* * * *
Next day, we ride to the Boyer place, which is downtrodden at best. The few cattle scattered nearby are thin, the two horses looking much the same. The barn we are to use appears ready to fall down, as does the house, which was likely not much in the first place. Wade says Boyer’s wife died last year and he’s not done well. He has a son attempting to keep things together, and he’s the one who welcomes us.
He couldn’t be even twenty, yet to fill out, but his eyes are ringed dark, and he’s unwashed. When I shake his hand, I find it bony.
“I’m Ethan,” he says. He’s a sad case, yet when we speak, he smiles and there are good teeth. I can see he’s excited by our presence. “Coffee’s on, if you want some. Pa’s in the house.”
“Thanks for the hospitality,” I tell him.
While Dewey and Leland herd the horses into a corral that appears the only solid thing about the place, the rest of us go inside, where we find Jim Boyer sitting at his kitchen table.
“Fellows,” he says without getting up. “Help yourself to coffee and whatever else is around. Ain’t much, but you’re welcome to what I have.”
“Thanks, Jim,” says Wade. “Coffee will be fine.”
As we sit at the table, Wade explains to Jim what will happen. “We’ll come in hell-bent tomorrow afternoon, having ridden hard from Lovell. We’ll stop to changes horses, then move on, so I’ll pay you the fifty now.” Wade counts out the money. “We don’t expect a posse to figure you in on things, and if they come by, you say you never saw us. That’ll maybe get them thinking they’re on the wrong trail. But you may see nobody. Can’t tell. Just keep your mouth shut with any law or anybody asking after us.”
“Deal,” says Boyer. “This fifty will help us more than you know.”
“You’re the one doing the helping. We’ve got our spare horses in your corral. If you can spare them some oats, it would be appreciated. We’ll be riding on to Lovell now, stay the night there. What do you know about the law and such?”
“Marshal Dobbs don’t take no shit, keeps things in line, and his deputies are the same. Real law-and-order man.”
“What about that bank guard?”
“Jack Fraser. I don’t think he’s ever fired his gun, but you never know with fellows like that. Could prove eager in the right circumstance.”
Soon, we’ve left the Boyer place and ride on to Lovell, which we reach about dusk. It appears like many other towns, larger than Kettner, but not by much. New buildings are under construction, which means money, and when I glance at Wade, he nods, knowing my thoughts.
We stable the horses, then get rooms at a hotel, doubling up, as is the custom. Wade says nothing, just takes one of the keys and starts up the stairs, leaving me caught between him and Evan. Harry and Leland, being the married men, room together, leaving me to take up with Wade and leave Evan to Dewey, who I know will get after him. This is what Wade likely expects, and I find Evan wide-eyed at such a prospect.
“You go in with Wade,” I tell Dewey. “Evan can room with me.”
Dewey, who is not a bad-looking man, but has rotten teeth that give him a smell, looks uncomfortable at the prospect of bedding down with Wade. I can’t tell if he’s thinking to get up to something or fearing to get hell beat out of him if he tries. “Okay, Roy,” he says and follows Wade upstairs.
“Let’s get a drink,” I tell Evan once we’ve tossed bedrolls and saddlebags into the room.
He grabs me, runs a hand down between my legs, which I allow for a couple minutes. Then I ease him back. “Drink, supper, then we’ll get to it.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
The saloon next to the hotel does us fine, as does supper later at a place across the street. “So far, I’m liking Lovell a lot,” I tell Evan.
His color is up from the drink and food, not to mention his spirits. He leans forward and silently mouths a “fuck me,” which sets me to laughing.
Not long after this, I do as asked.
It’s well into the night when we come up for air. I’m happily beat, eager to let sleep take me, except something starts needling me.
“Tomorrow when we do the job, keep an eye on Wade when we come out.”
“Why?”
“If shooting starts, I fear he might send a bullet your way.”
“He’d do that?”
“I’ve no idea, but he’s onto us, and me not doubling up with him tonight may be too much for him to bear. If lead starts flying tomorrow, he can shoot you and not be accountable.”
Evan, lying on his back beside me, considers this. “What if I see him take aim?”
“Shoot him. Defend yourself.”
The kid blows out a sigh.
“I don’t think it’ll happen, but be on the lookout, okay? I don’t want to be losing you.”
He takes my hand in his. “I’ll be careful. I’m sorry I’ve come between you.”
“Don’t be sorry. You’re the best thing to ever come my way.”
* * * *
Next morning, we all meet at the restaurant next door to enjoy a big breakfast, since food will not be important when noon rolls around. Once fed, we settle on a bench fronting a hardware store, looking like any bunch
