Montana Territory by Charles G. West

Author:Charles G. West [West, Charles G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2020-06-12T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

“I ain’t got three rooms upstairs,” Bodine said, “unless I move Josie outta hers. You wouldn’t want me to do that, would you?” He was ready to do just that if Booth insisted on it. He had been mighty happy to hear they wanted to move in, happy to have all that money he was sure they were carrying that much closer to him. He would get a little more of it if they did insist on moving Josie to the pantry behind the kitchen.

“Ain’t no need to move her, we don’t need but two rooms,” Booth said. “Me and my brother can share a room, and Trip can take the other one.”

“If that’s what you want,” Bodine said. “Course, you know when I rent those rooms, I charge by the head, so you and Jesse would pay the same as Trip.”

“I ain’t surprised, you old skinflint,” Booth replied. “I’ll bet you don’t rent those rooms out more’n five or six nights a year.” When Bodine started to defend his policy, Booth stopped him. “Don’t start your whining, we’ll pay you for the damn rooms.”

“Damn right,” Trip spoke up, “We can afford it. Now, how’s about we go back downstairs and get some breakfast?” Without waiting for any response from his partners, he started back down the steps with his usual cocky swagger, even in light of the steepness of the stair.

Behind him, Jesse hesitated a few seconds to speak softly in his brother’s ear. “I don’t know about you, but I’m gettin’ tired of hearin’ him brayin’ about how he can afford everything. He keeps it up and Bodine’s gonna think we’re the ones that killed them Quakers for sure.”

“Yeah, I’m gettin’ a little tired of it, myself,” Booth replied. “But I don’t know if it makes a helluva lot of difference, as far as Bodine’s concerned. I think Bodine’s already figured we did that job and the only thing on his mind is how much of it he can get his hands on before we leave here.”

“About that,” Jesse responded. “How long you think we oughta hang around here waitin’ for that jasper to take a shot at one of us? You know it ain’t gonna be long before a hard winter decides to roll over those mountains and freeze this river valley up. I’d sure as hell like to spend the winter in someplace besides this tradin’ post.”

“I know what you’re sayin’. I feel the same as you.” He paused at the top of the stairs to let Trip and Bodine get a little farther ahead. “Let’s stay in close here for a couple of days and see if Hawk gets tired of waitin’ and decides to take a fool chance to get at our money. And there ain’t no doubt he’s got his mind set on gettin’ every cent of the money. He got Tater’s share, and that’s a pretty good payday for most low-down killers. But not this bastard; he wants it all. So, if he makes a play to sneak in here, he’s in our backyard.

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