TWELVE
Clint held Kate’s large breasts in his hands and sucked her nipples avidly. She moaned and held his head in place. At one point she laughed and began to rub her breasts against his face. She was playful during sex. Clint preferred to be serious when he was in bed with a woman. Playtime was for later. It was hard to kiss a woman while laughing.
“Wait, wait . . .” she said, pushing him away.
“What?”
“The light,” she said in a whisper. “Douse the light. I like the dark.”
“I want to see you,” he said.
She laughed.
“You’ve had a pretty good look up to now,” she said. “I like it in the dark. I want to see you with my hands . . . and other parts.”
“All right.”
He got off the bed, walked to the gas lamp next to the door, and turned it down. The room was then illuminated only by moonlight.
He went back to the bed.
Three men rode into town just as the light went out in Clint’s room. There was no connection. They were strangers, had never been in town before, did not know that Clint Adams was there.
The lead man was Link Holman. He had a reputation with a gun, was a throwback to the gunman of twenty years ago. He kept count of the men he had killed. He knew how many he had ambushed and how many he had killed in a fair fight, face-to-face. He was forty-eight, and considered that his legend was not yet fully formed.
The second man was Dave Holman, Link’s brother. He was thirty-four, idolized his brother completely, and would do whatever he said without question. They were built alike, tall and rangy, but Link had filled out in the shoulders over the years.
The third man was Derek Morrell. He was, for want of a better word, Link Holman’s protégé. He was thirty-four, like Dave Holman, but he was bigger, harder, with a scar across his cheek that he’d gotten from a knife at an early age. Unlike Dave, he did not idolize Link, but he did admire him, and he knew he could learn a lot from him.
One of the things he had already learned from him was how to travel at night without your horse breaking a leg.
“There’s a hotel, Link,” Dave said.
“Relax, Dave,” Link said. “First the livery, then the hotel.”
“Then somethin’ to eat?” his brother asked.
“This late?” Link said. “Not likely. You should still have some beef jerky in your saddlebags.”
“Um, I ate that a few miles back.”
“Then you shouldn’t be so hungry,” Link said. “You should be able to wait for breakfast.”
“Unless . . .”
“Unless what, Dave?”
Dave Holman had second thoughts about what he’d been about to say.
“Never mind.”
Derek Morrell made sure Dave saw him take a piece of beef jerky from his saddlebag, took a big bite, and then put the rest back.
Dave Holman hated Derek Morrell. Moreover he hated him because he knew that Link had a grudging respect for him. Dave Holman had been trying to earn his brother’s respect for years.
Clint found that Kate had been telling the truth. She used every part of her body to explore him. Her fingers, her mouth, the tips of her breasts, even her toes. She was all over him for what seemed like an hour, and it felt like a massage.
When she was scraping his chest with nipples that were like diamonds, he decided to take charge.
He grabbed her, flipped her onto her back, and began to explore her the way she’d explored him—almost. His massage was a little more . . . invasive.
“Oh,” she said, as he entered her with one finger. “Oh, my . . .”
She was very wet. He slid his index finger fully into her, then used his thumb to touch her clit at the same time. He circled it, used his thumb to spread her own wetness over her, up and down. If the light had been burning, he knew he’d have been able to see her pink glisten.
“Oh my God, Clint,” she said, “what are you . . . Oh.” She caught her breath.
He kissed her belly, moved his tongue down through her black pubic hair, inhaled her musk as she became wetter and wetter, soaking the sheet beneath her.
THIRTEEN
Kate had a body a man could settle into, wrap around him, and enjoy, and Clint took total advantage of that.
Later, as they were lying together, their flesh sticky with sweat, she said, “My, how you do love women.”
“You could tell?”
“Well,” she said, “I was hoping it was me, but I think you’re just a man who loves women. I’ve never had a man get so . . . involved!”
“That was you,” he assured her, “all you. I do love women, but you’re something . . . special.”
“I don’t care how many women you’ve said that to,” she told him, “I like hearin’ it. It’s been a long time between men for me.”
“Why is that?”
“Slim pickin’s, mostly,” she said, “but now that I’ve been with you, I’m afraid it’s going to be even longer before the next one.”
“I don’t think I’m going anywhere for a while,” he said, “so hopefully the next time will still be me.”
“Well,” she said, sliding her hand down between his legs, “speaking of next time . . .”
Dave Holman and Derek Morrell were waiting outside the livery when Link Holman came out.
“Now the hotel?” Dave asked.
“No,” Link said. “I was talkin’ to the liveryman and he tol’ me about this boardin’house in town. We’re gonna go there.”
“A boardin’house? Why?” Dave asked. “A hotel’s better’n a boardin’house. Can’t take no whore to a boardin’house.”
“Well, hereabouts ya can’t take her to a hotel, either.”
“Why not?” Dave complained.
“‘Cause there ain’t no whores in this town, that’s why,” Link said.
“What?” For Dave the situation was just getting worse and worse.
“What’s so special about this boardin’house, Link?” Morrell asked.
“It’s owned and run by James Earp.”
“Earp?” Dave asked. “Ya meant . . . those Earps?”
“Yeah, Dave,” Link said, “those Earps.”
“Why can’t Derek and me go and get a drink while you get us the rooms?” Dave asked.
“I don’t want you walkin’ around without me, gettin’ inta trouble, Dave.”
“I ain’t gonna get into no trouble, Link,” Dave said. “Derek can watch—”
“I ain’t watchin’ nothin’,” Morrell said. “You’re on yer own, Dave.”
“This ain’t a wide open town, Dave,” Link said. “It’s tight, and I can’t trust you. You’re comin’ with me. We can’t afford no trouble.”
“Why do you always think I’m gonna get in trouble?” Dave Holman demanded.
“You really want me to answer that question?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“It’s because you’re too stupid not to get in trouble,” Link told his brother. “You understand now, little brother?”
“I’ll bet if Derek wanted to go for a drink you wouldn’t stop him.”
“Derek can look after himself,” Link said. “You can’t.”
“Damn it, Link—”
“Shut up now, Dave,” Link said. “The conversation is over.”
That was what their pa used to say when he didn’t want to talk about anything anymore. Dave hated it, and Link knew he did.
“Come on,” Link said, “we gotta walk a ways to get to this boardin’house.”
When James opened the door of the rooming house and saw the three men standing there holding their saddlebags and rifles, he thought of only one thing—finally, some business.
“Help you gents?”
“Yeah, we need rooms,” the spokesman said.
“How many?”
“Two,” the man said. He looked older than the other two.
“We have plenty of rooms,” James said.
“T
hat’s okay,” the older man said. “These two can share a room. They get along real good.”
“Okay,” James said. “Come on and we’ll get you settled.”
“Much obliged,” the man said. “Sorry to bother you this late, but we just rode in.”
“No bother,” James assured them. “We’re real happy to have you.”
He didn’t notice the three men exchange a glance as they followed him into the house.
FOURTEEN
“. . . so Colton seemed like a pretty good place to settle,” Kate said. “I met and became friends with Bessie, met James, and we ended up going into business together. Which reminds me . . . I have to get back.”
She got out of bed quickly and parts of her jiggled nicely as she hurriedly got dressed.
“What’s the rush?”
“I’m supposed to be in the house tonight so James can go home,” she said. “Bessie’ll kill him and me if he’s too late.”
“So we’re still on for supper tomorrow night?” he asked.
“Oh yes,” she said, looking in the mirror and smoothing her hair with her hands. She turned and faced him. “I think we’ve taken care of the awkwardness very nicely, don’t you?”
He nodded.
“I think we handled it like proper adults.”
She went to the bed to kiss him good night, danced away when he tried to grab her.
“Where’s a good place for me to have breakfast in the morning?” he asked.
“We serve breakfast at eight,” she said. “You could come there.”
“I think James would wonder how I got invited. Why don’t we leave that for another day?”
“Okay,” she said. “There’s a small restaurant about three blocks south of here, on this side of the street. They serve a great steak-and-eggs, and you look like a steak-and-eggs man to me.”
“You’ve got me pegged right.”
She stopped at the door, turned, and said, “That’s what I thought the moment I saw you. Good night.”
She was gone before he could return the “Good night.”
In the morning he went looking for that restaurant and found Kate to be absolutely right. The steak-and-eggs was excellent as was the coffee. He also found Sally Quest there before him.
“Please,” she said, when he walked in, “won’t you join me?”
“Well—”
“Let’s don’t let the awkwardness of last night keep us from being civil,” she said.
“All right.”
He sat with her and had breakfast. All she had was an egg and some coffee.
“Is that enough to keep you going?” he asked.
“All I eat is enough to keep me going,” she said. “A girl has to watch her figure.”
Clint didn’t think she had much of a figure. She could have used a few good meals.
“How long have you known Mr. Earp?”
“I’ve known his brother Wyatt a long time,” Clint said. “Along the way I’ve come to know the whole family.”
“How many are here in Colton?”
“Virgil’s brother James and father Nick are here. Also, Virgil and James’s wives.”
“It would be interesting to meet them.”
“Why?” Clint asked.
“What else is there to do here, while I wait?” she asked.
“You hired Virgil to find your sister,” Clint said. “Why don’t you go back home?”
“Back to Nevada?” she said, shaking her head. “Oh, no, I couldn’t do that.”
“Why not?”
She stood up. She was finished eating, while he still had half his meal left.
“Let me pay for your breakfast, Mr. Adams.”
“That’s not necessary, Miss Quest. I’ll take care of mine and yours.”
“You forget, Mr. Adams,” she said. “I have a lot of money.”
He sat back.
“You’re right, Miss Quest, I did forget,” he said. “All right, I accept your offer.”
She put some money on the table.
“I hope you find a way to pass the time while you’re here, Miss Quest.”
“Oh, I will, Mr. Adams,” she said. “I will.”
She walked out with her chin held high. There was something about Sally Quest that bothered him. More than that, something about her he didn’t like. But he couldn’t put his finger on it.
He turned his attention back to his steak-and-eggs and asked the waiter to bring another pot of coffee.
FIFTEEN
When Kate had arrived late the night before, James told her about the three guests.
“Then we have to get Regina to make breakfast in the morning,” she said.
“I’ll stop and tell her on the way home,” James said.
“It’s kind of short notice,” Kate said. “If she can’t do something with her kids, then Bessie will have to come in and cook.”
“Damn it, Kate, when are you gonna learn to cook?” James asked.
“Never,” she said. “And even if I did learn, I wouldn’t cook for the guests. I’m a partner, not a cook. I told you, I don’t cook, I don’t make beds—”
“Okay, okay,” James said, “I heard it before. I gotta get home. I’ll see you in the mornin’.”
“Hey, hey,” she said, “tell me about the new guests.”
“Oh, yeah,” James said. “They look like three hard cases—well, two. One’s older, seems to be the leader. His name’s Holman.”
“That’s it?”
“Well, they got in late, were tired, and by the way, so am I. I’ll see you in the mornin’, Kate. And don’t forget about supper tomorrow night.”
The next morning Regina showed up to cook, and Kate heaved a sigh of relief. She was a pretty black girl with four children who had many jobs around town. She was also a wonderful cook.
“Mornin’, Regina,” Kate said when the girl walked in. “I’m so glad to see you.”
“Miss Kate,” Regina said. “How many guests do we got?”
“Three?”
“Big mens?”
“I don’t know, Regina,” Kate said. “James checked them in.”
“Is Mr. James here?”
“Not yet.”
“I’ll just cook up a mess of food, then.”
“That sounds like a good idea.”
Link Holman smelled breakfast and reacted the way a hungry man off the trail would react. He came downstairs and saw that the dining room table was set for breakfast. When he didn’t see anyone else around, he went into the kitchen.
“Hey, Link. This is Regina. She’s some kinda cook,” Dave Holman said. “Look at this bacon.”
Link looked at the pretty black girl standing at the stove.
“Is my brother botherin’ ya?”
“No suh, he ain’t. He’s tellin’ me how much food ta cook for you and him and yer friend.”
“Is that a fact?” Link asked.
“Yes, suh,” she said. “He’s bein’ mighty helpful. Would you like a cup of coffee until breakfas’ is ready?”
“Sure,” Link said. “That’d be swell.”
She poured him a cup and handed it to him.
“Thank you . . . Regina?”
“Yes, suh.”
“I’ll wait in the dining room for our friend to come down. Otherwise, your kitchen will get pretty crowded.”
“Yes, suh.”
“So like I was tellin’ ya,” Dave said, “my mother used to put molasses . . .”
Link left the kitchen.
As promised, Clint went to Virgil Earp’s office after he finished his breakfast.
“Hey, good mornin’. We’re all set for supper tonight. Allie’s excited. She and Bessie are plannin’ a feast.”
“That sounds good.”
“I gotta warn you about somethin’, though,” Virgil said.
“What’s that?”
“Allie’s talkin’ about you and Kate, ya know? Like a matchmaker?”
“Oh.”
; “So you better watch yerself,” Virgil said. “She and Bessie will probably work on the two of you together.”
“I’ll keep it in mind. Had breakfast with your client this morning—and she paid.”
“And why not? She has a lot of money, remember?” Virgil said.
“Yes, she reminded me,” Clint said, taking a seat. “There’s something wrong with that girl.”
“Like what?”
“Well, she eats like a bird,” Clint said, “but it’s more than that. I just can’t put my finger on it.”
“She carries a lot of cash.”
“Yeah, if she had given you a bank draft, I’d say let’s check her out.”
“But she didn’t.”
“You hear from the telegram you sent to Nevada?” Clint asked.
“I was gonna take a walk to the telegraph office in a little while to check on answers.”
“I’ll come with you.”
They left Virgil’s office and started walking to the telegraph office.
“So you got a bad feelin’ about a girl because she carries a lot of cash?” Virgil asked.
“It’s not the cash,” Clint said. “I asked her why she didn’t just go back home now that she had hired you.”
“And?”
“She said she couldn’t,” Clint said. “And then she got nervous, got up and left the restaurant.”
“Couldn’t pin her down, huh? What do you think is goin’ on?”
“That’s my point,” Clint said. “I don’t know, but it’s something.”
“I tell you what,” Virgil said. “As long as she’s got as much money as she says she has, I don’t really care.”
When they reached the telegraph office, Clint waited outside while Virgil went in to check on his replies.
SIXTEEN
Derek Morrell had come down and joined Link Holman at the table by the time Kate came in.
“Good morning, gentlemen,” she said. “Regina will be right out with breakfast.”
“Thanks,” Link said.
“Aren’t there three of you?”
“My brother is in the kitchen with your girl,” Link said. “I hope you don’t mind.”
Virgil Earp, Private Detective Page 4
