I didn't want to leave Maggie's, but I'd made a commitment and I was going to honor it.
I was the last to arrive at the Lady. Well, the last of those that showed up for poker that night. Rally Simmons was among the missing. Joe and I exchanged looks, but nothing was said. Nobody seemed to have any idea just where the speculator was, but I did discover it wasn't unusual for him to miss a night without warning or notice. Everybody knew about my brother getting shot and June Morgan's involvement, even though I'd taken the blame.
Poker was a lot less challenging with Rally not there to do battle against. Zeke played about the same as Tom Miller had, just well enough to keep me on my toes. The night passed quickly and before I knew it the sun was up and the night's game was done. I went to Minnie's with Saul and Calvin; I didn't envy their having to go straight to work with no sleep at all. I know what that's like.
Maggie came in for the early shift and stopped by our table before startiung to work. When she left the table she kissed me on the cheek and I got raised eyebrows for her effort. "That was fast," Calvin commented.
I smiled. "Naw, I'm just adorable," I told him.
"And humble, evidently," Saul added.
We were still waiting for breakfast when Sheriff Manning came in and headed right for our table. 'Uh-oh,' I thought. 'Trouble's comin'.' Unfortunately, I was right.
"You missin' a poker player last night?" Manning asked.
Calvin answered him. "Yeah, Dan, Rally wasn't there. Why?"
Manning sat down in the empty chair. "Simmons is at Doc's this mornin'. Somebody near beat him to death. One a the Bar J hands found him way out on the road to town after he left there late yesterday. Anybody know anything about it? No? Maverick, I heard you were lookin' for him yesterday. Wasn't you, was it?"
"Why would I want to kill Rally Simmons?" I asked innocently. He might be slime, but try to kill him? And then it suddenly hit me – Jed and Dickie? Before I could say anything Maggie brought our breakfasts and stayed long enough to refill our coffee.
As soon as she was gone the sheriff frowned at me. "That was a reason."
I shrugged. "I had nothing to do with it, sheriff. Maybe it was my so-called friends."
"Why would they wanna kill him?"
"Exactly. And again I ask, why would I?"
"Mmmmm-hmmmm. Good point. Nobody else got nothin' to say?"
Calvin shook his head 'no', Saul shrugged his shoulders. "Nobody's got a reason, far as we know, Dan."
"How is he, Sheriff?" I finally asked.
Manning sat there for a minute, deciding whether to give me an answer. "Doc says he'll live, but it's not gonna be pleasant."
I shuddered, whether I wanted to or not. I'd been on the receiving end of a beating like that.
Dan Manning jumped on the involuntary action. "Somethin' you wanna share with me, Maverick?"
For once it was my turn to glare. "No."
"Alright, if anybody hears anything . . . . . . . . " He finally gave up and left. I pushed my plate away, my food untouched. I no longer had the stomach for it.
Maggie saw the move, too, and came over. "Is there something wrong with it?" she asked me.
"No. I just can't . . . . . . ." And I got up and ran, doing my best to make it to the alley. I just turned the corner when my stomach declared it wouldn't wait anymore, and I had to bend over hurriedly. I tried to think of anything else, to get those memories out of my mind. It didn't matter if I hated the ground Rally Simmons walked on, nobody deserved that. I pulled out my handkerchief and wiped my mouth, then straightened up and realized it was still freezing and I had no coat on. I got myself back inside as fast as I could manage.
Maggie had removed my plate and refilled my coffee, which I picked up and took a long swallow of. Saul looked concerned. "Everything alright?"
I nodded. "Just . . . . . unpleasant memories."
"Glad they're yours and not mine," Bender finished. "Being a bank president does have its advantages."
"I wouldn't wish those memories on anyone," I told them. I paid for the breakfast I hadn't eaten and got up from the table. Maggie came over and we made plans to meet later at her house. "Gentlemen, I'll see you tonight."
This time I put my coat on and walked back up the street to the doctor's office. There was no one in the front room, and I waited until Doc appeared to see who'd come in. He looked like he'd been up all night.
"Mr. Maverick. How's your brother?"
"Last time I saw him he was better, Doc. I understand that Rally Simmons is in bad shape. How's he doin' this mornin'?"
"Not so good. Manning tell you what happened?"
I nodded. "He did. Simmons gonna make it?"
"Good Lord willing. Why are you so concerned about Rally?"
"I was tryin' to find him all day yesterday to ask him some questions. He conscious?"
"In and out. Can the questions wait?"
"Doc, you and I both know how long it could be before he's in any shape to talk. They won't wait that long."
"How do you know how long it could be?" The way Doc asked the question, there was nothing but curiosity involved.
I took a deep breath. "Because I've been where he is right now. If he can hear me, he can answer me."
The doctor finally responded to me. "Alright, I'll let you go in, but I'm going with you. And if you upset him . . . . . ."
"Understood."
Doc Demmers led me into a back room. There was an exam table in it, but also a bed, and Simmons was in the bed. I grabbed a chair from the corner and sat down near Rally's head.
He looked terrible, and I wondered if I'd looked that bad. I must have. Rally's eyes were open, but I didn't know how much he could see. "Simmons, it's Maverick. Can ya hear me?"
"Maverick," came out in a croak. It sounded like whoever'd beaten him did a number on his throat, too.
"Do you know who did this to ya?"
"Yeah."
That was even weaker. I was kind of surprised he was talking to me at all. "Wanna tell me?"
"No." Well, there was the end of that spirit of cooperation. "Rally, they need to be arrested."
"No."
"Somebody from the Bar J?"
No answer this time. "Alright, will ya talk to me about June Morgan?"
"Junie? She alright?"
"She's alright, just confused and upset right now. She's tryin' to sell her share of Pete's so she has a dowry. Did you know that?"
"Dowry? No. I needed . . . . . . needed money."
"You needed money? What for? Everybody thinks you've got money. That isn't true?"
"No. Lost it . . . . . . lost it all. Told Junie . . . . . she could call it . . . . . dowry."
"Were you gonna marry the girl, Simmons?"
"Can think of . . . . . worse things."
"Do ya love her?"
That elicited a coughing fit. When it had calmed down he grimaced and said, "No."
"She told me about . . . . you romancin' her. Huggin' and kissin'. Did it go beyond that?"
He struggled with the next question. "You her . . . . . her mother?"
"I'm tryin' to help her, Rally. I need an answer from you."
"No."
"No? No you won't answer me or no it hasn't gone any further?"
"No further. Junie's gullible . . . . but sweet." He had a real struggle with that answer and I knew enough to quit before Doc kicked me out. I started to get up and somehow he reached out and grabbed me. "Protect . . . . . . protect her. Please."
Protect her. Protect her from what? Or was it from who? "I'm tryin', Rally. I'm tryin'."