Quicksilver Passion (24 page)

Cherokee, is that you?” The whiskered face peeked over the ridge.

Who the hell you think it was?” Cherokee scrambled to his feet, brushing the dirt off his clothes.
If you can’t see well enough to recognize me, you should at least be able to see something as big as the burro!”

The old man limped toward him, a sheepish smile on his face.
Sorry about that. I always think it’s better to get in the first shot, ask questions later.”

Cherokee leaned over, picked up his hat, and examined the bullet hole with a frown.
You better watch out! You accidentally shoot some innocent man, there’ll be a lynch party lookin’ for you.”

Bill spat tobacco juice to one side and leaned on his rifle.
If’fen they ain’t got a claim up here, they ain’t got no business up here! Now that we’ve hit some promisin’ pay dirt, we’ll have claim jumpers nosin’ around.”

There was no point arguing with the stubborn old coot. Cherokee sighed and slapped him on the back. Both the prospectors had been friends of his father’s. It had been Cherokee’s claim, but he needed their expertise and experience to keep things running last autumn while he was off searching for his papa. He’d found him, or at least his grave over in the Nevada diggings. He never did know what became of Lulu, the plump and pretty white whore Papa had run off with.
Let’s get on back to the cabin,” he said.
I brought you two a few treats.”

Bill’s face lit up.
I want to hear about everything you saw. Did you blow your whole poke on women like you planned?”

Cherokee hesitated, chagrined. He didn’t want to admit he’d used part of it to decorate a pair of dancing slippers for a girl who wouldn’t let him touch her. He wasn’t even sure how much he would tell the two of the platinum-haired girl. He didn’t want to look foolish.
Let’s just say I invested it in a bad deal.”

The other laughed and slapped his leg.
Lost it in a card game, huh? I swear, Cherokee, that don’t sound like you!”

You just be careful with that rifle.” He put his big arm around the stooped shoulders.
You’re liable to shoot some innocent hombre.”