Crow Bait

Thirty-eight

Lancaster nursed his beer.

Dan just stood behind the bar and watched.

“You ever get any other customers?”

“Sure,” Dan said. “Some of the ranch hands come in once in a while, but there are a couple of saloons in Audley, more in Seligman.”

“That’s a long ride.”

“Some of the ranches are halfway between here and Audley. Just as long a ride either way. More beer and women there.”

That made coming to Peach Springs even more of a mystery. Maybe he was in the wrong place. Maybe there was another town with peach in the name. He posed the question to Dan.

“Not that I know of,” the bartender said. “Not in Arizona, anyway.”

“Why do you stay here?” Lancaster asked.

“Why?” Dan spread his arms. “I own all this. If I go someplace else, I won’t own nothin’.”

“I guess you have a point there.”

“Besides,” Dan added, “Hermione won’t let me go, and I’m as afraid of her as her brothers are. Maybe more, because I don’t think she’d hesitate to kill me.”

“I’m gettin’ more and more curious to meet this woman.”

“Oh, I’m sure you will,” Dan said. “She’s probably been watchin’ you from on high.”

“On high?”

“Second floor of the hotel, front,” Dan said. “Hermione made sure she has the best room in the hotel.”

“Down the hall from me?”

“Probably.”

Lancaster pushed the beer mug away with a third of it still there.

“Somethin’ wrong?” Dan asked.

“I’ve had enough,” Lancaster said. “Since we’re bein’ so clear and honest with each other, Dan, let me ask you a question.”

“Go ahead,” Dan said, leaning his elbows on the bar. “Bartenders are good at answering questions.”

“Well, maybe more than one,” Lancaster said. “Have there been any other strangers in town in the past—oh, month or so?”

“Nope,” Dan said. “None.”

“You answered that one real quick.”

“I think I’d notice if any strangers came to town.”

“Yeah, I guess you would.”

“Are you here lookin’ for somebody?”

“I am looking for somebody,” Lancaster said, “and I thought they might have passed through here.”

“Why?” Dan asked. “Why would anybody come here?”

“For the beef stew?”

At that point the batwings opened and one of the brothers came in. At the moment, Lancaster didn’t know which one it was.

“Hello, George.”

“Dan.”

“What are you doin’ here?” Dan asked. “Why aren’t you at the hotel?”

“No customers,” George said. “So Hermione sent me over.”

Dan gave Lancaster a “See, I told you so” look.

“Does she want me?” Dan asked. “Or our guest?”

George frowned at Dan and asked, “Why would she want to see you?”