Gunfight at Copper Creek by Robert McNeill

Author:Robert McNeill [McNeill, Robert B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Robert Hale
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

‘You don’t honestly think there’s a chance she’ll take him back?’ said Ben.

We were at the store at noon next day, moving sacks on to the boardwalk for a customer who’d gone to pick up his rig at Sweet’s stable.

I hoisted the sack I was carrying on to the pile already there. I’d told Ben what had happened the night before, and gave voice to my misgivings.

‘She told him it was over, but you can never be sure.’

‘But you said she mentioned her feelings for you before Doherty showed up.’

‘Exactly. Before Doherty showed up.’

‘For Chris’sake, Wes! The man’s been out of her life for five years.’

‘He’s still Tommy’s father.’

‘That’d count in most circumstances, Wes, but the fella’s been gone all that time. You said he got a drover to tell her he’d been killed. Left her to fend for herself and the unborn boy?’

‘Yeah, he did.’

‘Pretty damnable if you ask me. Man’s gotta be low to put his family through that to save his own skin. Don’t see he’s got the right to call himself a father.’

‘You’re right, Ben. Don’t suppose he has.’

‘Can’t see Abby changing her mind. She’ll most likely divorce him.’

As Ben placed the last sack on the pile three men crossed street and stopped beside the store. The man in front had a dignified look to him and walked with a stick. He tipped his hat.

‘Afternoon, Ben. I was wondering if we could have a word.’

Ben looked up.

‘Afternoon, Mr Mason. Sure, what can I do for you?’

Mason waved his stick in the direction of the men behind him.

‘This is Horace Appleby, owner of the furniture emporium, and this is Daniel Gorman, town carpenter and undertaker.’ He cleared his throat. ‘It’s about Ed Holden and his men.’ Then he nodded towards me. ‘I’m sorry, Ben, I haven’t met your partner.’

‘This is Wes Noble,’ Ben said. ‘Wes, this is Mr Mason, owner of the restaurant over on the next block.’

‘The one with the stereopticon show?’ I asked.

‘Yes, Mr Noble, that’s correct,’ Mason said. ‘I’ve a new feature in the back room every other week.’

‘Pleased to meet you, Mr Mason.’

‘Call me Ches, please.’

Ben thumbed to the door. ‘Why don’t the three of you come in out of the sun?’

Mason stepped on to the boardwalk followed by Appleby and Gorman.

‘Thank you, Ben, much appreciated,’ said Mason.

The three took off their hats and came into the store. Mason addressed Ben.

‘I’ll get straight to the point. It’s about Holden and his so-called protection. All the merchants had a visit from his two cohorts this morning.’

‘Burnett and McKenna?’

‘Yes. The thing is, Ben, Holden’s upped his weekly charges from fifty dollars to seventy-five.’

‘McKenna told us it was on account of you refusing to pay,’ Appleby added, running a finger under his collar. ‘Said he was putting a penalty on each of the other merchants.’

Appleby was tall, reedy-looking, and sported an imperial-style moustache. Mason held up a hand.

‘Please, Horace. Holden’s only using that as an excuse to extort more money.’

‘I’m already paying more than I can afford,’ Gorman said.

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