The Town Council Meeting by J. R. Roberts

Ed Kennedy. And Charlie was the best shot on the ranch. He knew both of those things were true, but the other truth he knew was that he’d never shot anything but an animal before and that was only when he was hunting for food.
    He got up on the highest roof he could find and hoped that when the time came he’d be able to take the shot. If he didn’t, he didn’t see how he could stay on the ranch anymore.

    â€œI know who you are, you know,” Barbara Kennedy said to Clint.
    â€œWhat?”
    She nodded.
    â€œThe hands were talking, and Arnie Coleman told me that you killed Ed.”
    â€œDid he tell you why?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œOr how he knew?”
    â€œHe said everyone knew Big Ed was going to hire you,” she said.
    â€œTo do what?”
    â€œNobody knows,” she said. “Arnie thought it might be to kill Andy Rivers or Matt Holmes.”
    â€œDid your husband ever say anything to you about having them killed?”
    â€œOh no,” she said, “Big Ed never talked to me about his business.”
    â€œDid he ever talk to anyone about his business?” Clint asked.
    â€œI assume Arnie, since he’s the foreman.”
    â€œSo Arnie would know if Big Ed had hired me,” Clint said. “And he’d know why.”
    â€œI guess.”
    â€œAnd he’d know if Big Ed didn’t hire me.”
    She sipped her drink and noticed her glass was empty. “I would say so. Could you fill my glass for me again, please?”
    â€œSure.”
    He stood up and she handed him her drink. From that position he was looking right down the front of her nightgown.
    â€œSo,” he continued, yanking his eyes away from her cleavage and walking across the room, “Arnie Coleman should be the only man who knows the whole truth.”
    â€œIf you say so. Are you coming with that drink?”
    He poured some whiskey in the glass and carried it back to her. She reached for the glass and took it. Her other hand brushed against his thigh as he sat back down next to her.
    â€œBarbara, would Arnie Coleman have any reason to kill Big Ed?”
    â€œI don’t think so,” she said. “I mean . . . why would Arnie kill the man who was paying him?”
    â€œMaybe,” Clint said, “Arnie got fired?”
    â€œI don’t know anything about Arnie getting fired,” she said.
    â€œYou said your husband didn’t talk to you about his business,” Clint said. “So why would he tell you if he had decided to fire Arnie?”
    She tapped her nail on the glass she held.
    â€œSo Arnie is trying to blame you?”
    â€œBy telling all the hands that Big Ed was hiring the Gunsmith,” Clint said. “That’s why they all knew about Big Ed’s plans. And for everyone to know, that would be unusual, right?”
    â€œYes, correct,” she said. “Tell me, how do you intend to prove this?”
    â€œWell,” he said, “we’ll have to question all the hands, find out how they heard that Big Ed was planning to hire me.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œAnd I’ll need you to testify that your husband would only discuss his business with his foreman.”
    â€œSo, you need me to come to town with you?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œTonight?”
    â€œWell . . . that would be helpful.”
    She thought it over for a few moments, then said, “I don’t think so.”

TWENTY-FIVE
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI don’t want to ride into town tonight.”
    â€œBut . . . why not?”
    â€œWell . . . for one thing,” she said, “I’m kind of drunk. Who’s going to believe anything I say in this condition?”
    Clint had been wondering when she would show some effect of the whiskey she was drinking. He assumed she’d been drinking before he got there, and so far she was remarkably lucid.
    â€œI think I can convince the judge to believe what you say,