Butler's Wager

CHAPTER 24

Butler was extra careful when leaving his room, and when he went down to the lobby. He considered going out a back door, but then decided to brave the front. They’d already tried once to get him in the hallway, maybe they weren’t willing to try in the street.

As he left the hotel he realized the coast was clear and started walking toward the far end of town, following M.J.’s directions. As he went he wondered at the fact that somebody was trying to collect the price on his head again so soon after Wichita. He could usually count on weeks, sometimes months, between tries. He also wondered if he should call this supper off. M.J. might be in danger being around him, but then he doubted he’d be able to talk her out of it. She’d already impressed him with her tenacity. She’d probably hound him all night, and be in the line of fire, anyway, if something came up. Better to eat with her, give her the interview, and then send her home where she’d be safe.

He reached the house, a small, one-story wooden building that needed some work. The yard was in disrepair, as was the white fence that went halfway around. He mounted the front steps. Three of them, the middle one loose. This place needed a man with a hammer and some nails, and a good coat of paint.

He knocked on the door and she immediately opened it. She was wearing a smile and a pretty blue dress that showed off her figure without showing him any skin. He liked it better than if she’d been wearing a saloon girl’s dress.

“You look beautiful,” he said.

“Thank you.” She stepped outside and closed the door.

“Not saying goodbye to your brother?”

“We’ve already said good night,” she told him. “He’s a little peeved that I’m not cooking dinner.”

“Will he starve?”

“I doubt it,”

“That’s good.”

“Why?” she asked. “If I’d said yes, would you have invited him to come along?”

“No,” he said, “I just don’t want to be the cause of him starving to death.”

“No danger of that.”

He extended his arm and asked, “Shall we go?”

She was holding a pad and pencil, so she shifted them to her other hand so she could take his arm.

“Since I don’t know where we’re going,” she said, “I’m on your hands.”

He was sure he hadn’t been followed to her house, and he was equally sure no one was following them as he walked her to the restaurant he’d discovered, owned and operated by Hank…whose last name he did not know.

“What is this place?” she asked, when they reached it.

“You’ve never been here?”

“I didn’t even know it existed,” she said. “How in the name of heaven did you find it?”

“I just took a walk yesterday, and here it was. I tried the food and it’s great.”

“Have you been to the Delmonico?”

“This is better.”

She looked at him is disbelief. “Really?”

“Really.”

“Well,” she said, “this I have to see.”

“But I want you to do something for me, before we go in,” he said.

“Does the interview depend on this, too?”

“No, no,” he said, “I’ve already agreed to do the interview. This is a favor.”

“And what is this favor?”

“If you like the food here,” Butler said. “You’ll write the place up in your newspaper, tell people it’s here. You’ll recommend it. Will you do that for me?”

She frowned at him.

“Do you own a piece of this place?”

“Not at all,” he answered. “Like I told you, I just discovered it yesterday by accident.”

“And you liked the food that much?”

“I did.”

She looked at the place, the small, dirty front window, narrow doorway, and, inside, the few tables and chairs. She wasn’t looking at it with distaste, though. If she had he might have been forced to point out the condition of her home. No, she was just eyeing the place with…curiosity.

“What do you say?” he asked, extending his arm again.

“Okay,” she said, linking her arm in his, “it’s a deal.”

They stepped inside.

Hank was thrilled to see Butler back, and even more thrilled that he had brought a lady with him—and such a beautiful one. Butler didn’t bother to tell the man that she was also owner of the Dodge City Times. He decided to save that for later.

“I’ll make you both the best meal you ever had,” he said proudly.

“I’d like a steak, please,” she said, and proceeded to tell him how she wanted it cooked and what she wanted with it. Butler knew she was doing this so that she could compare it to the Delmonico, which was famous for its steaks.

“And you, sir?” Hank asked.

“I’ll have the same, Hank, and some coffee.”

“Something to drink for the pretty lady?”

“Do you have beer?”

“Ice-cold beer,” he said.

“Then that’s what I’ll have.”

“In that case,” Butler said, “bring me the same.”

Hank actually rubbed his two big hands together as he said, “It’ll be my pleasure.”

M.J. looked around the empty place and said, “Looks like I’m not the only one who doesn’t know this place is here.”

“Well,” Butler said, “hopefully, after tonight, that will all change.”

“Let’s see how I like the steak, first, shall we?”

“Don’t worry,” he assured her. “You’ll like it.”

“Why don’t we start the interview?” she asked. “I mean, while we have the time?”

He looked down at her pad and pencil on the table and said, “I’m ready when you are.”