"Evans, Tabor - Longarm 234 - Longarm and the Renegade Assassins" - читать интересную книгу автора (Evans Tabor)

Longarm was a tall man, something over six feet in height, with a
horseman's lean build, broad shoulders, and a craggy, sun- and wind-burned
face. He had brown hair, brown eyes, and a large handlebar mustache. He
wore a Colt revolver strapped at his waist in a cross-draw rig carried just
to the left of his belt buckle, and a derringer carried much less
conspicuously in his vest pocket where an ordinary watch fob would have
been expected. Normally calm and unexcitable, this morning Longarm was
more than a little nervous.

Billy Vail glanced up at him and observed, "The lady must be something
special."

"Lady? That request doesn't say anything about any ladies."

The marshal smiled. "How long have I known you, Longarm? Ten years
or more? I think by now I know what's up when you come rushing in here at
the last moment and ask to take actual leave time starting immediately.
Not just a couple days off, mind. But time charged against your annual
leave? Custis, you surprise me with this. And you haven't surprised me in
an awfully long time now."

Longarm didn't bother arguing with his boss. There would have been no
point. Once Billy decided on a point of view, it would take some serious
proofs to the contrary if one expected to make the man change his mind.

Besides, Billy was right. There was a lady involved in Longarm's
desire to take an unannounced holiday in the mountains west of Denver. A
very special lady indeed. And if he let this one get away, well ...

"Well?" Longarm asked, unable to contain the question any longer.

Vail smiled. "Sure, you can have the time off. The rest of this week
and ... what was it you wanted? Until next Thursday too. Will that suit
you?"

"Perfect," Longarm enthused. "Just what the doctor ordered." Or if
not the doctor, then the nurse, although he kept that to himself.
"Thanks."

"One thing," Billy cautioned.

"What's that?"

"Before you go, Longarm, I want you to help me show the colors here at
noon."

"Show the colors? I don't understand. You want me to do something
with the flag, Boss?"

"I didn't mean literally. But I want a nice show of force from as