As he sauntered closer, the gunslingers, like rodents afraid of the
light of day but craving the prize between them, edged forward.
Cole decided to ignore them for the moment. He and Ryan were both safe
. . . until one of the gunslingers went for his gun. The challengers
were there to build their reputations, and the only way they could do
that would be to shoot it out in a draw with witnesses watching. Fair
and square. Otherwise, the kill didn't count.
Sheriff Norton peered through the crack of the doorway, watching. He
smiled at the sight before him, for it was something to behold, and
remember. The two marshals, both as big and mean-looking as Goliath,
were sizing each other up like contenders in a boxing ring. They made
a striking pair, just like Josey said. She'd been afraid of Daniel
Ryan when she'd first met him, and later on she'd had the very same
reaction when she met Cole Clayborne, though she did a decent job of
masking it.
The two marshals spooked her, she'd confessed, and Norton remembered
vividly her exact words when she'd tried to explain why she felt the
way she did. 'It's in their eyes. They've both got that cold,
piercing stare, like icicles going right through a body. I get the
feeling they're looking into my head and know what I'm thinking before
I do.' She also admitted that, in spite of her timidity, she couldn't
help but notice what handsome men they were . . . as long as they
didn't stare directly at her.
Cole shouted to Ryan, drawing the sheriff's full attention.
'Get the hell out of the street, Ryan. You're going to get killed. '
The marshal didn't budge. His eyes narrowed as Cole moved closer.
Cole stopped when he was a couple of feet away. He stared into Ryan's
eyes.
Ryan stared back. He was the first to break the silence. 'Are you
thinking about shooting me? ' There was a hint of laughter in his
voice Cole didn't particularly like. 'The idea crossed my mind, but
I've got other things to worry about now. Unless you want to catch a
stray bullet, I suggest you move.'
'Someone's going to die, but it isn't going to be me, ' Ryan announced
in a lazy drawl.
'You think you can take both of them? ' Cole asked with a nod toward
the gunslinger on his left, who was slowly creeping closer.
'I'll find out soon enough.'
