Ralph Compton - Bullet for a Bad Man

‘‘Yet they didn’t kill you.’’

‘‘I suspect they had been watching awhile, and they were curious. I held out the bottle and one of them came over and took it. Then I did the smartest thing I ever did in my whole life.’’ Porter smiled at the memory. ‘‘I had a rifle lying on the counter and I got that Apache to understand it was his if he wanted it. Hell, he could have taken it anyway. I gave him the rifle and I gave him ammunition, and from that day until now, they have let me be. Every now and then a few of them show up and I always give them things so they go away happy.’’

‘‘You have grit, I will give you that.’’

Porter was pleased by the compliment. ‘‘That will get you a drink on the house if you want one.’’

‘‘After you.’’ Boone took a step, then stopped and eyed the baked landscape. ‘‘Is it safe? My horse, I mean?’’

‘‘The Apaches have not stolen one from here in all the years I have been here,’’ Porter assured him. ‘‘But once you move on, don’t leave your animal alone for a second.’’ He too surveyed the parched terrain. ‘‘I don’t claim to understand them. They do not think like we do.’’

Boone followed him in. The place smelled of sweat and booze and smoke. It was not much of a saloon and it was not much of a store either. A long, wide plank atop three upturned barrels served as the bar. To one side were shelves with merchandise, but the pickings were slim: a few blankets, a few canned goods, a few odds and ends. Tables and chairs took up most of the floor space.

At one of the tables sat three men sharing a bottle and playing cards. They looked up, their expressions less than friendly.

‘‘Well, look at this,’’ declared a block of wood with a jaw that would pass for an anvil. ‘‘Porter has gone and found a pup.’’

Porter stopped and frowned. ‘‘I wouldn’t, were I you, Wagner. He is lightning. As good as Skelman.’’

All three men regarded Boone with interest. On Wagner’s right was a swarthy rodent who had some Mexican in him. He wore a sombrero. On Wagner’s left was an ox of a man with a corncob nose and ears that could pass for wings.

‘‘You don’t say,’’ the ox rumbled.

The rodent had a laugh that was more akin to a bark. ‘‘No one is as quick as Skelman, senor.’’

‘‘I saw it with my own eyes, Galeno,’’ Porter said. ‘‘And I have seen Skelman too, so I should know.’’

The ox rumbled again, ‘‘You don’t say.’’

Porter pointed at him and turned to Boone. ‘‘I didn’t catch your name, but this big fellow here is Drub Radler.’’

‘‘Should that mean something?’’ Boone asked.

Drub and Galeno and Wagner swapped glances and Wagner came out of his chair saying, ‘‘Was that an insult, boy?’’

‘‘Don’t call me that.’’

Wagner smirked. Galeno sneered. Drub put his big hands flat on the table and said, ‘‘Maybe you better not, Wagner.’’

‘‘Hell.’’ Wagner came around the table. He wore a Bisley revolver on one hip and a bowie knife on the other. ‘‘The day I can’t handle them this young is the day I turn over a new leaf.’’

Porter wrung his hands. ‘‘I don’t want any trouble in here.’’

‘‘Go polish a glass.’’ Wagner planted his boots as if he was digging them into the floor. ‘‘What do they call you, boy?’’

Boone did not speak.

‘‘I asked you a question.’’ When Wagner still did not get an answer, color spread from his collar to his hairline. ‘‘Maybe you don’t know who we are.’’ He gestured at his companions. ‘‘We ride for Old Man Radler. Drub, there, is his youngest son.’’

Drub smiled at Boone.

‘‘Old Man Radler is the top dog hereabouts,’’ Wagner boasted. ‘‘He does as he damn well pleases and plants anyone who crosses him. So you will tread light around us, boy.’’

‘‘I told you not to call me that.’’

‘‘Do I look like I give a damn?’’

‘‘You look stupid enough not to.’’

The muscles on Wagner’s anvil jaw twitched. ‘‘I have just explained how things are. We ride for Old Man Radler.’’

‘‘There is that name again,’’ Boone said. ‘‘It means nothing to me.’’ He took a step to the left so Porter was well clear. ‘‘Call me a boy one more time. I dare you.’’

Galeno cackled and smacked the table. ‘‘Did you hear, hombre? He throws it in your face.’’

Drub said, ‘‘We should leave him be.’’

But Wagner was a volcano about to explode. His fingers clenched and unclenched and he showed his teeth in a growl. ‘‘For that I will do you myself.’’ His right hand swooped for the Bisley.

Boone drew, cocking the Colt as he cleared leather. But he did not shoot. His trigger finger curled but did not tighten.

‘‘Mother of God!’’ Galeno blurted.

Drub Radler laughed. ‘‘Porter was right. He is Skelman all over again.’’

Wagner was frozen in shock. The Bisley had barely begun to rise. Splaying his fingers so Boone could see he was not touching the revolver, he held his arms out from his sides. ‘‘Hell in a basket.’’

‘‘Are there going to be any more ‘boys’ out of you?’’ Boone asked.

‘‘Not this side of the grave, no,’’ Wagner answered, a note of respect in his voice. ‘‘Who are you, if you don’t mind my asking?’’

‘‘I am no one.’’

Keen interest animated Wagner as he looked Boone up and down. ‘‘You have enough dust on you to cover this floor. That means a lot of hard riding. And there is only one reason to be riding hard in this heat.’’ He paused. ‘‘You are on the dodge.’’

Boone holstered his Colt.

‘‘That’s it, isn’t it?’’ Wagner pressed him. ‘‘You are riding the owl-hoot trail. I would not have thought it, as young as you are. But it is plain now. What did you do? Rob a bank?’’

‘‘Enough of that,’’ Porter said. ‘‘You know better than to pry.’’

‘‘If he does not want to tell me, he does not have to.’’

Boone walked to the plank counter and stood so he could watch the three men and the entrance, both. He leaned his left elbow on the counter. His right hand stayed close to his Colt.

Porter ambled around behind the bar. ‘‘What will it be, Lightning?’’

‘‘That isn’t my handle.’’

‘‘It will do until you give me another. I have seen you draw twice now, and as God is my witness, Lightning fits you as good as anything. Besides, you seem to not want folks to know who you really are.’’

‘‘You can call me Lighting, then, although it is damned silly.’’ Boone patted his stomach. ‘‘Any chance of getting a bite to eat? I am not fussy. Fried lizard will do.’’

Porter chuckled. ‘‘I can do better than lizard. I have a side of beef. How about an inch-thick steak with the trimmings?’’

‘‘You are a miracle,’’ Boone said.

‘‘I just like to eat, so I keep my larder filled. Give me ten minutes to fire up the stove.’’ Porter waddled out the back.

Boone went to swipe at the dust on his shirt, but a shadow fell across him. He spun, his hand a blur, then saw that the source of the shadow was holding his big hands in plain sight to show he intended no harm. ‘‘What do you want?’’

‘‘Just to talk,’’ Drub Radler said. He imitated Boone and leaned on the counter. The planks creaked and sagged. ‘‘You and me are about the same age, I reckon.’’

‘‘What age would that be?’’

‘‘I just turned twenty last week,’’ Drub said. ‘‘I have an older brother by the name of Vance. He is twenty-four.’’

‘‘I have an older brother too.’’

Drub brightened. ‘‘That is more we have in common. Do you like horses? I like horses. I like them a lot.’’