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

Chapter fourteen

Brian joined me right as it was getting daylight. April served us breakfast, and afterwards we drank some more coffee. The only person in the room besides us was April, and she was behind the bar.

Amos suddenly burst into the hotel, looking excited.

“Ike Nash just rode into town,” he announced. “He’s got men with him.”

“How many?” I asked.

“Four. They’re coming this way.”

April looked worried while I frowned thoughtfully.

“Amos, go find Ross,” I said.

“I just saw him at the jail,” Amos said.

I scowled at him.

“Well, go get him!”

Amos looked startled.

“Oh. Yes, sir. I’m sorry,” he stammered and hurried out the door.

I looked at Brian and frowned.

“There he goes, apologizing again.”

Brian smiled and shrugged in response.

“There’s a shotgun behind the bar,” I told him. “Grab it, and sit down over there across the room.”

“Shotgun can be messy,” Brian objected.

“Sure can,” I agreed, and then I looked at April. “Where’s June?”

“She’s upstairs, still asleep.”

“Good,” I nodded. “Any shooting starts, you dive into the kitchen and keep your head down.”

April nodded. Brian grabbed the shotgun, and we both checked our weapons. Then, Brian walked across the room and sat at a table, and he positioned himself so that he could see the entire room.

It was silent as we waited. A few tense minutes passed, and we heard noises from outside.

Seconds later, Ike Nash walked in with four men. Butch Nelson was behind him, and he led the men to the bar while Ike walked over to my table.

“I’m Ike Nash,” he declared in a loud, booming voice.

“Lee Mattingly.”

“You know who I am?”

“I do,” I nodded.

“I know who you are too.”

“Most folks do,” I smiled.

Ike grunted. He looked around the room, and his gaze fell on Brian. He studied the shotgun in Brian’s hands, and a small smile crossed his face.

“Smart, spreading out like that.”

“I thought so,” I agreed.

“You know my man Brock?”

“We’ve met, yes.”

“He says you’re a smart man.”

“He would know,” I smiled.

Ike made a sarcastic sound, and it fell silent as he looked around some more. He nodded to himself as he studied our hotel.

“Very impressive,” he said.

“Thank you.”

“Did you build the place yourself?”

“No. A saw and hammer never did fit right in my hand,” I replied. “I mainly supervised.”

Ike smiled and gestured at a chair.

“May I sit?”

“Go ahead.”

Ike eased into a chair across the table from me.

“We need to talk,” he said.

“About what?”

“You killed two of my men last night.”

“I did,” I confirmed.

“Why? They were just looking for a good time, is all.”

“They were looking in the wrong place,” I said, and Ike frowned at me.

“I can’t afford for my men to be shot to doll rags every time they come to town,” he objected.

“I can see how you’d feel that way,” I nodded.

“So we need to reach an agreement of some sort.”

“I’ve always been agreeable.”

“Do you have any suggestions?”

I thought for a moment.

“All I ask is that your men behave themselves and don’t harass my customers.”

“And if they don’t?”

“Then I’ll shoot them,” I declared, and nodded at Brian. “Or, he will.”

“That’s your idea of an agreement?” Ike scowled.

“Sure.”

“That doesn’t sound very legal to me.”

“Nobody’s perfect,” I shrugged.

Ike sat silently for a moment, looking at me thoughtfully.

There was a noise at the door, and Ross walked in. He studied the men at the bar, and then he spotted Brian. He glanced at us, moved to the other corner of the room, and sat down.

“This lifestyle doesn’t fit you,” Ike spoke back up. “You’re not a businessman. You belong outdoors.”

“What I am,” I replied slowly, “is none of your business.”

Ike grunted and leaned forward in his chair.

“I want to buy this hotel,” he announced boldly.

I shook my head.

“This hotel isn’t for sale.”

“Name your price,” Ike said as he ignored my comment.

I shook my head again.

“I’ll pay you twice what it’s worth,” Ike tried again. “And, after I buy the place you and Brian can work for me. I’ll pay you top wages.”

“No thanks.”

Ike didn’t seem bothered or upset. Instead, he just nodded as he stood.

“All right then, I’m not one to beg. You’ll be sorry you didn’t accept my offer.”

“Perhaps.”

“I’ll talk with my men. They won’t cause you anymore trouble.”

“I appreciate that.”

Ike nodded. He looked at Brian once more, and then he turned and walked proudly out of the hotel. His men followed after him.

Chapter fifteen

Ross and Brian walked over to my table.

“What was that all about?” Ross asked.

“I’m not exactly sure,” I replied.

“Besides buying the hotel, what else did he want?”

“He asked me to stop killing people.”

“What’d you say to that?”

“I told him I’d only shoot those that deserve it.”

“And he went along with that?” Ross smiled faintly.

“We’ll find out.”

Ross’s smile disappeared, and he suddenly looked worried.

“I wish Rondo would get back,” he said wistfully, and asked, “Do you need me for anything else?”

“No,” I replied. “Thanks for dropping by.”

“Anytime,” Ross replied, and then he left.

***

We opened up for breakfast about an hour later. The lobby became crowded, and all of the tables were full.

I sat at our corner table. I trimmed and lit a cigar, and I leaned back and watched the activity.

There was a hum of chatter in the room, and our waiters hustled about. April was busy cleaning dirty tables, and Amos was behind the bar.

I spotted June coming down the stairs, still dressed in her nightgown. She looked around the room, and she headed straight for my table as soon as she spotted me.

“Good morning, Mister Lee,” she said, and she pulled up a chair and sat close beside me.

I was taken back by her boldness, but I recovered quickly.

“June,” I said. “Did you sleep well?”

“Somebody kept snoring in the room next to us.”

“That was probably Brian,” I smiled.

She nodded, and it fell silent. A few minutes passed, and April spotted her. She frowned and hurried over.

“June,” she scolded. “I told you to stay upstairs.”

“But I’m hungry,” June objected.

April started to respond, but I spoke up before she could.

“Go ahead and feed her breakfast,” I said.

“Are you sure?”

I nodded, and a grateful look crossed April’s face.

“Thank you,” she said, and then she hurried away.

She returned a few minutes later. She placed a plate of food in front of June, and she tore into the meal with a vengeance.

“Don’t eat so fast,” April scolded, and then she returned to the kitchen.

I watched June eat with an amused smile. Several minutes passed, and then I cleared my throat.

“June,” I said. “I’m sorry you saw that last night.”

“Saw what?”

“Saw me kill those two men.”

“Oh.”

“Did you and your Ma talk about it?”

“Some. Ma said they were bad men,” June said between bites.

“That’s right. They were.”

“Then why are you sorry?”

“I’m not sorry I did it; I’m just sorry you saw it,” I explained.

“Why?”

I scratched my jaw as I pondered that.

“Well, a girl your age shouldn’t see things like that,” I finally said.

June nodded. I studied her, hoping to see signs of understanding, but she looked unconcerned as she continued eating.

“Anyway, I just thought you should know that,” I finally said.

“Mister Lee,” June said suddenly, and she looked up at me through those big, blue eyes.

“Yes?”

“I think my Ma likes you.”

I was startled, and I almost dropped my cigar. I recovered, and then I just stared at her.

“What do you mean? She likes me as a friend?”

“I don’t know; she just likes you,” June shrugged, and then she added, “Sometimes, when Ma thinks I’m asleep, she cries at night. She misses Pa and May. I do too.”

A felt a tug on my heartstrings. I didn’t know what to say to that, so I just nodded slowly.

June returned to her breakfast, and several minutes passed. I just sat there in stunned silence, thinking on what June had said.

“Mister Lee,” June said after a while.

“Yes?” I asked, and I was almost fearful of what she’d say next.

“Your cigar sure does smell. Ma says it’s a nasty habit.”

Again, I was startled. I stared at her for several seconds, but she ignored me as she finished her breakfast.

I shook my head in wonder, and I sighed as I put out my cigar.

Chapter sixteen

Brock spotted Ike and his men returning from town. He walked up to the main house and waited as they dismounted. 

“A man’s here to see you, Boss,” he said as he took Ike’s horse. “He’s waiting in your study.”

“Oh? Who is it?”

“Says his name is Jeremiah Wisdom.”

“That’s the gambler we sent for,” Butch spoke up.

Ike nodded and turned towards the house. Meanwhile, Butch tied his horse to the hitching post and followed after him.

“Don’t go anywhere,” Ike told Brock. “I’ll need to see you later.”

Brock nodded. He watched as Ike and Butch disappeared inside, and then he led Ike’s horse down to the barn.

***

Jeremiah Wisdom stood as Ike and Butch entered the study.

“I’m sorry to keep you waiting,” Ike said as he walked forward. “I had other business to take care of.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Jeremiah replied, and they shook hands.

Jeremiah was in his mid-thirties. An educated man, he was cunning and careful. He was tall and thin, and his face was dark from the sun. He also spoke Apache fluently and wore a Colt on his hip.

Ike sat behind his desk while Butch went to his corner. Jeremiah sat back down, and it was silent as Ike studied him.

“You don’t look like a gambler,” Ike finally said. “You look more like a cowpuncher.”

“I don’t consider myself to be a gambler, so I’ll take that as a compliment,” Jeremiah said.

“Oh?” Ike looked disappointed. “We heard you were an exceptional poker player. That’s why we sent for you.”

“Just because I’m not a gambler doesn’t mean I’m not a clever poker player,” Jeremiah corrected.

“So you can play?”

“I can.”

“And you’re good?”

“I don’t lose,” Jeremiah declared matter-of-factly.

Ike smiled and nodded.

“You rode with Wade Davis,” Ike recalled.

“That’s right.”

“Why did you leave him?”

Jeremiah paused as he collected his thoughts.

“I learned a long time ago to never hate your enemies,” he explained. “It affects your judgment. I tried to tell Wade that, but he wouldn’t listen.”

“And it got him killed,” Ike said.

“It sure did.”

Ike liked that. He glanced at Butch and looked back at Jeremiah.

“Are you any good with that?” He gestured at Jeremiah’s Colt.

“Yes.”

“How good, exactly?”

Jeremiah pinched his face in thought.

“Well, I have the respect of Yancy Landon.”

Ike looked intrigued.

“How do you know that?”

“He told me once, a long time ago.”

“I wasn’t aware that you knew the Landons.”

“I get around.”

“How about Lee Mattingly?”

“We’ve met.”

“Anything personal between you two?”

“No.”

Ike nodded and leaned forward in his chair.

“You’re probably wondering why I sent for you.”

“I figured you’d get around to it, sooner or later.”

“I have a plan,” Ike announced, and then he carefully explained all the details.

Afterwards, it was silent as Jeremiah thought on it, and Ike waited patiently.

“It’s a good plan,” Jeremiah finally said.

“So you’ll agree to do it?”

“You forgot to mention the pay.”

“Name your price,” Ike shrugged.

Jeremiah did, and Ike agreed. Afterwards, Jeremiah nodded and stood.

“It’s settled then. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to rest up a bit.”

“Of course,” Ike nodded. “Butch, show Jeremiah to the guest room, and then tell Brock I need to see him. After that, you’d better ride back to town and tell Amos it’s time.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Butch said, and he and Jeremiah left the study.