'Yes, you had the influenza. You were sick with fever for four days,
and my Josey nursed you back to health.
Today was your second day out of bed.'
'When did I disturb the peace?
' 'When you crossed the street, ' he said cheerfully. 'It was real
disturbing to me, the way you walked away while I was trying so hard to
convince you to stay in Middleton until the appointment came through.
I gave my word to someone real important that I would keep you here,
son, but you wouldn't cooperate.'
'So you hit me over the head.'
'Yes, I did, ' he admitted. 'I didn't see any other way. It wasn't
much of a hit though, just a little thump with the butt of my pistol on
the back of your head. No permanent damage was done, or you wouldn't
be sitting there growling at me.
Besides, I did you a favor.' The sheriff's chipper voice was grating
on Cole's nerves. He glared at him and asked, 'How do you figure
that?
' 'There were two gunslingers waiting for you to get into the street.
Both of them were determined to make you drawtone at a time, of
course.
You were just getting over your sick spell, and even though you won't
admit it, I'd wager a week's pay you weren't well enough to take either
one of them on. The influenza hit you hard, son, and you're only just
now getting your color back. Yes sirree, I did you a favor.'
'It's all coming back to me.'
'Put it behind you, ' he suggested.' Cause it's water under the sink
now. The appointment came through, and we had us a nice ceremony right
here in the jail. It seemed kind of odd to file into your cell for a
big do, but the judge didn't mind and it worked out all right. Yes, it
did.
Too bad you had to sleep through the celebration, since you were the
honoree and all. My wife, Josey, made her special yellow cake with
sugar icing. She cut you a nice big piece and left it on the table
over there, ' he added with a nod toward the opposite side of the
cell.
