Doctor Who_ Peacemaker - James Swallow [31]
‘I think I do. Yes. Saving his life brought his daddy around to my way of thinkin’, if I recall. A good move on my part to do so.’ He shrugged. ‘What of it? If anything, him being here will be good for us. I can parade the lad around as an example of my skills!’
Walking Crow’s face darkened. ‘I heard him speak about the nightmares. His manner was not of one who has come to thank you.’
Godlove swallowed, faltering slightly. ‘I can’t be blamed for some excitable youth’s mental infirmity.’
‘If he has the dreams, then it is likely he knows that others have as well.’ He paused, thinking. ‘But it’s not the boy who concerns me.
The man. . . ’ The Pawnee frowned. ‘I do not know him but he walks 76
as if he is used to his authority. He wears a brown coat, he stands tall and clear-eyed. I saw a gun belt on him.’
The last pieces of Alvin’s good temper evaporated. ‘You think he’s John Law? A peace officer?’ Godlove felt a flutter of fear in his stomach. The motivating reason behind Alvin’s choice to flee the East Coast and try his luck out here in the West was to do with a number of massive gambling debts and the illegal things he had done on the way to incurring them. He believed that he was outside the reach of legal retribution for those deeds, but suddenly the possibility of that belief being wrong seized him and squeezed his heart in his chest. Alvin’s mind raced, teetering on the edge of panic. ‘Could be he’s a United States Marshal, maybe. They’ve been after me ever since St Louis. . . ’
He trailed off.
‘Perhaps we could reason with him.’
Godlove shook his head. ‘Don’t be stupid! Listen to me, now. Get back to the wagon and wait up until nightfall.’ He shot a look over at the three brothers thinking quickly. ‘Then you come lookin’ for me, out at the hidey-hole, you understand?’
Walking Crow sighed. ‘And we will run again? How many times does this make?’
‘Just do what I told you!’ he snapped, his voice drawing the attention of the bar girl. He gave her a weak smile and looked back at his associate. ‘You heard me! Go!’
With a doleful glare, Walking Crow got up and left the saloon.
Godlove tapped his fingers on the table and then stood up, gathering his composure. He wandered over to the brothers. ‘Gentlemen,’
he began. ‘About what you said just a moment ago, about repayment?’
Alvin glanced down at the long-nosed pistols holstered at the hips of each man. ‘I find myself in need of some protection from a person-age of harmful intent. Could I call upon men of character such as yourselves to safeguard me?’
The tall man drained his whiskey and slammed the glass down on the bar. ‘There’s some varmint that means you ill?’ He grinned harshly.
‘Well, sir, the brothers Lyle would be happy to handle that for you.’
‘I am much obliged. The scallywag is outside, I believe, a long 77
fellow in a brown coat.’
‘Good. Haven’t had opportunity to shoot a man in weeks.’
78
Nathan walked purposefully, his hands in his pockets, his jaw set.
Martha kept pace, watching. She considered telling him to head back to Redwater and leave her and the Doctor here, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it, not when those two long riders Kutter and Tangleleg were still out in the scrublands.
She felt useless. She wanted to say something to make him feel better, to assure the young man that everything was going to be all right; but Nathan had seen his father shot down in front of him, and she realised that nothing she could say or do would heal that terrible pain.
‘I’m sorry,’ The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Nathan glanced at her. ‘So am I.’ He took a shuddering breath. ‘I know I gotta be strong, but. . . it’s hard.’ He looked away. ‘You ever lose someone?’
‘I’ve seen people die,’ she admitted. ‘Good people, innocent people.
It never gets easier.’
Martha thought about her own family, Mum, Dad, Tish and Leo, half a world and a century away from where she was; and she felt a strange mixture of sadness and joy, knowing how far she was from them but also knowing they were still there, still