George - Kid Palomino: outlaws

Kid Palomino: Outlaws

Outlaw Bill Carson and his gang ride into the quietsettlement of Fargo knowing that the sheriff and his deputies are out of town.Carson has inside information about the bank and banker, which the ruthlesskiller intends to use to his advantage. What Carson and his equallyblood-thirsty gang do not know is that the deputies have arrived back early.Kid Palomino and his fellow lawman Red Rivers notice the strangers in town anddecide to find out who they are. All hell erupts as the lawmen confront Carsonand his gang. The Kid and Red give chase....

By the same author

The Valko Kid

Kid Palomino

The Guns of Trask

The Shadow of Valko

Palomino Rider

The Spurs of Palomino

South of the Badlands

The Masked Man

Palomino Showdown

Return of the Valko Kid

The Trail of Trask

Kid Dynamite

War Smoke

The Sunset Kid

The Venom of Valko

The Mark of Trask

Fortress Palomino

To Kill the Valko Kid

Kid Fury

Stagecoach to Waco Wells

The Ghosts of War Smoke

The Wizard of War Smoke

KidPalomino: Outlaws

MichaelD. George

ROBERT HALE

Michael D. George 2017

First published in Great Britain 2017

ISBN 978-0-7198-2199-8

The Crowood Press

The Stable Block

Crowood Lane

Ramsbury

Marlborough

Wiltshire SN8 2HR

www.bhwesterns.com

Robert Hale is an imprint of The Crowood Press

The right of Michael D. George to be identified as authorof this work has been asserted by him

in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act1988

Dedicated to my grand-daughters Alexia and Skye

PROLOGUE

The town of Fargo was quiet. Most of its inhabitants hadbeen asleep for hours as the sky slowly began to show the first glimpses oflight. The sun was about to rise but five riders were already wide-awake asthey slowly steered their horses into the sleepy settlement. Merciless outlawBill Carson led his band of fellow outlaws through the back streets toward theFargo Bank.

Like his followers, Carson sported a long dust coat whichhid their arsenal of weaponry from curious eyes. He led the Brand brothers,Luke and Amos through the shadows like a mute army general. Poke Peters andJeff Kane trailed the trio like obedient guard dogs. It was their job to watchout for any sign of trouble that might raise its head and start fanning theirgun hammers in their direction.

Yet Fargo was a law-abiding settlement. Trouble rarelyentered its boundaries. Until this day it had only had to cope with drunkenrevelry but as the heavens slowly grew lighter above the roof shingles, allthat was about to change. Had it been later in the day, the streets would havebeen filled to overflowing with people going about their rituals.

Bill Carson had chosen the moment of their arrival withperfect accuracy. He knew that the moment between night and the birth of a newday was when all towns were at their most vulnerable.

The outlaw leader kept tapping his bloody spurs into theflanks of his powerful mount. Carson was known for his prowess at robbing eventhe sturdiest of banks and was wanted dead or alive in three states and twoterritories. Yet no one in Fargo had ever set eyes upon him before. He hadtravelled more than a hundred miles from his usual hunting grounds in order tostrike at Fargos seemingly impenetrable bank.

Unknown to his four deadly underlings, Carson had been giveninside information concerning not only the bank itself but also its owner. Allthe brutal Carson had to do was follow his instructions and the money was asgood as his.

The five riders continued at their slow pace and as far asCarson was concerned, everything else would fall neatly into place. His hoodedeyes glanced over his shoulder at the men riding behind him. They were allhired killers and wanted by the law just like he was. The only differencebetween them was that Carson demanded total obedience and would kill even themif they did not follow his orders.

Carson had two rules that he demanded his followers abide bywithout question.

The first was to kill anyone who got in their way and thesecond was not to show any mercy. Carson had earned the high price on his head.He had left a mountain of dead bodies in his wake. Women and children faredlittle better than men when it came to the hot lead he and his men dished out.

Carson glanced at the cloudless heavens and continued to jabhis spurs into his walking mount. Blood dripped from the metal spikes. Hewatched the sky turn pink as the distant sun was about to rise.

The bank stood like a fortress in the middle of Fargo. Ittowered over the many other buildings. Not one of the numerous outlaws who hadpassed this way before had even dared to try and rob it. Its red brick andcement walls were enough to scare most of the lethal outlaws away. The ironbars that covered every one of its windows looked impossible to penetrate, asdid its reinforced doors.

Yet Bill Carson kept jabbing his spurs even though he knewthe bank was virtually impregnable. His eyes darted from one shadow to the nextas he led his four followers deeper into the sprawling town. The empty streetssatisfied the merciless Carson as he glanced at the gigantic edifice.

Keep riding, boys, he growled.

The five horsemen rode slowly past the massive structure andglanced at the ominous sight. Fargo was getting brighter with every heartbeatbut Carson did not seem to be at all concerned. The confused riders who trailedthe veteran bank robber considered the reason why the ruthless Carson continuedto jab his spurs and turn into another side street.

The Brand brothers glanced at one another and silently beganto wonder why they were now riding away from the very thing they had travelledtwo days to rob. Amos Brand looked over his shoulder at Peters and Kane. Theytoo could not understand what was going on.

But no matter how curious they were they did not dare toquestion Carsons motives or reasoning. They just followed and left thethinking to the lethal outlaw.

Bill Carson turned up what appeared at first glance to be adead end, yet the narrow lane led to a secluded street of four very expensivehouses. Carson drew rein and stopped his mount as his gang flanked him.

Whats this place, Bill? Luke Brand asked as he surveyedthe properties curiously. Whyd we come here?

I thought we were here to rob that back there, Kane addedas he steadied his mount.

Carson did not answer. He simply pulled out a long thincigar and bit off its tail. He spat at the ground and then placed the blackweed between his teeth. Then the outlaw struck a match and cupped its flame andsucked. When his lungs were filled with acrid smoke, Carson slowly exhaled andtossed the match at the sand before them.

He pointed at the end house. See that house sitting there,boys?

The four riders nodded.

Whats so important about that one, Bill? Kane asked.

A certain Stanley Hardwick lives in that fine house,Carson informed his curious men. And Hardwick happens to be the man who ownsthat big red brick bank.

Peters rested his hands on his saddle horn and lookedblankly at Carson. Thats real nice, Bill. But why do we wanna know where thatvarmint lives?

Carson tilted his head, pulled the cigar from his mouth andtapped ash at the sand. A cruel smile etched his hardened features as he glaredat Peters and then the others.

Hardwick dont live on his lonesome, he said. He gothimself a wife and a fifteen-year-old daughter.

His men were still no wiser. They looked at their leaderwith bemused expressions. Carson shook his head and sighed heavily.