually run up a stake for them when their funds ran low. If they were in a town where there was a telegraph office, they could wire home for money. Each of the blood brothers owned a cattle spread in Montana, and thanks to the efforts of the crews who worked for them, those ranches were quite successful. From time to time, Matt and Sam talked about returning to Montana to live and work on their range, but that idea was soon discarded. They weren’t ready to settle down yet, not by a long shot.
Half an hour later, they began seeing smoke from the chimneys of Cottonwood. A little later, the town itself came into view, a good-sized group of buildings scattered along the bank of a creek. The trees that gave the place its name grew on the other side of the stream. Cottonwood had a couple of churches with their steeples standing tall above the settlement, along with a large, whitewashed building at the edge of town that was probably the school. A number of business buildings lined the main street, with residences on the other side of town from the creek. It looked like a typical cow town, maybe a little sleepier and more peaceful than some.
That tranquil atmosphere was the main reason Matt and Sam were both surprised when, for the second time today, they heard the roar of gunfire fill the air.
Chapter 3
Sam didn’t even try to talk Matt