by Lee Lejeune
‘I don’t know, but I guess it might be where the kidnappers are holding your son Bart.’
For a few moments nobody said anything. Then Bethany asked:
‘So what do we do?’
‘The first thing we do,’ Sunshine said, ‘is locate Stinking Flats.’
‘How can we do that?’ Elspeth asked.
Sunshine shrugged. ‘By riding into town again and making a few discreet enquiries.’
‘How can you make discreet enquiries without meeting those gunmen again?’ Elspeth wondered.
‘That’s a chance I have to take.’
Elspeth wrinkled her brow. ‘I could ride in with you,’ she said.
‘You will do no such thing!’ Bethany warned her. ‘I’m already worried sick about your brother. If anything happened to you I’d die.’
‘But Ma,’ Elspeth said, ‘you let me go East with those Venebles and I travelled back by train and then by gig. So how can you be so worried? If it helps to bring back Bart you should be pleased.’
Bethany reached out and touched Elspeth’s arm.
‘I’ll think about it and at sunrise tomorrow I’ll let you know the result.’
Sunshine looked at Elspeth and saw by her expression that it wouldn’t make an ounce of difference either way because she’d already made up her mind. Elspeth didn’t say much, but when she’d made up her mind there was no arguing with her. Maybe she was like her mother in that respect.
Next morning after a good hearty breakfast they hitched the horses to the buckboard, ready to drive into town. Bethany had relented because she was wise enough to see that Elspeth intended to drive in anyway.
‘I’ve decided to give Chingalong a day of rest. He’s seen enough rough dealings for a bit,’ Sunshine said.
Elspeth laughed melodiously. ‘You talk like that horse is human,’ she said.
‘That’s because he is practically human,’ Sunshine agreed. ‘If it hadn’t been for his quick thinking I might have been as stiff as Slam Smith by now.’
Elspeth shook the reins and they set off down the trail to town.
‘To tell you the truth, I’m real worried about my ma,’ Elspeth said.
‘I can see why. She’s as tough as a trail boot but not as tough as she thinks she is.’
Elspeth gave that musical laugh again.
‘It’s a good thing you dropped by when you did. But I want to ask you something.’
‘Well, please ask away. Bringing out the truth has a lot to recommend it.’
Elspeth hesitated. Then: ‘I don’t mean to be rude but, with all the danger and shooting and stuff, what’s in this for you?’
‘That’s a good question and it deserves an honest answer.’
She turned to look at him and he felt a burning desire to kiss her on the lips.
‘So what’s the answer?’
‘The answer is: I have no idea. I rode West because I wanted to open up my life. When I heard those gunmen shooting up your ma’s cabin I had to stop. I guess it’s what some people call Fate.’
‘So do you think you’re getting close to your goal?’
He felt her breath on his cheek
‘I’m not sure,’ he said quietly. ‘That depends. . . .’
‘On what?’ she asked. Was she teasing? he wondered as they continued on their way.
They had been so deep in conversation that they hadn’t seen the two men on horseback concealed among the birches a little to the right of the trail. After they had passed the two men, one of them large, the other smaller and both wearing heavy moustaches, emerged from the stand of birches and rode towards the Bartok homestead. When Sunshine and Elspeth drove into town many heads turned towards them in wonder. The pair pulled up outside the store and went inside.
‘Why, good day, Miss Bartok,’ Mr Snaze the toothy storekeeper said in surprise. ‘How are we this morning?’
‘I’m quite well, thank you, Mr Snaze,’ Elspeth said. ‘How is Mrs Snaze?’
‘Well enough, well enough,’ he said. ‘Why don’t you sit down and take a mug of that excellent coffee she brews up?’
‘I believe I will, thank you.’ Elspeth glanced at Sunshine, drew her skirts around her and sat down.
Until then they had been the only people in the store, but now a number of folk came trickling in; several of them stared at Sunshine with interest.
‘Are you the boy who rode down on those men yesterday?’ someone asked Sunshine.
‘Well, I didn’t exactly ride down on them,’ he replied with a grin. ‘They just stepped in the way of my horse.’
That gave rise to loud guffaws of laughter.
‘Is that how one of them got a dent in the skull and another got a bullet in his shoulder?’
This was news to Sunshine but he was relieved to hear that no one had been killed.
‘It was just a matter of self-defence,’ he said. ‘My horse Chingalong did most of the heavy work.’
‘Except for the gunplay,’ someone said and laughed. ‘Your horse might be smart but he’s not smart enough to handle a shooter, is he?’
‘Where did you learn that?’ another one asked him.
‘It just came like a bird in the night,’ Sunshine said.
‘Some bird!’
There was more laughter.
Sunshine sat down at a table opposite Elspeth and Mrs Snaze served up hot steaming coffee; it was everything the storekeeper had promised.
‘How’s your ma?’ Mrs Snaze asked.
‘She’s pretty hard-pushed at the moment considering everything,’ Elspeth said.
‘There must be a lot to do up at the spread since your dear pa passed away.’
‘Sure is,’ Elspeth agreed.
‘Good job you came back and she’s got Mr Shining here to help out.’
Sunshine smiled and said nothing.
‘You heard anything from your brother Bart?’ a man asked.
‘Not lately,’ Elspeth said, apparently without concern. She leaned forward to Mrs Snaze and spoke quietly. ‘You happen to know where Stinking Flats is, Mrs Snaze?’
Mrs Snaze looked at her sharply, then sat down.
‘Why do you want to know about Stinking Flats?’ she asked apprehensively. ‘It’s not the sort of place a girl like you should be going. Like its name it smells bad, so they tell me.’
‘Don’t worry, Mrs Snaze, I’ve got my guardian angel to protect me.’ Elspeth half-winked at Sunshine. Mrs Snaze considered for a moment.
‘Why don’t you come through to the back room and I’ll draw you a map.’
The two women got up from the table and went through to the back room. The storekeeper came over and looked down at Sunshine.
‘I heard you’re working for the Cutaway brothers,’ he said.
‘Well, you don’t want to believe every rumour you hear, Mr Snaze. The truth is I’ve got enough to do helping out at the Bartok spread. A man can’t have two masters, you know, or even mistresses for that matter.’
Snaze nodded and gave a toothy grin.
‘That’s true, Mr Shining, that’s true. Where did you learn how to talk like that?’
‘I did a fair amount of reading back East,’ Sunshine said, ‘and some of it stuck, I guess.’
Someone came into the store and stood close to the door.
‘Good morning, Sheriff,’ a voice said.
The sheriff looked around the store, then came over to Sunshine’s table.
‘So you’re back, Mr Shining,’ he said without smiling.
‘Well, I’m sitting right here drinking a mug of excellent coffee, so I guess I must be,’ Sunshine agreed with a grin. The sheriff shook his head solemnly.
‘You think you’re bullet-proof, Mr Shining?’
‘No, I’ve just been lucky so far, Sheriff.’
‘Well, I hope your luck holds out,’ the sheriff replied. He breathed in slowly. ‘I saw what happened yesterday, but I need to fill in on the details. So I wonder if you’d care to step over to my office before you leave town?�
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Sunshine took a swig of Mrs Snaze’s coffee.
‘I’d be glad to, Sheriff, but why don’t you just sit yourself down and have a mug of Mrs Snaze’s strong coffee at my expense?’
A look of uncertainty clouded Sheriff McGiven’s face, but only for a moment.
‘Well, thank you,’ he said, and sat down at the table.
The storekeeper was quick off the mark, especially when it came to business. So the steaming mug of coffee appeared almost immediately. McGiven sipped it cautiously, then nodded with satisfaction.
‘Just as good as usual,’ he said to Sunshine.
‘My pleasure, Sheriff. Now why don’t you tell me about those gun-toting drunks who tried to shoot me down yesterday?’
‘Well, two of them are in the infirmary right now,’ the sheriff said, ‘and the third is probably sleeping like an angel – or a devil, depending on how you look at it. By the way, Slam Smith is to be put in the ground tomorrow morning at around eleven.’
‘So, what can I tell you, Sheriff?’
‘What I need,’ said McGiven, ‘is a signed statement from you about what happened. Then we can put the whole thing to bed.’
Though Sunshine didn’t much care for the image of those gunmen lying in bed, he nodded.
‘That seems a good idea, Sheriff.’
‘I take it an educated man like you can write and sign his name?’ the sheriff queried. Sunshine grinned.
‘Tell me, Sheriff, how come Mr Jed Cutaway offered me a job after I shot Slam Smith in the leg? And another thing: how come those three gunmen tried to ventilate me if they’re working for the Cutaway brothers?’
The sheriff looked somewhat puzzled.
‘I can’t discuss the Cutaway brothers, Mr Shining. That’s way out of my territory.’
Sunshine was still smiling.
‘What about the kidnapping of Brad Bartok? Is that way out of your territory too, Sheriff?’
At that moment Elspeth appeared, holding a sheet of paper.
‘Why, good morning, Sheriff McGiven,’ she said. McGiven rose from the table.
‘Why, Miss Bartok, how good to see you. You’re looking quite stately.’
Elspeth gave him one of her most beguiling smiles. Sunshine could have sworn he saw the sheriff’s face turn a slightly darker shade of purple.
‘I’ll just walk across to Sheriff McGiven’s office,’ Sunshine told her. ‘I have to fill out a form.’
Elspeth nodded. ‘I’ll just talk to Mrs Snaze a little more,’ she said.
Sunshine and the sheriff walked out under the overhang and stepped down on to Main Street. Sunshine paused for a moment to look left and right. There were quite a few folk riding or walking by, and one or two tipped their hats to the sheriff.
‘I see you take care before crossing the street,’ McGiven remarked.
‘Well, I don’t want to be run down by a horse, do I?’ Sunshine replied. ‘Could be a waste of life when I’ve got so much to do.’
The sheriff gave him a quizzical look.
They started walking across Main Street, which was very wide. When they were halfway across the sheriff suddenly stopped.
‘Why, here come the two Cutaway brothers,’ he said.
Looking to the right Sunshine saw the Cutaway brothers riding towards them. They were not alone: they had at least six other riders with them. The sheriff took off his wide-brimmed hat and gave a kind of shuffling bow, like he was greeting a king or the President of the United States.
‘Why, good morning, Mr Cutaway,’ he said with an obsequious grin.
‘Good morning, McGiven,’ Jed Cutaway replied.
James Cutaway said nothing, but his expression spoke for him. He wasn’t a generous or a welcoming man. Jed Cutaway switched his gaze to Sunshine.
‘Ah, Mr Shining, so you’re in town again.’
‘Yes, I’m here on business,’ Sunshine told him.
Jed Cutaway gave a quiet chuckle.
‘I hear you put two men in the infirmary yesterday. You’re getting quite a name for yourself, Mr Shining.’
‘Well, Mr Cutaway, I guess those two drunks put themselves in the infirmary. I just helped them along a little.’
Jed Cutaway gave a sideways nod of appreciation.
‘Why don’t you just step into the saloon and take a drink with us? Me and my brother have things we’d like to discuss with you. Ain’t that so, James?’
James gave a wry nod. ‘That is so,’ he agreed without enthusiasm.
Jed turned to the six riders escorting them.
‘Take a drink, boys,’ he said. ‘It’s gonna be a long hot day.’
Sunshine looked over the group but didn’t recognize any of them. He saw that they were all tooled-up with shooters; they looked a pretty grim bunch.
‘Why don’t you come and take a drink as well, McGiven?’ Jed Cutaway invited. ‘Like I said, it’s gonna be a hot day.’
‘Why, thank you, Mr Cutaway.’
Sunshine looked at the sheriff and noticed he was blinking fast, which usually meant a man was nervous or about to tell a big lie. Sunshine then looked across Main Street and saw Elspeth standing outside the door of the store with Mrs Snaze. He raised his hand and cocked his head to one side. Elspeth raised her hand in acknowledgement.
‘Who is that young woman?’ Jed Cutaway asked.
‘That’s Miss Elspeth Bartok,’ Sunshine told him.
‘Why, so it is,’ Jed Cutaway said. ‘What a handsome creature she’s become.’
The sheriff looked at Sunshine and blinked.
Then they all trooped into the saloon, where the saloon keeper swept off a table with a napkin.
‘Please sit down, Mr Shining,’ Jed Cutaway said. ‘You too, McGiven.’
The two brothers, the sheriff and Sunshine sat down at the table. Sunshine noted that the six outriders walked right down through the saloon to the other end, where they made themselves comfortable, smoking cigarillos and drinking booze.
A waiter brought bottles of whiskey and glasses to the table and poured out the whiskey in generous measures. Jed Cutaway held up his glass.
‘Here’s to good business, gentlemen.’
‘Here’s to good business,’ they replied.
Though Sunshine raised his glass he wondered what the ‘business’ was and why Elspeth wasn’t sitting there with them.
‘Well,’ Jed Cutaway said, ‘have you considered my offer, Mr Shining?’
Sunshine smiled. ‘I’ve been thinking about it, sir. I’ve been thinking about it a lot.’
Jed Cutaway took a sip from his glass. ‘And what are your conclusions, Mr Shining?’
Sunshine also took a sip of whiskey, then cleared his throat. It was good whiskey but a little too harsh for his taste buds.
‘My conclusions are that I have an important job to do at the moment.’
‘Indeed, sir. What would that be?’ James Cutaway asked; there was a somewhat less friendly gleam in his eye.
Sunshine took another sip of whiskey and rolled it round in his mouth. Then he looked directly at James Cutaway.
‘Right now,’ he said, ‘I’m fully occupied thinking about how I can find Bart Bartok and take him back to his mother.’
There was moment of silence. Sunshine was looking at each of the brothers in turn. They were staring right back without surprise or emotion. Then Jed Cutaway cleared his throat.
‘I guess that’s what we all want, Mr Shining.’ He glanced at his brother, who gave a slight nod. Sunshine smiled one of his most radiant smiles.
‘Well, gentlemen, I’ve discovered recently that I have a rare gift. I don’t know where it came from or why it came but it gives me a lot of information.’
‘About what?’ James Cutaway asked, sceptically. He was obviously the more hard-nosed of the brothers and he didn’t give a cuss about anyone.
‘Well, for instance, I have a hunch about where they’re holding Bart Bartok.’
Both brothers looked at Sunshine; for a mo
ment neither of them spoke.
‘So you know where they’re holding Bart Bartok?’ James asked him eventually. Sunshine tilted his head to one side.
‘I don’t know, Mr Cutaway. It’s just a hunch, but I think you know where he’s being held.’ He looked directly into James Cutaway’s eyes but James Cutaway didn’t blink.
‘Why do you say that, Mr Shining?’ Jed Cutaway asked.
Sunshine nodded. ‘What puzzles me is why you don’t rescue that boy and take him back to his ma. At the moment she’s suffering bad and she’d be awful grateful if you helped to get him back.’ He turned to Sheriff McGiven. ‘My guess is you know too, Sheriff, so I’m wondering. . . .’
Sheriff McGiven started blinking as though he had grit in his eyes.
‘Wondering what?’ James Cutaway demanded bluntly.
‘Wondering why you don’t do something about it,’ Sunshine said. ‘I mean, if you know who’s holding Bart and you don’t do something to rescue him, it must be for some reason, mustn’t it?’
‘What reason would that be?’ James Cutaway asked in a tone that held more than a hint of a threat.
Sunshine shrugged. ‘That’s what’s puzzling me, Mr Cutaway. There could be a number of reasons.’
James Cutaway leaned forward across the table.
‘Like what reasons?’
Sunshine met his gaze with a smile. ‘Let me ask you something, Mr Cutaway.’
James Cutaway gave a slight nod but voiced no reply.
‘OK, where’s this leading to, Mr Shining?’ his brother said. He was smiling but now it was more of a grin than a smile.
Sunshine sat back in his chair and considered matters. Is this me asking all these questions? he asked himself. He shook his head.
‘Do you have any idea who those two moustachioed gents are who claim to be holding Bart Bartok? That’s the first question.’
The two brothers were silent for a moment, but Sunshine saw them exchanging brief uneasy glances.
‘What’s the second question?’ Jed Cutaway asked him.
‘Well,’ Sunshine said, ‘this is more of a statement than a question. It seems to me those three hombres who gunned down on me yesterday and the unfortunate Slam Smith who died from a gunshot in the leg were all working for you. So why did they shoot Mrs Bartok’s windows out and why don’t you give a damn that Slam’s dead and two of the others are in the infirmary.’
