Sudden Plays a Hand

The man’s hands were bound. From a branch overhead dangled a lariat, the end in the hands of two burly men. Someone was raising a hand as a signal when Sudden stepped forward, guns drawn. ‘Mebbe one of you will tell me what’s goin’ on?’ he suggested. ‘We’re stringing up a cattle thief,’ a broken-nosed man snarled. ‘Ain’t that plain enough?’ ‘What’s your name?’ Sudden asked quietly. ‘Lanty,’ the man replied. ‘What’s that to you?’ Sudden grinned, a cold and mirthless grin. ‘I might need it for your tombstone.’