“I suppose it’s a practice of yours to carry your Springfield in here.”
“Not a practice, but not unusual. Desiree should be here. She’d tell you. So will any of the others when you ask them.”
“Hmm. I bet they will.”
Carter pointed to Desiree’s window, which was still open. “Have a look. It’s nothing but valley back there. Good for target shooting if the cows and sheep don’t get in the way. A man needs to practice from time to time or else he gets tight and rusty.”
“You avoid the cattle and target folks instead, is that it?”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Carter’s eyebrows pulled together and his mouth curled to one side. “Are you accusing me of something? Maybe you better say what’s on your mind.”
“Who are you working for, Carter?”
“That’s what’s on your mind? Tell him, Rooster. I work for the goddamn town.”
“Falls Hollow needs the railroad,” said Call. “No one here directed you to kill Miss Morrison. So who did?”
“What? Laurel Beth’s dead?”
“You know the answer.”
“But I don’t. Maybe you hit me harder than I thought because you’re making no kind of sense.”
“Don’t make me shoot you, Carter. Right now that’s pretty much all I’m thinking about.”
“Are you threatening me?”
Call sighed. “You don’t know the answer to that either? I swear I’m wondering what you have under that hat besides hair. Yes, I’m threatening you. Rooster, didn’t it sound like a threat to you?”
“Yeah, it sure did.”
“There,” said Call. “You have a witness. Oh, for God’s sake, Carter, put your hand back down. You don’t want to draw on me. You’re real sharp with a rifle, but I’m betting that revolver at your side is mostly for show.”
“You don’t want to test me, Landry.”
“I’m not entirely against it, but I’m looking for answers first. How about you unstrapping that gun belt and tossing it over here?”
“When hell freezes.”
“How about now? Cold enough for you?”
Carter blinked. He was staring at the business end of Call’s Colt with no blessed idea of how he’d been drawn on. A muscle jumped in his jaw.
“Kinda unexpected, isn’t it?” said Call. “I’ve seen that expression before. Unfortunately for you, looks can’t kill. Now, about that gun belt. Nice and easy.”
Carter raised his hands slowly. His eyes never left Call’s steely gaze. He unbuckled the gun belt and dropped it on the floor at his feet.
“Kick it this way,” said Call. When Carter hesitated, Call added, “Now.”
Carter kicked it but directed it sideways so it slid underDesiree’s bed. It disturbed something on its way to disappearing, creating a metallic clunk that made his eyebrows furrow but cleared Call Landry’s expression.
“Damn,” Call said softly, shaking his head. “You have a hard time following instructions, don’t you? Just as well, I reckon. Rooster. Look under the bed and see what the sheriff’s gun belt disturbed.”
Rooster bent, whistled softly, and then used the barrel of Carter’s rifle to swipe at the object and slide it clear of the bed. “Bet you figured it for what it is,” he said to Call. “Did you?”
Call spared a glance for the strongbox and shrugged modestly. Everything he knew told him it was empty, but he asked Rooster to check anyway. Sadly, he was right again. He waited for Rooster to resume his position against the door before he spoke to Carter. “How much did you keep for yourself? Did the Hammersmiths suspect you couldn’t be trusted when they hired you? I’m imagining they were pretty riled when you didn’t deliver the whole of the Stonechurch payroll.”
“You imagine whatever you like. Ain’t none of it gospel.”
