an unnecessary interruption in Cramer’s plan to get rid of Luke Short and, eventually, become the top gambling entrepreneur in Fort Worth, Texas. He’d had Bill Ward and the White Elephant in his sights before Short came along. Once the little dandy was gone, he’d go to work on Ward again, become his partner, then kill him and take over.
But Ed Cramer didn’t do his own killing. That was what he had Sutherland for. To kill Butler, Luke Short, and then, eventually, Bill Ward. And after all the killing was done, Cramer wouldn’t need the man anymore, and he’d finally get around to doing his own killing—one killing—himself.
The more Luke Short thought about it, the more convinced he was he should have killed Ed Cramer a long time ago.
Oh, not the day he’d shoved his gun into Cramer’s mouth. Much as he would have liked to, there were just too many witnesses that day. That was just fun. No, there had been other times in the past when he might have done it. Maybe, when a time like that came again, he’d seize it and get the man out of his hair.
As he came down the stairs from the casino he saw Butler finishing up his conversation with Jim Courtwright. There was another man he was going to have to kill in the future. He knew it.
As Butler made his way through the room he intercepted him.
“What’d Courtwright want?” he asked.
“He wanted to welcome me to town—”
“That lying sonofa—”
“—and I think he was telling me that he hoped we’d all kill each other.”
“All?”
“Us evil gamblers.”
“Ah, that sounds more like him.”
“What’s his beef with gamblers?” Butler asked.
“Don’t know,” Short said. “Maybe he wants to be one but just can’t do it. Maybe he’s got religion. Whatever it is, I want him to keep it away from me. I’ve got enough problems.”
“Luke, I want to get something to eat outside of here,” Butler said. “You mind?”
“No, go ahead,” Short said. “Just remember how quiet it’s been, and be careful.”
“I’m always careful.”
Butler headed for the door.
CHAPTER 23
When Butler walked through the batwing doors of the White Elephant, Sutherland was ready with his rifle. Butler was in the clear and Sutherland prepared to take his killing shot.
Butler came out the doors, looked both ways, and then headed down the street, away from his hotel and away from the White Elephant.
As Butler went out, Victor glanced through the window. There was just enough sun left for it to glint off something metal on the roof across the street. Victor looked again, saw the man with the rifle and ran for the front doors.
As Victor came out the door shouting, Butler turned quickly. Victor was pointing at something across the street, and then the first shot came. It shattered a window behind Butler as he fell to the ground.
The second shot killed Victor instantly.
Butler dropped as Sutherland shot, causing him to miss and break the window behind Butler. It was that other man’s fault—and Sutherland took a bead on him, shooting him through the head. He didn’t waste any more shots, just took his rifle and canteen and got out of there.
Luke Short heard the shot, and then the shattering of glass. Customers heard it, too, but they didn’t move. The last thing they wanted to do was run outside in the middle of a firefight.
Short, on the other hand, palmed his pistol and ran for the door. As he got outside he almost tripped over Victor’s body.
“Damn it!” he swore.
Butler got to his feet and rushed to Victor just as Short came out the door.
“Who’d want to kill Victor?” Short asked.
“He wasn’t the target,” Butler said. “I was. Victor came out shouting and saved my life. The first shot missed me, and the second got him.”
“From where?”
“Across the street, on the roof,” Butler said. “I’m sure the shooter is gone now, but I’m going to take a look, anyway.”
Finally, someone else came outside. It was Jerry, the bartender.
“Take care of him,” Short said. “We’ll be back.”
“What do I tell the law, boss?” Jerry asked.
“Forget it,” Short shouted back as he ran across the street after Butler, “the law will never show up.”
Up on the roof, Short and Butler looked down at the front of the White Elephant.
“Clear shot,” Short said, “and a clear view of both your hotel and the saloon. Looks like Cramer’s man fired the first shot.”
“Not necessarily,” Butler said.
“What do you mean?”
“There’s something I haven’t told you about me, Luke,” Butler said.
“You want to share it now?”
Butler nodded, then told Luke Short about the private bounty on his head.
“And you think that’s what this was?”
“One of two things: Cramer, or somebody looking for that bounty.”
“Or both,” Short said. “We know Cramer was going to have you checked out. If someone checked you out real good, Butler, would they come up with that bounty?”
“Probably.”
“Then this could be both,” Short said. “Whoever Cramer sent after you would not only do the job his boss wanted but collect that bounty, as well.”
“Still can’t help thinking I got poor Victor killed,” Butler said.
“The blame for that goes to the shooter, my friend,” Short said, slapping Butler on the shoulder, “not the intended victim.”
CHAPTER 24
Short and Butler walked the length and width of the roof. The only place they found anything was right in front. Scuff marks, a place where a couple of knees had probably spent some time.
“I haven’t been on the trail in a while,” Short said, “but it looks to me like somebody spent some time here, waiting.”
“What are those spots?” Butler asked, pointing.
“Urine,” Short said. “That’s why I say he was here a while.” He bent over, looked at something but didn’t touch it. “Here are a couple of pieces of chewed jerky.”
“Somebody really put time into this,” Butler said.
“And they’re not going to be happy they missed you and got the wrong man.”
“They’ll try again.”
“Let’s get downstairs, and get you inside,” Short said. “Whatever is going on, looks like you’re the first
