The worry about Eleanor was temporarily put on hold. He accepted the bottle and took a long swallow.
"It goes down real smooth, doesn't it?"
Travis nodded. "I bartered for a dozen bottles. Sure tastes good."
"I hope Mary Rose doesn't come outside. She's bound to notice Eleanor's missing," Douglas said.
"If she asks, we won't tell her anything," Travis said. He leaned against the post and let out a yawn. "She thinks Eleanor's in her room. Let her go on thinking it."
"I don't think she'll want to talk to Eleanor for a long time," Douglas predicted.
"Why not?" Adam asked.
"She's still mad at her," Douglas said. "Eleanor called Mrs. Morrison a fat cow."
"Dear Lord. I hope Mrs. Morrison didn't hear her," Adam said. He shuddered over the mere possibility.
"I don't see how she couldn't have heard," Douglas said. "She was talking to the woman and said it to her face."
Adam shook his head. "Looks like we're going to have to go to Hammond to get our necessaries."
"Eleanor will apologize," Cole predicted. "I'll bet she's almost ready to change her ways."
"What was she doing when you took off?" Travis asked.
"Throwing rocks and screaming. The woman's got quite a colorful vocabulary."
"Afternoon, Dooley," Douglas called out. "Do you want a beer?"
"I sure could use me one," Dooley replied. He climbed down from his mount and strutted over to the stairs. Harrison had never noticed how bowlegged the man was before. Dooley walked like he was carrying a pickle barrel between his knees.
The old man sat down on the steps between Adam and Harrison. He took his hat off, wiped his brow with the back of his arm, and then said, "It surely is warm for winter, ain't it?"
"It's June, Dooley," Cole informed him.
Harrison patiently waited for one of the brothers to find out what had happened to Eleanor. No one said a word. They were still busy appreciating their beverages. Harrison assumed the drink was a rarity for them because of the scarcity.
Dooley was licking his lips in anticipation of the treat he was going to get. Harrison finally broke down and asked the question for the others.
"Dooley, weren't you supposed to be watching out for Eleanor?"
"Yes, sir, I surely was."
"Then why are you here?"
"I couldn't take it no more. She was making so much noise my head started in pounding. She didn't spot me watching out for her though. I can hide real tight when I set my mind to it. I couldn't hide from the screaming, even when I covered my ears with my hands. Then Ghost happened along. I gave him two whole dollars to sit a spell and watch over her."
"Was Ghost drinking his brew?" Cole asked.
"He ran out three days ago. He's pretty straight now," Dooley assured him.
Harrison turned to Cole. "I'm not going after her."
"I didn't ask you to."
"I'm still going to get blamed for this, aren't I?"
"Yes, sir, you surely are." Cole laughed after he answered in just the same way Dooley would have. "If Mary Rose finds out before I bring Eleanor back, it's got to be your fault."
"How do you figure that?" Harrison asked.
"It was your plan."
"Mary Rose might not find out," Travis suggested from the doorway.
"I acted in good faith," Harrison argued.
"She'll find out all right," Douglas predicted. "She'll get real suspicious in a couple of days if Eleanor doesn't come downstairs. I figure Mary Rose will stay mad at her until around Friday. Then she'll start asking questions."
"Are you going to leave Eleanor up on the mountain that long?" Harrison asked Cole.
"I don't believe Ghost could take it that long. I might have to add another dollar to keep him from balking. You willing to lend me one, Cole?"
"Sure, Dooley," Cole agreed.
"Here's your beer, Dooley," Travis said. He handed the bottle to the man. "Say, isn't that Ghost coming down the trail?"
Harrison stood up. He accepted the inevitable. He was going to have to fetch Eleanor.
Mary Rose appeared in the doorway. "Hello, Dooley," she called out.
"Howdy, Miss Mary," he called back.
She walked out onto the porch and looked around. "Has anyone seen Eleanor? I want to have a talk with her."
Everyone looked at Harrison. He didn't say a word. He sat down again and stared off into the distance.
Travis decided to lie for him. "She's up in her room. Let her stew for a while."
"What would she be stewing about?"
Travis couldn't think of anything. Douglas came to his assistance. "She must know you're angry with her, Mary Rose. She's mean, not stupid. She called Mrs. Morrison a fat cow, and she's got to know you're unhappy about that," he reasoned.
Harrison turned to look at Mary Rose. She gave him a hard frown.
"Adam, have you had your talk with Harrison yet?" she asked.
"Not yet, Mary Rose."
"Please see to it. The sooner the better."
"Talk about what?" Harrison asked her.
She didn't answer him. She turned around and went back inside. She let the screen door slam shut behind her.
Harrison turned to Adam. "What was that all about?"
"She told on you," Cole said.
"What?"
"She told Adam about the gunfight," he explained.
"Don't take offense, Harrison. She's only trying to look out for you," Douglas said.
Cole stood up. He stretched his shoulders, put the beer bottle down on the railing, and then went down the steps.
"I guess I'll go get Eleanor now. Ghost, why aren't you watching Eleanor?" he called out.
The white-haired man reached the walkway in front of the house and shook his head. "I couldn't stand it no more. It weren't worth the money. Henry heard all the racket and came looking. I gave him three dollars to sit on her for a while. I ain't never doing you no more favors again, Dooley."
Cole headed for the barn. " Harrison, have you ever used a rope before?" he called over his shoulder.
"I showed him how," Douglas shouted back. "He's been practicing."
"We'll go and rope those steers as soon as I get back with Eleanor," Cole yelled.
Harrison stood up. " Douglas, you didn't need to lie for me."
"Go and practice now," the brother suggested. "Then it won't be a lie. Come on. I'll show you how it's done."
" Harrison, you'd better eat something first," Adam suggested.
He agreed. While Douglas went to get a couple of ropes, he accompanied Adam into the kitchen. They ate at the kitchen table and talked about mundane matters all the while. Mary Rose walked into the kitchen, spotted the two men at the table, and promptly turned around and walked back out.
"Aren't you supposed to talk to me about the gunfight?" Harrison asked. "I understand Mary Rose told on me."
He was looking at the doorway and smiling.
"Yes," Adam agreed. "My sister thinks you might have deliberately provoked the man into a draw."
"I did," Harrison admitted.
He waited for Adam's lecture. The brother didn't say another word. After several minutes of silence passed, Harrison prodded him.
"And?"
"And what?"
"Aren't you going to talk to me about it?"
"I just did."
Harrison laughed.
Cole, on the other hand, certainly wasn't laughing. Eleanor wasn't cooperating with his plan. The second she spotted him coming toward her, she picked up a good-size rock and threw it at him.
Cole didn't think that was any way for her to treat her savior. She should have been appreciative, not furious.
She sure was a sight to behold. Her cheeks were all flushed and rosy, and her eyes fairly blazed with anger.
"Haven't you figured anything out yet?" he asked her. "Quit throwing things, damn it."
He dodged another pebble and nudged his horse closer. Eleanor stood in the center of the trail. She'd walked a good distance. He looked down at her shoes and thought her feet had to be getting blisters.