True to the Law (39 page)

“Guess I am. Beck, you goin’ to deal or play with yourself?”

Frank smiled narrowly. No one except Beck laughed. The cowhand dealt the cards.

Frank did not win that hand or the next one. That settled Billy Barry down even though Beck took one game and Harry Sample the other. Frank won the next hand with two pair, lost another, and then won again when he drew to an inside straight.

This time it was Beck’s large hand that clamped Frank’s right one to the table before he could collect his winnings. Billy tipped his hat back to reveal a deeply furrowed brow and a fringe of ginger hair. He rubbed the bridge of his narrow nose thoughtfully while his friend held Frank Mackey down. He reached across the table to Terry McCormick and turned up his palm. He crooked his fingers to indicate he wanted the cards. Frowning himself now, Terry gave them up.

“I would like to have my hand back, Mr. Beck,” said Frank.

“Just Beck. And Billy says when.”

Except to shake out his free arm, Frank did not struggle. He looked at the other players. “Is there an accusation?”

Billy fanned out the cards face down in front of him. He studied the intricate design and flourish of black ink stamped on them. After a moment he picked one, turned it over, and regarded the seven of clubs with more thoughtfulness than it generally deserved. He put it off to the side, drew another—this time the jack of diamonds—and nodded to himself. He also passed it along to Ted.

“A trick, gentlemen,” said Billy. “One I was pretty sure I’d seen before but didn’t understand how it was done. Watch.” He waved his hand slowly above the overturned cards. He stopped, turned his index finger sharply downward, and pressed it against one. “Six pips,” he said. “Diamonds. The same card Mr. Mackey drew to complete his straight.”

He turned it over. It was indeed the six of diamonds. Billy Barry was reaching for his gun before he remembered it wasn’t there. It hardly mattered. Beck remembered, and he clipped Frank Mackey on the sharp edge of his chin as soon as he started to twitch. His right hand still crushed under Beck’s, Frank began to topple sideways. Billy slid his chair out of the way.

“Gun!” Beck said.

No one at the table saw it, or knew who had it or where it was aimed, but they followed Billy’s example and shoved their chairs backward. Ted stumbled to his feet. Terry gripped the table and started to heave it on its side to use as a shield.

Frank Mackey’s derringer was solidly in the palm of his left hand before his knees hit the floor. He fired at Billy Barry as the man’s silver-tipped boot flashed once and then connected with the underside of his neatly trimmed beard. Frank’s jaw snapped shut with enough force to crack a molar.

Frank never saw his bullet lodge harmlessly in the upturned table.

Cobb put out an arm and applied enough pressure to get Billy Barry to step back. Jem and Jessop stood ready to restrain Billy if that’s what it took to keep him from kicking Frank again. Jake hunkered beside Frank, who was still on his knees. His eyes were closed and not fluttering. Beck looked down at Frank, shrugged, and released the hand he had been grinding in his fist. Beck’s hold had been Frank’s anchor, and as soon as he removed it, Jake duck-walked backward to get out of the way. They all watched with differing degrees of fascination as Frank weaved slowly for several long moments before he toppled sideways onto the floor and was still.

Cobb bent and took the derringer from Frank’s hand. He dangled the pistol by its pearl grip between his thumb and forefinger so everyone could see it. “And this is why the town council saw fit to ban carrying in Bitter Springs after the Burdicks were gone.” He pocketed the empty weapon. “Now who wants to tell me what happened?”

Before anyone could answer, Jake said, “Maybe someone should fetch Dr. Kent. Mackey here is bleeding like he’s been gutted, except for it’s his chin. I think he might have bit his tongue, too.”

No one wanted to leave so Cobb directed George Johnson who was closest to the door and on the outer ring of bystanders to make the sacrifice and head over to Dr. Kent’s. “Send him to the jail, not here. That’s where he’ll be stitching Mr. Mackey’s pretty face.” This was greeted by murmurs of approval and low rumbles of laughter.

Ted stepped forward to begin the explanation, but Cobb stopped him. “Sorry, Ted. I’m afraid he’ll bleed to death before you wind down. I need the uncomplicated, short version.” He looked to the mayor.

Terry scratched behind an ear as his mouth screwed up to the side. “It’s like this. Mr. Mackey was cheating. Mr. Barry proved it and called him on it. Mr. Mackey took exception, and Mr. Beck intervened to—”

“Just Beck,” said Beck. “The uncomplicated, short version.”

Terry nodded. “And Beck saw the pistol and shouted a warning. I guess you saw some of that yourself, Marshal. I think you were already here by then.”

Cobb had been, but he did not confirm it. He had started to get out of his chair when he observed Beck screwing Frank’s hand to the table. “Does that sound right you, Mr. Barry?” He glanced down at Barry’s silver-tipped boots and then at the man himself. He expressed only mild interest in Barry’s answer.

“Sounds right. I can show you what the fella did. The cards were marked. Looked like a new deck, too. That’s what fooled me at first.”

Cobb looked around. The cards were scattered everywhere thanks to Terry tipping the table. A good number of onlookers were already bending to pick up a card or two and fixing to study them. “Give me a few of those, Jem.” When Jem handed them over, Cobb pocketed them with the derringer. “And you, Beck? Terry’s story stands for you too?”

“That’s right.”

“Good. Then you and Mr. Barry won’t mind helping me transport Mr. Mackey to the jail.”

“Ah, can’t these Davis fellas help you with that?”

“I don’t know.” He looked at the brothers; they nodded agreeably. “Good. You and Mr. Barry still need to tag along. I want you to swear out a complaint.”

Billy Barry rubbed the narrow bridge of his nose with a knuckle. “Don’t see the purpose there, Marshal. It’s settled as far as I’m concerned. Besides, there’re the winnings to divvy up.”

Although bystanders had stooped to pick up cards, none of them had taken any of the money lying on the floor. “Everyone,” said Cobb. “I need you to pick up the money and hand it over to Jem. It’s evidence first. Harry. Ted. Mayor. You come along with the rest of us to get your fair share back.”

Jem took off his pearl gray Boss of the Plains Stetson and passed it around to collect the bills, coins, and because Ted was cautious about carrying too much cash, his markers. “Got it,” Jem said when the hat came back to him.

“Then the excitement’s over,” Cobb said. He waved to Walt at the bar. Drinks all around on my tab.” That had the desired effect of moving the crowd to the bar and leaving him with only the people he needed. “All right. Jake. Jessop. You take Frank. Everyone else, go on ahead. I’ll follow.”

When they reached the office, Cobb took down the keys for the cells. “Mr. Barry. Beck. Suppose you take over for the two Jays and carry Mr. Mackey into the back. They’ve been doing the heavy lifting long enough.”

Beck hesitated, but Barry said, “Never hurts to do our share.” He took Frank by the ankles and left Beck to exchange places with Jessop at Frank Mackey’s shoulders. Frank groaned softly as they slung him between them.

“I think he’s coming around,” Beck said.

Ted Rush peered out the window. “Just in time. I make out that’s Doc and George crossing the street and heading this way.”

“Go on,” said Cobb, nodding in the direction of the doorway to the back. “Cells are open. You can put him in the first one.” He followed, watched them drop Frank none too gently on the hard bunk, and then motioned them to step out.

In concert with them clearing the cell, Cobb drew his Colt and blocked their path to the outer office. “The next one,” Cobb said, indicating the second cell with his chin. “Don’t test me. I know you men weren’t asking for trouble tonight. That probably didn’t fit with your plans to rob the bank later.”

Neither one moved. Their hands hung loosely at their sides, fingers twitching slightly for weapons that weren’t there.

Cobb waited. There was no challenge in his expression, only infinite patience.

Barry and Beck took a step backward. First one. Then another. They both looked toward the exit when the conversation in the office grew louder and more excited with the entrance of the doctor, but they did not make a break for it.

Cobb’s eyes never shifted. He held his Peacemaker steady, and he continued to wait.

They stepped into the empty cell with less fuss than Rabbit and Finn had ever demonstrated passing through a doorway.

“Thank you.” Cobb couldn’t think of a reason not to be polite. He closed the cell door and waved them back toward the far wall before he locked them in. He had just holstered his weapon when Dr. Kent came through, followed closely by Ted Rush and Jem Davis. They all stared at the men in the second cell before they fastened their gazes on Cobb.

Cobb pointed to Frank. “There’s your patient, Doctor. I can’t figure why a man who paid twenty-one dollars to spend a week at the Pennyroyal decided he wanted to spend his first night here. You don’t mind if I lock you in while you stitch him up, do you?”

“Nope. He doesn’t look dangerous.”

“And don’t trouble yourself to make his stitches as pretty as you made mine,” said Cobb. “Jem? You’ll stay here with the doctor?”

“Sure thing.”

“You heard me say you’re my deputy, didn’t you?”

“I caught some of that when you were jumping up from the table back at the saloon. Jake and Jessop heard it, too.”

“Good.” He ushered Kent into the cell, locked it, and passed the keys to Jem. “Stay close and yell if you need me. Don’t talk to your friends over there. In fact, it’s better if they don’t talk to each other. It might disturb Dr. Kent.”

“All right, but they’re not exactly friends. This is the first day I worked with them.”

Cobb spared a glance at the pair. They were still standing against the wall. “Seems as if a lot of visitors prefer these accommodations. Mrs. Sterling is going to be insulted.” He motioned to Ted to back up into the office.

Ted had hardly turned and cleared the threshold before he was launching into a story about what he had just seen. The fact that he didn’t understand what he had observed didn’t stop him from trying to explain it.

Cobb was aware that everyone except Ted was looking to him for clarification. He took a step toward the Wanted Wall but halted when the street door opened and Tru walked in. Her eyes went from man to man until they came to rest on Cobb.

“I hope I am not interrupting a meeting,” she said. She swept back the woolen scarf from her head to reveal a bounty of loosely anchored golden hair. “Am I?”

“Um, no. Not a meeting,” said Cobb.

“Oh.” She looked around again. “But I
am
interrupting. I saw the lamps burning from across the street and was curious. I apologize.”

Ted Rush tipped his hat. “You’re always welcome, Miss Morrow.”

Cobb’s tone was the opposite of welcoming. “You were out?”

Tru blinked. “Well, yes. That’s how I could see the light.”

“Alone?”

“I was at the church.”

“You were at the church? Tonight? By yourself?” Cobb was peripherally aware that the other men in the room were either shifting their weight side to side or taking considerable interest in their shoes. “Not with Jenny or Pastor Robbins or the ladies circle?”

“I was praying.” Her eyes dared him to have something to say about that. She looked beyond his shoulder to where Ted Rush was standing. He was usually easy pickings, but tonight he wasn’t quite meeting her eye. She took a second look at Jake Davis, then his brother. Harry Sample and the mayor also avoided her, but she finally intercepted George Johnson’s nervous glance. “All right, gentlemen. I’m not leaving until someone tells me what’s going on. You know I’ll hear about it sooner or later. For once I’d like to be among the first to know.” She made sure she was blocking the door in the event that one of them tried to leave. “Well?”

It was then that Jem Davis called out from the back room. “Dr. Kent says to tell you that Mackey’s coming around. Guess he doesn’t care much for Doc’s needlework.”

Cobb watched Tru’s eyes grow so wide they practically filled her face. He was prepared when her head snapped around. He pointed to the back room. “Go ahead. It’s Frank not Andrew. You can look in. Don’t take a step past the doorway, or I’ll put you out in the street.”

The men parted to let Tru pass. She stopped exactly where Cobb directed her and put her hands on the doorjambs to make sure she stayed there. She nodded at Jem and then at Dr. Kent when he glanced up. She wasn’t really able to see Frank for the doctor sitting in the way, but the length and breadth of him seemed about right.

“What happened to him?” she asked Jem. “Was he shot?”

“No. He tried to shoot somebody, though. Got a boot to the chin for his trouble.” Jem tilted his head to the men in the other cell. “He’s going to be all right. I guess you probably know him since he’s Mr. Mackey’s cousin.”

Tru nodded faintly. She was no longer trying to get a glimpse of Frank’s face. Her attention was focused on the pair in the other cell. She removed one of her hands from the doorway and pointed to the men. “Marshal Bridger locked them up?”