Chapter 23

Reno finally rose and stumbled into the sheriff’s office. He’d been in there a couple of hours when suddenly things turned ugly and loud voices were heard coming from inside.

“I want you out of town, Reno! I’m sick and tired of you bringin’ your trouble to Red River. I run a quiet, law-abidin’ town, and I don’t want the likes of you hangin’ around givin’ us a bad name.”

“Why, you bastard! Do you think for one minute I’m gonna stand here and listen to some weak-kneed sheriff tell me what to do? I could own this town if I wanted to!”

“Just try, cowboy, just try. I should have locked you up a long time ago.”

Suddenly someone struck a blow, followed by furniture breaking, and a body flying across a window. The fight went on for several minutes until finally the sheriff’s door burst open and Reno rolled out into the street at the feet of a crowd that had gathered outside.