The Last Good Day, стр. 42

“Let ‘em have it,” Rance said. “It’s tainted money.”

“I don’t care if it’s covered in dog shit, I want it back,” B.W. said.

Riley started to get up and grabbed his head and sat back down. “Damn that hurts.”

“Major, you take care of Tommy, I’ll go get the money,” B.W. said.

“The money’s not worth getting killed over,” Rance said.

“Don’t intend to.”

“I can’t let you go by yourself,” Rance said. “Tommy, saddle the horses, fill the canteens and some goat bags of water for the horses. Keep an eye on Riley until we get back.”

“I hid your guns in the loft ‘fore the cowpokes got here,” Riley said. “Was afraid the sheriff would come back for them.”

“Good thinking, thanks,” Rance said.

“How you goin’ to know which way they went,” Riley said.

“Your horses have a blacksmith mark?” B.W. said. “Saw it on the shoe you was workin on when we came in.”

“Yeah the horses I sold them have the marked shoes on.”

“Tommy, keep an eye on Riley while we get supplies” Rance said. “We’ll hurry.”

Tommy nodded.

“What ya’ll doin’ in Traversville anyway?” Riley asked. “Where did that money come from?”

“It’s a long story,” Tommy said. “You goin’ to be alright?”

“I think so now,” Riley said.

Rance and B.W. were back in less than thirty minutes, ready to go. They tied down the supplies on the horses and climbed aboard. Rance pitched Riley the envelope the sheriff gave him.

“Give this to Travers for us, Riley, and tell him no deal.”

“Good luck,” Riley said. “You’re gonna need it.”

23

B.W., Rance and Tommy had been gone for almost a week when Julie and Fannie arrived in Traversville with Mitchell.

They rented a room at the Ferguson boarding house. The proprietor assumed Fannie was Julie’s servant and allowed her to stay.

The morning after their arrival, Julie asked if the three had been to the boarding house and was told they were there over a week ago, was unacceptable, and had left.

Julie left Mitchell with Fannie and walked to the livery stable. Riley was feeding horses when Julie came in. He took off his hat and walked up to her. “Can I help you, ma’am?” he asked.

“Was looking for a one-armed man, an Indian and a boy ridin’ together,” she said. “Figured they would bed their horses here.”

“Why you want to know,” Riley said, remembering speaking out of turn about them before.

“Come a long way to find them.”

“They was here, but I don’t know where they are now. Supposed to be coming back.”

“You know where they were headed? I was raised with the one-armed man, his name is Rance Allison.”

“Yeah, that’s him. Guess it would be alright to tell you. They went after two men that stole some money from them.”

“How much money?”

“Don’t know, but they had a suitcase full of it.”

“First I heard of that. You know Robert Travers or Booker Church?”

“Yes ma’am. Mr. Travers owns the railroad and Booker works for him. Your friends got cross ways with Mr. Travers and they’re gonna have to deal with him and Booker if they come back.”

“You got a buggy I can rent?” Julie asked.

“Yes ma’am, dollar-fifty a day. I’ll feed and water the horse. Need a five-dollar deposit. Pay the rest when you done with him.”

“Get it ready for me, please.”

“Yes ma’am.” Riley picked up the tong of surrey and pulled it away from the wall, then grabbed a chair and carried it to her. “Have a seat miss…?”

“Julie Stryker,” she said and sat down.

“Okay, Miss Julie, my name’s Riley Jones. I’ll go get the horse and harness, be right back.”

The sound of hoof beats behind her caused her to stand up and turn around, there was a thin little man sitting on a paint horse with two pearl-handled pistols on his hips and fancy black and red boots stuck in the stirrups. He took off his black Stetson and placed his hand on the saddle horn and leaned forward.

“I’m Booker Church,” he said, “I work for Mr. Travers. You the lady been askin’ round about them no-goods came in from Virginia with the boy?”

“None of your business, mister.”

“Afraid it is,” he said. “They were threatening Mr. Travers. Can’t let them do that without paying for it.”

“Like you did Alice Woodson?”

“Don’t know nothin’ about that,” he said and put his hat back on his head.

“Got a witness was there when you shot her down and ran out of town like an egg-sucking dog.”

“I’d be careful what I said if I was you, lady,” Booker said.

“Thank goodness you’re not.”

Riley came in with the horse in harness, stopped when he saw Church, then led the horse up to the buggy and began harnessing him.

“What you doin’ here, Booker,” he said, putting the bridle on the horse’s head.

“Had a few questions for this pretty lady.”

“Bout what?” Riley asked.

“My friends,” Julie said.

“They’re not here,” Riley said.

“Found out they left town but didn’t take Mr. Travers’ deal. Just wanted to make sure they don’t come back.” Booker looked at Julie and flicked his tongue across his bottom lip like a snake.

Julie remembered what Cindy said. He did kind of remind her of a salamander.

“Don’t know where they went and she don’t either,” Riley said.

“Better remember who runs this town, Riley.”

“Best you get out of my livery stable.”

“I’m done for now,” Booker said, “but I’ll be back. When I do,I may just have to kill you.”

”What’ll you do, shoot me in the back?”

“Don’t have to. You’re no match for me and you know it.”

“Don’t count on it,” Riley said.

Booker tipped his hat toward Julie and smiled. “Good day, ma’am.” He turned his horse around and rode out of the livery stable.

Riley was motionless for a few seconds watching Church ride away. “You know he’s right. I ain’t no match for him.”

“He killed that boy’s mama,” Julie said.

“Better not talk about that round here,” Riley said and started hooking the horse up to the buggy.

“I’m staying at the Ferguson