Ralph Compton - Bullet for a Bad Man

A wide-open town was a magnet. From miles around it drew those who preferred to live life rather than sleep and work it away. Liquor as their water, revelry their food. Instead of containing their passions, they let them bust loose. The only limits were those that spared them from a bullet or a blade.

The rustlers could not wait to get there. Yipping and yelling and waving their hats, they thundered toward the den of vice with delight writ on every face.

Except for the herd guards, only Boone and Sassy were left. Boone took his time saddling up and held the palomino to a walk once they were under way.

‘‘Are you nervous?’’ Sassy asked.

‘‘What would I have to be nervous about?’’

‘‘Your brother. What will you do when you run into him? Shoot him on sight? Your parents would be heartbroke, one son killing the other.’’

‘‘He has tried to kill me twice.’’

‘‘Two wrongs do not make a right.’’ Sassy reined closer. ‘‘I have an idea. Let’s forget about Ranson. Let’s ride clear to the Circle V and let your folks know you are alive and tell them what your brother has done.’’

‘‘No.’’

‘‘They deserve to know.’’

‘‘You forget why I left. It is bad enough I went against everything they ever taught me. I would spare them from having to know that both their sons turned out bad.’’

‘‘Boone Scott, don’t you dare. It was either kill or be killed. You are as fine a man as I ever met or I would not have given my heart to you. Your folks will understand. Eppley is the bad seed, not you.’’

Silence sat heavy on their shoulders until Sassy said, ‘‘You will do what you want no matter what I say. Is that how it goes?’’

‘‘They are my ma and pa.’’

‘‘Then what will you do? Walk up to him and tell him to go for his gun and shoot him? Your own brother?’’

‘‘I suppose you would like for me to let him live.’’

‘‘Do you want his death on your conscience the rest of your days? Do you really want that burden?’’

‘‘Brother or not, he tried to make worm food of me. It shows how much he cares.’’ Boone shook his head. ‘‘Shooting him will not bother my conscience one bit. But I would like to do it without my folks finding out.’’

‘‘How?’’

‘‘I am open to ideas.’’

A horse and rider suddenly loomed out of the dark, blocking their way. Sassy gasped in surprise and Boone’s hand flashed to his Colt.

‘‘It is only me,’’ Drub Radler said.

‘‘Consarn it, you gave me a start,’’ Sassy complained. ‘‘You ought not to scare people like that.’’

‘‘I am sorry. I just want to ride into Ranson with my pard. If you will let me.’’

‘‘You are our friend, Drub. You are always welcome to ride with us.’’

Drub smiled and brought his big bay in alongside their animals. ‘‘I heard you talk as you were coming up the trail. Would you really kill your own brother, Lightning?’’

‘‘It is either that or let him kill me.’’

‘‘I have wanted to shoot Vance a few times. Or chuck him off a cliff. He can be so mean.’’

‘‘If you promise to keep a secret I will tell you all about mine.’’

Drub listened with the rapt fascination of a ten-year-old. ‘‘Gosh,’’ he said when Boone was done. ‘‘Your brother is worse than Vance. I didn’t think anyone could be that awful.’’

‘‘Most of us never look past our own pasture,’’ Sassy said.

Drub was gnawing on his lip. ‘‘And this Epp is the one my pa aims to sell the horses to?’’

‘‘I am afraid so.’’

‘‘But if you kill him, how will we get our money? Can’t you wait until after he pays my pa?’’

‘‘I can’t promise anything,’’ Boone said.

A cluster of lights sparkled in the distance. Half an hour later the three of them drew rein at the end of the main street. The babble of voices, tinny music, laughter and the clink of glass were a constant undercurrent.

‘‘Look at those pretty ladies smiling and waving at me from that window!’’ Drub said.

‘‘Do you want a woman, Drub?’’ Sassy teased.

‘‘What for? I have Lightning. I would like to marry one day, though. A gal who is nice to me, like my ma was.’’

A hitch rail in front of the general store had rail left. The store itself was closed.

Boone dismounted and tied off the palomino’s reins. He turned as a man staggered out of the dark, singing drunkenly. At the last instant the man veered to go around them.

‘‘This is a fun place,’’ Drub said.

‘‘What now?’’ Sassy asked.

Hitching at his belt, Boone started down the street. ‘‘We mingle with the wolves and try not to get bit.’’

Revelations

The Acey-Deucey was a beehive of liquor, lust and larceny. Every square inch of floor space, every table, every chair, was filled by a bustling, buzzing swarm of humanity. Faces glistened with sweat. Eyes gleamed with envy, greed and desire.

Into the iniquity ambled Boone Scott. He had taken only a couple steps when half a dozen sharp glances were cast in his direction. Then he realized they weren’t looking at him; they were looking behind him. He spun, gripped Sassy’s arms and propelled her back out the batwings so fast and so unexpectedly that they nearly collided with Drub, who was just about to enter.

‘‘What on earth?’’

Boone pulled her to one side so they were clear of the doorway. ‘‘What in God’s name do you think you’re doing?’’

‘‘What are you doing?’’ Sassy tried to wriggle free, but he held on to her. ‘‘Let go.’’

‘‘You need to wait outside.’’

‘‘Like hell.’’

‘‘A saloon is no fit place for a lady.’’

‘‘I saw dresses in there.’’

‘‘The women who fill them are not like you.’’ Boone stepped back. ‘‘Wait here. If I do not find my brother I will come right out.’’

‘‘Nothing doing. We are together now. Where you go, I go.’’

‘‘Didn’t you hear me? You are female.’’

‘‘I am? My goodness.’’ Sassy smoothed her shirt. ‘‘You did not seem to mind last night. Why are you making a fuss now?’’

Boone glanced at Drub. ‘‘Tell her how it is so she will not think I am being unreasonable.’’

‘‘How what is, pard?’’

‘‘About ladies and saloons. It’s a rule, like never going to church drunk or spitting in the spittoon and not on the floor.’’

Drub peered over the batwings, his eyebrows nearly meeting over his nose. ‘‘You wouldn’t want me to lie to Sassy, would you, pard?’’

‘‘It is not lying when you tell the truth.’’

‘‘But she’s right, pard. There are dresses in there. I can see them with my own eyes. And there are ladies in the dresses. Pretty ladies with their hair done up and everything.’’

‘‘You are a big help,’’ Boone said.

‘‘Thank you.’’

‘‘So much for that,’’ Sassy said. ‘‘Lead the way.’’

‘‘No.’’

‘‘We are not hitched yet so you have no right.’’ Sassy went to go by, but Boone snagged by her wrist.

‘‘I mean it. My ma refuses to go in a saloon and no woman I care for will go in one either.’’

‘‘I had no idea you were such a tyrant.’’

Boone snapped his fingers. ‘‘I’ll tell you what. I have enough money on me for a room for the night. How about if I get one and you wait in it until I am done?’’

‘‘It is a wonder I can’t see through you. You will have to do better than that to trick me.’’

‘‘It’s no trick, damn it. It is for your own good and my peace of mind.’’ Boone tugged but she wouldn’t budge. ‘‘If you’re trying to rile me you are succeeding.’’ Again he glanced up at Drub. ‘‘Aren’t you going to help? Tell her you don’t want her to go in.’’