Lee (The Landon Saga Book 6) (5 page)

Chapter ten

Brian slipped out the back door while Brock and his men made their way to the other end of the bar. Amos served them drinks, and they leaned against the bar and watched the activity in the room. All three had scornful looks as they sipped their whiskey.

April appeared from the back, and she didn’t notice them as she walked by. There was a dirty table near them, and she gathered up the dishes and cleaned the table.

A wolfish look crossed Brock’s face as he watched her, and I narrowed my eyes.

April had her hands full as she turned and started towards the kitchen. She was walking briskly, but Brock stepped forward and blocked her path.

“Well! I thought I knew all the girls in town,” he scoffed. “Where’d you come from, little lady?”

“Excuse me,” I heard April say.

Brock grinned savagely, and several tense seconds passed. He continued to stare at her, but April kept her eyes downward.

Brock finally laughed and stepped back to the bar. April seized the opportunity and hurried past them.

I frowned disapprovingly. Old feelings started to stir within me, but I managed to stay calm.

Brock finished his drink and walked over to the gaming tables. Meanwhile, his two companions searched the tables, looking for a place to sit down.

One of them was tall, and the other one was short. They both wore Colts on their hips, and they looked eager to use them.

All of the tables were taken. They stood there a moment, and I saw them gesture at a table in the back and nod at each other.

There was an elderly couple occupying the table. They sat huddled together as they ate their supper.

The short man and tall man walked up to their table. Their movements were slow and deliberate, and just about everyone saw them. Just like that the room got quiet and still. 

The elderly couple was still eating, and they were unaware that anything was happening.

The two men hovered over the table and sneered down at them. Their backs were to me, so I left the bar and walked quietly towards them.

“Hey, old man,” I heard Shorty say.

The elderly couple looked up and spotted them.

“Yes?” The elderly man asked.

“You’re sitting at our table.”

The elderly man stiffened, and a stubborn look crossed his face.

“You are mistaken,” he said in a firm voice.

A snarl appeared on Shorty’s face.

“You calling me a liar?”

“No, but we’re not moving,” the elderly man declared.

I now stood directly behind them, and my gun hand hovered naturally over my Colt’s handle.

I took a quick glance at Brock. He was standing by the gaming tables, and he had an amused look on his face. But his arms were crossed, and it didn’t look like he was going to step in.

Shorty was about to say something when I cleared my throat and got their attention. They turned around, and as they did the elderly couple stood and moved out of the line of fire.

“Well now,” Shorty sneered. “If it ain’t the great Lee Mattingly.”

“That’s me.”

“I’ve heard you’re
some
hand with a Colt,” Shorty scoffed.

“You heard right,” I said, and added, “I’ll have to ask you boys to leave. Now.”

“What for?” Shorty asked, startled.

“Harassing the customers.”

“But we just got here,” Shorty objected.

“When you got here makes no difference to me,” I replied.

They didn’t like that. They glanced at each other and looked back at me.

“And if we don’t?”

I smiled.

“You boys have two choices. You can walk outta here, or you can be dragged out. Doesn’t really matter to me.”

“We ain’t going nowhere.”

I nodded. My shoulders were relaxed, and I was ready.

“You have a reputation and all, but that doesn’t matter to us,” Shorty sneered. “You ain’t nothing special.”

“Funny, I was just thinking the same thing about you.”

That did it. Shorty’s eyes went hard, and he grabbed for his Colt.

Shorty was fast. We cleared leather at the same time, and the sound of our Colts blended together.

My aim was true, but Shorty fired too soon. His bullet tore into the boards at my boots, and I heard a sharp whip as the bullet ricocheted.

There was a sound of broken glass behind me as I jumped sideways.

The tall man had fumbled his draw, and he was just bringing his Colt up when I fired into him. The bullet hit him in the chest with a thud, and he went flying backwards into the back wall. 

Shorty was still standing, and he had a shocked look on his face. I started to shoot him again, but he dropped his Colt and crumpled forward before I could.

Meanwhile, the tall man was leaning against the back wall with a dazed look. A hole in his chest oozed blood out as he slumped to the floor.

There was a haze of smoke in the room, and I squinted through it. Near as I could tell, both men were dead.

There was a sound at the door. Brian and Ross appeared behind me, and they held their Colts. Brian covered Brock, who was still standing beside the gaming tables.

A heavy silence held the room while the smoky haze lifted. All eyes were on me as I took the spent shells from my Colt and put new ones in.

I walked over to Brock with my Colt in hand, and Brian and Ross were behind me.

Brock had uncrossed his arms, and his hand hovered over his gun handle. I could tell by the expression on his face that he was tempted to go for it.

“Wave at the angels before you do something stupid,” I said sternly.

A confused look crossed his face.

“What?” He asked roughly.

I sighed and explained, “Hold your hands up.”

“Oh,” Brock said, and he slowly raised his hands to shoulder height. “That was nice shooting, Lee,” he drawled.

“You’re leaving,” I said as I ignored his comment. “Now.”

“Why me? I ain’t causing any trouble.”

“My hotel. My rules.”

Brock made an odd snorting sound. I wasn’t sure, but I think it was an attempt at a laugh.

“All right. I’ll leave if that’s what you want.”

“That’s what I want.”

“But I ain’t leaving because I’m scared.”

“Long as you leave, I don’t care what mood you’re in.”

Brock smiled at that.

“We’ll see each other again,” he said.

“And I hope you try something too,” I replied sarcastically. “I’d enjoy the practice.”

Brock grunted in response as he walked towards the door.

Soon as he was gone, Brian glanced at me.

“‘Wave at the angels’?” He asked softly.

“I just thought it up on the spot, real quick like,” I explained.

“I could tell.”

Chapter eleven

Ross wanted to know what happened, so I told him briefly how the events played out. He didn’t say much, but I could tell that he disapproved. Afterwards he left, saying that he wanted to write a report so he could fill in Rondo when he returned.

I spotted Amos behind the bar. He had a disturbed look, but he changed expressions when he saw me watching him.

“Amos,” I called out. “Go get the undertaker.”

“Who? Me?”

“Is there anybody else named Amos working here?” I glared at him.

“Oh. No. I’m sorry,” Amos stammered, and he hurried towards the door.

I narrowed my eyes as I watched him.

“Have you noticed how Amos is always apologizing?” I asked Brian in a quiet voice.

“He probably doesn’t want to get fired.”  

“I don’t think so,” I disagreed. “A man who apologizes all the time means he knows something we don’t.”

Brian snorted.

“Aw, you’re just getting superstitious.”

“Time will tell,” I replied. It was silent, and I added, “I could use some coffee.”

Brian nodded in agreement. I started towards the bar, but then I stopped abruptly. The mirror behind the bar had been shattered, and broken glass was everywhere.

“What happened to our mirror?” My mouth fell open.

“Looks like it got hit,” Brian observed.

“I can see
that
,” I frowned. “But who did it?”

Brian gestured at the two dead men.

“It was probably one of them.”

I shook my head in disgust.

“Of all the things in here, did they have to hit the mirror?” I complained.

“I reckon they could have hit you instead,” Brian tried to be helpful.

“That mirror cost a small fortune,” I said as I ignored his comment.

“Yes, Lee. I know. I’m the one who paid for it.”

I shook my head again and grunted in displeasure.

***

Brian and I sat at our corner table. We were drinking coffee, and I was also smoking a cigar. Our faces were glum as we looked at the wall where our mirror had been.

The excitement had caused all of our customers to leave. The place was a mess, so we closed early.

The undertaker had just arrived. He had two helpers with him, and they rolled Shorty and the tall man up into tarps and dragged them out.

Meanwhile, Amos brought out a mop and started cleaning up the blood while April swept up the broken glass.

I took a swig of coffee as I watched them, and then I sighed.

“Things didn’t go so well tonight,” I muttered.

“I’ll agree with that.”

“Things are bound to get better. It can’t get any worse.”

“It can’t?” Brian shot me a questioning look.

“For our sakes, it’d better not,” I replied, and asked, “Can we afford to replace the mirror?”

“No,” Brian said matter-of-factly. “Least not for a while.”

I frowned as I took a deep puff on my cigar.

“The bar looks sorta odd without a mirror.”

“We’ll get used to it.”

“When you think about it, having a mirror behind the bar really makes no sense,” I reasoned.

“How’s that?” Brian glanced at me with a confused look.

“Who wants to stand at the bar and watch himself get drunk?”

Brian pinched his face in thought.

“I can see your point.”

I nodded emphatically, and it fell silent as we drank our coffee.

Chapter twelve

Brock Jackson stood in front of Ike’s desk. He held his hat with both hands, and his face was solemn as he told Ike what had happened.

Ike sat behind his desk, and Butch stood in the corner. Their faces were emotionless as they listened. Afterwards, the room was very quiet.

Ike cleared his throat. He glanced at Butch and looked back at Brock.

“Did I not make myself clear when I said not to get too rough?”

“You did.”

“Then what happened?”

“It wasn’t me that started the trouble. It was the other two.”

“And now they’re dead.”

“Yes, sir. They sure are.”

It fell silent again as Ike pondered that. After a moment a wolfish smile crossed Ike’s face, and Brock relaxed a bit.

“Well, I wanted to know how prepared Lee was, and now I know,” Ike said, and then he chuckled.

“I’m sorry, Ike.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Ike waved his hand at him. “It wasn’t your fault. Go ahead and turn in.”

Brock nodded. He started to leave, but Ike stopped him.

“How fast was Lee?”

“He was real fast,” Brock grudgingly admitted.

“Fast as you?”

“I don’t think so. But he’s smart. Real smart.”

Ike grunted, and Brock left the room. Meanwhile, Butch left the corner and walked up to Ike’s desk.

“Gather a few men in the morning,” Ike told Butch. “I think it’s time I paid Lee a visit.”

“How many men?”

“Just a few. I don’t want Lee thinking I’m afraid of him.”

“How about Brock?”

“Not him. I don’t want him anywhere near Lee until this is all over. I need him.”

“I’ll take care of it.”

Ike nodded, and Butch left the study.

Chapter thirteen

I couldn’t sleep much that night. Instead, I lay in bed and listened to Brian snore.

I finally gave up about an hour before sunrise. I splashed some water in my face, got dressed, and walked out the door.

The hallway was very dark, and I had to be careful as I went down the stairs.

I was surprised to find a light in the kitchen. My hand gripped my Colt, but then I relaxed when I spotted April.

I started to say something, but for some reason I remained quiet. I stayed in the dark and watched her.

She had a fire going in the stove, and she was boiling water in a coffee pot.

I finally cleared my throat. She spun around, and a small smile crossed her lips when she spotted me.

“I’m sorry. Did I scare you?” I asked as I stepped into the light.

“No, I was just making some coffee.”

“I can see that,” I smiled quizzically. “Who’s it for?”

“You.”

“Me?” I frowned, surprised.

“I noticed yesterday that you like coffee.”

“I’m not addicted to it like the Landons are, but I enjoy a cup every once in while,” I agreed.

“I thought I’d have some ready for you when you got up,” April explained.

I was surprised, and I scratched my jaw as I studied her.

“Well,” I finally said. “You
are
mighty handy to have around.”

April looked pleased.

“Go have a seat,” she urged. “I’ll bring it to you when it’s ready.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I walked back to the main room. A faint light was beginning to show outside as I sat at our corner table.

A few minutes passed, and April appeared from the kitchen with the pot of coffee. She poured me a cup, and she watched anxiously as I took a swig.

“Good coffee,” I declared.

“I’m glad you like it,” she said, and asked, “Do you get up this time every morning?”

“Depends.”

“On what?”

“How loud Brian is snoring,” I smiled.

April smiled back.

“I’ll try and have coffee for you every morning.”

“You don’t have to do that,” I objected.

“I want to,” April insisted.

I didn’t know what to say to that, so I just nodded.

April started to walk away, but then she stopped abruptly and turned back towards me. She stared straight into my eyes, and even in the dark I suddenly noticed that she had the same blue, big, and solemn eyes that June had.

“Why did you kill those men last night?” She asked with a soft voice.

I was startled by the question, and several seconds passed as I thought on that.

“It seemed like the thing to do,” I finally replied.

“Did you enjoy it?”

“Not particularly.”

“But you seemed so eager.”

“Fast is how I would describe it.”

April bit her lip as she thought on that.

“If there had been another way, would you have still killed them?”

“There is no other way with men like that.”

“But you could have been killed,” April said, and she suddenly looked worried.

“Possible,” I agreed. “But not likely.”

“They didn’t seem to know that,” April objected. “They seemed quite confident.”

“They weren’t confident. They were ignorant,” I corrected. “And being ignorant can be costly.”

April pinched her face in thought. Several seconds passed before she changed the subject.

“I heard Yancy Landon talking about you once, back in Midway.”

“All good things, I’m sure,” I smiled.

“He said you were an outlaw.”

“I’ve been called that, yes.”

“But you’re not like those men last night.”

“No, ma’am.”

“What makes you so different?”

I smiled faintly.

“I’m not sure. But I’m different, I can assure you that.”

April cocked her head sideways and smiled at me.

“Yes, I think you’re different too.”

I grinned and took a swig of coffee.

“I’m sorry for bothering you with all my questions,” April said. “I’m just curious.”

“Not at all,” I replied. “I enjoy talking with you.”

“I enjoy it too,” she said. It was silent, and she added hesitantly, “June really likes you.”

I was startled.

“She likes me?”

“She does. But, she’s also scared of you.”

“What for?”

“She saw you kill those men.”

I frowned distastefully.

“She saw that?”

April nodded.

“She was upstairs, in the hallway.”

“I’m sorry,” I said.

“It wasn’t your fault,” April replied, and added, “She’ll get over it. Sadly, she’s seen death before.”

A pained expression crossed April’s face as she remembered the past. I didn’t know what to say, so I just sat there.

“Well, I’d better get busy,” April said abruptly. She smiled at me once more and walked towards the kitchen.

“Thanks for the coffee,” I said.