Six Bits a Day by Elmer Kelton

Author:Elmer Kelton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tor Publishing Group
Published: 2005-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

They washed their faces and watered their horses in the San Saba River before riding into Fort McKavett.

Gabe said, “We’d all better drink up. It’s a ways to the next water.”

Hewey replied, “I’m ready for somethin’ stronger than water.”

Fat said, “Me too.”

Fort McKavett was a ragtag town smaller than San Angelo. Citizens had taken advantage of the abandoned fort, using some of the rock buildings for dwellings, barns, and storage, dismantling others for the roofing lumber and window and doorframes. Though limited in size, the place did not lack for enterprises catering to the drinking man.

Walter said, “Ain’t much to it, but I guess it’s big enough for somebody to get in trouble if he really tried.”

Gabe showed a disliking for the place. “If it’s all the same, I’d like to stick close by you-all. They’ve got a reputation here for siccin’ the dogs on black folks. The only time us soldiers felt safe was when we stayed in bunches.”

Walter said, “I don’t see that we need to stop. We’ve got all the supplies we need.”

Hewey said, “We left Angelo quicker than we figured on. Wouldn’t hurt to clear the dust out of our throats. There’s still aplenty of miles ahead of us.”

Fat added, “Thirsty miles.”

Hewey picked a small frame structure that might have been thrown together by a drunken carpenter. Some of the nails were bent over, and dents in the wood indicated many false hammer strikes. Uneven red letters painted on a board declared that it served the finest liquors south of St. Louis.

“That takes in a lot of territory,” Hewey observed. “Sounds like my kind of place.”

Walter looked dubious, but he tied his horse alongside Hewey’s. Only a handful of people were on the streets. They seemed to be staring at the newcomers, or perhaps only at Gabe. Nervously Gabe said, “I ain’t stayin’ out here by myself. I’m comin’ in with you.”

Hewey’s eyes were slow in adjusting to the poor light. There were no customers. He saw a huge man get up from a table and move ponderously behind the crude plank bar. His voice sounded as if it came from the bottom of a barrel. “What’ll it be, gents?”

Hewey laid a few coins on the bar, and the barman picked them up with a hand that was as big as a satchel. He seemed to notice Gabe for the first time. He demanded, “Did that boy come in here with you-all?”

Hewey felt his pulse picking up. “He did. We’re all in need of a drink.”

The barman frowned. “He’ll have to get his from the cistern. And he’d better have his own cup, because he ain’t drinkin’ from the one out there.”

Walter said, “We don’t none of us really need a drink, Hewey. Let’s get out of here.” He took a couple of steps. Gabe was two paces ahead of him.

Hewey wanted to make for the door, but he was too provoked to move. He could hardly believe he heard himself say, “He already took our money.

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