him.
" "Then walk away, " Daniel demanded.
Cole reached down and pushed the gun away from Robertson. "We're in
this together, " he said. "We will get him . . . We'll get all of
them." Daniel suddenly came to his senses. With a shudder, he jerked
back and stood. "Bring Jessica in here." Cole shook his head. "I
don't want her to see this mess. There's blood everywhere."
"She has to look at them, just to make certain." Gus came charging
into the saloon but staggered to a quick stop when he saw the marshals'
guns pointed at him.
"It's just me, " he stammered.
Cole and Daniel holstered their guns. "You gave me a start, drawing on
me like that, " Gus said.
He strutted across the room, looking as pleased as could be. "I did
all right, didn't I? " he asked, craving a compliment.
"Yeah, you did just fine, " Cole said.
"I was worried Harley wouldn't believe me, but he fell right into my
hands, and then those four went running out of here. Did you follow
them to the cavern? " "Yes, " Cole answered.
"I'm real good at lying, " Gus said. "But I got to ask you just one
question before I leave you to your jobs. I was wondering . . . are
there really two women here? " "Yes, there are."
"Are they fresh whores? " Neither marshal liked the question. Gus
hurriedly put his hand up in conciliation. "I don't mean no disrespect
if they ain't."
"You're the one who came up with that lie, not us, " Cole reminded
him.
"It was a good lie, wasn't it? Where do you have them hidden? " "The
safest place in town, " Cole answered.
"Gus, go get help for me, " Robertson cried out. "I'm hurting bad. "
"I ain't gonna help you. I know you did something bad to Flo, cause I
seen you riding out of town with her. She was a sweet old gal and I
know you hurt her." Gus realized a golden opportunity was slipping by
and ran to the bar to grab two bottles of whiskey. Three sounded
better to him, and he snatched up another one. He rounded the corner
of the bar with his booty clutched to his chest, stopped to spit on
Harley's head, then hurried to the door, his fervent hope to get away
before the marshals noticed his thievery.
Daniel and Cole searched through the dead men's pockets, looking for
identification, while Robertson continued to blubber like a baby. The
noise was distracting. Frustrated at not being able to find anything,
Cole grabbed Robertson and demanded that he tell his friends' names.
"I'm not telling you anything, " Robertson answered in a near shout.
"The boss will kill me."
"I'll kill you if you don't, " Daniel threatened.
Cole spied Gus still hovering in the doorway. "Is there something you
wanted? " "Did you find any money in their pockets? I could sure use
some extra, I know you already gave me three dollars, but I hate to see
good money buried with them."