Doctor Who_ The Gunfighters - Donald Cotton [7]
Nevertheless – ‘Hey!’ quavered Steve, in a reproachful manner; ‘That hurt!’
‘What is the meaning of this?’ demanded the Doctor.
‘You want to find out,’ drawled the newcomer, ‘then try movin’ sudden... Now, git over there agin’ the wall... real slow, mind...’
Well, you do, don’t you, in a situation like that? But the Doctor resented his attitude, all the same.
‘I don’t know who you are, sir; or by what right...’
‘State Marshal’s my right, and Wyatt Earp’s my name.’
‘Wyatt Earp?’ choked Dodo.
‘Something wrong, ma’am?’ queried Wyatt, tipping his hat.
‘No – it’s just that... well, I’ve always wanted to meet you... and now, here we are – face to face!’
‘The Lord surely do work in mysterious ways, don’t He?
And now He’s seen fit to make us acquainted, perhaps you an’ your friends’ll oblige both Him and me by steppin’
along to the sheriff’s office, down along the street a-piece?
So’s you can identify yourselves to Bat Masterson in a decent, law-abidin’ manner?’
‘Now wait a minute,’ said Steven; ‘perhaps I’d better explain. Actually, you see, I’m not really a gunfighter at all...’
‘That’s kind of obvious, boy. That’s why I’m doin’ you a real courtesy by takin’ you in...’
‘But why?’ asked Steven, thinking he’d cleared the matter up rather well. ‘I can see no reason...’
‘On account, boy, as I jest heard the Clanton boys are in town; an’ that makes it kind of unhealthy for a stranger who claims he’s the fastest man in the territory. So you can jest pick up them shiny new toys of yours, there, an’ get movin’...’
And so, of course, they moved...
4
A Funeral is Arranged
During our absence, the decor of the Last Chance has been improved considerably by the addition of the resident chanteuse – a lady with the unfortunate name of Big-nose Kate Elder. But what’s in a name, as someone says, somewhere? Just be grateful that a young woman with enough bounce, personality, and zip to hold down a job in such a cess-pit, is prepared to pound the ivories for our entertainment while the following conversation ensues. To which, I may say, she also listens.
Ike was holding the floor; as though he thought he’d caught it moving. ‘Holliday cain’t be that good,’ he opined,
‘it jest ain’t possible! Against the four of us? He won’t know what hit him!’
‘Now that’d be a real shame,’ said hot-shot Billy. ‘I’d like for him to know. I’d like him to know us for Reuben’s brothers. That way,’ he explained, ‘he’ll realise he’s been overtaken by... what’s that Greek guy’s name? Used to overtake people... Nemmy someone... Yeah, Nemmy – I got it – Sis!’
‘You addressin’ me?’ snarled Seth, always quick to resent an implication.
‘No – it was some Greek, I tell you!’
‘ Some Greek, I’ll say!’ chorused his loyal brothers, not quite sure which away the talk was drifting.
Seth wasn’t either. He wiped his hand with the back of his mouth.
‘Now see here,’ he said, ‘can we get back to the subject?
Now listen,’ he added, changing his instructions at the last moment, ‘you boys don’t know Holliday! You mean, you want him to come lookin’ for us? When you ain’t never even seen him? If so, you’re crazy as a... as a...’
‘Jay-bird?’ suggested Phineas. ‘Or maybe, a frog?’ he added, anxious to repeat his former triumph.
‘Well, one of the two, anyway,’ agreed Seth. ‘Hey, what is it with you an’ frogs? You some kind of pervert?’
As always, Ike got him out of it. ‘Well, not that kind,’ he said. ‘You and your fantasies stay out of this, can’t you, Phin? So where is Holliday now?’
‘How in hell should I know?’ grumbled Seth; ‘I ain’t runnin’ no general information service, am I? All I do know is what I heard – that he rode in this morning.’
‘Now just let me get this straight,’ said Phineas, unabashed. ‘You mean, you never seen him neither? Land sakes, I thought that was why you came along... so’s you could...’
‘I don’t need to see him,’ interrupted Seth. ‘I heard him described – and I seen pictures. Dapper little feller, in a black velvet, box-back coat, an’ a fancy gambler’s vest.’
You see?