Chapter Eight

Buck downed the last of his whiskey and slammed the glass on the bar. He took the bottle and poured another glass. He could tell that the storm was finally starting to let up. He could feel the cold, damp breeze coming through the bat wing doors as they opened. He turned and didn't recognize the person who had walked in.

The person moved with an ease that was close to grace. Buck could see hair hanging from beneath the dark, black hat. He knew that hat too. He shook his head, thinking how familiar this person looked. The person slowly sat down next to him and grabbed the bottle of whiskey.

"I believe that's mine," Buck said, resting a hand on his gun.

"I need it more than you," the stranger said and looked at him.

Buck looked at the stranger and saw the long strands of brown hair sticking out, but it was the eyes that gave her away. Buck smiled a little at seeing those green eyes staring at him.

"Hello, Mattie," Buck said with a crooked smile. "What are you doing here in your brother's clothes?"

Mattie smiled and threw down a glass of whiskey, letting it burn her throat. Whiskey had never been her favorite drink, even when she was drinking it with her brother. She let out a loud breath and sat the glass down.

"Does the offer still stand?" Mattie asked.

"What offer?" Buck asked in an answer.

"To kill the man that killed my brother."

Buck cut her a look. He took the bottle from Mattie and poured another drink. He sipped on it and then finally nodded. He knew that the day would come when she would want the favor returned.

"Do you know how to find him?" Buck asked.

Mattie stared into the mirror behind the bar. At first, she didn't like whom she saw, but the feeling quickly passed. Cole Younger had taken her brother, and now she was going to take what she wanted. She looked at her empty glass and let out a sigh. Then, she turned to Buck.

"My patient is getting better," Mattie said and with a wisp of her coat, she was gone.

Buck got up and watched as Mattie swung onto her horse. He felt a smile creep across his lips. He had been waiting for this day for a long time. He fingered his gun and checked to see if it was loaded.

"Finally, I'm going take care of one problem, and I'm going to get what I want."

He saw Mattie disappear into her store and his smile got larger. Soon, Mattie would be his.