When they were alone Serena said, “Maybe we’re looking in the wrong places.”
“We’re lookin’ anywhere a piece of paper could be hidden,” Sam said, “and that’s anywhere.”
Sam walked about studying the hard-packed dirt floor, checking to see if there was anyplace where something might have been buried. He was finished when Evan and Jubal came back in.
“Nothing outside.”
Sam looked up at the ceiling and said, “Just for the sake of being thorough we’d better check the roof.”
“Who’s going to go up on the roof?” Evan asked.
“Well, I can’t,” Sam said. “I’ve been shot in the leg, remember?” Evan looked at Jubal.
“Why me?”
“Because you’re the youngest.”
“What does that mean?”
“Your balance is better,” Evan said. “You’re the least likely to fall off.”
“Oh, never mind all this,” Serena said. “I’ll go up on the roof. Jubal, help me up.”
The roof was low, and it took only a boost from Jubal to get Serena up.
“Check the chimney,” Sam said. “There might be a loose stone.”
They waited while Serena checked the roof, and then when she was ready to come down both Evan and Jubal reached up for her and helped her.
“Nothing?” Evan asked.
“Nothing.”
“We’ll have to check that area you said Pa liked to hunt,” Jubal said.
“Yes, but we’ll have to do it tomorrow,” Evan said. “It’ll be dark soon.”
“If you men want to eat,” Serena said, “we’ll have to get back so I can cook.”
“Why don’t we go somewhere and eat?” Evan suggested.
“You have something against my cooking?” Serena asked.
“Of course not,” Evan said. “I just thought you could use a break.”
“Well,” Serena said, “it doesn’t sound like a completely bad idea. Where shall we go?”
“Is there anyplace decent to eat?” Evan asked.
“Well,” she said, thoughtfully, “there is one place.”
“The hotel?” Jubal asked.
“Oh, no,” Serena said, making a face, “certainly not. There’s a small café run by a friend of mine.”
“Well, then,” Sam said, “let’s get back to town.”
He didn’t want to let on how weak he felt, or how much his thigh was aching. When they got back to town he’d beg off from dinner. He had no appetite.
No appetite for anything but revenge. His wound, and the sickly feeling that accompanied it, could not extinguish that.
Chapter Sixteen
Normally a patient man, Coffin was becoming impatient. A man could have just so much food, drink, gambling and women—even when they were all free.
Lincoln Burkett had given Coffin an unlimited line of credit wherever he went in town. Coffin, to the surprise of the merchants involved, did not abuse the privilege. It was plain to see what kind of man Coffin was, and the townspeople moved out of his way when he walked down the street, much the way they moved for Sam McCall. McCall, however, had come from Vengeance Creek, and they had known his parents. Coffin was a stranger, and no one knew what to expect from him.
They certainly didn’t expect what they got.
When he ate in the hotel dining room or a restaurant, he was courteous and quiet. When he drank in the saloon he did so alone, and when he played cards he did so quietly and efficiently.
When he went to the whorehouse he treated the girls well, and though he did not have to pay he always gave them something.
In the span of a few days Coffin actually had some of the people of Vengeance Creek liking him.
Now he was growing impatient. He never liked staying in one place too long.
Coffin was having dinner in the cafe when Evan, Jubal, and Serena entered. Dude Miller had opted to stay home, and as he had planned, Sam had begged off and gone tohis hotel room. Miller had offered him a room at the house, but Sam had refused. If some of Burkett’s men came for him again—which seemed more likely every minute—he didn’t want Dude Miller or Serena caught in the crossfire.
In the morning, if he felt strong enough, Sam planned on riding out to see Lincoln Burkett. If the man really wanted him dead, he’d give him the chance to do it himself. As they entered the café Jubal saw Coffin, who nodded to him.
After they were seated Serena asked, “Who is that?”
“That’s Coffin.”
“Lincoln Burkett’s hired gun?” she asked. “Eating here?”
“Where would you have him eat?” Evan asked.
“I don’t know…” Serena said. “With his reputation you’d think he wouldn’t want to eat with…with…”
“Decent people?” Evan asked.
“I was going to say that,” she admitted.
“What about Sam?” Evan asked. “Should he be allowed to eat here?”
“That’s different.”
“Why? He has a reputation.”
“But I know Sam,” Serena said. “I know he’s not like that.”
“Maybe if you knew Coffin you’d decide that he wasn’t like his reputation, either.”
“I don’t understand you,” Serena said. “Isn’t he here to kill Sam?”
“We don’t know why he’s here,” Evan said. “We do know one thing: when Sam was pinned down in that telegraph office, Coffin helped us.”
Serena looked surprised.
“Why would he do that?”
“Maybe he was just saving Sam for himself,” Evan said.
“Maybe he couldn’t see a man dying that way, at the hands of seven men, all of whom were too cowardly to face him alone.”
Serena compressed her lips and then said, “I don’t think I’ll ever understand men.”
“I reckon that makes us even, Serena,” Jubal said.
“Why don’t we eat?” Evan suggested. “I’m starved.”
Coffin recognized Jubal as Sam McCall’s brother, and the other man was Evan McCall. He hadn’t gotten a good look at either of them on the street that day, but he had seen Jubal in the saloon with Sam McCall the day they had talked, and he’d seen Evan out at Burkett’s place.
Coffin wondered idly if Sam’s ability with a gun was a family trait.
After he finished his dinner Coffin walked over to the table where Evan, Jubal, and Serena were still eating. He was holding his hat in his hand.
“Hello, boy,” he said to Jubal.
“The name’s Jubal.”
“Sure, Jubal,” Coffin said. “I didn’t mean any offense.”
“None taken, Coffin,” Evan said. “Is there some reason why you came over here?”
“As a matter of fact, there is,” Coffin said, switching his gaze to Serena. “I came to pay my respects to the lady. Ma’am, I do believe you’re the prettiest woman I’ve seen in a long time. I just wanted to tell you that.”
Serena stared at Coffin for a few moments and then said, “Thank you.”
“Are you Sam’s woman?” Coffin asked.
“Why do you want to know that?” Evan asked.
Coffin smiled, and Serena noticed that the smile touched his lips, but not his eyes. His cold gray eyes made her shiver inside.
“Just curious, that’s all.”
“Well,” Evan said, “if you have to know, she’s Jubal’s girl.”
“Jubal, eh?”
Both Jubal and Serena gave Evan quick looks and then tried to mask them.
“Lucky lad,” Coffin said, then added, “Oops, sorry.
That’s just like calling you ‘kid,—isn’t it?”
Jubal didn’t answer.
“Well,” Coffin said, “I’ll be on my way and allow you to finish your meal. Ma’am?”
He put on his hat and walked out. Serena couldn’t keep herself from staring at his gun as he went out.
“Is he very good with his gun?” she asked.