"Yeah he seems alright." He said as he lit a cigarette. " A bit too cocky for his own good that's for sure, but he has some grit to him. Found a few fellas in this town like that. My new Deputy, he's a good man."
"John Roberts?" I asked. "Don't rightly know him too well. But he has a reputation around town as an honest man. I can see where he would make a good lawman."
"Yep. Brave man. Quiet. Unlike young Shots over there." He nodded to the table behind him where Shot's face seemed to be attached to the front of Lily's corset. Damn girl knows better, but she is my best earner, so I let her get away with small things like that from time to time.
"So where you been Snake?" I asked him. "My girls have been about sick to death with worry that they have done something to upset you. You ain't been by to see any of them in days!"
"No such thing Ruby. No such thing at all." He poured himself a drink from the new bottle and downed it. "You're girls have been real nice. No complaints from me, that's for damn sure. Things just got, um, complicated, that's all." He almost looked embarrassed.
"Uh huh," I replied as I watched him pour another."Complicated? Damn Snake, do not tell me some She-Cat done got her claws into you already? I just might burn this place to the ground and move back East if I thought such a thing were true!"
"No ma'm, not that at all." I couldn't tell if he was lyin to me or not. "Just, ...well,.... I best not talk about it Miss Ruby if'n it's all the same." He was certainly hiding something. I was curious as hell now and was not going to let him off the hook that easy. But then, things took a turn.
I heard a loud slap and the crash of a glass hitting the floor. I swear I heard Snake sigh gently and say what I believed to be "Finally" under his breath. As people moved away from the end of the bar I saw Johnathon Dukes, the banker, kneeling amidst the remains of his glass. He was holding his right cheek in his hand. There were two cowboys I did not know standing over him with evil grins on their faces. Everyone else cleared away, except for Fingers, who seemed not to be taking any notice of the event at all. "I told you the men in this town were soft Jake. Soft as babies!" said the taller cowboy to his friend with a drunken laugh. They were both rough looking. Their hair was as dirty as their clothes. Their boots were well used and muddy. They seemed to have a dangerous look about them. Only their pistols seemed clean and well taken care of.
"I did not offend you sir! You struck me for no reason!" Dukes said in his mousy voice. His face was red and puffy. His eyes were watery. "No reason at all!" My bouncer Gus started to make his way to where the trouble was.
"Pull your man away Ruby." Snake whispered to me as he slowly turned around and put his back to the bar. "No need for him to get hurt." His voice suddenly seemed clear and sober. Something in his tone made me think there was more going on here than it looked like. I noticed Snake was not even looking at Dukes and the two cowboys, but was sweeping his gaze at the other side of the room. Almost as if he was searching for something. I also noticed Shots make Lily get off of his lap and move away from the table. He had a grin on his face. My danger sense started kickin in mighty strong at that point.
"Marshal!" cried out Dukes from the floor "Marshal, you gonna let them them just beat on an innocent man? I did nothing to these men!!! I need your help!" The crowd continue to move away until there was no one in that side of the room except the cowboys, Dukes, Fingers, and Snake, who slowly turned his head towards the cowboys.
"Well now Mr. Dukes," he said very calmly, "I'm afraid I can't help ya. I'm off duty right now." The cowboys began to laugh at this. I noticed Fingers' head finally rose up from his glass to look at Snake for a second.
"Off duty?" Duked cried. "Off duty?"
The shorter of the cowboys laughed. "I reckon you were right Paul, looks like everybody in this town is yella! Even the damn Marshal!" Gus had just about made it to the cowboys, but he stopped at this and looked at me. I motioned him to move away. Snake took a step away from the bar and stood out in the open. Dukes began to crawl away.
"You fellas sure you want to go through with this? You want to play this all the way out?" His hands slipped down next to his pistols. "Oldtimer, you best move from behind those two."
"If'n it's all the same Marshall," replied Fingers as he raised his glass,"I am enjoying my beer right here."
"Suit yerself friend. Now boys this is your one and only chance to walk out of here alive tonight. I know what this is. I know what you are planning. Give it up, you can't win." The shorter cowboy looked nervous, but the taller one smiled.
"Damn son," he said, "I heard you were a cocky son of a bitch. You really think you are that good?"
"Aint no one proved me wrong yet friend." Said Snake. "Last chance."
"Go fuck yourself." He said as he went for his gun.
Then everything went to Hell.
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