Part 37 (2/2)

They appeared to enjoy the bit of wit.

”You got t.i.tties in there?” The one winked his bad eye in the direction of my s.h.i.+rt, and grinned. ”Give us a peek.”

”Ride on, fellows.”

”Why, she's shy.”

”I'm shy on patience,” I said.

”Now you be nice. Angus and me, we haven't had us a girl in near a month.”

”And she was ugly.”

”Ugly but willing.”

They both laughed.

”I'm not a girl,” I said.

Well, they glanced at each other and laughed all the more.

”That don't make no difference,” Angus of the half-mast lid finally said to me. ”Know what I mean? Now, you just climb down off your horse, there, and get shed of them duds.”

I didn't move.

”You do what Angus says!” snapped the other.

”If you'd like me to oblige,” I said, ”you'd best fill your hands.”

All of a sudden, they turned uncommon serious.

They glanced at each other, silent and smirkless, then turned their faces toward me.

”Have a crack, chaps,” I said. ”Or ride on.”

They both spent some time studying me out. I saw their eyes flick about, taking in my holstered Colts, the torn and blood-stained side of my s.h.i.+rt, my hands resting atop my thighs, and my face. They took quite a spell on my face.

Then Angus said, ”We didn't mean nothing, mister. Only just having us some fun.”

The other bobbed his head. ”We'll just be moving along. Adios, now.”

They split apart and rode past me.

I turned General around, as I didn't aim to get back-shot.

Angus and the other rode off slow at first, neither one of them glancing back. Then Angus, he put the spurs to his horse. His friend did the same, and they both hightailed.

I rode on, puzzling over matters. It seemed odd the way they'd backed down. What seemed odder, though, was that I didn't feel much of anything. They'd had it in mind to use me like a woman, I reckon. But I hadn't been scared, the whole time. Nor had I felt any relief when they'd given up the notion and gone away.

Comes right down to it, I'd just as soon have shot them both.

I didn't wish wish I'd shot them, though. I'd shot them, though.

I just didn't care, either way.

Late in the afternoon, a covered wagon turned up. It was heading west, same as me, but going so slow that I was bound to overtake it.

A blanket draped the rear opening, so I couldn't see how many or what manner of folks the wagon had in it.

Whoever they might be, I wanted no truck with them.

I figured to ride by quick, and urged General to a trot.

But when we came alongside the wagon, I saw how its canvas side was painted up with pictures of red bottles floating this way and that among words that said: DR. JETHRO LAZARUSPURVEYOR OF THE WORLD RENOWNEDGLORY ELIXIR”Good for what ails you.”

There was plenty more to read, so I slowed General down to an easy walk.

Toward the rear was a notice that said you could buy one bottle of the Glory Elixir for a ”mere dollar.” Toward the front, it said: GLORY ELIXIRGUARANTEED TO VANQUISHwhooping coughpalsysour stomachboilsfeminine complaintsarthritisrunny bowelsgangrenerattlesnake bitegaseous embarra.s.smentsdropsydizzinessDEATH The Glory Elixir's list of cures rather amused me till I saw that final one. Death. That one took me by surprise and took the fun out.

I put my spurs to General, figuring to get shut of such nonsense.

As we hurried by, I took a gander sideways at the driver. He was all alone at the front.

”Say there, young fellow!”

”Good day,” I said, and left him behind.

”Cowards die many times,” he called after me.

Well, I didn't rightly know what he meant by that. And I judged he could call me a coward if he pleased. What got me to rein in General was that I recognized the words.

As the wagon rattled closer, I met the old man's eyes and said, ”The valiant never taste of death but once.”

He smiled real cheerful. ”A man of learning. Delighted to make your acquaintance. Dr. Jethro Lazarus, here.”

”Trevor Bentley.”

”Who hails, no doubt, from the land of the Bard.”

”Quite true,” I said.

”Would you care to join me at the helm?” He patted the seat beside him.

<script>