Love On The Frontier (A Bounty Hunter's Tale) Book I

Chapter Five | The Capital

'You look like hell!'

Arizona 1873

It was not before long that had made it into Phoenix, Arizona. The girl did not speak the entire way, which Clayton believed a blessing from God. Instead she sat quietly and sulked. A few times Clayton would look over and see tears running down her face or hear her sniffling. This was, without a doubt, the most awkward and unpleasant ride he had ever been on.

Her parent's murder was unfortunate, but in these days there was little time one had to grieve. It was best to move on as soon as possible.

It was well past the lunch hour when they pulled up to the local sheriffs station. Clayton was getting hungry and he was certain that she was, too.

"Stay here," Clayton ordered over his shoulder as he headed into the station.

There were several officers inside. A long time ago he thought that he'd become a deputy or a sheriff. Then he realized they do little to nothing in the name of justice and half the time they're about as crooked and the crooks they arrest--many times even worse.

He recognized the heavyset lawman to be the sheriff, an old acquaintance of his. "Clay?!" The man called when he walked in. He rose from his seat and walked over with a grin plastered on his round face. "It's been some years, boy," Sheriff Fisher said as he gave him a friendly slap on the shoulder.

Clayton hated being touched--unless of course it was by a woman he intended to bed. Fisher was aware of Clayton's aversion for human contact, but did it anyway. If he was not a sheriff Clayton would have broken his wrist by now.

"You look like hell!" Fisher chuckled. Fisher looked around at the other officers and jutted his thumb over at Clayton. "This here boys is the best damn bounty hunter in the west. Clayton Harden or as the bandits like to call him 'The Hound'." He heartily chuckled.

Every officer appeared impressed. They too had heard the rumors of The Hound--some true some not. Many times he has had to use an alias in the towns he enters, otherwise the bandits he pursued would try to skip out of town. He often regretted ever revealing to Fisher his real name--but a bottle of tequila can make a man act out of character.

"Who'd you get for me this time?" Fisher smiled, his thick gray mustache spreading wide.

"Bo Clancy. I don't have Boone." The men all began to mutter in shock and relief. "Also, I came to let you know about a couple that Bo and Boone murdered a few miles down near the river."

Fisher snarled as he cursed. "We've been trying to locate them son's of bitches for weeks." He eyed Clayton suspiciously and asked, "How come you didn't kill the other one? Where's Boone at? I know he didn't get away from you unless you let him."

"I overheard Bo and Boone talking about meeting up with Ned Hamilton, " Clayton said. "I'm gonna follow him and--"

"And collect a bigger bounty. . .I see." Fisher smiled and slapped Clayton on the arm. "I knew you was smart!" He squeezed Clayton's shoulder. "I also know the family that you're talkin' about they killed. A man by the name of James. He was good man for all I knew. Quiet. Never caused trouble and made rare appearances in town. He stayed up there in the woods with his colored wife. Now that I think about it. . .I think they had themselves a lil' girl. He was a real private man, that James." He bumped him with his elbow and said, "He didn't want no one goin' up to his cabin to snatch up his ladies." Fisher shook his head in disappointment. "They killed all of 'em? The wife and child?"