she loved him. At that moment. Neilson would have died for her
She needed help. It would probably take years of therapy to overcome all the damage that had been done to her. But before he could even think of that, he first had to make sure that he could get her away from Drakov. And that Drakov would be stopped. Only he wasn’t sure if he could do it alone.
If he kept her from going back to him, wherever he was, Drakov would realize what must have happened and it would force his hand. But he could not bear the thought of having her go back to him. Obviously, Drakov had placed her in Tombstone, in the saloon, so that she would be in a position to report to him. Which meant be had to know about him. Scott was torn. He didn’t know what to do.
Where the hell were Priest, Cross and Delaney”
Lucas Priest came over to the table in the hotel dining room where Neilson was eating his dinner and sat down.
“Mind if I join you, Kid?” he said.
“Looks like you just did, mister.”
“I’d like to introduce myself. The name’s Priest, Lucas Priest I’m a writer and, from what I hear, you’re somebody worth writing about.” He lowered his voice and said. “We have to talk.”
“Go ahead and talk. Mr. Priest. I’m listenin’.”
“I’m writing some articles about the West for a magazine back in New York and I believe you’re someone my readers would be very interested to know about.” He lowered his voice again. “Why the hell haven’t you made contact? Are you being watched?”
Neilson put down his fork and frowned. “Beg pardon?”
“I hear you re mighty fast with a six-shooter,” Lucas said. “I’d like to ask you some questions, if you don’t mind.” Then lowered his voice once more. “Are you under surveillance?”
“No, sir, I ain’t no surveyor. Don’t know anything about it.”
Lucas stared at him. “What the hell’s the matter with you, Neilson?” he whispered.
Neilson frowned. “I say somethin’ wrong?”
“Lower your voice, for Christ’s sake!”
Neilson’s eyes narrowed, but he complied with the request.
“Why?” he asked, softly.
Lucas frowned. “Scott, are you all right?”
Neilson regarded him with puzzlement. “I’m just fine, mister. But I seem to be a mite confused. We met before?”
Lucas didn’t say anything. He was completely taken aback. He looked at Neilson and saw no recognition in his face. None whatsoever.
“You don’t know me?” he asked, gazing at him intently.
“If we met before, Mr. Priest, I’m real sorry, but I don’t seem to recall. Where was it that we met each other?”
“You don’t remember London?”
“London? London. England?” Neilson shook his head. “I ain’t never been there. mister. I grew up in Montana Territory Spent most of my life there. Ain’t never been to England. Ain’t never even been east of the Mississippi. I’d say you’ve got me confused with someone else, only you seem to know my name. You got somethin mixed up, that’s for sure, only I don’t know what it is. I’ve never seen you before in my life. Leastwise, I don’t believe so.”
Lucas was speechless.
“You okay, mister?” Neilson asked. “You been drinkin’?”
“The name Forrester mean anything to you?” asked Lucas, uncertainly.
Neilson shook his head “Can’t say as it does.”
“What about Cross? Delaney? Steiger?”
“Don’t know any of those people,” Neilson said, with a frown. “What’s this all about!”
“How long have you been in Tombstone?”
“Only a few days. Why?”
“Were you injured in any way? A knock on the head or something?”
Neilson shook his head. He seemed thoroughly confused. “Mister. I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about”
Lucas sat back in his chair, stunned. “Never mind,” he said… I guess I thought you were someone else.”
“Someone else named Neilson?”
“I guess that must be it. I knew someone else with the same name and I thought you were him.”
“Oh. I see. I take it there was a resemblance?”
“Yes. A truly remarkable resemblance. You could he his twin brother.”
“No foolin’? You mean there’s somebody in London. England who looks like me and has got the same name?”
“Yes. Hell of a coincidence, isn’t it?”
“Well. I’ll be damned. I guess that explains it. Tell you the truth. Mister. for a minute there. I thought you might be drunk or off your head or somethin’.”
“I was thinking the same thing about you,” said Lucas.
Neilson grinned. “Well, ain’t that somethin’? Somebody who looks like me and has the same name, too! And you say you met him in England?”
‘Yes, that’s right. He was a soldier.”
“I’ll be, No wonder you seemed all mixed-up. You thought I was him.”
I was certain of it.”
“If that don’t beat all. I’d sure like to meet this fella. But I don’t know as I’ll ever get to England. Sure is a long way off. This other Neilson, he a shootist, too?”
“Yes, he is. A remarkably good one.”
“Is that right? Boy, ain’t that somethin’?”
“Yes, it’s an amazing coincidence.” said Lucas. “Astonishing, in fact.”
“I guess it is, at that. I never heard of such a thing.”
“You ever hear of three men named Summers, McEnery and Billings’?” Lucas asked.
Neilson chuckled. “Hell, this other fella must really look a lot like me,” he said. “You still don’t believe it, do you? I’m tellin’ you, mister, I ain’t him. I never heard of those people. They’re friends of his. I take it.”
“Fellow soldiers,” Lucas said.
Neilson shook his head “Well. I ain’t never been a soldier. You got my word on that. And I don’t know any of those folks you mentioned.”
“Well. I’m sorry I bothered you.” said Lucas. “I was sure that you were him.”
“No trouble.” Neilson said. “It sure has been interestin’. You still want to ask me those questions?”
“Perhaps another time.” said Lucas, getting up from the table. “This whole thing took me so much by surprise. I can’t remember a single thing that I was going to say.”
Neilson smiled. “Well. I’ll be around, you want to talk some more. And maybe you can tell me some more about this other fella. I sure am mighty curious.”
“Yeah, maybe we can have a drink later.” Lucas said.
“Anytime.”
They shook hands and Lucas went back up to his room. Delaney had left, but Andre was still there, stretched out on the bed and getting some rest.
“You get a chance to talk to Scott’?” she asked, sitting up as he came in. Then she saw the expression on his face. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
Lucas shook his head, looking dazed. “We’re in a lot of trouble.” he said.
8
