“Oh, that looks good,” Billy said as a plate was put before him.
“I heard that you men just brought a herd of cattle up,” the headwaiter said. “I suppose after eating bad food on the trail, anything would look good to you.”
Jules started to say something, but Billy held up his hand to stop him.
“Mister, I said this food looks good. I didn’t say nothin’ about how we ate on the trail ’cause the truth is, there ain’t nothin’ this here cafe can serve that will come close to bein’ as good.”
“Trail food?” the headwaiter asked incredulously. “I hardly think so.”
“Mister, Miz Sally cooked all our food on the trail,” Mike said. “And if you make another remark about how it wasn’t no good, why I reckon I’ll just have to box your ears for you.”
“Mike!” Sally said.
“Miz Sally, I’m just takin’ up for you is all,” Mike said.
Despite herself, Sally couldn’t help but laugh at her young “protector.”
“Well, I thank you very much. But boxing this gentleman’s ears is no way to do it.”
“Madam,” the headwaiter said. “Believe me, I meant no disrespect.”
“And no disrespect was taken,” Sally replied graciously.
“Say, Smoke, what time does the train leave tomorrow?” Billy asked.
“Around nine o’clock, I think,” Smoke said. “I’ll find out for sure right after breakfast tomorrow when I get the tickets.”
“There ain’t no reason we can’t go out and have us a good time tonight, is there?” Billy asked.
“No reason at all,” Smoke said. “You are all on your own time now.”
“Good,” Billy said. “It’s been a long time on the trail. I aim to wash some of that trail dust away.”
Chapter Twenty-three
Billy was standing in the Cattleman’s Saloon when he looked up at the clock and saw that it was nearly midnight.
“Whoa,” he said to the soiled dove who was keeping him company. “I’d better get back to the hotel and go to bed. I’m catching a train out of here tomorrow.”
“Honey, you don’t have to go all the way to the hotel just to get in bed,” the girl said.
Billy laughed. “I have to give you credit, Lucy, you are all business,” he said. “But Mr. Jensen has gone to all the trouble to rent hotel rooms for us. It ain’t that often I get to stay in a hotel, and I aim to take advantage of it.”
“You will buy me one more drink, though, won’t you?” Lucy asked.
“Damn right I will,” Billy said. “In fact, I’ll have one with you.”
Billy tapped his finger on the empty glass and when the bartender came to refill it, indicated that Lucy’s glass should be refilled as well.
“Not from that bottle, Jake,” Lucy said.
“I know your special bottle,” Jake replied, putting the whiskey bottle away and getting another bottle from under the bar.
“Ha. That’s tea, ain’t it?” Billy said.
“Well, I…”
“I don’t care if it’s tea,” Billy said. “Hell, you couldn’t stay here and drink ever’ night without becomin’ a drunk.”
“I’m glad you understand,” Lucy said. She took a swallow of her tea, then smiled at him. “Go on, you were tellin’ me about the cattle drive you were on.”
“Yes, ma’am, I was, wasn’t I? Well, it was quite a trip up here, I tell you.”
“Oh, I think it would have been very frightening to have to face so many Indians,” the girl said.
“Well, I don’t mind tellin’ you that some of the boys was afraid,” Billy said. He took a swallow of his whiskey, then ran the back of his hand across his mouth. “But I wasn’t none afraid, no, sir. And I helped Smoke buck up some of the others.”
“Smoke?”
“Smoke Jensen is his name. He was our trail boss,” Billy said. “Well, he was more’n that ’cause he actually owned the cows.”
“That’s a funny name,” the girl said.
“It may be a funny name,” Billy said. “But he’s about the best man I’ve ever known. Faster with a gun than greased lightnin’, but you’d never know it just to know him ’cause he’s a fella that don’t get riled any too easy.” Billy waved his finger back and forth. “But you have to pity the fella that ever does get him riled.”
“I’ve heard of Smoke Jensen before,” a man standing just down the bar said. The man was dressed all in black, including his hat, though the starkness was offset by the glitter of the silver and turquoise hatband. He continued to stare into his glass as he spoke.
