Shadow's Stand (24 page)

“I’ve yet to get to nasty. Right now, I’m working on pleasant.”

They exchanged glances among themselves.

“It was fool’s gold,” Shadow said.

“She had it assayed,” the leader countered.

“Yeah, well, a little problem with that.”

“What do ya mean?”

“The assayer is hot to get under her skirts. He told her what she wanted to hear and then went on to offer his services in helping her.”

“She pretty?” the young one asked. Again Shadow feigned disinterest. “She’s pretty enough that he was willing to put some effort into it.”

“She have any more gold around her house?”

“Well, there’s no house left. That burned to the ground. But, no, she was right proud of that nugget. Paraded that little nugget around like a favorite son. It’s all she had. Saw it shining in the sand. Decided she’d struck gold.”

“She found it on a hill?”

“Yep. Just sitting out there in the middle of the desert, pretty as anything. Went and decided she’d struck it rich.” He shook his head. “Gotta tell you boys, she wasn’t that bright.”

Some of the interest left their faces. Gold wasn’t just sitting out in a sandy desert. Gold was in rock or in streams where rock had been eroded. But gold wasn’t often found sitting atop dry sandy soil.

“So it was a bust?”

“Why the hell do you think I’m sitting here drinking this bottle? I’d thought my ship had come in all because some piss-ass assayer wanted a piece of tail. Shit. I could have been having a good time elsewhere.” He poured another glass of whiskey. “Gentlemen. To better days.”

The leader, a man of nondescript appearance, a missing tooth and a scar on his cheek, put two bits on the counter.

“Sorry to hear that. Next drink’s on me.”

Shadow nodded. “Thank you kindly. It’ll go a long way to soothe the disappointment.”

Jimmy was still standing at the bar with his hand on the gun. Shadow eased the hammer off his revolver and lowered it.

“It’s been nice meeting you boys, but now if you’ll excuse me, I have drinking to do.”

Turning, the men stepped away, headed back to their table and proceeded to talk among themselves.

Jimmy shook his head. “That was close, Michael.”

“Not close enough.”

“They’re a mean bunch, those. They’re always sniffing around here, looking for news that someone struck gold, and every time they leave, someone ends up dead and a claim vacated.”

“Claim jumpers.”

“Yes.” And they were interested in Fei’s claim. Damn good thing she was leaving tomorrow, because, even though he’d put some doubt in their heads, if they were true gold seekers, they wouldn’t let it go.

The door opened, more sunlight spilled into the saloon. A big man stood there. He had a gut that came from good living, but his eyes were still sharp and his hands stayed limber near his guns. Shadow spotted a badge on his vest pocket.

Shit.
The sheriff.

Shadow sighed, poured a drink and chugged it. “Evening, Sheriff.”

The sheriff walked over with a hard-eyed look that was meant to intimidate the men he was stalking. The sheriff moved his bottle to the side and leaned against the bar. What the hell was it with everyone touching his bottle?

“Did you break Benny’s wrist?”

“Was Benny the bigoted ass with a big mouth and no common sense?”

“That’d be him.”

“Then, yes, I did.”

“We don’t allow fighting in this town.”

“Since when?”

“Since a month ago when I came in and took over.”

“So you’re the new sheriff in town, coming to clean it up?”

“Aye, that I am.”

“You might want to start by telling the bigoted asses of this town to keep their hands off a man’s booze.”

“I might just do that, but in the meantime, you need to come with me.”

“Where to?”

“Jail.”

Shadow found it interesting that Jimmy’s hand was still on the rifle. Maybe the new sheriff wasn’t the straight arrow he pretended to be.

“Sorry, Sheriff. I don’t like jail.” The hairs on the back of Shadow’s neck rose just as he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned, lashing out. Something crashed into the back of his head, and the world shimmered out of focus.

CHAPTER TWELVE

“Y
OU
’
VE
GOT
A
VISITOR
,
INJUN
.”

Shadow moaned as the voice pierced the din created by the hundred hammers inside his head, beating on his brain. A visitor. He cracked an eyelid and raised his head. Bars were all he could see. Dropping back flat, he squinted at the water stain on the ceiling. He was in jail. As soon as the hammers let up, he’d have to see about busting out.

Covering his eyes with his forearm, he muttered to whomever was trying to wake him. “I don’t want any visitors.”

“I don’t think she particularly cares what you want.”

She? Had there been a she last night? He had a vague recollection of deciding to get drunk, and looking forward to a fight, but not much else. He looked at his knuckles. No scrapes. Apparently he’d accomplished only one of his goals.

“Who is it?”

“Now, that’s not any of your business. She paid for five minutes and she’ll be having it.”

Paid? Lifting his arm, Shadow peered at the deputy. “How the hell can it not be my business? It’s my visitor.”

“It’s a lady. So here.”

A bucket of cold water splashed over him, soaking his clothes and the bed. Shadow sat up, sputtering.

“Clean yourself up.”

Shadow hadn’t been in a jail yet where a deputy or sheriff didn’t run it like their own personal little kingdom, handing out humiliation as if it was the only way they could get through the day. Apparently this was no different. He sluiced the water off his face with his hands, caught a whiff of his own stench and shook his head. It was going to take more than a bucket of water to get him clean.

The door opened. A small woman, dressed in beautifully patterned silk, her mouth accentuated with a touch of red and her hair elaborately coiled on top of her head, came through the door.

Lin.

With a bow, she told the deputy, “I thank you for allowing me this time, Deputy.”

The man openly leered at her. “The name’s Ryan. And five minutes is what you paid for.” He held out his hand.

Lin placed two coins in it. Ryan kept his hand out. Ignoring it, Lin glided into the room with Ryan on her heels, not stopping until she reached his cell. “Half before and half after, this was our agreement, yes?” she said.

“I’ve changed my mind. I’ll need payment in full now.”

Lin slipped her hand through the bars. “Would you hold this for me?”

Two dollar coins rested in her palm. Clever woman. Over her shoulder, Shadow smiled at the frowning deputy as he took the coins. “I’d be happy to.”

Belatedly understanding what was going on, Ryan stepped forward. “Hey, you can’t do that.”

As serene as a summer day, Lin replied, “The handling of finances is a man’s duty.”

“He’s a prisoner.”

Lin inclined her head. “Behind the bars of your sturdy jail, so the money should be safe.”

“Of course,” Shadow goaded, “you could always take it up with the sheriff.”

Ryan shoved his partial payment in his pocket and checked his pocket watch. “I’ll be coming for that in five minutes.”

It was a threat that made more of an impression on Lin than Shadow.

Shadow tossed the coins in his hand. “I’ll be waiting.”

Lin stood by the cell clearly expecting the deputy to leave. Shadow could have told her he wasn’t going to leave voluntarily. The man had buck teeth, bad skin and an odor that outdid Shadow’s current condition. It was a safe bet that they didn’t get much in the way of female company, and company as exotic as Lin? Well, the man wasn’t going anywhere. Not without some encouragement.

“I would like privacy, please.”

“I can’t leave you alone with him. He’s a dangerous man.”

“He is behind bars.”

“This one’s a tricky one.”

“I have been alone with him before.”

“You have?”

“He is married to my cousin.”

That was news to Ryan. And not good news, if his expression was to be believed. “You married up with a Chinese, injun?”

Shadow took off his moccasins and poured the water out. “Who the hell I marry is none of your business.”

“What the hell are you going to do about it if I make it my business?”

Just what he needed. A pimply-faced kid making a challenge. “Knock those ugly-looking teeth of yours down your throat.”

“Watch your language. There’s a lady present.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

“You sure you want to be in here with him? A pretty little thing like you could do better.”

Like him.
The implication was clear. Shadow had to give Lin credit for not losing her breakfast over the thought of stepping out with that piss poor excuse of a man. Rather than puke, Lin nodded with complete composure.

“I am sure. His wife has asked me to speak to him of matters of importance to their marriage.”

“
Importance,
huh?” Ryan smirked at Shadow. “Sounds to me like you’re not going to be married much longer, injun.”

Knocking the deputy’s teeth down his throat was becoming more and more enticing. “If my wife had any sense, this marriage would have been over long ago.”

From his position Ryan couldn’t see the dirty look Lin shot Shadow. It didn’t go with the demure dip of her chin and her softly voiced entreaty. “Please, I have given you your money. These are private matters.”

Ryan hiked up his pants. “I understand, but a woman like you needs protection.”

Lin was shaking her head before Ryan finished. “My father would not approve of me speaking before an audience.”

Shit, Shadow thought, if Ryan gave any thought to anything beyond the happy feeling in his pants, he’d realize Lin’s father wouldn’t approve of her being here at all.

Ryan tucked his thumbs in his waistband and rocked back on his heels in a clear emulation of the sheriff. “That much privacy will cost you more.”

The deputy’s gaze traveled from the top of Lin’s head down to her toes and then back up again, lingering in the middle. “Of course, if you’re short on cash, I’m sure we can work something out.”

Lin gasped.

Shadow had had enough. “Get your ass out of here, you little puissant, before I tell the sheriff how you’re profiting off your prisoners.”

Ryan spat. “The sheriff doesn’t give a shit what I do.”

“Maybe not, but I bet he cares about not getting his fair cut.”

Ryan swore and stomped through the door, leaving it open. Shadow didn’t imagine he went far.

Lin reached over and pulled it closed. Ryan immediately shoved it back open. “Rules are, it has to stay open.”

“Please, just for a few minutes. I will pay a dollar more.”

Ryan held our his hand. “Money up front.”

Reaching into her glove, Lin produced the coin. Rolling it between his fingers, the deputy left them alone.

The meekness dropped from her demeanor as soon as the door closed. With a quick smooth of her skirt, she stepped toward the bars and studied the dried blood on Shadow’s forehead.

“Are you all right?”

“Just a slight disagreement as to whom the bottle belonged.”

“Did you win or lose?”

“I don’t remember.”

“You all right in there?” The door opened and Ryan looked in. Apparently satisfied with the distance between Lin and the bars, he nodded.

“Call me if you need me.”

Lin bowed. “I will.”

“Sure you don’t want to charge for
that?
” Shadow sneered.

Ryan just grinned and closed the door. Shadow gripped the bars and glared at Lin. He felt like shit and Lin wasn’t the woman he wanted to see. “Don’t you have a stage to catch?”

“It leaves in an hour.”

“And your uncles let you out and about?”

“They do not know I’m here.”

“They don’t do a very good job keeping track of you.”

“They trust in my obedience.”

“Obviously a mistake. So why are you here?”

“We need to talk.”

“Is everything all right?”

“I am fine.”

He couldn’t help wondering why Fei hadn’t come.

“Did Fei stop to dress up, too?”

“Are you making fun of my dress?”

“No, you look pretty. Real pretty. I think the deputy is going to be dreaming about you for years to come.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I would prefer not to be part of his dreams, but I did want to distract him.”

Holding the edge of her sleeve in her hand, she brought it across her nose. “Were you wrestling cows last night?”

“Something like that. What brings you here, Lin?”

“Fei.”

“So you said. But what exactly, pertaining to Fei?”

“You threw her away.”

“The hell I did.”

“I want to know why.”

“I don’t know how much Fei told you about me, Lin, but I’m not exactly the most upright of citizens.”

She waved that away as if it wasn’t relevant. “You could go somewhere else.”

“I’ve got the whole U.S. Army on my ass and quite frankly I’m tired of running.”

“And this is why you did not tell my uncles of your marriage?”

“I told them.”

She looked surprised. “Oh.” A pause. “You did this to protect her.”

“Yes.”