“I ain’t Bat,” Masterson said. “I can’t be Bat.”
“Jim—”
“You can go, Neal,” Masterson said. “Any time you want. No hard feelings.”
“Naw,” Brown said. “Look what happened to Hickok when Charlie Bassett left him alone for too long.”
“I ain’t gonna get shot in the back, Neal.”
“Yeah, you ain’t,” Brown said. “Not as long as I’m around. So forget it. If you’re stayin’, I’m stayin’.”
“I’m gonna get dressed,” Masterson said. “If that idiot Updegraff comes back, don’t let him leave.”
“I’ll shoot him in the foot if I have to.”
As Masterson went back upstairs, Neal Brown moved around behind the bar and got himself a beer.
Ryerson had disappeared.
He wasn’t on the street and Butler didn’t know what hotel he was staying at. He recalled the man saying he wanted a meal, but he didn’t see him in the Delmonico or the Dodge House. He’d have to check into him another time.
Or maybe not…
When Butler walked into the
“Do you have more information on those men?” she asked.
“No,” he said, “I’m not interested in the dead, I’m interested in the living.”
“Like who?”
“Fella named Ryerson, Kevin Ryerson. Ever heard of him? Read anything about him?”
“No, and no,” she said. “Do you want me to do some research for you?”
“What will it cost me?”
“Nothing,” she said, with one of those smiles he felt to his toes. “I’ve got your interview and it’s comin’ out tomorrow. I’ll just do this to try and help you.”
“Okay,” he said. “That’s nice of you.”
“It’ll cost you another meal,” she added suddenly.
“That’s a price I can pay,” he said. “I’ll check back with you later in the day.”
“Isn’t he the man who helped you?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you asking about him?”
“Because I don’t know him, or anything about him,” he said. “Why would he help me?”
“Why did you help Jim Masterson that night?”
“Because it was the right thing to do.”
“And this Ryerson,” she asked him, “his reason couldn’t be the same?”
“How many men have you ever know who did something just because it was right?” he asked.
She thought a moment, then asked, “Other than you?”
“Yes.”
She thought again, then said, “I’ll try to have somethin’ for you by this evening.”
“I’ll be back.”
He turned to leave, realized she was alone.
“Where’s your brother?”
“I’m wonderin’ the same thing,” she said. “If you see him tell him to get his sorry ass back here. I need him.”
“I’ll do it,” he said. “See you later.”
With Mary Jane Healy doing the research on Kevin Ryerson, Butler went looking for Ben Thompson. He checked his room at the Dodge House but he wasn’t there. Neither was he eating there, in the dining room. It was still too early for the saloons to be open for business, so he was at a loss as to where to look for him. He was going to have to settle for catching up to him whenever he could, and hope that his back didn’t need watching before then.
CHAPTER 36
When Butler reentered the Lady Gay he found Neal Brown behind the bar, nursing a beer.
“Want one?” Brown asked.
“Why not?” Butler said. “I’ve already had whiskey for breakfast.”
Brown drew him a beer and set it on the bar.
“Where’s Jim?”
“Gettin’ dressed. Did you locate Thompson?”
“No, I’ll talk to him later. I was, however, trying to find Ryerson, but couldn’t.”
“Why him?”
“Because he came and went so fast,” Butler said. “I’d like to find out something about him.”
“Like what?”
“Like where he’s from. Where he’s going and why he stopped to help me? Do you have any idea who he is?”
“No, I never saw him or heard of him before.”
“Never saw a wanted poster on him?”
Brown thought a moment, then said, “Not that I can remember. What makes you suspicious of him?”
“I’m just naturally suspicious of everyone,” Butler confessed, “especially when they pop up out of nowhere to help me.”
“But that’s what you did.” Brown reminded him.
“Yeah, but I’m not suspicious of myself.”
Brown was confused, but decided not to pursue it any further. He had enough of his own troubles to keep him occupied.
“Neal, what do you think about whatever’s between Jim and Bat?” Butler asked.
“I think it’s their business.”
“If Jim sent Bat a telegram asking for help, would Bat come?”
“In a minute.”
“Then why doesn’t Jim ask?”
Brown shrugged.
“You’d have to ask him.”
“Why don’t you send a telegram?”
“Because Jim would kill me if he found out. Besides, there’s nothin’ goin’ on here that Jim and I can’t handle—with a little help from you, that is. I mean, the other night.”
“I was glad I was there,” Butler said, “and I’ll help more if something happens while I’m here.”
“You know,” Brown said, “once you’re seen takin’ sides, you’re gonna become a target.”
“It looks like that already happened, doesn’t it?”
“Oh, yeah…”
“What about guns in town?” Butler asked. “If there’s enough to be hired to go against you, what about some being hired to work for you?”
“Jim’s not gonna hire any guns, Butler,” Brown said. “That ain’t his style.”
“If he was still a lawman, wouldn’t he hire more deputies if he needed them?”
“Well, yeah…”
“What makes this any different?”
Brown thought a moment, then said, “I don’t know, it just is. Don’t get me wrong. He’ll accept help, like from you or anyone who wants to help. But he ain’t gonna go out beggin’.”
