understood that. seem’ as how you seem friendly with this here gentleman and your girl, Jenny, was involved.”
“Say your piece. Ike.” Scott lowered the hammers and put away his guns.
“You met my friends, here?” Clanton said, indicating the two men with him. “This here’s Johnny Ringo. And this gent is Curly Bill Brocius.”
“Any friends of yours, Ike, ain’t no friends of mine.” said Neilson.
“Say, now. I was just bein’ polite,” said Clanton. “I don’t believe I know this gentleman.”
“The name’s Delaney,” Finn said, watching the men carefully. “Finn Delaney.”
“Irishman, eh?”
“What can I do for you, Mr. Clanton?”
“Well. I just wanted to come over and apologize on behalf of my boys.” said Ike. “They had a mite too much whiskey yesterday and got out of line a bit.”
“More than a bit, I’d say,’ Delaney replied. “And any apologies should be addressed to this young lady.”
“I reckon so,” said Clanton. “Jenny, I’m right sorry about what happened. There wasn’t no call for it. I sure hope you won’t go bearin’ us a grudge.”
“I accept your apology, Ike,” she said.
“I ain’t gonna be so easy,” Scott said.
“Well, now, I figured that.” said Clanton, “which is why I’m keepin’ those boys out of town for a while. Fact is, they’re feelin’ poorly anyway, after what Mr. Delaney here did to ’em.”
“They got off lucky.” said Scott, if I’d been here. I would’ve killed them.
“Well, now, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” said Ike. “I don’t want any bad blood between you and my boys if I can help it. They’re right sorry about what they done. I talked to ’em and made sure they wouldn’t be bearin’ your friend here any grudges. I don’t want any trouble. Now they promised to behave themselves and they didn’t really understand about you and Jenny. They do now. Seein’ as no harm was really done, except a little to my boys. I’m hopin’ we can just patch things up and forget about the whole thing That is, if you’re agreeable.”
Scott stared hard at Clanton. “If you really mean that, Ike, then I’m agreeable. But you keep your rustlin’ lowlifes away from Jenny or I’ll have something to say about it, understand? And I’ll be sayin’ it to you.”
“Hey.” said Ike, raising his hands up to his chest. “I got no problem with that. Looks like we understand each other. I’m happy we could work it out. Will you have a drink on it? I’ll buy. That goes for you too, mister.” he added, looking at Delaney. “Frank, whiskey for my friends here.”
Delaney was paying less attention to Ike Clanton than to the two men with him. Brocius and Ringo. Both hard-looking men, with eyes that met his gaze dead on. Gunfighters. Men who looked as if they knew their business.
Brocius shifted his gaze to Neilson. “You’re pretty quick with those fancy guns of yours.” he said.
“I hear tell you’re pretty quick, yourself,” Scott replied.
“I wonder which one of us is quicker.” Curly Bill said, with a smile.
“You want to find out’?” asked Neilson.
“Scott!” said Jenny.
“Hey. now, wait…” started Clanton.
Delaney took Scott by the arm. “Don’t push it.” he said. firmly.
“Anytime. Kid.” Brocius said.
“Now hold on just a minute.” said Delaney.
“Relax. Finn.” said Scott. “We can find out right here and now, without anybody getting hurt. You game, Curly Bill?”
Brocius narrowed his eyes. “What you got in mind?”
“I see you’re wearing a two-gun rig, too,” said Scott. “You take one gun and give it to Ike. I’ll take one of mine and give it to Finn. Then we each take the gun we got left and give them both to Frank, here, to unload. We put the empty guns back in our holsters and Frank will say the word. Then we draw and dry fire.”
By now, the other people in the saloon were aware of what was going on and they had started to gather around.
“What do you say, Brocius?”
Curly Bill was aware of the attention on them. “I’m game.”
He took out one of his gun, and handed it to Clanton while Scott took out one of his and handed it to Finn. Then they each took their remaining gun and passed it across the bar to Frank Leslie, who opened the Warding gates, held them up one at a time, barrels up, rotated the cylinders and let the bullets drop out.
“Five each.” he said, after making sure both guns were empty. He put the bullets down on the bar and handed the guns back to them. They replaced them in their holsters.
“Anytime you’re ready. Frank,” said Scott.
Curly Bill nodded. They stood about three feet away from each other.
“I’ll count to three,” said Leslie. ‘On three, go for your guns. You ready?”
Everyone in the saloon gathered around. There was utter silence.
“I’m ready “ Scott said.
“Ready,” said Curly Bill.
“Okay, here goes.” said Leslie. “One…
Curly Bill flexed his fingers.
“Two…
Scott stood perfectly relaxed.
“Three!”
Curly Bill’s right hand darted toward his holster, but his gun hadn’t even cleared it when he suddenly found himself looking down the barrel of Scott’s Colt. 45. He froze.
Scott squeezed the trigger and the hammer fell with a loud snap.
“Damn!” said someone in the crowd.
Someone else whistled and the whole crowd started talking excitedly. Brocius simply stood there, staring at Scott, his eyes like anthracite. Clanton cleared his throat.
“How about that drink, boys?”
Curly Bill snatched his bullets off the bar, took his other gun from Clanton and stalked away without a word, going out through the double doors into the street.
“Some other time, Ike,” Scott said. “I feel like a walk, Jenny…
She took his arm.
“I’ll walk with you.” Finn said.
They went outside. There was no sign of Curly Bill.
“Was that smart?” asked Jenny. “He knows you’re faster now. He’ll look to shoot you in the back”
“He probably would have done that anyway,” said Scott.
“Scott, what the hell is going on here?” Delaney asked, as they walked down the street. “Drakov’s here’?” He glanced at Jenny. “And where does she fit into this?”
“I’m in love with her, Finn. And she’s in love with me.”
“Oh, Jesus Christ!”
“She’s the one who warned you about Drakov. He knows about me. He knows about you, too. That girl, Becky, is one of his.”
“Shit. Where is he?”
“I’m not sure. Neither is Jenny. Part of the time, he’s basing himself in Hop Town, in a room above an opium den. He’s also got a chronoplate stashed there, which leads to London in some future time period. Jenny’s not sure which. She isn’t told any more than she needs to know. He is protected there. As far as any other bases of operations he might have back here, she doesn’t know. We’re in it up to our necks, Finn. It’s not only Drakov back here. It’s the Network and the S.O.G.”
“Good God! Stone?”
“He’s S.O.G. But he’s the only one that Jenny knows about. The Network and the S.O.G. apparently don’t know about each other. And there’s a hell of a good reason for that. Are Lucas and Andre here with you?”
“Yeah. They’re over in the Grand Hotel. But wait a minute. You saw Lucas!”
