After some debate, it was decided that I was going in the front door of the jail. That seemed to be the safest option; it was too easy to shoot Danny and be done with it if Maxwell's only objective was to kill the boy. He didn't have a gun in his hand when I peeked in the window. I could have been any kind of lawman and Maxwell wouldn't have known; at least I wasn't the man who'd shot him.
Of course, none of this sat very well with Danny. He was all for barreling in, guns blazing, to rescue the girl. I had to point out to him just how easy it would be for Maxwell to kill Harper if we did that, and he finally saw the error in his thinking. I left him at the back window after he agreed not to try and play hero. He had instructions to shoot to kill if Maxwell turned his gun on me.
I crept around to the front of the jail and quietly tried the door. It was unlocked. Screwing up what little courage I had, I opened it slowly and walked in. My gun remained holstered. Red was still sitting with his feet up on the desk, but he'd finished the cigar. There was no weapon in his hands, either.
As soon as she heard the door open, Harper was standing at the cell door. When she saw it was me a slight smile spread across her face. "Hey, old man."
"Young lady," I greeted her back. Red watched the exchange but said nothing. "You seem to have a slight problem."
The feet finally came down off the desk, and Red sat up straight. He still hadn't said anything, but his right hand was now on his gun. And there was a look in his eyes that hadn't been there before. "I don't see no badge."
Time to play braver than I felt. "Ain't got no badge."
"Whatta you want?"
"The girl."
He laughed just a little. I'd heard that laugh before, or one just like it, but it had been a long time. It was the kind of laugh that sent a chill up your spine.
"Don't think so."
"You got no use for her, Red."
"Who are you, anyway?"
"Just a friend of Harper's."
"She's only got one friend, and it ain't you. Where is Mills, anyway?"
"Someplace where you can't shoot him."
There was that laugh again. "I ain't gonna shoot him. He cost me money and I want it back. Won't get it if I shoot him."
"He's been in prison for the last year. Where do you think he's gonna get money?"
He stood up now, keeping his hand on his gun the whole time. Red was medium height, stocky, with thinning red hair and a short, scruffy beard. He walked towards Harper, with his gun now out and aimed at the girl. "From her Pa." I heard the hammer pulled back as Harper receded further into the cell.
"Her Pa's the sheriff. Where's he gonna get money?"
"He'll get it." He stopped at the front of the cell and rested the gun barrel on the bars, turning his head to look at me briefly. "You got a name?"
"Maverick."
"Well, Maverick, I suggest you collect the kid and head for Wilsons Corners. Cause she ain't goin' nowhere till you bring me what I want."
I'd taken a couple steps closer and leaned up against the desk. "How much?"
"Oh, a thousand oughta do. That's what I'da gotten from the saloon hold up, plus interest. An don't think the kid can shoot me before I kill her. Understood?"
I nodded my head, then figured I better say something in case Danny didn't see me. "Understood. Danny, you hear me? No shootin'."
From the back window came a "Yeah!"
"You know it's gonna take us a couple days or more."
There was a slight chuckle from Red. "I ain't goin' nowhere. Neither is she. Just don't be comin' back with no posse."
"Can I talk to her first?"
"Unbuckle and drop the belt. And there better not be no pea shooters around nowhere."
I did as told and dropped the gun belt. I didn't have a derringer with me; it was in my saddlebags. I wouldn't have tried to use it, anyway. That was a good way to get killed. Or get Harper killed. Red backed away but kept the gun trained on the girl. "Make it quick."
I made my way to the front of the cell and Harper joined me on the other side. "You alright?" I asked.
She nodded. "Won't do you no good to go back home. Pa ain't got no money to speak of."
I grabbed her hands through the bars. They were as cold as ice. "Let me worry about that. We'll come back to get you out."
"Make sure Danny . . . take care of him, alright?"
"I won't let him do anything foolish, I guarantee. You stay safe."
I squeezed her hands and turned to face Maxwell. "You hurt her, Maxwell . . . "
"You bring back the money and I won't have to."
He kept the barrel pointed at Harper as I walked towards the front of the office. I picked up the gun belt and strapped it on, making sure to keep my hands away from the gun.
"Easy, Maverick." He waited until I was finished. "Now get goin'."
"Harper." The girl looked at me. "We'll get back as fast as we can." She nodded.
Maxwell made a parting remark. "Give the sheriff my best."