Kinman nodded and patted the air as if he was calming a frantic child. “We’ll see about that when we get there. But whatever it is, it’s the same as what it was when that last bit of dirt was thrown on top of it. Over the last few years, the price on Nick Graves’ head has only been getting better.”
Lester squinted and cocked his head to one side. “Why? I hear that Graves was nearly killed when he was run out of Montana. Lord knows he ain’t been leading no gang like he used to.”
“I don’t give a rat’s ass if he pissed off Jesus Christ himself, and all three wise men are the ones putting up the money. All I do care about is that the money’s being put up by some very reliable sources. Even if I can’t coax a bit more out when the time comes, the reward is pretty damn good as it stands.”
“Wait a second,” Lester said as he suddenly hopped up as if he meant to stand. Before his legs could straighten, he found the limit of the rope tying him to the commode and was jerked right back down again. Even as his ass bumped against the splintered wood, the smile remained upon his face. “You wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me. Shouldn’t I get a percentage of the reward, too?”
Despite Kinman’s good humor, there was no way for him to hide the murderous glint that came into his eye. “You telling me you had something to do with those crazy fools blocking the railroad tracks?”
“No.”
“Then maybe you had some way of making certain Graves and I crossed paths once we were both stuck in this mess?”
As much as he wanted to say otherwise, Lester shook his head. “Nope.”
“Oh. Then shut yer damn mouth and count yourself lucky that I haven’t put a bullet through your skull and dragged your carcass in for the reward.”
“Where’s Graves now?”
“Headed to the Badlands.”
Lester looked at Kinman and waited for a few seconds. When he realized there wasn’t anything else coming, he asked, “You let him go?”
Kinman nodded. “I’ll catch up with him as soon as I get you out of here.”
Tugging at his ropes, Lester strained to get up. “Then what are we waiting for? If he gets too far ahead, he may—”
“He may get an extra couple of hours on his own before I catch up to him again.” Tapping the side of his nose, Kinman added, “I got his scent now, just like I got yours. I know where he’s headed and there ain’t too many ways to get there from here. My only question now is whether you’re comin’ along as a partner or as baggage.”
“Things would be plenty easier if I came along as a partner.”
Kinman narrowed his eyes and smirked. “You really think so?”
“All right, but I can be a good partner. I’ve got no reason to cross you.”
“Don’t take me for a fool, Lester. I don’t like it.”
“I’m not taking you for anything. I can help!”
“That’s what I want to hear. You tell me how you can help and maybe I’ll see my way clear to letting you leave this shithouse alive.”
Lester’s eyes widened. Suddenly, he looked around at the dirty walls surrounding him as if he’d found himself inside of a coffin. As his brain seized up under the pressure, he saw Kinman slowly lift his pistol and begin rolling the cylinder against his other palm.
“I’m waiting,” Kinman said quietly.
“I…uh…I can keep an eye on Graves when you’re not around!”
“Don’t need that. I keep track of slippery cusses like that one for a living.”
“I can watch your back in case Graves decides to take a shot at you.”
Kinman chuckled under his breath. “You’d work extra hard to make sure I don’t come to any harm so I can drag your ass in for the reward? I already told you I don’t like being taken for a damn fool. In fact, I don’t know if there is a reason why I should keep you alive.”
Lester laughed uncomfortably at first, thinking that Kinman was just turning the screws a bit tighter. Then he saw the bounty hunter’s eyes become as cold as two chunks of ice as he pointed his gun again, and Lester knew there wasn’t an ounce of bluff in what he’d said.
“I can find that grave!” Lester spat out. “I can take you straight to it in case things go wrong and you lose sight of…” Seeing that he wasn’t getting anywhere with that one, Lester added, “You could kill Graves any time you want! Let him get you close and then shoot him. He can be the baggage and I can take you the rest of the way! I could even work on him to give you a better shot at him!”
Suddenly, the ice in Kinman’s eyes began to melt. “You just might be onto something there.”
Lester was curled up with his knees against his chest and his arms crossed in front of him. His face was twisted into a frightened wince as if he’d already been shot. Slowly, his muscles relaxed and he blinked uneasily. “Yeah? I mean…yeah!”
“You can lend a hand in setting up Graves after we find that cash buried out in the Badlands. You do that and you might even be in for a cut of the reward. That would be a nice little nest egg waiting for you once you get out of jail.”
“Or you could keep all the reward and just let me go,” Lester squeaked.
Kinman’s eyes narrowed again.
“You can even keep a bigger cut of whatever we find buried with Cobb,” Lester offered. “If I pull my weight, you can let me go with just enough money to get me across the border and you can ride off with that treasure and whatever money you get from Graves.”
For the next several seconds, Kinman stood rooted to his spot. His face became an unreadable mask that seemed to collect more and more shadows around its edges. The gun in his hand didn’t waver. From the way he held it, it could be holstered just as quickly as it could be used to blow Lester’s head off his shoulders.
Finally, Kinman nodded and said, “I’ve got something in mind for you.”
Lester wanted to ask what it was, but couldn’t muster up enough breath to push the question out. The sounds drifting in from the rest of the town weren’t as loud as they had been before, but there were still enough shouts and gunshots to make Lester wince at every last one of them.
“You play your cards right,” Kinman snarled, “and you could live a comfortable life once you cross whichever border you have your eyes on. Cross me, and I’ll see to it that you pray for a bullet in your head.”
Nodding as if he meant to shake his head free of his neck, Lester said, “Sure! That sounds like a great deal.”
But Kinman didn’t move. “I know you’re plannin’ on how to escape or how to stab me in the back, but get that shit out of your head right now. Unless you think you can kill me, just go along with our plan and I’ll cut you free. Even if you do manage to get away from me, I’ll make it my life’s work to track you down and gut you slow enough for you to feel every second of it.”
“Wh…what’s the plan?”
“There’ll be time to discuss that on the ride outta here.”
“Is there another train coming?” Lester asked.
“Yeah, but we won’t want any part of it. There’s plenty of horses around here for us to choose from. This place has got bigger things to worry about than a couple stolen animals. All I need to know is whether or not I can count on you to do the smart thing.”
The enthusiasm had faded from Lester’s face and was replaced by a frightened, almost sickened expression. After a bit of consideration, he nodded. “All right. Count me in.”
Kinman holstered his gun and reached around to take out the blade sheathed at the small of his back. With one quick swipe, he cut the rope that had tied Lester to the outhouse. “Let’s get outta here before this town tears itself apart.”
Even though Lester could straighten up and move his arms, he didn’t follow Kinman.
After taking a few steps away from the outhouse, Kinman looked over his shoulder and asked, “Ain’t you coming?”
“Actually,” Lester replied sheepishly. “I could use a few more minutes in here. Uh…alone.”
Kinman grinned and kicked the door shut as he walked away so Lester could let his fear and nervousness work themselves out of his system.
