Meeks, and that old sonofabitch is on good terms with the federal marshal in Carson City. If we rough up Wheeler, the whole thing could come down on our heads, and Ford wouldn’t be a damn bit happy with us for doin’ that. It could backfire.”
“He’s even going to be less happy if that federal marshal and Deputy Trout give him a necktie party in Colorado.”
“I know that,” Kane said, watching as Molly and Sophie hurried away.
Kane stood up and took another pull on his bottle and a last drag on his cigarette, which he then dropped and ground under his heel. “What we are going to do is keep a sharp eye out on them two pretty women.”
“I’ll be happy to do that,” Deke offered.
“We’ll both do it,” Kane decided. “I got a feeling that they’re about to fly the coop.”
Deke looked over at the bar toward their two partners. “What about Willard and Gus? Shall I tell ‘em to go and saddle up our horses?”
Kane thought a moment, and then he nodded. “Yeah. I’ll follow them women and meet you back here when I know which way the wind is blowin’.”
“Whatever you say,” Deke told the big red-haired man. “The main thing is that we just gotta find where they took Ford and kill that federal marshal along with Deputy Trout.”
“Trout will be easy,” Kane said. “He’s mine. It’s that big marshal that I expect might die hard.”
“Well,” Deke said, “there’s the four of us against the two of them, and then there’s Ford to consider. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s already killed the both of them lawmen and is heading right now for the money.”
“I hope so,” Kane said, face reddening with anger. “That close-mouthed sonofabitch is the only one that knows where that four thousand dollars from our last bank job is hid, and that worries Hell out of me.”
Deke nodded. “I guess that’s really why you’re so interested in savin’his hide, huh?”
“Yep,” Kane said, “four thousand dollars is enough to make anyone interested.”
“I’d save Ford even without that money,” Deke offered, looking a little embarrassed by this admission. “He saved my life a time or two and I’d like to return the favor.”
Kane snorted with derision. “You always was dog-trustin’ simple, Deke. Go ahead and do what you want, but I’m in this for the money same as Ford has always been. Friendship don’t mean spit. It’s the money, and that four thousand dollars belongs to all of us. We lost two men on that job and I almost got killed myself and so did you.”
“Well, that’s true, but …”
“We got a share comin’,” Kane said. “We almost got killed and we deserve our share. Ford shouldn’t never have hid that four thousand dollars without tellin’ us. It was wrong!”
“But we was on the run and-“
“Then we should have split the money up and each gone off on our own!” Kane stormed. “But we stuck together except for Ford, who got drunk and got himself arrested. Now look at the mess we’re in. We’re dead broke and he’s in the hands of a federal marshal and facin’ a hanging. All of the blame falls on Ford, not us. He’s had his turn to be top dog. Maybe it’s time that I had mine.”
“You ain’t no leader,” Deke dared to say, his chin up and defiant.
“No leader?” Kane asked, voice shaking with fury. “You say I ain’t no leader?”
Deke paled. “Well,” he stammered, “I mean, you’re a leader and everything, but nobody in their good senses would follow you because-“
Kane exploded in fury and his big fist whipped upward in a blur. It caught Deke in the gut and lifted him completely off the ground. Deke’s mouth flew open like a fish out of water, and then Kane grabbed him by the shirtfront and slammed him up against the wall. While Deke’s eyeballs were rolling up in his head, Kane drove his knee into Deke’s crotch. Deke screamed in agony, and Kane dropped him on the sawdust floor.
“Jaysus!” the bartender shouted. “If you’re going to kill poor Deke, drag him out in the alley and do it!”
“Shut up!” Kane bellowed, dragging Deke back to his feet and pinning him back up against the wall. “I ain’t going to kill the little bastard. I’m just giving him a lesson.”
“You’re gonna kill him if you hit him again,” the bartender yelled.
“Well, then,” Kane said, “maybe I should just put him out of his misery.”
Kane drew his six-gun and pointed it at Deke’s face. “Say hello to Hell, Deke.”
“No!” Deke choked, reviving in a hurry. “Red, I didn’t mean it! Please. Don’t shoot me! I swear I didn’t mean it. You’d be a great leader!”
Kane tapped the barrel of his six-gun against Deke’s perspiring forehead. “Now you’re using them brains,” he said, releasing the man and letting him sag back down to the floor.
He turned his back on the terrified man and turned his attention to the bar. “Gus, you and Willard hurry up and get the horses. Bring’em around back of this saloon and get ready to ride.”
Gus was a thin, intense gunfighter, while Willard was Kane’s young brother, with the same big frame and red, sun-blistered face. Gus set his beer down and thumbed-back the brim of his Stetson. His pale blue eyes shifted back and forth between his brother and Deke, who continued to writhe on the floor. “What’s up, Red?”
“I’ll tell you later,” Kane said.
Gus nodded and plucked at Willard’s sleeve. “Boss says we got to get our horses.”
“Boss is mighty bossy since Ford got caught,” Willard said, shooting his brother a challenging glare.
