"So did you!"
"But he had his first." Brady's hand went to the side of his face. "And he laid it across me early in the proceedings."
"Oh "
"That's all right. Just leave me have the pants."
"And something to eat?" She was calm again and her eyes opened inquiringly. "You can ride around back, water your horse and yourself, and come in the back door."
"So the neighbors won't see me?" Brady said.
Chapter Three
Fine Looking Girl
She smiled at him and after that while she looked for her brother's pants; while Brady came out of the bedroom pulling up the faded green suspenders and asking her how he looked and she saying like a man who'd already been married twenty years; while they ate pancakes and drank coffee; while they just sat talking about everything in general and asking harmless sounding questions about one another they were at ease with each other and both seemed to enjoy it.
He explained how he had been robbed and told to ride on. How he had crossed the meadow then stopped, thinking about going back. But, one, it was good country to hide in; how would he find them? Two, even if he did, he had no gun. And three, which was part of two, they could even be laying for him, waiting to shoot him out of the saddle if he came back.
It was just poor luck, Brady said. But you had to expect so much of that in life; and if it happens the first day of a new job, maybe it's just the Almighty warning you not to be too cocky or full of yourself, else He'll whittle you down to size in one minute's time.
Catherine Mary said she'd never thought of that before, though she knew God moved in mysterious ways. Maybe He even sent Albie here as a warning, she said. A way of telling her to be cautious of the men she met until the right one came along. Albie was easy to see through. He smiled a lot and said nice things, but it was all on the surface.
And where had he come from? Two weeks ago, the first time he came by with another man. Her father was home and they'd stayed only long enough to water their horses, saying they were on their way to a job. Then a few days later, when just her mother and she were at the house, the younger one came back.
That was when he told his name and said he liked this part of the country very much and maybe he'd just stay around. But the way he looked at you and the sweet way he talked, you knew he was thinking something else. The third time he came, there wasn't any doubt about that.
She was alone in the stable when he walked in and right away started talking about how quiet and nice it was and wasn't she lonely never seeing a young man for weeks at a time? Then he tried to kiss her, so sure of himself that she almost had to laugh; but it wasn't funny when he put his arms around her and gave her one of those awful wet kisses. Then he let go and stepped back as if to say there, now you've been kissed you won't fight it anymore.
She didn't fight. She ran and got the shotgun and Albie rode out fast yelling back something about letting her cool off a while.
But what was he doing around here? That was the question. Where had he been living for the past two weeks?
Brady and the girl heard the horse at the same time and both looked at each other across the table, both taken by surprise and thinking no, it couldn't be. For a moment there was no sound. Then, "Kitty!"
She stood up quickly, looking at Brady. "It's him." Brady said, "Boy, that's something, isn't it?" He was a few steps behind her going to the door, but close to her as she reached it raising the latch. He pulled the door open, stepping outside after her, and the first thing he saw was his new suit.
Albie was wearing it. Albie glancing at the doorway as he swung his right leg over the horse, as the girl stepped out into the sunlight saying, "We were just talking about you." And as Albie's foot touched the ground and he started to turn, Brady reached him.
"But no need for talk now," Brady said. He saw the puzzled frown on Albie's face, his mouth slightly open and his eyes asking a question in the shadow of the curled, forward tilted hat brim. His expression changed suddenly to recognition and at that moment Brady hit him, his right fist jerking up, slamming into the changing, tightening expression.
Albie stumbled against his horse, half turning to catch himself with both palms slapping against the saddle, but his horse side stepped nervously and in the moment that Albie hung off balance Brady's left fist drove into his ribs, cocked again as his right hand pulled Albie around, then hooked solidly into his jaw. Albie stumbled back off balance and this time he went down. He rolled to his side as he struck the ground, his right hand going to his hip, pulling back the coat, then hesitated.
Brady stood over him. "Try it, I'll stomp you right into the ground."
Albie looked up, squinting and rubbing the side of his jaw. "You her brother?"
"I got one thing to say to you," Brady answered.
"Take my suit off."
"If you're not a kin of hers," Albie said, "you better be careful how you talk."
"Just take it off," Brady said.
He looked up, glancing again at the girl as she called, "There's somebody coming."
He was aware of the faint hoofbeat sound then, far off, but clear in the open stillness; and already halfway across the meadow, coming toward them from the pinyon slope that was perhaps four hundred yards away but seemed closer, he saw two riders. Directly behind them in the distance, the wagon trail was a thin sand colored line coming down out of the dark mass of pinyon. They had descended that road, Brady judged, the same way he had come not an hour before.
Albie was on his elbow, turned now and watched them approach. Brady saw the grin forming on his mouth as they drew closer and again he glanced at the girl. "Who are they?"
She stood motionless, one hand shading her eyes from the sun glare. A breeze moved the fullness of her skirt and her hand dropped to hold the bleached cotton material against her leg.
"I'm not sure," she answered.
"He knows them," Brady said.
She studied them intently before her expression changed. "Yes . . . the one on the left, he was with Albie the first time."
"Russ," Albie said, pushing himself up to a sitting position. "Russ is my ma and the other one's my pa." He laughed then and called out, "Hey, Ma, this boy's pickin' on me!" He came to one knee as the riders came out of the aspen stand, reining their horses to a walk.
The one called Russ, slouched easily in the saddle but with a Winchester across his lap said, "Albie, you're never going to learn."
Albie came to his feet, brushing the seat of his pants. He was grinning and said, "Learn what, Ma?"
"That boy's about to take his suit back."
"Like hell he is," Albie said.
Brady stepped toward him as he spoke and as Albie glanced around, Brady's left hand slammed into his face. Brady was on him as he went down, pressing his knee into his stomach, and when he rose he was holding the Colt Albie had been wearing. He saw that it was his own.
"I told you," Russ said.
Brady looked up at the two riders. "Either of you object?"
Russ shook his head. "Not us. It's your suit, I guess you can take it if you want."
"My Winchester, too," Brady said.
Chapter Four
Private Business
Russ hesitated. His right hand was through the lever and the barrel pointed just off from Brady.
The second rider, who was bearded and wore a low crowned, stiff brimmed hat, held his hands one over the other on the saddle horn.
He said, "Russell, give Mr. Brady his piece." He spoke without straining to be heard and now his eyes moved from Brady who was studying him curiously as he moved toward Russ to take the extended Winchester to the girl and one hand lifted easily to touch his hat brim.