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undisturbed. Slowly the three men followed suit and took their positions.

    Jeremiah looked at me as if I should say something. So I did.

    “Two.”

Chapter 9

     

    “Two?” Dooley looked baffled. “Two Cutlers?”

    “No. I bid two.”

    “To hell with the bid! You jus’ killed two men!” Dooley looked frantic.

    I snapped the cards together and looked Doc in the eye. “Someone was going to die. Better the Cutlers than Sharp.”

    “Hell yes. It’s just … I didn’t know you were a gunman.”

    “I’m not.” I opened my cards back up and pretended to study them. “I never shot anyone before in my life.”

    Jeremiah looked puzzled. “Steve, that was expert gun handlin’.”

    “I’ve been around guns all my life … since I was a little boy hanging around my father’s gun shop.”

    “Your father’s gun shop?” Dooley pulled on his chin. “Is that the shop you sold in New York City?”

    “Yes.”

    “But ya never shot no one before?” Jeremiah still looked perplexed.

    “No! What’s the problem? I’m not a gunman.”

    “That’s the problem. You’re in a mess now.” Richard looked like he had lost a good friend. “A big one.”

    “Won’t you stick up for me if there’s a trial?”

    “Ain’t gonna be no trial,” Jeremiah said. “Washburn likes to settle these matters in ways that frighten people … keep ’em in line for the future.”

    “What’re you talking about? The matter’s settled.”

    “Washburn’ll never let this lie.” Jeremiah glanced toward the open door. “He doesn’t abide anyone triflin’ in his affairs. Politics, business, or hired hands.” Jeremiah leaned toward me and poked a finger almost in my face. “You did all three.”

    This made no sense. Just because I had a duel with the Cutlers did not mean I meant to challenge Washburn. I had done what I had done on impulse; I certainly had not been thinking about Washburn, a man I had never met. I turned to Richard, who seemed the least emotional. “What will he do?”

    Richard took a moment. “He’s got other bad men, but they’re more bodyguards than killers, and none compare with the Cutlers for pure meanness. Ya killed his best weapons.” Richard collapsed against the back of his chair and seemed to slouch in defeat. “He may bring in someone special.”

    “He won’t meet me directly?”

    That got a nervous laugh. “Washburn surrounds himself with guards armed with rifles and shotguns. You feel edgy just saying good morning to the man.” Richard hesitated a beat. “No, you’ll never meet him man-to-man. Not his style.”

    Richard looked worried. I glanced at Doc and Jeremiah and saw similar expressions of concern. “You all look so grim,” I said. “Perhaps I should just leave town before he hears about this.” This caused all three men to throw furtive looks at each other. Frustrated that they knew something I did not, I looked at them hard and said. “Tell me.”

    Dooley looked scared. “Washburn may come after us.”

    “Why? Because you befriended me?”

    Richard shifted in his seat. “Doc and I have a history with Washburn. So far he’s only sent us the kind of warnings you can’t ignore. Now, he’ll assume we encouraged you. If you leave, he’ll look for another way to make a statement that’ll discourage others from interfering.” Richard gave a forlorn look at Dooley. “He’ll likely use us for his object lesson.”

    “You’re town elders. Respectable.”

    “He doesn’t care. His ambitions extend far beyond this shabby town.”

    We sat in silence, and my sudden euphoria dissolved into dread for my newfound friends—and then for myself. There had to be a way out of this mess. Of the three men, Richard had the best grasp of Washburn and his tactics. He edited the newspaper, and he must have run stories about Washburn. My guess was that Richard had been the subject of a stiff lecture, or worse, from Washburn or one of his minions. That would account