I admit I was breaking every rule I live by. I had lasted as long as I had in my business because I never took needless risks. I always did my work in secret except for the ears I took as proof I had done the work. This time I would not bother with ears. I had no need to prove anything to anyone.
This was for me, and me alone.
I had saved my parson collar, and as a crowning touch, you might say, I took it from my saddlebags and wrapped it around the saddle horn of the horse I had just tied to the rail. The collar was in bad shape from my ordeal in the cabin, but there was no mistaking what it was—or who had worn it.
Stepping back, I smiled. That should do nicely. I regretted I would not be on hand to see Gertrude’s reaction.
I forked leather. Not a lot of night was left and I had to find someplace to hole up before daylight. It did not take a lot of savvy to figure out that when Gertrude realized I was alive, she would have her cowboys scour the countryside.
I reined Brisco toward the Fair Sister. Unlike its sibling, the mountain was largely bare of vegetation. But it had foothills, and beyond, a similar maze of canyons, ravines, and gullies. Plenty of spots for a man to hide.
Dawn was breaking when I came to the far side of the mountain. A narrow canyon looked promising. The ground was solid rock, so my horses left few tracks. The walls were high and would shield me from the sun. The only drawback was that it was a box canyon. If I was discovered, the only way out was to shoot my way out. But I wouldn’t mind that. I wouldn’t mind that at all.
I hobbled Brisco and the mare, spread out my bedroll, and was asleep within minutes of my head touching my saddle. I slept wonderfully. I dreamed that I dropped Gertrude Tanner into a huge cauldron of bubbling water and watched as she was boiled alive. It was rare for me to dream so vividly. When I woke up, I lay there a while, remembering and relishing.
Twilight had fallen when I emerged from the canyon with the mare in tow. She was used to me by now and did not balk or otherwise give me trouble.
I roved north in search of another herd and found one within tobacco spitting distance. I reckoned on finding a cowboy or two, as well, but the cows were unattended.
I made for the ranch. I expected it to be a beehive. From a quarter of a mile out I watched and watched and saw no one. I moved closer and watched some more. Again, except for a few lit windows, nary a sign of life anywhere.
I took a gamble. As brazen as brass, I rode in. No one challenged me. There were no shouts or shots. I waltzed into the stable as if I owned the spread. Most of the stalls were empty. Evidently the hands were all off somewhere.
The tack room had what I needed: a saddle, saddle blanket, and bridle for the mare. I had just tugged on the cinch one last time and was turning to lead the two horses back out when hooves clattered. I hurriedly led Brisco and his sweetheart into adjoining stalls, then hid in another and drew my Remington.
The hoofbeats slowed. Spurs jingled, and into the stable strode a cowboy leading a lathered dun. He and his mount were caked with dust. They had come a far piece, and I had a hunch where from.
I did not show myself until he had stripped the dun and placed it in a stall. As he turned toward the double doors I came up behind him and jammed the Remington’s barrel into his spine.
The cowboy froze. It was Chester, the rangy cowboy from the restaurant. “What’s the meaning of this?” he asked without turning his head.
“Get rid of your iron.”
He did.
“Where is everybody?”
“Most everyone is off with Mrs. Tanner. They rode out about ten this morning.”
I believed him. I sidled around so he could see me. “Let me guess. She went to the Dark Sister to check on her silver.”
“I’ll be damned,” the cowboy said. “You. Here of all places. Mister, you’ve got more sand than most ten hombres.”
“When do you expect her back?”
He gave himself away by hesitating. “Anytime now.”
I kicked him in the left knee and he crumpled in agony. He was smart enough not to cry out. “When did you say?”
“Sometime tomorrow,” he hissed between clenched teeth. “She’s staying the night in the canyon. Has the whole outfit digging like gophers to get to the vein.”
“Why aren’t you with them?”
“She sent me back to tell her son what you did.”
“Phil is here?”
He stopped puffing and glared at me. “Tell me why, mister. Why did you kill Brennan and those others? And Barker and Steve? What did they ever do to you?”
“Were you at the Butcher cabin, Chester?”
“No.”
I pistol-whipped him across the temples, not once but twice, and he slumped over, unconscious. Twirling the Remington into my holster, I took the rope from the saddle he had thrown over the stall. I fashioned a noose and threw it over a beam, then slipped the noose around his neck. Leading Brisco into the aisle, I looped the other end of the rope around the saddle horn, and waited.
Chester was not out long. Groaning, he blinked and slowly sat up, feeling groggily about his throat. “What the—?” he croaked.
“Don’t try to take it off,” I warned.
Fear restored his senses. He swallowed and looked at me. “This ain’t right. Turn me over to the law and have me put on trial.”
“It’s no less right than slaughtering the Butchers,” I remarked. “As for a trial, I’m your judge, jury, and executioner. The least you can do is take your medicine like a man.” I smacked Brisco. For a few moments Brisco strained into the rope. Suddenly the cowboy was yanked off the ground and clean into the air.
Kicking wildly, Chester pried at the noose, then at the knot. But only for a few seconds. His left hand dropped to a belt knife I had overlooked. Unsheathing it, he slashed at the rope but missed.
I was growing careless. I ran to a nearby mound of straw and seized the long handle sticking up out of it.
Chester cut the rope. He was not that high, but he sprawled to his hands and knees. He had not noticed me. Rising on his knees, he frantically tugged at the noose. He never loosened it. I saw to that by spearing him in the chest with the pitchfork. He arched his back, grabbed the handle, and tried to wrench the tines out.
“That’s for Daisy,” I said.
Chester locked eyes with me, eyes wide with shock. I saw the spark of life fade, just as you see the light of a lamp fade as you turn it down. He only convulsed once, and that was that.
I left him there. I brought the mare from the stall, and as I passed the body, I noticed his hat. Black, with a wide brim and a low crown creased on the sides. I preferred a round crown, but I tried it on anyway. It was tight, but it fit. “Thanks,” I said, and kicked its former owner in the teeth.
I walked the horses up to the main house rather than ride. No one was peering out. I went up the steps to the porch as quietly as a church mouse, and peeked in. The parlor was well lit, but I saw no one.
With my back to the door, I reached behind me and knocked. I had to do it three times before footfalls sounded in the hall.
“Who is it?”
I was in luck. It wasn’t one of the servants. Slumping to disguise my height, I answered, “It’s Chester, Mr. Tanner. I have a message for you from your mother.”
Phil opened the door, grumbling, “It’s about damn time. I can’t stand sitting here twiddling my thumbs. What is the news?”
I drew the Remington as I faced him. “It’s not good, I’m afraid. But you and your bitch of a mother have only yourselves to blame for double-crossing me.”
“Stark!”
“One and the same. Are you going to stand there catching moths in your mouth or invite me in?”