Texas Bluff

CHAPTER 16

When they were in a cab, on their way back to the White Elephant, Short said, “Thanks, Butler. I knew I made the right decision takin’ you with me.”

“What was that all about?”

“That was about Ed Cramer bein’ a complete asshole, like he always is,” Short said. “I don’t know why I thought I’d be able to talk to him. He gets under my skin every time.”

“How do you know him? From here?”

“Cramer and I have been in the same place at the same time in a few different towns,” Short said, “but this is the first time we both own a place in the same town. And it ain’t workin’.”

“Well,” Butler said, “at least we didn’t end up shooting the place up.”

“Oh, crap,” Short said.

“What?”

“I knew I forgot to do something’.”

When they got back to the White Elephant, Butler went to the bar for a drink. Short told him he had to go to the office to talk to his partner, Ward, and that he’d see him later.

“I’m gonna buy you a meal.”

“You don’t have to—”

“It’s the least I can do,” Short said. “Meet me here at six.”

“Okay,” Butler said, “six.”

As Short walked away, Jerry came over with a beer and said to Butler, “Fireworks?”

“Not even a spark.”

Jerry looked disappointed.

“Not even one shot?”

“No,” Butler said, “but Luke did put his gun into Ed Cramer’s mouth and threaten to blow the back of his head out.”

“Awright,” Jerry said. “I knew there’d be some excitement.”

“Just a little.”

Luke Short told Bill Ward what had happened in Hell’s Half Acre with Ed Cramer.

“Damn it, Luke,” Ward said. “Don’t you have enough enemies? Don’t we?”

“Cramer’s an old enemy of mine, Bill,” Short said. “This is nothin’ new.”

“Well, it’s new for me,” Ward said. “Did you go there alone? You could’ve been killed.”

“No, I took Butler,” Short said. “He saved my bacon once already.”

“Then he’s a good man to have around.”

“That’s what I was thinkin’.”

“What, you want to hire him?”

“Yes.”

“To do what?”

“Whatever he wants,” Short said. “To gamble here. Just to be around.”

“Is he a name that’s going to draw other gamblers?” Ward asked.

Short smiled.

“By the time I’m done,” he said, confidently, “he will be.”

“Go ahead, then,” Ward said. “And what about those rumors that Cramer’s going to send someone over here to start trouble? Did you…convince him it wouldn’t be wise?”

“He’s a stubborn cuss. But he won’t be sendin’ anyone for a while.”

“Why not?”

“First he’s going to have to do some askin’ about Butler, find out who he is, where he came from,” Short said. “That’ll take a few days.”

“Then what?”

“Then he’ll probably send someone to try and kill him,” Short said, “or me, or both.”

“Does Butler know all this?”

“He’s a smart man,” Short said. “I’m sure he can figure it out.”

“That’s why you invited him to go with you?” Ward asked. “And why you want to hire him, to use him as…as bait?”

“No,” Short said. “That’s not why I took him with me. It occurred to me later.”

“So having him here is going to draw Cramer out?” Ward asked.

“Havin’ him and me here is gonna do that.”

“And then what?”

“That’s up to Cramer,” Short said, “or whoever he sends.”