A Small Price to Pay

Chapter 25 – The Best Laid Plans

Beckham Dooley returned to the clinic and worked the rest of the afternoon. He stitched up a sliced arm, treated a two-month old baby for a cold, and saw Mrs. Tanner for the second time that day. Around six o'clock he was thinking of closing up and heading home when one more person came through the clinic doors – Jody Mayfield.

"I was wondering if you had anything you could give me to help with my problem," she told him.

"I didn't know you had a problem, Jody. What's wrong?"

"I'd tell you I had a broken heart but I think I'm too mad for it to be broken. Have you got anything for a fool who picked the wrong man to marry? And if you do, will it taste very bad?"

"You know, I think I have just the thing for a problem like that. And it tastes much better than expected."

Jody looked at him as if she'd seen him for the first time. "And just what is this miracle cure, doctor?"

"I believe it's called having dinner with me," Beck responded.

"Isn't the doctor afraid he might catch what I have?"

"He can only hope," Beck smiled at her. "Are you ready to take your medicine, Miss Mayfield?"

"Right now, doctor?"

"Right now. Unless you're not hungry yet."

She threw her head back and laughed. She felt better than she had for several days. "I'm starved."

"Then let's proceed with the administering of the medicine." He took her arm and they left the clinic together. They didn't see the marshal watching them from across the street. And what's more, they didn't care.

XXXXXXXX

At least this time she didn't have to ride out in a dress. She didn't want to come out here at all but Percy had arrived to fetch her and she knew how Logan would react if she didn't go. She didn't want to know what the plan was; her part was done. She just wanted it over and wanted Logan to leave her alone.

He was determined that she had to be in on everything, just in case something went wrong. It had served them well in the past, this plan, and he saw no reason to change now. If this was their last job together then he was determined that it would really be 'together.'

Once again she found him sitting at the table drinking. This time he had a glass for her and he was a whole lot friendlier. "Join me?" he asked as he poured.

"Sure, why not? We can drink to old times."

"Old times?" he reiterated. "Old times? What's got you sentimental? That fancy man a yours not lookin' so fancy anymore?"

"He's fine. Don't you worry about it. Just shut up and drink."

Logan had no trouble doing just that. When they were done he asked "Another?"

"Sure, why not?" She drank that one a little slower. "Alright, let's hear it."

"They close at three o'clock on Friday and Saturday and midnight on Sunday. The money gets counted and put in a strong box. That gets locked upstairs in a desk drawer in the big cheese's desk. There it sits until Monday morning. That means we've got to get it out sometime after midnight and before eight o'clock Monday. That's when Mayfield comes in and takes it to the bank. The back door is locked and has a chain on it, but the key to the chain is in the cash box behind the bar. The key to the back door and the upstairs desk is in the night manager's office, under the middle drawer in the cabinet by the outer wall. They're all gone by one o'clock on Sunday night. That's about all. Oh wait – there's a double barrel shotgun behind the bar, loaded. There's no guards, nobody watchin' the place. It's foolproof. This is gonna be one hell of a job, Connie."

"Just don't screw it up, huh Logan?"

His tone was ugly. "Whatta ya mean, screw it up?"

"Like Kansas City? The bartender you killed? I'd call that screwin' it up."

"He wasn't supposed to be there. He got himself killed, comin' in like that. You shot him first."

"Yeah, but you killed him. I just winged him."

Logan looked at her like she was crazy. "He knew what we looked like, Connie. What was I supposed to do?"

"He had a wife and kids, Logan."

"Then he shouldn't a been workin' in a saloon."

"Can you try to get away clean this time?"

He watched her play with her drink as he poured himself another. "Come on, Connie, six bank robberies and three saloons. And only two dead men. I think that's pretty good odds."

She looked up from her glass. "Two? Who was the other one?"

"That kid in Abilene, the one that tried to play hero."

"Oh yeah, I forgot him. Didn't mind that so much, he was a little snippy to the customers."

"Another one in the wrong place at the wrong time. If these people would just stay out of places they have no business in, they wouldn't be dead."

"Let's hope everybody plays their part right."

"Well, that shouldn't be a problem here. When they close that place up, they close it up. Everybody's out of there when they're supposed to be."

"I want 'em all alive, Logan. These are good people. I like 'em."

"Gettin' soft on me, Connie? Be careful you don't get in too deep with these folks. For when your fancy man dumps you."

"That's it, I'm outta here. You're doin' this Sunday night, right?"

"Yep. Sometime after one in the mornin'. You meet me in the back alley at twelve thirty. Percy'll be there with the wagon. And don't be late."

"Yes, sir. I hear you, sir. I'll be there." She got up from the table and set the empty glass down. "Thanks for the drinks."

"Yep." He watched her walk out the door for the last time. Four more days and he'd be out of here. And if he knew Connie at all, she'd be with him.