DENTON CROUCH 16

WHEN DENTON RODE INTO WILLCOX IT WASNT MIDNIGHT YET. HE HAD MADE GOOD TIME. HE PUT HIS HORSE AWAY AND WENT TO HIS ROOM AND FELL ONTO THE BED STILL WEARING HIS BOOTS AND SPURS. THE SUN WAS SHINNING IN HIS FACE THE NEXT MORNING . HE RAN A PALM OVER HIS FACE TRYING TO RUB THE SLEEP FROM IT. A WASH BOWL STOOD ON THE DRESSER AND A PITCHER OF WATER NEXT TO IT. HE STRIPED TO THE AIIST AND BEGAN WASHING THE TRAIL DIST FROM HIS FACE AND TORSO. WHILE DOING THAT HE WAS RUNNINGA PLAN THROUGH HIS MIND AND JUST WHAT HE NEEDED TO SAY IN EXPLAINING IT. a half hour later he came into the dinning room of the boarding house. most folks who stayed there had left but there was a couple of drummers lingering over their coffee. he pulled a chair out down the table from them and seated himself. when jody came from the kitchen and saw him she almost stoped then picked up a step when she got near him she smiled " when did you get in?" " midnight. can i get a cup of coffee and some bacon and eggs?" denton asked. she spun on her heel and went back into the kitchen. when she returned she had a cup of coffee for him. behind her he could see the cook peering through the kitchen door at him. he smilled to him self. jody fussed around the dinning room picking up the dirty dishes and cleaning the table. the two drummers took the hint and excused them selves and left. when denton had finished his breakfast he pushed back from the table and held his coffee cup up for jody to refil "you going to hang around here now?" jody asked. denton nodded. " do you want me to?" "yes very much so.are you going to keep on being a lawman?"jody quietly asked as she picked up his dirty dishes. " not if i can help it. i got a idea . ime going to look into it this morning. braxton starr was able to take the badge off ime sure if i can get a start in things i can to. would tht be ok with you?" he looked jody square in the face, she ducked her head and quietly said yes. when denton finished the second cup of coffee he stood up and stretched. jody stood at the kitchen door watching him. "ill be back for the noon meal. cross your fingers for luck" denton went to the hat rack by the door and put his hat on.when he stepped out on the board walk he saw the town was stirring for the day. a locomotive sat on the sideing down at the rail road corrals. frieght wagons passed in front of him going both directions. " theres lots of places worse to live" he thought to him self. he turned down rail road avenue toward the arizona bank.the legal notice folded into his shirt pocket. he was going to take a gamble.