Chapter 12 [Saloon]
The saloon bustled with activity. Dusty and parched cowboys leaned against the bar; Beer soothing their thirst. An elderly man's fingers danced a lively rendition across his piano's keys. Several couples danced about the worn floorboards. Over in the corner, a game of poker carried on….
Buck studied his latest hand. Since joining this game, he'd won a pair of hands. One of the other players, a blonde man in a red checkered shirt, beat him on a bluff. He drank a gulp from his mug. Still his mind kept going back to the last time he and the others were in that particular establishment….
…when Keough slopped a wet blanket over the party….
Hope nothin' like that happens tonight. We got ourselves enough to deal with! Buck plucked a card from his hand. "Give me one."
The dealer nodded. He slipped a card from the top of the deck and toward him. "There you are, Cannon."
"Something good there?" another player supposed.
"Maybe." Buck took the card and put it in his hand. A slight grimace creased his face for a split second before he collected himself.
"Well then…what's it going to be?" another dark-haired man in a blue shirt demanded.
"Easy, Friend." Buck could see that he didn't have much in that hand. He began to consider strategies to bluff his way to the pot.
Opportunity however was derailed.
Blue crashed through the door and almost into the partition. He rushed around the barrier. He breathed to get air into his lungs after the run over. He'd just sent Dr. Rivers over to the livery. Now he needed to find Buck. His eyes surveyed the room. Seeing the man in question, he hustled toward the table. "Uncle Buck!"
The players all glared at the younger man. Some coughed. A few narrowed their eyes.
Dealer frowned. "Well if it ain't the boy who almost got himself gunned down by Johnny Keough? Still don't have any sense."
Blue smacked the table. "Mister, I never did nothing to you! I didn't want to disturb you now! I need Buck to come with me!"
"You find another gun fighter to tick off, Sonny?" Blue Shirt scoffed.
Buck shook his head. "Blue didn't want that fight. Kind of found him. Funny I don't recall you being out in that street facing Keough either." He squinted at his nephew. "What's going on, Blue Boy? Calm down. Go have a beer. I'll be over in a bit." He looked about the room. "Maybe Mabel be willing to talk to you."
"Uncle Buck! We got us a real emergency! All right? I need you to come with me to the livery!" Blue insisted. He glanced around watching for further trouble.
Buck sighed. "What could it be? You did get our bunks and horses set right?"
"Yeah I did." Blue ran his hands through his hair. "Uncle Buck, some lady friend of Manolito's showed up. She's hurt bad."
Buck rolled his eyes. "Mano knows a lot of women, Blue. Heck you know that."
"One asking if he's safe? She was dressed like Victoria does when she's in Tucson. She's run into those Comancheros. She's muttering his name over and over. She asked for you," Blue explained. "Well?"
Buck narrowed his eyes. He knew Mano played the field. Still the description matched one of Don Sebastian's guests. "Who is she, Blue?"
"Women later! Play the damn game, Cannon!" Red Shirt reminded him.
"Gimme a minute!" Buck snapped. He turned back toward Blue. "Well, Boy?"
"Yeah. Mercedes. Is that the lady you and Pa were talking about back at Chaparral?" Blue looked toward the door. "Look, Uncle Buck, Doc Rivers is heading there right now. Are you coming or not?"
Buck frowned. He shrugged. "Guess I'm out, Boys. Sorry." He put his cards down. "Got to deal with something. Maybe next trip in?"
"Let Montoya mess with his own tramps, Cannon. He ain't here," Red Shirt protested.
Blue grabbed Buck. "We don't have time for this."
Buck nodded. He patted his nephew's arm. "No, we sure don't. And she ain't just some tramp, Friend. You're lucky I'm in a good mood." He got up from the table and straightened his vest. "See you all around some time. Show me, Blue Boy."
Blue nodded. "You bet, Uncle Buck! Come on!" He rushed out of the bar.
"Hey! Wait up!" Buck ran out of the saloon. He could just make out Blue running about twenty feet in front of him on the boardwalk. Question spun his brain. Memoria reminded him of the shy Mexican noblewoman and her older companion in Don Sebastian's courtyard. If it's her, what's going on with Mano? Urgency lent speed to his pace.
Blue stopped in front of the door. He waited for his uncle to get there. "So she's that…?"
Buck shrugged. "I don't know! Does she have light skin and brown hair? Or is she like Victoria?"
"The first kind." Blue's eyes went wide. "You don't think Mano and she ran into the Comancheros?"
"Can't know until we ask, Blue Boy." Buck opened the door. "Hello in there!"
Penny stuck her head out of the back bedroom. "Mr. Cannon! Glad Blue found you!"
"Yeah he found me all right. What's going on, Miss?" Buck replied evenly. "How's the patient?"
"She was shot in the shoulder. Doc couldn't find the bullet. Guess whoever shot her pulled it out. She didn't do a good job at fixing her up. Doc's doing that now. You think Mr. Montoya's okay?" Penny explained.
"We'll have to see," Blue advised. For her benefit, he tried to remain calm.
"Good thinking, Blue," Buck complimented.
"Come in then. I've got Miss Mercedes in Pa's old room. You and Blue are set up in the barn. Hey you want some beans? I was making some for Blue and me. You're welcome to join in," Penny invited.
"For Blue and you huh?" Buck tipped his hat. He coughed. If the situation hadn't been so serious, he'd be teasing Blue something fierce. As it was, he was glad for the offered meal and a place to stay. "Did you say your Daddy's old room?"
"Yes, Sir. My Pa died a few weeks back. Mr. Danielsen took over. Not much else around." Penny rubbed her forehead. "Not much else around."
"What about the barber shop?" Blue asked.
"It's been real slow since you gents left. With Pa gone, I need to find something else," Penny told them.
"Hey! Maybe we can find you something in Tucson when this is settled?" Blue proposed.
Penny looked at him in surprise. "Gosh! You'd help me move?"
"You saved my life. I like your company. What else is there?" Blue replied. His eyes twinkled into hers. A smile formed on his face.
"Sounds great to me too, Blue," Penny agreed. "Let me get those beans warmed again." She turned back toward the stove.
At that moment, the bedroom door opened. A slender man walked out. "Mr. Cannon? Miss Fox?"
"Yeah, Doc? How is she?" Blue wondered.
Rivers rubbed his chin. "The young lady's going to be all right. I managed to close her wound, clean it and rebandage it. Someone pulled a bullet out of her and patched her up before. They didn't do a great job of it. She's lucky. By the way, she was asking for Buck Cannon and someone named Manolo."
"Good, Doc. Thanks," Buck expressed. "I'm Buck. Can I see her?"
"You can reassure her so she can relax. Keep it short," Rivers relented.
"Yeah I'll do that. Thanks, Doc." Buck turned to Penny. "Maybe you can get those beans dished up? Be right back."
"I'll be back in the morning," Rivers noted before he left.
"And I'll have those beans right up, Mr. Cannon," Penny agreed.
"Thanks." Hang in there with her, Blue. You both did real good. Be right back." Buck eased the door open and stepped into the darkened room.
Blue sat down at the table. Worry ate at him.
It was going to be a long night…..