Quicksilver Passion (195 page)

A murmur went through the crowd.

Big Ed shouted.
Are we gonna stand for this? Are we gonna put up with that damned Injun whore right here in the middle of Denver while her in-laws kill white folks?”

He looked toward Lon and Lon shouted,
Hell, no! We won’t stand for it! Will we, men?”

An angry murmur went through the saloon.

Lon shouted louder.
Who’s going to help me bring her to justice?”

A cry went up from the drunken crowd.

Lon waved his fist.
Free drinks for every decent man who’ll help me clean that redskin and her cheating card sharps and diseased whores out of this town!”

He’s right!” men shouted.
Let’s burn her out! She’s the only frame building left! Let’s burn her out!”

Lon watched as the drunken crowd shouted and surged forward toward the doors, even as Big Ed smiled and retreated back into a corner. It amazed Lon that, like sheep, a mob would do anything suggested to them in the name of
doing what’s right.” For only a moment, he was dumbfounded, and then he ran to lead the men who pushed through the doors and surged out into the cold November night.

From somewhere, torches appeared, were set ablaze, and handed around. When it was what the democratic majority wanted, shouldn’t the people be able to prevail?

Someone thrust a torch into Lon’s hands and he paused before the crowd, waving it like a banner.
All right, men, think of the money you’ve lost in the Palace! Think of that red-skinned bitch spreading the pox around with her diseased whores! Let’s do what’s right!”

The roar of the crowd drowned his out now and he turned and was swept along the street by the mob, everyone shouting and waving torches. Men along the sidewalks paused and ran to join in, not seeming to know or care where the crowd was bound for, just eager to get in on the excitement.

And it was exciting! Lon took a deep breath of the scent of burning pitch as the bright orange flares lit up the night and the crowd roared and surged around him. His heart beat hard with vengeance. He had waited for this moment a long, long time.

By the time they reached the Palace, the mob had grown to several hundred men, all shouting and waving torches. Where the law was tonight, Lon didn’t know or care. If they were smart, they’d stay out of the crowd’s way until justice was done.

Customers inside the Palace seemed to rush outside when they saw the crowd coming down the stret. All he had to do now was hold them back for a moment while he went in and got the governess.

Men!” Brett shouted as they surged around him in front of the Palace.
Men, hold up a moment!”

Only a few even heard him as they pushed forward.
What’s he want? I think he’s changed his mind and is trying to stop us! Stop us, hell! We’re going to do what’s right!”

Lon Brett threw up his hand and shouted for silence, but no one seemed to listen. This wouldn’t do! He wanted to get his hands on that girl first.
Men! Stop!”