Wade and Harry are gone three days, Lovell being more distant than Kettner. I think of Wade a couple times, wondering if he’ll get up to something, though it won’t be with Harry, since he doesn’t go our way. The rest of the time, Evan and me are like rutting pigs, that room in the rocks feeling like a wallow. He mounts me every day, sometimes more than once, and I get into him all kinds of ways. And on the third day, when we lay spent, things spill out of me without consent.
“You know I have feelings for you, Evan. Way beyond the sex.”
“I feel for you, too, Roy. Feel like I never have. You make me happy, and after Bart died, I didn’t think I’d ever get that.”
“You think it’s maybe love?”
“Don’t know.”
“Men can love each other,” I tell him.
“Then I guess I do, only…”
“Only what?”
“Wade. You two appear paired.”
“Nope. That’s not the case. Not at all.”
“You sure? I see him angry and also hurt.
“He’s pissed I’ve left off him,” I argue. “That’s all.”
“Just saying. I’m not about to leave off you for any reason, but still, just saying.”
“Well, stop saying.”
* * * *
We do horse work when Noble gets more stock. We never ask who rustles them—sometimes just three or four coming in, sometimes a dozen or more. He buys them, then sells them later, and that, along with what we give him, keeps him going. So Evan and me work alongside, which is good, working up a sweat in a different way.
Nights in the cabin are hell because we know to spare the men our urges. Doesn’t much matter because we wear ourselves out during the day, at each other if no work to be done. Then Wade and Harry come back and we have to back it off.
“How’s it look?” I ask Wade, wanting things to appear like usual.
“Not as ripe as Kettner. There’s a marshal and two deputies who appear on the level. And get this, there’s a bank guard. You ever heard of such a thing?”
“I have,” says Evan. “In big cities. Bart told me he’s seen it in Cheyenne and Dodge.”
“Well, it’s catching on, but that don’t mean we can’t do the job. I figure to go in looking rough, parcel under my arm. That’ll be a rifle, and I’ll take out the guard right off. Then we do the job regular.”
“Shoot going in?” I ask.
“Yep.”
We’ve never fired unless fired upon, and that’s always going out, not coming in. I’m not sure I like this turn, but say nothing because I want Wade to have his way.
“We found a spot for the spare horses. There’s a rancher name of Boyer who’s about at his end, and for fifty dollars he’ll let us use his barn and whatever else we need. It’s about twenty miles south of Lovell. Good spot. We can hide out there, if need be, but we can decide that then, depending on the posse. I can’t tell if Lovell has that already organized, like some places have started doing. Asked around, but not enough to raise eyebrows. Couldn’t gain much of an idea, but I’m told the marshal is hardline.”
“When do you want to do it?” asks Virgil.
“Couple days.”
I leave off Evan those couple days, which is hell, but I don’t want to get Wade riled. It’s a lousy spot we’re in, and Evan, being so young, takes to pouting, which I find both annoying and endearing. Nights I hear him abusing himself.
* * * *
Day before we start for Lovell, Wade decides who’ll do what. When he says Evan is to be outside with the horses, I see the kid bristle, but am relieved he doesn’t object. Wade says four will do the job—Wade, Me, Virgil, and Harry—with Leland and Evan outside. We need only one man at Boyer’s, since Boyer and his son will be there. When Wade asks if we have any questions, I speak up.
“Noon?”
“Noon. The place cleared out then and the guard ate a boxed lunch where he sat.”
“Maybe we can catch him with his mouth full,” I offer. “Knock him down instead of shoot him.”
Wade glares at me, appearing to forget we’re partners in running things, but he turns and says it’s time to drink to our upcoming success. He fetches the whiskey and we all take a swig, then he takes another, and another.
I offer no comment, thinking it maybe best he’s a little soused.
* * * *
On the appointed day, we saddle up and tie on bedrolls because we’ll camp on the way to Lovell. Each man carries a sack with food or eating implements so we can at least enjoy meals on the way there. Once the job is done, there’ll be little concern for eating, only for running.
Riding out, Wade is next to me, Evan back with the others and the extra horses. I know he gets that this pairing is necessary. Trouble is, something starts to needle me about Wade, like how everything appears like was before Evan arrived when it’s not. This makes me wonder if something might be up his sleeve, which leads me to further wonder if maybe Wade has bad plans for Evan. If there’s gunfire, which is likely, a stray bullet could hit the kid and nobody could say who fired. Except maybe me.
I glance at Wade, who appears to calm, so I say “Let’s get moving.” I spur my horse and set off at a good clip, everyone following. This faster going chases off any thoughts but the ride.
Wade had scouted a stand of trees beside a small creek that’s about halfway to Lovell, and here we camp for the night. Harry, being somewhat domesticated as a married man, does the cooking, frying bacon and potatoes, making coffee. Best camp food
