Fred looked at him hard, then glanced back at Bill. “Is that the way of it?”
“Yeah, the fight was self-defense, and Edward just got in the way. He’s bleeding bad. We sent for the doc. The dealer is dead.” Everyone around them agreed.
Henderson nodded, and the vigilantes seemed satisfied. Someone gave the order to collect the card dealer, while another asked if anyone knew him. Folks gathered around to tell what they could.
Hank looked at Emory and shrugged. “Wanna go somewhere else?”
“Yeah, this place is a mess.”
Fred stepped in front of Hank. “You seem to cause an awful lot of trouble around here.”
“Ain’t me, lawman. You heard them. It was self-defense. The man was cheating.”
“I heard what they said, but you always seem to find yourself at the center of these things. Maybe you should consider movin’ on. Maybe head back to Julesburg or Omaha.”
Hank lifted his chin a bit and puffed out his chest. “Ain’t going nowhere. I have a job with the railroad, and they’re here so that means I am as well.” He didn’t take his gaze off the man. He knew from having run into Fred and Edward before that they were friends. The last thing he needed was the man going for revenge. “Now, if you’ll excuse me. Emory and I were just leaving. Got some other plans.”
“Don’t you even care to know if he lives or dies?” the lawman asked.
Hank shook his head. “Not in particular. I had no grudge against him. He got in the way, and that’s all there was to it. If he dies, he dies.”
“Never met anyone as coldhearted as you, Garlow.”
His comment rather confused Hank. Why should he care about the deputy? Why should it seem strange to anyone that he didn’t?
“I’m gonna take that as a compliment,” Hank finally replied. “Come on, Emory. Let’s go find some supper.”
16
Marybeth was just about to gather Carrie and head back to the shed when Fred burst into the house, out of breath. He glanced at his wife and then saw Marybeth.
“There’s been trouble, and you need to come with me right now.” He barely paused for breath. “Eve, I need you to keep Carrie for her. Edward’s been shot.”
“Of course. You go ahead, Marybeth. Carrie can stay with us tonight. She’ll be fine.”
Marybeth barely heard her words. Edward had been shot. She jumped to her feet. “Take me to him.”
Fred nodded. “Get your coat.”
Marybeth moved to the front door, where Eve had hung her cloak over the back of a chair. Carrie’s was there as well. She saw Fred go to Eve and whisper something. The action caused a shiver to go up her spine. What was he telling her? Was Edward really dead instead of just injured? Had Fred told her that he was shot to prepare her for the next blow?
She felt frozen in place holding her wrap and watching Fred kiss his wife goodbye. Fred came to her quickly and,without words, took the cloak and helped her on with it. Marybeth went through the motions but hardly knew what she was doing.
Oh, God, please help Edward. Don’tlet him die.
Fred put his arm around her and pushed her toward the door. “Let’s go.”
Marybeth had to quicken her pace to keep step with Fred. “Where ... where is he?”
“Dr. Scott’s place.”
A bitter cold gust of air blew at them from the west. Marybeth didn’t even attempt to hide her face. “What happened?”
“Hank Garlow had a shootout with a card dealer. Ed got caught up in the middle of it. Hank shot him in the side, but he didn’t intend to. He killed the dealer.”
“Oh, goodness.”
She let Fred halfway pull her along the streets until they were in town. When Fred momentarily slowed his steps, Marybeth drew away from him and stopped.
