Chapter Six

Bret and Beau listened to Snakes' information in concern. This time, instead of talking out on the street, they had gone around the side of the general store and from there, into the alley. Beau in particular frowned and looked to Bret, trying to silently communicate whether they should tell Snakes the real plan or not. Bret, although receiving the message, chose not to respond as of yet.

"So that's the situation as it stands," Snakes said. "I'm gonna be watched closely about the money no matter how you cut it."

"But supposing you're not the one who loses it and your boss does instead," Beau said, not feeling he could reveal Bret's plan yet also not feeling like he could completely keep quiet when Snakes was so distressed.

"Then bully for her," Snakes shot back. "What guarantee do I have that she won't blame me anyway? Maybe she'd think that I was mixed up in the con right along with you because I was trying to get the whole roll."

"She shouldn't think that," Bret said, somewhat helplessly.

"You don't know her like I do," Snakes snapped. "She might."

"I don't know, Cousin Bret," Beau worried. "If that's really a possibility, how can we really go ahead with any plan?"

"How can we just let them think they've won?" Bret countered. "You know that's never been our way, Beau. We bring down criminals wherever we find them."

"And you're not criminals too?" Snakes suddenly spat.

Bret stiffened, finding it awkward and embarrassing to be put on the spot. "Well . . . vigilantes, maybe."

"Oh yeah, you're so righteous and honorable," Snakes mocked.

"Our goal is to protect the innocent," Beau defended. "You know that, Snakes. It was one of the main things you were throwing at me when we first met."

"Yeah, I know." Snakes was aggravated. "But you should know that your family really is high and mighty in some ways. Sure, you bring down crooks who are hurting the innocent, but you do it mainly by running elaborate cons on them. And that's illegal just as much as what I do is illegal, no matter what you say."

"I guess you can look at it that way," Bret said, folding his arms. "But all we take is the money. It seems like you usually take a lot more. Probably even their lives sometimes. I can't believe your explosions don't kill."

"And you think just taking the money won't leave some lasting effects sometimes?" Snakes ranted. "You take that and sometimes somebody gets punished by having their life removed from them! That's the situation I'm looking at right now! Posey's watching me. She knows I'm not happy in her syndicate. If something the least bit out of line happens, I could get blamed for it. And you know something? I'm not taking the blame for anything you do! I don't care if you feel like you can't let them win; I'm not letting me lose!"

"So what are you going to do?" Bret countered. "Tell them all about us? Let Beau take the fall right along with me?"

Snakes stood there, seething, looking back and forth between the Maverick cousins. "Mr. Maverick," he said at last, speaking very low and very dark, "if Beau takes the fall right along with you, it'll be because you dragged him into it. Or because Beau decided to go along with you. That would be Beau's choice. But it might be on your conscience anyway. It wouldn't be on mine." With that he stormed past, pulling his hat low over his eyes.

Bret stared after him. "So it sounds like even if Snakes considers you a friend, he still wants to look out for himself above everything else," he commented. "He'd drop you like a hot rock if you got in the way of his Earthly salvation."

"To be honest, under these circumstances who could blame him?" Beau frowned. "We're pushing him from one side while Miss Posey and Pinto are pushing him from the other. If you corner a man, especially someone like Snakes, he'll eventually snap back like a frightened, desperate animal."

Now Bret frowned, definitely concerned. "You act like you're siding with him."

"I'm looking at it from his side, or trying to," Beau said. "The fact is, Bret, this situation just isn't like most of our cases. We've never really worried about anyone on the other side before. We just did whatever we needed to in order to put the criminals out of commission and let the chips fall where they may. That isn't going to work this time. Snakes says he won't let himself lose. I don't intend to let him lose, either."

"So what do you suggest we do?" Bret asked. "Just let them get away with this?"

"I think I should talk to Snakes alone," Beau said. "He doesn't like you. I'm afraid that as long as you're there, Snakes will remain as upset as he currently is and we won't get anywhere. Maybe if I speak with him alone, he'll calm down and we can have a peaceful conversation."

"And come up with what?" Bret retorted. "Snakes sure didn't seem like he was in any mood to pay up out of his own pocket."

"Maybe not. And maybe we shouldn't expect that of him. But if he would agree to do that, I think we should take the compromise and leave it at that." Beau looked at Bret with firm, unyielding eyes. "Mr. Vandergelt would have his money back. Since you promised to see that he got it, it seems like that should be our main goal here. Maybe we would just have to let Miss Posey and Pinto walk for now."

Bret blew out his breath in frustration. "I don't like it," he said. "It goes completely against the Maverick way to let criminals get away with anything like that. But . . ." His shoulders slumped. "You're right that the main thing should be getting Vandergelt's money back to him, no matter how we do it. Heck, maybe we could even try gambling it back if we could get a game going in town."

"That's the spirit," Beau nodded. "Why don't you see what you can do about that while I go find Snakes?"

"Maybe I will," Bret said, perking up slightly. He had to admit that the thought of winning a big pot sounded fun, even if he would have to turn it over to Vandergelt. One way or another, Bret always tried to pay off his debts.

xxxx

Beau found Snakes storming down the street and heading for the nearest saloon. He hurried to catch up, holding onto his hat so it wouldn't blow away in the breeze. "Snakes, wait!"

Snakes turned, ready to snap something else in anger and fear. But when he saw that it was solely Beau and not also Bret coming after him, he relaxed at least somewhat. "Shouldn't you be working with your cousin on his ideas about the money?" he asked. "It's so all-important to you."

Beau sighed. "It's really not about the money," he tried to explain. "It's the fact that your boss stole it from Mr. Vandergelt. If it was food or a business, it would be the same principle."

"Whatever." Snakes shrugged. "Showing up criminals seems to be what your family likes to do best, aside from winning at poker. But in the eyes of the law, all of you really would be considered criminals too. Your motivation wouldn't change that."

"I know." Beau watched him closely. "You think we're all hypocrites, don't you?"

"In some ways, yeah." Snakes folded his arms. "You, though, I don't know what to make of. You're different than the rest of your family, but you're into the catching crooks part of it too. And I guess you really believe in it; you're not the type to do something because it's the 'in' thing to do."

"That's true," Beau nodded. "But if you think we're hypocrites, what do you think of yourself?"

Snakes sneered. "Hey, it was your cousin who had the idea that maybe I do a lot of good under the guise of being a crook. I never confirmed it."

Beau smiled a bit. "No, but you really didn't have to. It was already obvious."

Snakes rolled his eyes. "I know I'm a criminal. I cheat, con, steal, and smuggle. But the one thing I don't do is deliberately make life Hell for the innocent. I take down anyone who does, same as you do. That doesn't make me squeaky clean or erase any of the bad I've done. I'm not trying to. I'm just trying to survive, and to make life easier for anyone else who's getting beat-down like I was before I wised up."

Beau found himself saddened, as he had been before when talking to Snakes. "You really believe that turning to a criminal way of life was a better path for you?"

"Well, it sure beats getting kicked into the dirt and having people hate you so much they take a hot knife to your cheek," Snakes said bitterly. "No one would dare do that to me now."

Beau flinched. "That's how you were hurt?" he said, sickened. "There's all kinds of stories going around about it."

"Yeah, I know. People like to say that somebody called me out on cheating at poker and cut me up and I shot him in the belly." Snakes sneered again. "It's not true, but I let people think it. It keeps them on their toes about me. And it's better than them knowing the truth, that it happened because I tried to do someone a good turn and somebody else didn't like that. I was too weak to stop them from beating me with a rifle and cutting up my face."

Beau stared at him in sickened horror. "Oh Snakes. . . ."

"Now, don't go feeling sorry for me," Snakes growled. "I didn't tell you because I wanted pity. I told you because that was what made me realize once and for all how messed-up this world is."

Beau nodded. "I'm sorry anyway. No one should have to experience something like that."

"And that's what we're both trying to correct, in our own ways," Snakes said.

"I understand." Beau sighed. "Regarding the money, I don't know what we're going to do. I think I convinced Cousin Bret that the most important thing right now is getting Mr. Vandergelt's money back to him. He decided maybe he could gamble the money back."

"Well, taking responsibility. I like that a lot better than putting me on the spot." Snakes shoved his hands in his pockets. "Does that mean I won't have to worry that something you're doing is going to get me in bad with my boss?"

"I hope so," Beau said sincerely. "With you trapped in the middle, we really can't go about this the way we normally would."

"I'm glad you have that much consideration for me," Snakes remarked. "If it was just your cousin, I'm sure he wouldn't. He'd figure I'd just have to deal with whatever happened."

"I really don't think Cousin Bret would feel that way about it, after all the times we've encountered you and you've helped us in one way or another," Beau frowned.

"Heh." Snakes shrugged. "Maybe. Another thing I've learned through the years is that most people do whatever they want to do, no matter who gets hurt."

"Cousin Bret has been concerned about your safety from the moment he learned how deeply you're involved in this," Beau insisted. "He keeps changing his plans to try to better accommodate you."

"Well, I appreciate it," Snakes said, still looking wary, "but I wonder if he would have changed his latest plans if you hadn't been around."

Beau sighed. "I'm sure I can't convince you of that, but he would have."

Snakes was half-listening, tense as he saw Bret making his way to the saloon. But when Bret paused, Snakes stayed.

"I see Beau managed to calm you down, just like he said he would," Bret commented.

Snakes grunted. "He's good at that. Good luck winning money in there; that's the best way you've come up with to pay back old Vandergelt."

"I'm still expecting you to come up with the interest, at least," Bret retorted.

Snakes smirked. "Maybe, but you'll have to accept whatever amount I decide on."

Bret sighed. "I guess that's the chance I'll have to take. Well, I'll see you two later."

"Goodbye, Cousin Bret. And yes, good luck," Beau said in all sincerity. "I'll come in and watch you in a moment."

Snakes looked weary. "Let me know how it goes," he said to Beau as Bret disappeared inside the saloon. "I'll get some money for the interest out of one of my stashes and give it to you later today."

Beau nodded. "Thank you, Snakes. We appreciate it."

Snakes shrugged. "I figure it's the least I can do. But it's more for you than anyone else."

Beau had to smile a bit. "I know."

xxxx

As it turned out, Bret had an excellent piece of luck, winning enough for Vandergelt and some for himself as well. But, as what often happens when a Maverick plays poker, some of those he won the money from weren't that happy about it and intended to go about getting it back. As he left the saloon with Beau, who was still posing as Jack, the two sore losers followed them down the street and towards the hotel.

"Is it just my imagination or have we picked up two shadows?" Beau said uncomfortably after a moment.

"Oh, they're there, alright," Bret drawled. "Look, maybe you'd better go on ahead and get this up to Vandergelt. I'll stay here and deal with them."

Beau tensed. "But those odds aren't fair! They'll clobber you!"

Bret cringed. "Well, I'm hoping I can hold them off long enough for you to deliver the money and get back out to help me. We can't let them steal the money I just worked so hard to win."

"That's true," Beau slowly agreed.

Bret shoved the roll into Beau's hands. "So take it and go!"

Beau obeyed, running for the hotel and disappearing through the front doors. As they flapped behind him, he heard Bret say, "Now what are you fine gentlemen doing still hanging around here?"

Beau had to admit he was amused in spite of himself. But, he knew with a sinking heart, Bret was likely in very grave danger. He ran up the stairs two at a time, ignoring the stunned desk clerk, and burst into Jack and Lydia's room with the key they had given to him earlier that day. They and Mr. Vandergelt Senior all looked up from the table with a start.

"I've got the money," Beau gasped, "but Bret is in trouble. I have to get back down there."

Jack leaped up from the table. "What happened?" he demanded.

"It's a long story, but he won the money in a poker game." Beau shoved the roll at Jack's father before the man could so much as open his mouth. "As is usual for us, he was playing with some sore losers."

"What about that Posey woman and her cowboy?" Vandergelt asked, flipping through the wad to make sure it was all there.

"They still have your original money," Beau said with some impatience. "We had to change the plan. Now I have to get downstairs and help Bret!" He ran for the door, Jack hot on his heels.

"Nevermind the deception now," Jack called. "I'm going to help too."

"Van! You'll get hurt!" Lydia screamed, running after them.

"Good Heavens, what is this?!" Vandergelt cried, stuffing the money into his inside coat pocket before giving chase as well.

"Don't take the money out of the hotel!" Beau yelled over his shoulder. "They might get hold of it!"

Vandergelt stopped at the doorway. "So what am I supposed to do?!" he grumped. "Stay here?!"

"That would be safer," Jack called back. "Incidentally, Lydia, you should stay with him."

Lydia fumed. "Oh! You're going to run off and get yourself hurt and all I can do is stay behind?!"

"It's important to look after Father too," Jack said.

Lydia folded her arms and wasn't at all pleased, but she stepped back into the doorway.

The desk clerk looked up with a start at the sound of thundering down the stairs. But when two identical young men appeared and ran for the door without a second thought, the man's jaw nearly hit the counter.

Outside, Bret had been doing his best to hold his own against both adversaries. He was still one man against two, however, and they did not play fair. As Beau and Jack rushed outside, they were just in time to see one of the men strike Bret from behind. He crumpled to the ground.

"Bret!" Beau and Jack screamed in collective alarm.

Sneering, one of the men started to lift Bret from behind. The other assisted by gathering his legs.

Beau and Jack attacked at that point. Their enemies looked up with a collective start, baffled by two.

"What is this?" yelled the first, letting go of Bret in order to fight the new threat.

"How did you double yourself?" exclaimed the second, swinging a punch at Beau, who ducked.

Beau regarded them calmly. "The obvious answer is twin brothers," he said.

"But sometimes the obvious answer isn't always the right one!" Jack added.

Dazed, Bret tried to shake the cobwebs from his mind and look up at the fight. It was gathering a great deal of attention; the townspeople were all starting to cluster around the scene, each yelling for the ones they wanted to win. "Uh oh," he muttered when he saw Lucrece Posey and Little Pinto wandering into the crowd.

"What is this?" Lucrece said in annoyance. "The stage should be here any minute, but the driver might not stop if he sees all this commotion!"

"Yeah, and not just that," Pinto exclaimed. "No wonder Snakes' men had such a hard time catching that Vandergelt. Look at that!" He pointed to Beau and Jack.

Lucrece looked even more irritated. "They must have been playing all of Snakes' men for fools yesterday!"

"No kidding. But who is the other one?" Pinto wondered. "And why the heck are those people going after Vandergelt's lawyer anyway?"

"Maybe he made a bad deal in the saloon," Lucrece said with a dark smirk. "Or maybe they just don't like lawyers."

Snakes, who had come to see the commotion as well, watched nervously and didn't offer any thoughts.

"Hey!" Bret yelled as he woozily staggered to his feet and tried to dodge another flying punch. "Here comes the stage!"

Indeed, the evening stage was fast approaching, but the horses were spooked by the continuing fight. They reared up, throwing the driver from the box and to the ground before tearing past, their dark eyes wild with fear. The crowd screamed and began to fall back, hoping to not get caught up in the calamity.

Beau was the closest. Without a second thought he sprang forward, grabbing for the flailing lines while trying to avoid horses' hooves and carriage wheels. As he snatched them, he pulled himself up the side of the stage and then into the box, pulling hard on the lines to try to force the horses to stop.

"Beau!" Bret yelled, shoving one of his attackers back, "For crying out loud, why do you always have to be the brave one?!"

The stage was flying through the town, the horses still frantic with fear. As hard as Beau gripped the lines and tried to rein them in, they would not have it. By now he was thoroughly in a panic.

"Stop!" he screamed without thinking. "Whoa! WHOA!"

The horses would not cooperate. Then, just when Beau was starting to think that maybe taking his chances jumping off wasn't such a bad idea, a burst of thunder whizzed past his left temple.

I've been shot, he realized as he fell from the box to the ground and lay still.

It was Snakes who forgot himself and ran out in a panic, horrified by the scene. "Beau!" He knelt down by his friend, examining the blood trickling from the wound. It had only grazed him, but the shock of the blow had made him lose his balance. Had his neck been broken in the fall? His spine? His hands shaking, Snakes tried to reach under Beau to see. "Beau, come on!" he pleaded. "Speak to me!"

Bret finally made his way through the crowd and rushed over as well, heartsick to see Beau so lifeless and grateful that Bart wasn't here to witness it too. "Is he alive?!" he demanded.

Not even caring that his nemesis was in such close range, Snakes just nodded. "Yeah, he's breathing. I don't think anything's broken, but he's got a bump on his head in addition to this scratch."

"At least that's all," Bret muttered. "That creep must've shot him because he was in the saloon with me and it seemed like a good way to get revenge for losing his money. Come on, let's get him up." He proceeded to lift Beau's upper body, while Snakes gathered his legs. For once they were united, due to their shared concern for the one person they both cared about.

In the crowd, Lucrece Posey watched with a furrowed brow. "Take note of this," she instructed Little Pinto. "So even Snakes Tolliver has a heart. Let's hope he hasn't done anything foolish with it."

Pinto just narrowed his eyes. He would be very good at making Snakes regret any such foolishness. His concern over someone who looked just like Jack Vandergelt seemed very strange in light of this whole bizarre caper. He would have to be questioned very strongly about it.

xxxx

Beau was groggily surprised when he slowly opened his eyes and realized he was laying on something soft. His gaze darted upward and to the side.

"Oh come on," Bret drawled. "This is a bed in the doctor's office. There's no lid; you're not in a coffin yet. Although you could have been. What were you thinking, Cousin Beau?!"

"I . . ." Beau closed his eyes again. Everything was such a fog in his mind. "I don't know. . . ."

"Are you alright?!" came another voice.

That brought Beau's eyes open once more. "Snakes? You're here?"

"I wasn't going to talk to you until later," Snakes said gruffly. "But then those lowlifes deliberately shot you off the stage. I had to come out then."

Beau managed a weak smile. "I'm glad.

"So it's all over then?"

"Well, not quite," Bret said. "The stage was stopped and the sore losers are in custody. Miss Posey and her friend aren't. There's nothing they can be held to; they're denying everything. And Snakes here is still free."

"I'm probably going to get out of town," Snakes said. "Those 'sore losers' might talk about my illegal operations out of spite. They play poker with my henchmen a lot."

"Would they do that?" Bret wondered warily. "That could lead back to Miss Posey and I don't think she'd like it."

"They're not the sharpest tools in the shed," Snakes said. "They might not think about that." He paused. "But coming to think about it, Miss Posey would be just the type to arrange a little accident for them so they can't talk at all."

Bret cringed. "You sure have a wonderful boss." He stood. "I'd better get down to the jailhouse and warn the sheriff."

"You do that," Snakes grunted. "I'll stay here with Beau."

Worried, Beau reached out and gripped Bret's sleeve cuff. "Cousin Bret . . . be careful," he rasped.

Bret looked down, patting Beau's hand. "Oh, I will be," he promised. "And you be careful here with this character."

Snakes scowled.

Beau gave a weak chuckle. "We'll be fine."

Bret's expression softened. "I know." With that, he hurried out the door.

Beau slumped back into the bed. "How did the two of you ever come to a point of truce?"

"Only one thing could have done that," Snakes said. "You."

"I'm grateful," Beau said. "By the way, where's Jack?"

"His father's got him and Lydia under lock and key at their hotel room," Snakes said. "But he's been asking about you too. You really made a spectacle of yourself out there."

"I would have rather not, thank you very much." Beau rubbed his head.

"You really do some crazy things," Snakes said. "What would that uncle of yours think about today's exploits?"

"I don't think he'd like it very much," said Beau. "He'd probably threaten to send me away for another five years."

Snakes swore. "Your family is so mixed-up."

Beau sighed and gave a melancholy smile. "In some ways it is," he agreed. "But at least we all care about each other and are trying to do good, even Uncle Beau."

Snakes grunted. "You'll always defend him up and down. I just hope he appreciates it."

"He would probably say he doesn't need me to defend him," Beau said. "But deep down I think he'd be pleased."

"Well, maybe. Anyway, here's the money your cousin wanted for interest." Snakes reached into his pocket and shoved a packet of bills into Beau's hand.

Beau took it, flipping through the stack in surprise. "Why, Snakes. . . . Admittedly, I don't know how much Cousin Bret had in mind, but I'm sure he wasn't expecting you to give this much."

"Eh." Snakes shrugged. "As crazy as this experience was, at least it gave us a chance to run across each other again. I'm kind of grateful for that. I don't know if it'll happen again; I need to lay low for a while."

Beau looked at him in concern. "You don't think your boss will be angry at you, do you?"

"I think she and Pinto will have some questions. But that's alright." Snakes gave a weary sigh. "We're going to have our quarterly meeting soon. And I might have some ideas of my own about that."

Beau reached out, grabbing his wrist. "What we talked about earlier?" he worried. "What you said you'd have to do to get out from under her control?"

"Maybe," Snakes said. "Or maybe not. I don't think Pinto would ever follow me; he's sweet on Posey, even though she doesn't love him." He gave Beau a firm and sincere look. "And I don't want to run the risk of endangering my life unless I don't have any other choice. I've always tried to find ways to stay alive because that was what I wanted more than anything else. Now I've got somebody who actually wants me to live. I never thought I'd experience that. So, whether we ever see each other again or not, thanks for that."

Beau slowly released his wrist but shook his hand. "Thank you, Snakes, for everything you've done to help us this time and all the other times."

"Sure," said Snakes.

The door opened and Bret came back in. "Everything's okay," he reported. "The sheriff's going to keep an eye out for anything that might go wrong."

"That's good," said Beau.

"And I'll just be taking my leave now," Snakes said, heading for the door. "See you around."

"Goodbye, Snakes," Beau said, raising off the bed slightly.

"See you later," Bret drawled. As Snakes walked out and pulled the door closed after him, Bret turned back to Beau. "So, what did you two talk about?"

"Oh, things. Such as the interest money." Beau held it out.

Bret took it in surprise. "So he really came through about that," he mused. "I didn't know if he would."

"I believed in him, but even I'm surprised by the amount," Beau said. He paused. "I'm worried about him, though. I'm afraid he's either going to do something foolish or that woman will have him harmed. I don't trust her or the man she brought with her."

"I don't trust them either, but I don't know what we can do about it," Bret said. "Snakes will have to fight his own battles with them. If he'd ask for our help, I'd give it, but I don't think he will."

"I don't think so either," Beau sighed. "I hope he knows what he's doing."

"Hey." Bret laid a hand on Beau's shoulder. "He's managed pretty well so far."

"Yes, but luck always runs out some time." Beau looked to the dark night out the window. "I just hope his and ours won't for some time yet."

Bret didn't know what to say to that. So he just squeezed Beau's shoulder and looked to the window as well.