“I’m not under arrest, am I?”
“Not yet.”
“Not yet, eh?” Joe laughed recklessly. “Well, I reckon I’ll be goin’ then.”
Joe turned back to his horse.
“Yo’re not goin’!” snapped Kelsey.
Joe whirled quickly. Kelsey had half-drawn his gun. It was a foolish move on Kelsey’s part; he should have covered Joe, if he wanted to hold him badly enough to resort to a gun-play. Joe did not hesitate. His right hand jerked upward and he fired from his waist.
Kelsey’s gun was out of the holster, but his hand flipped open and the gun fell to the sidewalk. He staggered backward, clutching his right forearm, while Joe swung into his saddle and rode swiftly out of town, heading south.
The revolver shot attracted plenty of attention, and it also served to sober the Heavenly Triplets. Kelsey swore bitterly as he clawed away his shirt sleeve. The heavy bullet had plowed its way through the muscles of his forearm, but did not touch the bone. The shock of it had caused Kelsey’s hand to jerk open, releasing his gun.
Folks were crowding in from every direction, trying to find out what it was all about.
“You better pack that arm to the doctor,” advised Lonnie.