Texas Iron

exploits, so he knew how much they were worth. What worked in his favor was that he had seen Sam McCall in action on two occasions, once in St. Louis, and once inMexico. Neither time had he allowed McCall to see him, although if the man was as good as Coffin thought he was, he might have noticed that he was being watched.

Coffin was thirty-five, but he felt old beyond his years. By the time he picked up his first gun Sam McCall had already earned himself a reputation. He made up for lost time, though, killing four men before he was twenty and earning a rep of his own by his twenty-first birthday.

Coffin had always operated on the fringe of the law, hiring his gun out, hunting for bounty. He had never killed just for the sake of killing. He thought men who did that were fools. Eventually they’d end up being killed for nothing. Men like him and McCall killed when they had to, and that was often enough. Trouble followed them around like a black cloud, and they dealt with it. Men who succumbed to it didn’t built reps because they died at an early age. The fact that McCall had lived past forty was testimony to just how good he really was.

Coffin left his horse at the livery with the Swede and went over to register at the hotel. He wanted a nap. One of the reasons he had lasted so long was that he took care of his body and never pushed it beyond its limits. He needed some sleep, and then some food, and then some recreation. Tomorrow, he’d start watching McCall, and McCall would know he was being watched. Coffin would not approach McCall unless Burkett told him to. There was no percentage in it unless he was being paid.

Of course, he wondered which of them was best, but that was a shit-poor reason to call a man out.

Money was the only driving force in Coffin’s life. He had no ego, and that was a major reason why he was still alive.

“Sam,” Evan said.

“Yeah?”

“The man who just rode in.

“His name is Coffin.”

“You know him?”

“I know of him.”

“The man all in black?” Serena said. “He’s frightening.”

“He should be,” Sam said.

“Wait a minute,” Evan said. “Coffin…I know that name.”

“Sure you do,” Sam said, “a lot of people do.”

“The way they know yours, Sam?” Jubal asked.

Sam looked at Jubal and said, “Sure, ki—sure, the way they know mine.”

“Think he’s here for you?” Jubal asked.

Sam shrugged.

“He’s here,” he said. “We’ll deal with that fact if the need arrives. For now let’s get to doin’ what we’re supposed to be doin’.”

“Right,” Jubal said. “I’ll work the other side of the street.”

“Don’t push too hard, Jube,” Evan said. “Just ask a few questions, and most important, keep your ears open.”

“Right.”

“And stay out of trouble,” Sam said.

Jubal was already crossing the street, and he turned, spread his arms and said, “Of course.”

“Evan, I’ll work the side streets.”

“All right, Sam. Serena and I will work this side of Main Street.”

“Serena, where’s the telegraph office?”

“Two streets down, on your right.”

“I’ll work my way over to it.”

“Serena,” Evan said, “why don’t you wait over by the gunsmith shop for a minute.”

“Why?”

“I just want to talk to Sam for a second.”

Her mouth tightened at her dismissal, but she did as she was asked.

“What’s wrong?” Sam asked.

“When I was out at Burkett’s, Coffin was there, too.”

“Are you sure?”

“I saw his horse. That big black is not easy to mistake.”

“No, it’s not,” Sam said. “I guess that means there’s a good chance he is workin’ for Burkett.”

“A good chance? Doesn’t that cinch it?”

“No,” Sam said. “He could have been there to hear an offer from Burkett, and he might have turned it down.”

“Do you think there’s an offer from Burkett that a man like Coffin could turn down?”

“Probably not,” Sam said. “Coffin does what he does for money, I know that much about him.”

“Can you take him, Sam?” Evan asked. “I mean, if it comes to it, can you take him?”

Sam hesitated a moment and then said, “I don’t know, Evan. I don’t know that much about him.”

“Hello, Mr. Collins?”

Ed Collins turned and saw Serena standing at his counter with a well-dressed, handsome man.

“Serena,” he said. “How nice to see you.”

“Mr. Collins, this is Evan McCall.”

“Mr. McCall,” Collins said, extending his hand. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you, Mr. Collins,” Evan said, shaking his hand.

“Serena tells me you’re one of her father’s supporters.”

“If by that you mean I don’t like what Lincoln Burkett is doing, then you’re right. I wish I’d been there the other night when they dragged Dude from his house. It wouldn’t have been so—”

“Mr. Collins,” Serena said, putting her hand on his arm, “I appreciate what you’re saying, but you might havegotten the same—or worse than’my father did. I’m glad you weren’t there.”

Collins took her hand and said, “You’re a treasure, Serena, did you know that?”

“Yes, Mr. Collins,” she said, laughing, “I know that.”

“What can I do for you, Mr. McCall? Do you need a gun? You can have the best in my store.”

“I have a gun, Mr. Collins. What we need is someone who knows something about the so-called ‘sale—of my father’s ranch to Lincoln Burkett.”

“That shocked the hell out of me,” Collins said. “I didn’t know your father well, Mr. McCall—”

“Please,” Evan said, “call me Evan.”

“I didn’t know him well, Evan, but I’d done some business with him. He loved that ranch, I know that. I don’t understand why he sold it.”

“Did you know the terms of the sale?”

“I did not. Why? Were they unusual?”

Evan related to Collins the exact terms, and Collins’ mouth fell open.

“Well, now I’m even more confused.”

“We need someone who knows more than that, Mr. Collins. I assume from our conversation that you do not.”

“I’m sorry, Evan, but I don’t,” Collins said. “I wish I could help you.”

“I appreciate that, Mr. Collins. Thanks for your time.”

“Thank you, Mr. Collins,” Serena said. She leaned over the counter and kissed the old man on the cheek.

As they were leaving Collins called out, “If there’s anything else I can do…if you or your brother need any guns…”

“We’ll be sure to call on you, Mr. Collins,” Evan said. “Thanks again.”

Outside Serena said, “I was sure he didn’t know anything. If he did he would have told my father long ago.”

“Sometimes,” Evan said, “people don’t know they know something until they’re asked.”

“Well, if that’s the case,” Serena said, “let’s keep asking.”