“That’s what they say,” Evan said.
“Better than Sam?”
“There’s only one way we’ll ever find that out” Jubal said, and Evan gave him a warning look.
“Is that going to happen?” Serena asked.
Neither Evan nor Jubal answered her this time.
“Of course,” she said, answering her own question, “of course it will. If you keep pursuing Lincoln Burkett, it will happen. And why shouldn’t it?”
“Serena—” Evan said, but she wasn’t listening.
“The whole town knows they’re both here, and they want to see it. If it happens, it will put this town on the map, won’t it?”
“Serena—” Jubal said, but he didn’t have any luck either.
“I’ll bet you two are curious about it, too. I’ll bet they’re curious about it themselves. I’m probably the only one who doesn’t want to see it happen.”
“Serena!” This time they tried it together and managed to get her attention.
“What?”
“Eat your dinner,” Evan said, “and stop worrying about things you have no control over.”
She looked down at her plate and pushed it away.
“I’ve lost my appetite.”
“Well, I haven’t,” Evan said. “It may not be as good as your cooking, but it’ll do.”
Evan started to eat, frowning at Jubal until he started as well.
As Coffin was approaching the hotel he stopped to light a cigarette. He knew that all of the McCall brothers had rooms in the hotel, and since the hotel only had two floors there was a fifty-fifty chance that Sam McCall’s room was on the same floor as his.
In the past Coffin had drawn his gun only for money. Now, however, he was starting to wonder if he could avoid doing it just out of curiosity. He was itching to try McCall.
He dropped the cigarette to the ground and stubbed it out deliberately. He’d give Burkett a little more time to do what he had to do, and then Coffin was just going to have to do what he had to do.
Sam McCall was looking out the window. He saw Coffin pause for a cigarette, staring at the hotel. The man was probably thinking the same thing. They couldn’t be more than some feet apart when they were both in their rooms.
Sooner or later they’d have to close the distance between them, whether it was because Coffin was working for Burkett, or simply because it was inevitable.
Sam had to admit to a lingering curiosity about Coffin.
He had to admit to it, but he didn’t have to give in to it.
He turned and limped back to bed.
Evan walked Serena home while Jubal went to the saloon, where Evan would meet him later.
They walked at a leisurely pace, in silence for most of the way. As they approached the house Serena stopped.
“What is it?” Evan asked.
“Evan, why don’t you and your brothers just leave town? Forget all about this place.”
“We will,” Evan said.
“After you find out who killed your parents.”
“That’s right.”
“Couldn’t the official verdict be right?”
“You don’t believe that any more than we do, Serena.
What’s your point?”
She hesitated a moment and then blurted out, “I don’t know that finding out who killed them is worth being killed yourselves.”
“Take a moment to think about that, Serena,” Evan said. “What if it was your father?”
“I see your point.”
“We appreciate your concern, we really do…and your help. If you’d rather just back away from this whole thing we’d understand. In fact, we’d like for you to do just that—”
“No,” she said, shaking her head, “I’m here to help you, when you need me—and my father feels the same way. All right?”
“Yes,” Evan said, “all right. Let’s get you home, now, shall we?”
They walked to the door, where she inserted her key and opened it.
“See you tomorrow,” she said, turning to him.
On impulse Evan bent and kissed her on the mouth.
She didn’t seem surprised, but she didn’t particularly participate, either.
Evan straightened and looked at her. He was about to apologize for taking the liberty when she stretched and kissed him quickly on the mouth.
“Good night,” she said, and slipped inside.
Jubal was standing at the bar holding a beer when he saw John Burkett enter with three men. The tallest of the three was Chuck Conners, Burkett’s foreman.
Jubal turned his back to the room. He was certain that Conners would know who he was. As it turned out, he hadn’t turned his back soon enough, and John Burkett had seen him.
“My friend,” Burkett called. Jubal tried to ignore him but in the mirror he could see Burkett crossing the room toward him. Conners and the other two men followed.
“Chuck, I want you to meet the hombre who helped me out at Louise’s. Hey,” John Burkett said, touching Jubal’s shoulder, “I didn’t even get your name.”
As Jubal turned Chuck Conners said, “I can tell you what his name is.”
“How would you—”
“His name is McCall,” Conners said. “Jubal McCall.”
“McCall?” John said, staring at Jubal.
“Sam McCall’s brother.”
John looked at Conners, then turned to Jubal and said, “Why, you—what were you trying to do? Get into my confidence?”
Jubal smiled and said, “No harm done, friend. I did keep you from getting your head knocked off.”
“Now let’s see if you can do the same for yourself,” John Burkett said. “Grab him!”
Jubal threw his beer into the face of one man andpushed another away. Conners, however, was bigger and stronger. He got behind Jubal and pinned his arms back.
“Hold him, Chuck,” Burkett said. He threw a punch that landed solidly in Jubal’s belly. He followed that one up with a blow to the face, bringing blood from Jubal’s lip.
“Can we get in on the fun?” one of the other men asked. His face was dripping with beer.
“Be my guest,” Burkett said.
The other two men positioned themselves in front of Jubal. Apparently they were going to work on him at the same time.
“Hey—” the bartender said.
“You stay out of it!” Burkett barked at the man, who subsided. As far as he was concerned, he had done all he could.
“You’re gonna feel this all the way down to your toes, boy,” the man with beer on his face said.
Both men drew back their fists, and at that moment the man who was slumped in Conner’s hands came to life. He backed up, pinning Conners to the bar, then lifted both feet and kicked out at the two men. He caught both of them in the chest, driving them backward.
“You son-of-a-bitch!” cried John Burkett. He went to draw his gun, but the move was arrested by a loud voice.
“I wouldn’t do that, Burkett!” It was Evan McCall.
Burkett looked over and saw Evan standing just inside the batwing doors, gun in hand. Men who were sitting in the line of fire scrambled for safety.
“Tell your friend to let my brother go.”
“There are four of us, McCall, and only two of you,” John Burkett said.
“That may be, Johnny boy, but I’ll make sure I kill you first.” Evan paused a moment to let that sink in and then said, “The next move is up to you.”
Conners was still holding on to Jubal. The other twomen had regained their balance and were watching John Burkett, waiting for him to move.
“John!” Conners said.
“What?”
“This isn’t the time or the place,” the foreman said. He released Jubal’s shoulders. “Let’s go.”
“Want a drink.”
“We’ll get one someplace else.”
John Burkett was still staring across the room at Evan, his shoulders high with tension.
“John!” Conners said, “Let’s go.” He started for the door, then turned and looked at the other two men. “Let’s go, boys!”