Chapter 6 – All Gamblers Cheat

We left the prison in the late afternoon and made good time, riding until it was almost dark. I found us a small stand of hills, populated by large boulders and trees, and we made camp with our backs fairly well protected. "I can't get over the sky. It's so full of stars," Danny kept telling Harper over and over. I guess it did look pretty good, after a whole year of not bein' able to see it. I shoulda remembered the feelin' after all the time I spent in the Silver Creek jail, but I was in such bad shape that by the time I was finally released I didn't notice much of anything.

Harper seemed to be enraptured by Danny and hung on practically every word that came out of his mouth. No doubt in my mind that there was a whole lot more than just friendship bein' felt by the young lady. I told 'em both to sleep and took the first watch. There was no wind or noise; if Red Maxwell was out there somewhere he was quieter than a field mouse. Harper relieved me, and I assume Mills relieved her; he had the coffee on by the time I woke up. She seemed more settled this morning, maybe it had started to sink in that we needed to be on our guard at all times. If we were gonna get back to Wilsons Corners alive.

Danny and I started off riding lead together, with Harper bringing up the rear with the little bay mare and her supplies. We hadn't traveled far when we finally began talking.

"If you're not a gun hand, what are you?"

"A gambler that hit a bad streak."

"A gambler, huh? How'd you meet Harper?"

"I rode into her livery."

"That's all?"

"That's all."

It was quiet for a few minutes, like Danny was trying to digest our simple encounter. After a bit I thought maybe I should clarify things for him. "She was lookin' for somebody to make the trip with her, Danny. I just happened to come along at the right time."

"Why'd you decide to do it?" He still sounded confused by the whole thing.

"I was broke. She offered me a job."

"You broke often?"

I laughed at that. "On occasion."

"How come? I thought gamblers were never broke."

"The ones that cheat aren't. I play an honest game of poker."

"All gamblers cheat."

Danny needed a lesson in perception. "Once an outlaw always an outlaw." He pulled the stallion up sharply and stared at me. I followed suit.

"What does that . . ." he paused for a moment and then understood and began again. "I see what you mean."

I nodded as we started forward. "That's why I gave Harper's Pa the benefit of the doubt. Even John Law can change his mind."

We rode a while further before I asked a question. "What are you gonna do now that you're a free man?"

Danny didn't hesitate to answer. It seemed to be something he'd been thinking about for a while. "Get a job as a ranch hand. Maybe Mr. Ferris will hire me back. I'd be awful grateful if he would. I sure owe him."

"Owe him for what?"

"He's the one got me a lawyer. Done everything he could to try and help when I got arrested."

"Sounds like a good place to start."

"Harper goin' back to the livery?"

"I don't know," I told him. "She didn't say."

"She wants to raise horses."

"Oh?"

His head bobbed up and down. "Ever since she was little."

"Danny . . . "

"Yes, sir?"

How to make me feel old again. And I certainly wasn't. "What about Harper?" I could tell from the look on his face that he wasn't sure what I meant. "How do you feel about Harper?"

"I . . . well . . . she's my best friend. Why?"

"Is that all?"

"I . . . uh . . . maybe. Maybe not."

Once again, I felt the overwhelming urge to protect this girl. I don't know why; she could probably protect herself just fine. Nevertheless, I plunged ahead. "She's in love with you, Danny."

Very softly I heard the outlaw, the convict, the boy, whisper, "I know."

"What are you gonna do about it?"

"I . . . nothin'."

"Nothing?" I persisted.

"What can I do about it? I probably got a killer chasin' me, lookin' to get back what he thinks I've got. I can't let her get close to me. Not as long as Red Maxwell's out there."

I didn't know whether to feel better . . . that it seemed like he cared for her, too . . . or worse . . . because of Maxwell. At least it sounded like the kid was thinking.

Before we could get any further, Harper rode up next to the two of us. "Hey, it's somebody else's turn to ride drag. It's lonely back there."

I reached over and took the mare's reins from her. I didn't want Danny riding behind, all by himself. He made too good a target. "I'll ride it. You two go on ahead. But keep your eyes open."

"Thanks, Bart."

She moved closer to Danny as the mare and I fell back. That's the way we rode the rest of the morning, and it was a good thing, too. I started noticing little things that set me on edge. Not much, just odd noises once in a while; small animals scurrying across the trail, like something was riding behind us and had sent them our way; and whatever it was that made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. There was no doubt in my mind that Red Maxwell was out there, somewhere, shadowing us. And it was only a matter of time until he got tired of waiting.