CHAPTER 50

Jerry had not told his bosses or Butler, but he had decided to take the initiative. He had put a man across the street from the White Elephant, just to keep an eye on things. He’d told Tim Doocey to let him know if he saw anything suspicious. Doocey wasn’t really clear on what Jerry would consider to be suspicious, but he had a feeling three men with guns loitering around the front doors qualified. Especially since they had started out across the street.

Doocey walked down the block, crossed the street, went down an alley, and entered the White Elephant through a back door. He made his way across the busy floor to the bar, got Jerry’s attention and told him what he saw. Jerry slapped the young man on the back and gave him a free beer. Then he went around the bar to where Butler and Luke Short were still standing.

“There’s three men with guns outside the front door,” Jerry said. “They look like they’re waitin’ for somethin’—or someone.”

“How do you know?” Short asked.

Jerry told them about putting Tim Doocey across the street, just in case.

“Jerry,” Short said, “I think you deserve a raise…”

“Thanks, Boss.”

“…and probably a promotion. I’m going to talk to Bill Ward about it.”

“Thanks. Do you, uh, want me to get my shotgun?” the bartender asked.

“No,” Short said. “Just stay where you are and do your job. Where’s Doocey?”

“End of the bar,” Jerry said. “I gave him a free beer. He’s happy.”

“How old is he?”

“About twenty-two, I think.”

“We’ll put him on the payroll,” Short said, “but don’t tell him yet.”

“Sure, boss.”

“Jerry,” Butler asked, “go ask Doocey where the men are exactly.”

“Right.” Jerry ran down the bar, asked the question, got the answer and came back.

“He says two to the right, one to the left.”

“Okay, thanks.”

Jerry went down the bar to serve drinks and Short looked at Butler.

“You know what I’m thinkin’?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Butler said, “that they’re here for me.”

“I’m going out the back,” Short said. “Give me five minutes and then come out the front.”

“Okay.”

“You want the two or the one?” Short asked.

That was a tough question. If he said the one it meant he didn’t think he could handle two. And he sure as hell didn’t want to admit that to Luke Short.

“If they’re here for me, I should take two,” he said, finally, “but why don’t we try to take your one alive? Maybe we can find out for sure why they’re here, and who sent them?”

“Okay,” Short said, “as long as you’re sure you can take the two.”

“Just take care of your guy, Luke,” Butler said, “and try not to kill him.”

“You know, I really think that’s going to be up to him.”

Luke Short left the bar and made his way across the saloon floor, pretty much retracing Tim Doocey’s steps.

Butler stepped to the front of the saloon and peered out a window. He saw two men waiting together, didn’t see the third. That was okay, he had to trust the third to Luke Short. His job was these two.

He took his gun out, checked it, and slid it back into the holster, testing it to see if it would come out easily. Butler knew his real skill was with cards, but he knew he could handle himself with a gun. If these two men were out to ambush him, they were going to be pretty shocked when he came out the batwing doors facing them.

The outcome was going to rely solely on how they reacted.

He waited the full five minutes before walking to the front doors.

Trusting that Luke Short would be where he said he was going to be, Butler walked through the batwing doors. He turned quickly to face the two men who—as he hoped and half expected—seemed completely shocked.

“I think you boys are out here waiting for me,” he said.

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