“Well, he’s real crazy,” Schuler said. “I’ve never known anyone before who likes killing, but Odom actually likes it. They say he killed his first man when he was fifteen. They’s been others that’s killed for the first time when they was only fifteen, but the man Odom killed was his own pa.”
“Where will I find him?”
Schuler took another drink of whiskey. The whiskey had a somewhat calming effect, and he put the bottle down, this time without the shakes.
“Did you hear what I said? The first man he killed was his own pa.”
“I heard.”
“You’ll find him in Purgatory,” Schuler said.
“What makes you think he’s gone to Purgatory?”
“The marshal there is a fella by the name of Cummins,” Schuler said. “Him ’n’ Odom is brothers.”
“Brothers?”
“They don’t have the same name ’cause they got different papas, but they got the same mama. And after Odom killed his own pa, he moved in with his mama, Cummins, and Cummins’s papa.”
“Thank you,” Matt said.
“Don’t be thanking me,” he said. “If you are going to Purgatory after Odom, you are going to have to deal with Cummins and all his deputies. And you might find out you’ve bitten off more than you can chew.”
“I’ll take my chances,” Matt said. “I’m going.”
“To face all of them?”
“Yes.”
“That’s bold talk, Matt Jensen,” another voice said.
Jensen? Who knew that he was Matt Jensen?
Turning slowly, Matt saw a big man with gray hair and a sweeping mustache leaning against the wall. The man’s arms were folded across his chest. He, like everyone else in the room, had been listening to the conversation. He let his arms drop by his side, with one hand hovering near his pistol. When he did so, it revealed that he was wearing the star of a U.S. marshal.
Matt moved his own hand into position to draw.
The tension in the room grew palpable, and everyone moved out of the way of what they were sure was an impending gunfight.
“You are Marshal Kyle, aren’t you?” Matt asked. “We met at the train wreck.”
“Yes, we met there,” Kyle said. “But I believe you were telling people your name was Cavanaugh then.”
“My name is Cavanaugh,” Matt said.
Kyle shook his head. “No sense in lying about it now. I know that you are Matt Jensen.”
Matt nodded. “Yes, I am Matt Jensen,” he said. “But Cavanaugh is the name I was born with.”
Kyle chuckled. “Well now, this can be a little confusing,” he said.
“Marshal, I didn’t cause that train wreck, I didn’t kill Deputy Hayes, and I didn’t steal any money,” Matt said.
“Odom killed the deputy,” Schuler said, speaking quickly.
“You say Odom killed the deputy?” Kyle asked.
“Yes.”
Kyle nodded. “I suspected that,” he said. “I appreciate the confirmation.” He looked back at Matt. “You don’t deny killing Deputy Gillis, do you?”
“I killed him,” Matt said, without further clarification.
“Gillis drew first?”
“He tried to,” Matt replied and, inexplicably, Kyle laughed.
“That’s a good way of putting it,” Kyle said. “Now, about your going to Purgatory…” He let the sentence hang.
“I’m going,” Matt said resolutely.
“Oh, I’m sure you are going,” Kyle said. “I’m going with you.”
“Well, Marshal, I appreciate your interest, but I prefer to do this alone.”
“Oh, don’t misunderstand me, Matt Jensen,” Kyle said. “I’m not asking for permission to come with you. On the contrary, I’m giving you permission to go with me.”
“You are giving me permission?”
“Let’s say, I’m asking you to come with me,” Kyle corrected. “As a deputy U.S. marshal.”
“Wait a minute. You are going to make me your deputy?”
“As a temporary thing,” Kyle replied. “Just until we get Purgatory cleaned up.”
