The Sunshine Killers

by Giles Tippette

  Saulter nodded slowly, his eyes on the man’s face.

  “I don’t like what I’ve got to do, but it’s got to be. I’ve got my orders and I’ve got a railroad to run. Now you’re the best hunter I’ve ever seen and it was a fair fight, but the fact is I’ve got to let you go. You’ve got to clear out of here. Stay a couple of nights and then I want you gone.”

  Saulter slowly raised his head off the pillow and cocked his head at the man.

  “Goddammit,” the foreman said. “Don’t look at me like that. I know what a lousy sonofa-bitchin’ deal it sounds like, but look at it from my side. I don’t make the rules but I got to carry ’em out. There’s always been a rule about trouble in camp. All parties, right or wrong, have to clear out. But it’s worse than that. We’re nearing completion and I just can’t risk any trouble whatsoever. I know those two needed killing. Yes, and they asked for it. But they’ll have friends, their kind always does. And there’ll be more trouble. You know it as well as I do. I just can’t risk it, Saulter. Not now.”

  Saulter said distinctly, “Shit.”

  The foreman nodded. “I agree.” He got up and began striding up and down. “Look, I know a few things you don’t know. We got about thirty more miles of track to lay and then this show is going to be over anyway. So there wasn’t much job left as it was. But right soon I’m going to have some high mucky-muck government officials around my neck and I can’t have no trouble. Of any kind.”

  Saulter let his head back down on the pillow. “Don’t strain yourself to explain,” he said.

  “Damn you, Saulter,” the man said. He stopped his pacing. “Don’t come that on me. We’ve been friends and I’m giving you this straight.”

  “Thanks,” Saulter said dryly.

  “Look here. I tell you, this ain’t no ordinary time. When I say high mucky-muck government officials, I mean high! Some of the highest. If you knew what I know you wouldn’t be so goddam quick to condemn me. I’d like to tell you just exactly who may be arrivin’ down to drive that last spike. But I can’t. Just take my word for it that there’s no way I can risk any trouble.” He stopped, waiting for Saulter to speak. Saulter said nothing.

  “Don’t make it no easier on me, Saulter,” the foreman said disgustedly. “Well, you’re trouble any way you look at you. Men see you and they’ve just got to try you, got to find out. By the time they understand they’ve made a mistake it’s too late and I’ve got another body on my hands. Well, I don’t blame you. You’re the way you are and you’ve got a right to be that way. And you can back it up. But trouble follows you and I can’t take no chances. So you’ve got to get out. Now I’ll see that you draw a month’s wages. Hell, make it two months’. And you leave with my best wishes and references. Not that you could give a damn about that. But that’s how it is.”

  Saulter deliberately closed his eyes.

  “Suit yourself,” the foreman said. He turned for the door. “Good luck, Saulter.”

  Saulter waited until he was gone and then he slowly sat up. He took a long moment drawing deep breaths. Finally, when he felt like he could stand the pain, he swung his legs around to the floor. With painful movements he dressed himself and then got up and put on his hat and shrugged into his coat. Lastly he picked up his big rifle. He walked out the door, favoring his left side. Outside it was starting to snow slightly.

  FOUR

  SAULTER’S EYES FLICKERED open as Letty finished bandaging him. He jumped slightly, then raised his head for a quick look around the room. “Oh, don’t get jumpy,” Letty said. “You’re all right.”

  “What?” he asked, the single word encompassing his whole situation and how he got there.

  She understood. “Never mind now, I’ll tell you all about it later.” When she spoke to Saulter there was a perceptible softening of her tone.

  As if she’d been waiting for Saulter to wake so he too could hear what she had to say, one of the girls at the door, a hard-faced woman of twenty-five, spoke up. “Listen, Letty,” she said, “I don’t like this one little bit. What business is this of ours? We want him out of here.”

  “Oh, shut up, Hester,” Letty told her.

  “Listen, I mean it. You want to get us all killed? That bunch over there finds him in here and that Tomlain just as soon beat you to death as look at you. We’ve been talking about it all night and you’ve got no right to do this.”

  Letty turned on her in a blazing fury. “Listen, you little bitch, don’t you tell me what to do! I’m still running this house. All of you, just keep your mouths shut and they’ll never know a thing. We can hide him here. He needs a few days’ rest and he’s by god going to get it! You hear me!”

  The women at the door wilted before her. She took a step toward Hester. “And you better make sure everybody stays shut up, Hester, because if you don’t I’ll tell them you brought him in here. And they’ll believe me. McGraw especially. You got that?”

  Hester said, “Now, Letty ... Now, Letty ...”

  “Go on,” Letty ordered. “Get out of here. All of you.”

  She shooed them out and then stood by his bed, watching as they disappeared. Finally she looked down at him. “You’re all right,” she said. “The wound’s not bad. You’re just exhausted and need some food and to get your strength back.” She started away, but his hand suddenly darted out and caught her wrist. She looked down and their eyes locked. He said, “I don’t want to cause you any trouble ... Letty.” He hesitated over the name.

  “Don’t worry.”

  He continued holding her wrist. Finally she bent down and kissed him gently on the lips. Then she straightened up. “You sleep. You’ll be all right here. I’m going down and fix you some barley soup with beef in it. Go to sleep.” She went out the door, closing it behind her. For a second he stared after her. Then his eyes went to the bed and his surroundings. He brought his hand up and fingered the faded lace of the quilt that covered him. Finally his gaze wandered over to the corner where his big rifle stood. His revolver and other belongings were piled around it. Then he seemed to relax. He closed his eyes and went to sleep.

  The short winter day waned. Occasionally Letty looked in, but he continued to sleep. Once she sent Juno up with a bowl of broth which the maid spoon-fed to Saulter. When he’d finished he let his head drop back down on the pillow. “Where’s Letty?” he asked. “She busy,” Juno told him. He nodded slightly and then closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

  Downstairs, in what served as the parlor in the rough building, the girls were lounging around in various stages of boredom and undress. Letty came in the room and looked grimly around for a moment. “All right, sisters,” she said sharply. “It’s open house tonight. Time to start getting up and getting ready. Your gentlemen callers will be here soon. Move, dammit!”

  They got up lethargically and began going to their rooms. Letty looked around, then took her shawl and stepped out on the front porch. First she looked across at the saloon. Then she looked off in the distance, north toward where the snow-filled road wound. Dark was coming fast. As she stood there, Barney came out on the porch and called across to her, “Hey, Letty, all right for us to come on now?”

  “Not yet,” she said. She turned to go, then turned back and yelled across to Barney. “And goddammit, ya’ll had better be shaved and you better be clean!”

  “Aw, Letty,” he answered.

  “I mean it!” she insisted. “Anybody comes over here smelling like a pig they ain’t going to get in.” With that she turned and entered the house.

  Saulter lay in the darkened room. He appeared asleep, but as the door opened, his eyes flashed and his hand instinctively came out from under the covers with his pistol. Then he saw it was Letty and he lowered the gun and smiled. She was carrying a bowl of broth. Steam rose from it in the chill of the room.

  “How you feel?” she asked.

  “Better,” he said. “What time is it? Morning or night?”

  “Night,” she said. “You’ve slept all day.�
�� She sat down on the side of the bed by him and started to feed him the broth. But he turned his head slightly.

  “Wait,” he said, “I want to find out a few things.”

  “Not now,” she answered briskly, and insisted with the spoon to his mouth. “I haven’t got time. I want you to eat this and I’ve got to hurry.”

  She forced the food on him, cramming the spoon rapidly in his mouth. He protested. “It’s hot!”

  “That’s all right,” she said, “you’re tough.”

  “Stop,” he commanded. He took the bowl out of her hand, set it on his chest, and took the spoon. “I can feed myself.”

  “All right. But you be sure you eat it all.” She stood up. “I’ve got to go and get dressed. Listen, they’re coming over tonight. You stay awake if you can. I’m going to lock this door, but if some of them should insist on coming in you’ve got to make it into that wardrobe.” She indicated a big clothes chest standing against the wall. As if to illustrate, she gathered up his gear, swung back the door of the chest, and crammed his stuff inside. “Do you think you could make it over here if you had to?”

  “Yes,” he said, looking at her.

  She went back over to him. “Let me look at you.” She took up the bowl of soup and swept back the cover with one hand and studied the bandage. Just a trace of blood had seeped through. “Looks all right. Not too tight, is it?”

  “No,” he said, his eyes holding at her face.

  “I’ve got to go,” she said. But once again he caught her wrist. For a long second he looked in her eyes.

  “Will you be with them?” He jerked his head toward the window.

  “What the hell you think my job is?” she asked harshly. Then she jerked her hand free and went out the door, shutting it behind her. Saulter heard the sound of a key turning.

  It grew late. Downstairs, they were well warmed up. Barney was playing a harmonica and Billy was dancing with one of the girls to Buffalo Gal, Won’t You Come Out Tonight? The two other killers were kissing and mauling two of the other girls. Only Tomlain was aloof. He sat in a chair, drinking straight out of a bottle of whiskey and glowering across at Letty, who was sitting alone in a chair. She was elegantly, though gaudily, dressed yet she didn’t really seem to be a part of the scene. The men whooped and hollered and drank whiskey and the girls laughed and giggled. Occasionally one of the men slipped off into a side room with a girl.

  Upstairs, Saulter lay in the semi-darkness, his eyes open, listening intently. He had his pistol out on top of the cover and he idly cocked and uncocked it, being careful to let the hammer down gently with his thumb. The sounds of the party came distinctly, if distantly, into his room.

  Downstairs the party had grown louder and wilder and more drunken. Tomlain was still sitting across the room from Letty. Only now he was scowling, his face flushed from all the whiskey. He seemed to be working himself up to a pitch of some kind. All of a sudden he heaved himself up and made his way determinedly across to Letty. She barely glanced up, but he reached down and grabbed her wrist. “Com’on,” he growled, “me an’ you is goin’ to the room.”

  She twisted her arm violently, trying to free herself. “Let me go, you big ape. Goddammit!”

  He hauled her to her feet. “Miss high and mighty. Let’s see how you like what I’m going to give you.” He started to drag her away, but she pulled back and then fetched him a tremendous slap in the face. It so startled him that he dropped her wrist. “You sonofabitch!” she told him, her eyes spitting fire. “Don’t you ever touch me again.”

  “Goddam you!” Tomlain roared. He pulled back to hit her, but Billy caught his arm.

  “Hold on, Tomlain,” Billy said. “McGraw won’t like this.”

  “You goddam right McGraw won’t like it,” Letty spit. “You touch me again and McGraw will like it even less.”

  Tomlain lowered his fist, but he was no less angry. “McGraw’s special piece. You think that makes you untouchable?”

  “It does where you’re concerned,” she said.

  “You’re a whore, ain’t you?” Tomlain sneered at her.

  “Sure,” she answered, “I’m a whore. By profession. But you’re a whore by nature.”

  Tomlain’s face clammed, but Billy turned him around. “Com’on, Ray. Com’on and sit down and let’s drink some whiskey. Sheila, come over here and keep old Tom company.”

  Letty glared after them, then finally sat back down. The party started up again, but it had lost its spark.

  Upstairs, Saulter lay staring straight ahead, his eyes wide open, his thumb rapidly cocking and uncocking the revolver. Tomlain’s loud voice had carried clearly to his ears.

  It grew later. Letty remained in her chair while the party slowly died around her. Barney was asleep on the floor. Tomlain lay tipped back in his chair, his head on his chest, a bottle of whiskey hanging loosely from his hand. Billy was laying on the couch with Brenda. Finally the other killer and one of the girls came out of a back room. Letty got up. “Okay,” she announced, “party’s over. Get out.”

  She went around the room rousing the men. Barney didn’t move and she gave him an ungentle thump in the ribs with her toe. “Get up!” she commanded.

  Billy roused himself and helped the very drunk Tomlain to his feet. Gradually they all dispersed, the girls yawning and heading for their rooms, the men out the door. Brenda was prompted to run after Billy and give him one last kiss on the porch.

  Finally only Letty was left. She went around turning down kerosene lamps. Juno came in. “Please, Miss Letty, where I sleep?”

  “Sleep in my room, Juno, go on now.”

  Then she herself turned to the rough stairs and climbed up to the little left story. Saulter’s eyes were open when she turned the lock in the door and slipped into the room. It was a bright night and the moonlight streaming in through the small window made the room half lit. Letty slipped into a chair and sighed.

  Saulter didn’t speak, just turned his head to where he could see her. His face was emotionless.

  She waited a second or two before she burst out. “Listen, don’t look at me like that. Who the hell you think you are?”

  “I’m not looking at you any way,” he said. “I have no right to look at you or to think anything.”

  “You’re damn right,” she said, but she was slightly mollified.

  “I just don’t understand,” he said.

  “What don’t you understand?”

  “This place. You. The whole setup. This is . . .” he hesitated.

  “A whorehouse? Sure it’s a whorehouse. What’d you think it was, a library? And I’m a whore. So?”

  “But here,” he said. “Here in this place, here where there’s nothing. I don’t understand how it can be here.”

  She answered dryly. “Let’s just say it’s a private whorehouse. Set up to keep a few overgrown boys happy while they sit around waiting.”

  “Them?” he jerked his head in the direction of the saloon.

  “Of course.”

  “And what are they doing here? In the middle of nowhere?”

  “I told you, they’re waiting.”

  “For what?”

  “I don’t know,” she said, looking away.

  “Letty . . .”

  “Look, I said I don’t know. And if I did I wouldn’t tell you. And if I would I couldn’t. You’ve got one thing to worry about—getting on your feet. You just lay there and rest for a couple of days and then ride the hell out of here and don’t look back. I think I’d even go with you if I could get my money out of McGraw.”

  “Who is this McGraw? That’s all I’ve heard.”

  “He’s bad, that’s who he is. Listen, stop asking so many questions and go to sleep.”

  But he wouldn’t. Instead he pursued the questions. “What’s around here to hold that kind of men? They’re after only one thing—money. There’s no towns around here. No gold mines. No cattle ranches. No gold shipments coming through from California. The closest thing i
s the railroads and they’re still working on that. It couldn’t be the railroad payroll. That’d take an army.”

  She suddenly got out of the chair, leaned down, and kissed him. “Shut up, Saulter. Go to sleep. I’m dead on my feet.” She started to slump back in the chair, but he pulled the covers back on one side of the bed and looked at her.

  She asked, “Even with what you think I’ve been doing downstairs?”

  “Yes,” he said.

  “All right,” she agreed. “But we’re just going to sleep. You’re too weak for anything else.” She got up and took off her dress. She had on several petticoats. She got down to her Merry Widow underwear and then slid into bed beside Saulter.

  He smiled slightly. “I may be a little rank. Haven’t had much chance to take a bath lately.”

  “That’s all right,” she said, “you just smell like a man. And they don’t all smell like that. Some can wash everyday and still stink. We’ll give you a bath tomorrow. A whore’s bath.”

  He looked over at her, her face very close to his. “What’s a whore’s bath?”

  “That’s the kind of bath you have to take in a house with a bunch of women and no tubs. A bucket of hot water and a lot of rubbing.”

  He smiled. “I might like that.”

  “You’re getting better fast,” she said dryly.

  They were quiet for a moment, their eyes closed. Finally hers flickered open and she looked at his face in profile. “By the way, nobody touched me downstairs.”

  “I heard you cussing Tomlain.”

  “He tried. But that’s all.”

  “Well ...” he finally said, “that’s another mistake he’s made.”

  FIVE

  WITH THE MID-MORNING sun came four men, riding across the snow field that led into the town. One rode in the lead; that as well as other things made him predominantly different from the rest. There were his clothes, a long coat and a flat crowned beaver hat, that were of better quality than those of the men with him. There was his horse and the trappings of his saddle and rigging. But the primary difference was in his carriage and his demeanor. There was a hawklike ruthlessness about his face, an intelligence in his eyes, and a cruel cut to his mouth that was made even more distinctive by the desolation of his surroundings.