“Hold it, everybody!”
There was a sharp air of authority in Old Thad’s shout. Billy was surprised to see that the authority was backed by a percussion Colt .44 balanced in the old man’s hands—surprised that the old man had drawn so fast.
Then he noticed that Jason Thornhill had made no move to draw, and Billy knew why the two riders had come along. Their hands rested on their g*n butts and they glowered resentfully at the old man’s interference. Billy breathed a quick prayer of thanks for Old Thad’s interruption. And he saw now that he’d done just what Jason had wanted him to—he’d lost his head and tried to draw against odds. Not just three-man odds, but against two men who had obviously been hired for their skill with a g*n. It made him feel a little foolish to think he’d taken the bait
