enough,” Nate said when the man was only a few feet away.
It was Tyler Montgomery. His top hat was a dead giveaway from the start, but the rest of him matched Nate’s memory too. He was lean and well-dressed. His tailored suit and neatly trimmed handlebar mustache was just as Nate remembered. His long hair that came out from under his top hat was silver—more so in the moonlight. He was a soft-spoken man, but confident. Nate remembered that he had the ability to make you feel like a friend just by the way he talked.
“The light isn’t very good,” Montgomery said. “But am I as you remembered? It would do you well to come inside quickly. We don’t know what eyes might be upon us.”
Nate looked at Joe and nodded. “Let’s go inside.”
Montgomery turned and moved quickly toward the cabin. “Come along, come along,” he said.
Nate stepped back and stood next to his horse. He reached into the saddlebag and produced the mysterious book. He would be glad to get rid of it and head out of Texas. Once he got the money, he and Joe would get the rest of their buried treasure and make their way toward Montana. Just a few more minutes and this would all be over.
“So, you have the book?” Montgomery asked once Nate stepped inside the cabin.
“It’s too dark in here,” Joe complained. “Get a lamp. Makes it look like you’re hiding something.”
“I am hiding something,” Montgomery said. “I’m trying to hide the fact that we’re all in here.”
“Just light a lamp,” Joe said, resting his hand on his pistol.
“I don’t appreciate threats,” Montgomery said. “I’m only trying to keep us safe.”
“Let’s hurry this up,” Nate said.
Montgomery walked to the other side of the room, struck a match, and lit one of the lamps. Nate had been right about it being a one room cabin. There was a small bed in the corner, a fireplace and a table with a single chair. It didn’t seem like a place someone would live in for very long. Judging by the kind of money Montgomery possessed and the suit he was wearing, Nate knew this wasn’t his permanent residence.
“You have the money?” Nate asked.
“Of course I do,” Montgomery said, but he held up a finger. “First, the book. Did you get it?”
“Wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t,” Nate said, holding it up in the light for Montgomery to see.
For a moment, it seemed like Montgomery’s eyes shined brighter than the flame in the lamp. For some reason, he wanted this item more than anything.
“Finally,” Montgomery whispered to himself.
The man’s excitement and sense of wonder got Nate curious. He promised himself that he wasn’t going to ask questions…he never wanted to ask questions. But he also had never stolen something like this before. He had also never seen someone so enamored over the likes of a book.
“Why is this worth so much to you?” Nate asked against his better judgment.
Montgomery smiled, though he didn’t take his eyes off the book. “It would be worth a lot to you if you knew what it really was,” he answered. “This book is special.”
“Apparently,” Nate said. “According to my little brother here, two of my men disappeared because of this thing.”
Montgomery’s dark eyes darted to Nate’s face. “What did you say?”
“I said, two of my men disappeared when they opened this thing. Just vanished into thin air.”
“Oh my,” Montgomery said. “That’s a problem.”
“What’s a problem?” Joe asked.
“I mean,” Montgomery continued, “it doesn’t change anything…it’s just unexpected.”
“I’ll say,” Joe snapped. “Why do you want this demon book?”
“Oh it’s hardly a book of the underworld,” Montgomery smiled. “This book here is a treasure. It’s an entire world.” He took a step toward Nate, but stopped short when Joe motioned with his gun.
Montgomery took two steps back. “You weren’t supposed to open it.”
“I