Ralph Compton Brother's Keeper

by Ralph Compton

  Myles and the other two followed, but Thal lingered. “I’m sorry,” he said. “My sister and me are obliged that you wrote her.”

  “If that accounts for your being here,” Tweed said, “I wish I hadn’t. You strike me as a decent sort, Mr. Christie, and there’s no place for decency in the hell Trevor Galt has created. Leave American City as soon and as fast as you can.”

  “I’m stuck here awhile yet,” Thal said. “My sister is on her way.”

  “God in heaven!” Tweed blurted. “I never meant for that to happen. The moment she arrives, turn her around and flee.”

  “Mr. Galt has promised to look after us, as a favor to my brother,” Thal mentioned. “We should be all right for a day or two.”

  Tweed glanced at the front door and lowered his voice. “You’re a fool to trust that man. Mark my words. If you care for your sister, you won’t let her stay more than five minutes.”

  Thal wanted to talk longer, but Myles filled the doorway.

  “Are you comin’, brother?”

  With a nod to Tweed, Thal joined his sibling. “I was thankin’ him for lettin’ us know about you.”

  “The damn meddler.”

  They headed for the hotel.

  “You shouldn’t have hit him, Myles,” Thal brought up. “It was uncalled-for.”

  Myles was swaggering along as if he owned the boardwalk. “You don’t get to tell me what to do anymore. I’m all grown up.”

  “Do you like how you’ve become?”

  “What’s not to like?” Myles said. “I have it good here. I work for the man who rules the roost. I make good money. I get drinks for free, and if I want, a different painted cat scratches my back every night.”

  “You pay for it?” Thal said.

  “Don’t look so shocked. Men do all the time. Don’t tell me you haven’t.”

  “Afraid not,” Thal said.

  “Not even once?”

  “Ma and Pa raised us better than that.”

  “They raised us to be like them,” Myles said. “But I’m not, and never have been. All those Sunday school lessons? I hated goin’. I hated the hogwash they fed us.”

  “You never let on.”

  “Damn right I didn’t,” Myles said. “I knew if I did, Pa would take a switch to me and Ma would blister my ears.”

  “But all this,” Thal said, gesturing at the bustling heart of American City. “It’s a nest of sidewinders.”

  “And I’m one of the top snakes,” Myles boasted. “People fear me. I’m treated with respect. Not like in Kansas where I was just another farmer.”

  “You can’t go through life havin’ folks be afraid of you.”

  “Why not? I like that they’re afraid. I like it when I walk into a saloon and the whole place falls quiet. I like it when people point and whisper. I like it that if I tell someone to jump, they ask ‘how high.’”

  “Oh, Myles.”

  “Don’t ‘Oh, Myles’ me. I did the same thing you did.”

  “I’m a cowpoke,” Thal said. He almost added, “Not a paid assassin.”

  “You weren’t when you left home. You made yourself into one. Just as I’ve made myself into how I am.”

  “I brand cows. You shoot folks.”

  “Look at it this way,” Myles said. “You ride herd on cattle, I ride herd on people. I do what my job calls for, just as you do what your job calls for.”

  “We’ll never see eye to eye on this,” Thal said. Not when he could never bring himself to blow another human being apart with a shotgun.

  “Do you know why that is?” Myles didn’t wait for an answer. “Because you were always the good son. You did whatever Pa and Ma asked. You were polite to others, did your chores without fail, all that.”

  “You make it sound like a bad thing.”

  “They controlled you, big brother. They wanted you to think a certain way. To act a certain way.”

  “What you call control,” Thal said, “I call love.”

  “I’m not sayin’ our folks didn’t care for us,” Myles argued. “I’m sayin’ it was wrong for them to force us to be like they are. We have the right to choose. You did, becomin’ a cowboy. So don’t point your finger at me and say I did wrong.”

  Thal tried one last time. “It’s not the choosing. It’s what you chose.”

  “More of that good-and-bad business,” Myles said. “It’s bad to cuss. It’s bad to drink. It’s bad to go to bed with a whore. It’d bad to snuff somebody’s wick. I could go on and on.”

  “None of that is good,” Thal said.

  “For you, maybe. For me, it’s perfectly fine. I like doin’ all that. It suits me down to my boots.”

  Thal didn’t know what to say. This wasn’t the brother he remembered. Or was Myles right, and he’d been like this all along?

  “I’ll live as I like from here on out,” Myles informed him. “And neither you nor Ma or Pa or anyone else will make me change. Nothin’ will this side of the grave.”

  “That’s what worries me,” Thal said.

  Chapter 28

  By the time she reached American City, Ursula had come to a couple of conclusions. The first was that Ned Leslie was as dense as a rock between his ears. It had taken him the entire first day to realize she wasn’t interested in him romantically. He’d ridden next to her, prattling up a storm, oblivious of the looks she gave Jesse Lee.

  Thankfully Jesse had been amused by Ned’s antics, and informed her, when they stopped to rest the horses, that Ned would catch on eventually.

  “He’s a mite slow but he’s not hopeless,” was how Jesse Lee put it.

  That night, when Ursula sat at the fire holding Jesse Lee’s hand, the light finally dawned. Ned noticed, and reacted as if he’d been struck by lightning.

  The next day he hardly spoke to her.

  Ursula’s second conclusion was that the special deputies were unlike any lawmen she ever heard of. They were lechers, and worse. Particularly Bull and Mateo, who constantly undressed her with their eyes. Rafer didn’t seem interested in her, but he, like the other two, struck her as a vicious character. They didn’t do anything to give her that impression. It was a feeling she had.

  That same night around the campfire, Bull too had seen she was holding Jesse Lee’s hand, and exclaimed, “Why, lookee there. We’ve got us a couple of lovebirds.”

  “I beg your pardon,” Ursula had said.

  “You heard me, gal.” Bull leered at her. “You and the pup have taken a shine to each other.”

  Jesse Lee was on his feet before Ursula realized he’d let go of her hand. She almost spoke up and asked him not to say or do anything, but changed her mind. Lechers like Bull needed to be put in their place, and she was confident Jesse Lee was the man to do it.

  “Pup?” Jesse Lee had said.

  “You’re young, ain’t you?” Bull replied.

  “Get up and I’ll show you who’s a pup.”

  Bull laughed. “You don’t want to prod me, boy. I’ve done in more than my share.” His hand, which had been resting on his knee, slid toward the holster on his hip.

  Jesse Lee’s own hand blurred, and his Colt was out and cocked. “Try and you die.”

  Bull imitated stone.

  “Did you see, Mateo?” the one called Rafer exclaimed, and whistled in appreciation.

  “I saw, amigo,” Mateo said, sounding impressed.

  “Wait until Tiny hears there’s another as quick as him,” Rafer said. “He won’t like it any.”

  “No, he will not,” Mateo said.

  Jesse Lee was still holding his six-gun on Bull. “Apologize to my dulce for talkin’ like you did.”

  “All I did was say you were lovebirds,” Bull said testily. “Where’s the harm in that?”

  “It wasn’t what you said,” Jesse Lee repli
ed. “It was how you said it.”

  Bull looked at Ursula. “Sorry, ma’am.” He didn’t seem sorry at all. He seemed mad.

  Jesse Lee twirled the ivory-handled Colt into his holster and sat back down, all in a fluid motion. Taking hold of Ursula’s hand, he stared into the flames as if nothing had happened.

  “Let’s all be friendly, shall we?” Ned had said. “Jesse, these gents came along to make sure Miss Christie gets to American City safe. I’m sure Bull didn’t mean any harm.”

  “Yes, let’s forget it,” Ursula urged. “Talk about something else.”

  No one had anything to say. In due course they’d turned in, and the next morning, once they were again in the saddle and on the move, Ursula became aware of a change in the special deputies. They weren’t as friendly. Their manner was colder. Several times she caught Bull giving Jesse Lee looks that didn’t bode well.

  Now, on the verge of entering American City, Ursula hoped nothing would come of it.

  The sign at the outskirts filled her with trepidation. ANYTHING GOES was an invite to let loose the worst in human behavior, and she soon saw the proof. Drunks lurched about, some clutching half-empty bottles. Painted women in too-tight dresses paraded their fleshly wares. There wasn’t a friendly face to be seen. But plenty of hungry looks were cast her way, the looks that wolves might give a doe.

  Ursula moved her mount closer to Jesse Lee’s. “Don’t you stray off on me, you hear? I don’t like the looks of this place.”

  “Makes two of us,” Jesse Lee said.

  In another block a commotion broke out. Two men were pushing and shoving and calling each other vile names. Suddenly one pulled a pistol and shot the other in the chest.

  To Ursula’s amazement, no one did anything. Some of the passersby gave the dead man a glance, and that was all. The rest went on their way as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. As for the special deputies, they rode past without saying a word.

  “Land sakes,” Ursula declared to Jesse Lee. “What sort of place is this?”

  Bull brought them to the Manor House Hotel. “Wait here,” he growled when they drew rein at a hitch rail. Beside it was a sign that said SPECIAL DEPUTIES ONLY. Only one horse was tied there. All the other hitch rails were lined end to end.

  Jesse Lee swung down and offered his hand to her.

  Ursula didn’t need the help, but she let him help her down. “Thank you, kind sir.” She liked that he was so attentive.

  Ned tied his own horse and came over. “Be careful from here on out,” he said. “If it had been up to me, I wouldn’t have brought you here.”

  “Why did you, then?” Jesse Lee said.

  “Thal asked me to, and he’s my pard,” Ned said. “He reckoned his sis wanted to see Myles again.”

  “I do, very much,” Ursula said. “I’m grateful that you came for me.”

  “I hope you stay grateful,” Ned said, and fell silent as Mateo and Rafer swung down.

  “What do you think of our fair city, señorita?” the former asked.

  “It’s a bit”—Ursula racked her brain for the right word—“raw.”

  “Much like bloody meat, you mean?” Mateo said, and laughed. “Sí, señorita. Most excellent. That is American City.”

  “Why do you stay, then?”

  “Me, señorita?” Mateo chuckled. “I like my meat with lots of blood.”

  Ursula smothered another rush of dread. She told herself that they wouldn’t be there long, that she’d spend a day or so becoming reacquainted with Myles, and head home.

  “Are you all right?” Jesse Lee asked.

  “Flustered a little, I reckon,” Ursula admitted.

  Down the street a gun boomed and a man screamed. Once more, hardly anyone broke stride. A few glanced in the direction the shot came from and went on their way.

  “What sort of people are these?” Ursula said.

  Minutes went by.

  Just when Ursula was about to suggest they wait in the lobby instead of out in the street, boots thudded, and Thal was there. “Sis!” he said happily. He embraced her, then held her at arm’s length. “No harm has come to you?”

  “No,” Ursula said.

  “And none will,” Jesse Lee said.

  Thal hugged her a second time and whispered in her ear, “Prepare yourself. He’s not like we recollect.”

  Out of the hotel strode Myles. “Well, look who it is! My little sister came all this way.”

  Ursula spread her arms and Myles hugged her, but not as warmly as Thalis had. Myles was more reserved, as if, despite his smile, he wasn’t as pleased to see her as he let on.

  “I was worried after that man wrote to me saying you had been shot,” Ursula said.

  “That won’t ever happen again.”

  “I beg your pardon?” Ursula couldn’t get over the change in him. Thalis was right. Myles dressed differently, carried himself differently. Then there was the scattergun, which Myles held against his leg as if to keep her from seeing it.

  “We saw to Mr. Abraham Tweed,” Myles said enigmatically.

  “And what’s that?” Ursula asked, nodding at his howitzer.

  “This little thing?” Myles brought it up and held it in the crook of his elbow. “I don’t go anywhere without it. It’s why everyone here calls me Shotgun.”

  “And you like that?”

  “I like havin’ men step aside when I walk down the street.”

  “Oh, Myles,” Ursula said.

  “That’s not all,” Myles said.

  Thal motioned as if to stop him from going on. “She doesn’t want to hear about the men you’ve shot.”

  “He has?” Ursula said in horror. Taking another life went against everything their parents had taught them.

  “Only when I’ve had to,” Myles said.

  “That’s not entirely true and you know it,” Thal said.

  “Don’t you judge me, big brother. I’ve told you before.”

  “Please,” Ursula said. “Let’s not argue. Not after we’re all together again after so long apart.”

  Her brothers might have gone on spatting anyway, but just then a man in immaculate clothes, who had emerged unnoticed, leaned on a cane and said, “Gentlemen, gentlemen. I agree with your lovely sister. You shouldn’t be at each other’s throats.”

  “We hadn’t gone that far,” Thal said.

  The man ignored him. Coming up to Ursula, he gave a courtly bow. “Trevor Galt, at your service, my dear.” Lightly grasping her fingertips, he raised the back of her hand to his lips. “How do you do?”

  “Oh my,” Ursula exclaimed.

  “I happen to be the mayor,” Galt continued suavely. “Your brother is one of my special deputies, as are the gentlemen who escorted you here from Deadwood.” He gestured at the Manor House. “This hotel? I own it, as I do half a dozen saloons and twice again as many businesses. Between those and my other interests, it’s safe to say I’m a man of some importance.”

  Ursula realized he was trying to impress her. He hadn’t let go of her hand so she pulled her fingers free and smiled courteously. “You don’t say.”

  “Yes,” Trevor Galt said, gazing up and down Main Street. “American City is my brainchild. I organized the first expedition here, I laid out the town according to how I saw fit, and now I oversee its day-to-day affairs. Nothing happens here without my consent.”

  Ursula pretended to be awed. “My word. You’re a man of considerable importance.”

  “You have no idea, my dear,” Galt said.

  “He’s lettin’ us have rooms for free,” Thal revealed, “for as long as we stay.”

  “Exactly so,” Trevor Galt said. “You have only to express a desire, and I’ll see that it comes true.”

  “Ain’t that kind of you?” Jesse Lee said.

  “My only
desire right now is to eat,” Ursula said. “We’ve spent all the day in the saddle and I’m wore out. Is there a restaurant you’d recommend?”

  “There’s one I happen to own,” Galt said with a grin. “It’s down the street a ways. I’ll escort you there, personally.”

  Before Ursula could say that wasn’t necessary, Galt had hold of her elbow and was guiding her away. She glanced at Jesse Lee and her brothers. “You’re coming too?”

  “Count on it,” Jesse Lee said.

  Ursula knew he was angry, but she couldn’t very well refuse their host’s hospitality. She told herself that Galt was being courteous, nothing more.

  “You truly are striking, my dear,” he remarked. “Myles and Thalis gave me no idea.”

  “Why should they?” Ursula said. “They’re my brothers.”

  “Even a brother can appreciate beauty. I’m not averse to admitting that I appreciate yours.”

  “Posh,” Ursula said. She wasn’t used to such compliments. “I’m a farm girl, plain and simple.”

  “I beg to differ,” Galt said. “There’s nothing plain about you. Why, a visit to a millinery, and a new dress in the latest fashion, and I daresay you’d turn every head in American City.”

  “I’m not out to turn heads.”

  “I am,” Trevor Galt said.

  Chapter 29

  The Black Rose Restaurant—which Thal thought a peculiar name—was said to be the most luxurious in American City, and he believed it. From the moment they walked in the door, they were in the lap of luxury. Waiters in purple uniforms waited on them hand and foot. Several chandeliers sparkled on the ceiling. Gleaming brass was everywhere, from the spittoons to the trim on the paneled walls. The tables and chairs were as elegant as everything else; the napkins were tied with purple ribbons.

  The manager, a man who ran the place for Trevor Galt, came out to attend to them himself. At Galt’s command, several tables were placed in a long row so their entire party could sit together.

  Quite a party it was too. There were Galt and the special deputies he’d brought along: Myles, Bull, Mateo, Rafer, Tiny, and Olivant. Two others, Dyson and Carnes, were out making rounds. There was Thal and his pard, and Crawford and Jesse Lee. Lastly there was Ursula, and early on, Thal became worried about her.