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  “I guess I'm ready now, Bish,” he said.

  Bishop swallowed hard, wondering if Steele would have shot for the sky had there been a live round under the hammer. "Get your horse, Adam.” he instructed.

  Steele's mount was ready saddled, tethered to, the inside of the stockade wall. He swung up into the saddle and moved out through the gateway.

  “It's going to be a long, hot ride, Bish,” he said, taking the weighted scarf from around his neck and running it over the sweat beads clinging to his thick stubble.

  “Be better when we get away from this place,” Bishop replied. “These bodies won't take long to get high.”

  Steele grinned. “Guess their souls have already gone low - to a hotter place than this.”

  “Maybe,” Bishop replied, heeling his horse forward. “But let's finish the killing with them. Let's remember we were friends once.”

  “Up to you, Bish,” Steele said softly, moving his horse alongside that of the deputy.

  They were almost to the far side of the drill square when Steele made his move, lurching to the side and curling one weighted end of the scarf around Bishop's neck. The deputy yelled in pain and surprise, then found himself thudded to the ground. Steele fell on top of him, straddling him, gloved hands crossed and pulling the thuggee's scarf tight.

  “'The guy in the barroom would have been okay, Bish,” Steele said softly. 'But all the others have cooked my goose. “I wouldn't stand a chance in a courtroom. You want to go back alone and tell them you couldn't find me?”

  “I don't think you'll do it, Adam,” Bishop croaked, fingers scrabbling ineffectually at the constricting fabric of the scarf. “But it's no deal, anyway. I only do favors for friends. We had a good friendship once, but you killed it.”

  He gave a sudden upward thrust of his body, arching “his back in an attempt to throw Steele off. But Steele pressed down harder on him, crossing his hands sharply. The scarf became taut, and within seconds, a gurgle signified that Bishop was dead.

  Steele stood up, leaving the scarf around Bishop's throat. “We sure did, Bish,” he said softly, his expression softening into sadness. “But all good things got to come to…

  AN END”

  #2 THE BOUNTY HUNTER

  Coming in October

  By The Same Author… The Bestselling Series: Edge.

  The Loner

  Ten Grand

  Apache Death

  Killer’s Breed

  Blood on Silver

  The Blue, The Grey and The Red

  Number 7 and 8 will be available soon!

  Also… EDGE: The Mini Series

  The complete series is now on sale at Amazon & Barnes & Noble.