Lee (The Landon Saga Book 6) (3 page)

Chapter three

Brian Clark and I shared a room upstairs in the hotel. It was a corner room, and we had a good view of the town from our window.

We were up early the next morning, and after breakfast I went outside while Brian had a meeting with our hotel employees.

I was glad Brian was handling that part of the hotel. For some reason all the employees were timid around me, and they seemed more comfortable around Brian.

I strolled down the street and spotted Ross Stewart sitting on the porch at the sheriff’s office. He was drinking coffee while he studied a chessboard.

Ross had a tall and lanky frame, with tanned skin and brown hair. When he spoke he always displayed a rich, Texan drawl.

Ross was Rondo’s deputy.

They had met when Rondo went to work for Mr. Tomlin. At the time, they were both fond of Rachel. But Rachel chose Rondo, and that was that. A lot of friendships might have ended, but they were able to overcome it, and they were still close friends.

In some ways, Ross reminded me of Yancy. He was extremely honest, and he was always curious about this or that. 

We got along all right, but I had suspicions that deep down, Ross was wary of me.

“Morning, Ross,” I said as I walked up.

Ross looked up from his chessboard and spotted me.

“Lee,” he nodded.

“Who’s winning?” I smiled and gestured at the game.

“I’m just studying up for when Rondo gets back,” Ross explained. “I taught him the game a while back, and now I can’t seem to beat him anymore.”

“The pupil has gotten better than the teacher?”

“Something like that.”

“Rondo does that sometimes,” I said, and I smiled as Ben Kinrich came to mind. 

Ross grunted and gestured at the coffee pot.

“Coffee?”

“Thanks,” I nodded.

I grabbed a cup, poured myself some coffee, and sat next to Ross.

“Do you play?” Ross motioned at the chessboard.

“No, I’m a poker player.”

“So is Rondo,” Ross said, and added sourly, “Now, he beats me at both.”

I chuckled, and it was silent while we drank our coffee.

“Are you ready for the grand opening?” Ross asked after a while.

“I think so.”

“Think there’ll be trouble?”

“I doubt it.”

“What if Ike’s men show up?”

That was a sobering thought, and I frowned thoughtfully.

“I hadn’t thought of that,” I admitted.

“I’ll be ready if you need me,” Ross declared.

Ross wasn’t near as good with a Colt as Rondo or me, but I appreciated the gesture.

“Thanks,” I said, and Ross nodded.

After that it was silent, and my thoughts drifted to Ike Nash.

Ike was a businessman. All he cared about was how to make a profit, and he was very shrewd and cunning. He had been deeply involved with Governor Davis’s schemes, but he had the good sense to get out before it caved on him.

Since then, he’d been running things on his own. All across Texas he had created his own little empire, and he was involved in several businesses.

Everything he did was illegal, including trading rifles to the Indians. However, Ike had it set up so that nothing could be traced back to him.

Ike was the reason Rondo was sheriff. He owned a nearby ranch, and his men kept coming to town and stirring up trouble on paydays. At the time there was no law, so the town council hired Rondo.

Not long after that, Ike’s son Tanner killed Jeremiah Batch. Rondo arrested him and sent for Judge Parker. But, before Judge Parker arrived, Tanner escaped with the help of Virgil Carson and Lucy Wells. Rondo hired me as a special deputy, and we took out after them.

It didn’t take us long to catch them. Virgil and Tanner were killed, and Lucy was now a guest at Huntsville prison. She swore she’d get revenge, but we were more worried about how Ike would react. However, we hadn’t seen much of Ike or his men, so all was well for now.

Personally, I thought Ike was scared of us. However, I’d been wrong before, and I knew that we’d better be ready, just in case.

I finished my coffee with a gulp. I stood, set my cup down, and looked at Ross.

“Thanks for the coffee.”

“Anytime,” Ross said.

I nodded and headed for the hotel.

Chapter four

Ike Nash ate breakfast as he usually did, sitting behind his desk in his study.

It was an impressive room, and it was also where Ike spent most of his time. There was a fireplace, and there was also the smell of cigar smoke in the air.

Ike’s ranch was roughly five miles south of town, and Ike was proud of the place.

The headquarters was in a meadow, beside a stream. The pole pens, bunkhouse, and main house were all new and well built.

Ike was a big, solid man. Deep voiced, wide shouldered, and tall, he had a commanding presence that made most folks uncomfortable. 

He was also very good with a Colt. However, he kept this to himself, and even Butch, his right hand man, didn’t know how good he really was.  

Ike took a swig of coffee and leaned back in his chair.  There was a noise by the door, and Butch Nelson appeared.

Butch was a plain-looking man. Short with a broad face, he looked more like a storekeeper.

But he was far from that. He was very good with a Colt, and he displayed one on his hip. However, even with the Colt, there was still nothing that really stood out. And, that’s exactly how Butch preferred it. 

“Morning, Ike.”

“Butch.”

“There’s news from town. I thought you’d be interested.”

“What is it?” Ike raised an eyebrow.

“Rondo Landon got married. He’s gone to San Antonio on a honeymoon.”

Ike grunted in displeasure.

“Well, I hope he enjoys himself.”

“Do you still hold a grudge against him regarding Tanner?”

“I do,” Ike nodded, and asked, “Is there anything else?”

“Yes. Lee Mattingly’s hotel is opening tonight.”

“Well now. That’s interesting,” Ike looked intrigued. “Where’s that gambler we sent for?”

“He should be here any day now.”

“How about the other man. What’s his name?”

“Amos,” Butch said, and added, “He’s right where we want him.”

“Are you sure he’s good enough?”

“He came highly recommended. He’s good at what he does.”

“He’d better be,” Ike declared. It was silent, and he added, “Interesting, Lee’s hotel opening tonight, and Rondo isn’t here.”

“I found that interesting too.”

“Perhaps some of the men should pay the hotel a visit tonight,” Ike suggested. “I want to see how prepared Lee is.”

“Want me to go along?”

“No, I don’t want you involved. Tell Brock to go. He’ll like that.”

“I’ll tell him,” Butch said, and he walked towards the door.

“Butch,” Ike called out.

“Yes?” Butch paused at the doorway.

“Tell Brock not to get too rough. After all, I’m going to own that hotel before long.”

“Yes, sir,” Butch said, and then he was gone.

Ike grunted in satisfaction. He took a swig of coffee and returned to his breakfast.

Chapter five 

I walked back to the hotel.

Brian was still meeting with the hotel employees. I motioned at him, and he nodded. I stayed in the back until he had finished.

“Is there anything else you need to add?” Brian looked at me.

“As a matter of fact, there is,” I said, and I walked up front and stood beside Brian.

The room was quiet, and everyone watched me. I had never talked much, and everybody looked curious. I smiled at them and cleared my throat.

“Can anybody here shoot?”

They glanced uncertainly at each other and looked back at me.

“We ain’t gunfighters,” one of them said.

“I can tell that,” I smiled patiently. “But can anybody shoot?”

“Shoot what?” The same person asked.

“Possible troublemakers.”

“You expecting trouble?”

“No, but I want to be prepared for it.”

The speaker was tall, muscular, and red headed. Nobody else said anything, so he took charge.

“I think I speak for everyone when I say I didn’t hire on to shoot folks,” he said, and everybody else nodded. “We ain’t like you,” he added.

“And what am I?” I frowned.

“You know. A gunfighter.”

“Is that all you think I am?”

“You’ve helped several undertakers pay their bills,” he declared.

It was silent as I thought on that, and I nodded slowly.

“Yes, I reckon I have,” I admitted.

“If you’re worried about trouble, perhaps you should have hired a few gunmen like yourself,” the red headed man suggested, and added, “It’s unfair to ask us common folks to defend your hotel. We aren’t killers like you.”

“What’s your name?” I narrowed my eyes.

“Amos. Amos Gregg.”

“I get the feeling, Amos, that you don’t like me.”

“I don’t dislike you. I just know what you are.”

“What I am-,” I paused for effect, “-is your boss. I’d like you to remember that.”

“Oh, I’ll remember.”

It fell silent as Amos and I stared at each other. A few awkward seconds passed, and I looked around at everybody else. They all dropped their eyes when I made eye contact.

“This was a good talk,” I said wryly, and then I glanced at Brian. “I’ll be in the office if you need me.”

Nobody said a word as I left. 

Chapter six

I sat behind my desk and grabbed a cigar. I trimmed it carefully, and Brian Clark entered the room as I lit it and took a deep puff. 

“What was that all about?” Brian asked me.

I didn’t reply. I took in a big breath and let it out slowly, and my faced was pinched in thought.

“You there?” Brian looked at me strangely.

“Sorry,” I said as I recovered. “I was deep in thought.”

“I didn’t know you were such a thinker.”

“Only as a last resort.”

“What were you thinking about?”

“Amos,” I said. “He sure speaks his mind.”

“So do you,” Brian pointed out.

“True, but I usually make sense.”

“All of our employees are worried now.”

“Worried about what?”

“Worried they’re going to get shot at,” Brian explained. “Amos is still talking out there.”

“I don’t like Amos,” I announced. “Mebbe we should fire him.”

“For what?” Brian looked surprised.

“I just told you I don’t like him.”

“We can’t fire him because of that,” Brian objected.

“Why not?”

“The rest of the men look up to him. Amos goes, and they might all leave.”

I sighed as I thought on that.

“This boss thing is more complicated than I thought,” I complained.

“You just focus on poker and leave the men to me,” Brian instructed. “And, from here on out, just come to me with any concerns you have. I’ll handle it.”

I scowled.

“So, in other words, you want me to be more like Yancy and keep quiet.”

“Exactly.”

“Why’s everybody so scared of me?” I wanted to know.

“Your reputation might have something to do with it,” Brian suggested.

I grunted and shook my head.

“A bunch of school boys would be tougher than that bunch out there. First mention of trouble and they’re already looking for a place to hide.”

“Labor is scarce in these parts,” Brian reminded. “I had to take what I could find.”

I grunted again, and it fell silent.

“Why the sudden worry?” Brian asked.

“Ross mentioned Ike Nash.”

A thoughtful look crossed Brian’s face.

“You think he’d cause trouble?”

“I doubt it, but it is a possibility.”

“Then don’t you think we’d better get prepared?” Brian looked concerned.

“That’s what I was
trying
to do,” I frowned, and then I scratched my jaw in thought. “If there is any trouble, it’s probably just going to be you, me, and Ross.”

“Probably so.”

“Well then. I reckon we’re about as prepared as we can get.”

“There’d better not be too much trouble. We can’t afford it,” Brian warned.

“What do you mean?” I narrowed my eyes.

Brian gestured at the safe that was behind me in the corner.

“Have you looked in there lately?”

“No,” I admitted.

“We’ve been squeezing dimes to get dollars these past few weeks, and now we barely have any pennies left,” Brian informed. “We have just enough for payroll. All the money from Jessica is gone.”

“What happened to the dimes?”

“You’ll be playing poker with them,” Brian retorted, and added, “We’ll be all right once we get some money coming in, but be careful tonight. You lose big, and we won’t be able to cover it.”

“What if I’m rusty?” I objected.

“Don’t be.”

I frowned as Brian walked towards the door.

“I’d better make sure nobody quit,” he said. “See you later.”

“I’m sorry if I caused any trouble,” I called out after him. “I reckon I’m just getting irritable.”

“Getting?” Brian smiled, and I scowled as he walked out.