Kid's reverie was interrupted by the entry of a stranger pushing his way through the batwing doors. He knew instantly the man wasn't a local because all the regulars stopped what they were doing to look over at him. Several called welcoming greetings. That wasn't something you saw every day, a happenstance that once again underscored the unusual friendliness of Bridgerton. Curry sized up the newcomer as he strode to the bar and ordered a whiskey, his gait indicating he spent considerable time on horseback. His clothes were dusty from the trail, but no different from any other saddle bum's attire. A drifter like us, Kid thought to himself, yet there was something about him that didn't set right. First, there was the way his dark eyes, creased with deep lines earned by long days in the sun, darted about the saloon furtively. Second, there was his low-slung, tied-down gun and the very well-kept pearl-handled Colt Peacemaker that protruded from the holster. A shootist himself, Curry recognized another. He had long ago learned to trust his gut, which was currently telling him that the newcomer was trouble.
Freshly poured whiskey in hand, the stranger approached their table. "Howdy fella," said Howie. "We'd love to invite ya to join us, but I'm afraid we're full up."
"That's okay," Curry spoke up. "I was gettin' tired of playin' and anyway, my luck's run out on me tonight. Think I'll just watch a spell. You can take my place," he said to the stranger, rising from his chair. He noticed the dark glance rove southward to his own, also immaculately tended, Colt 45, then back up to his face, openly assessing him.
"Name's Reed," the stranger rasped. "Frank Reed."
Introductions were made all around and soon Reed was settling himself into Curry's recently vacated chair and throwing his ante into the pile of bills and coins on the table.
Kid's eyes met Heyes', the partners' silently communicating with an almost imperceptible nod. Curry knew that Heyes also knew that Reed was a man to watch, but the rest of the players seemed oblivious to his aura of menace. And Curry also knew that Heyes knew his partner would be watching his back, as they always did for each other. Curry strode over to the bar, ordered another beer, then turned to lean his back against the counter, elbows resting on either side, one booted heel hooked over the rail as he observed the poker game.
It was clear after an hour or so of play that something fishy was going on. The pile in front of Reed was getting larger and larger while Heyes's reserves were steadily diminishing. Curry caught his partner's eye. Heyes told him in a mere glance that he had figured out Reed was cheating and was about to call attention to it. Kid drained the last of his beer, wiped his mouth on the back of his sleeve, and pushed off the bar. He sauntered over to the table casually, as if he were merely interested in watching the game.
"I raise you fifty," Reed barked.
"Oh, that's too much for me," Howie said good-naturedly. "'Fraid I'm gonna have ta fold." He tossed his cards face down on the table.
One by one the others folded as well, until only Heyes remained.
He swept all his holdings save for a few coins into the center of the table, his eyes on Reed. "I see your fifty. And I call."
Reed smiled an ugly smile. He placed his hand on the table revealing a Full House, three Queens and two Nines. Even before Heyes showed his cards, Reed was reaching for the pot.
"Now hold on a minute," Heyes said affably. "Doncha wanna see what I've got? I think you'll find it real interesting."
Reed froze in mid-reach. His eyes shifted around the table, taking in Howie's open, smiling face, Jake's frown, and the curiosity in Seth's eyes. William was leaning back in his chair, massive arms folded across his broad chest, waiting to see what would happen next. Finally, he met his opponent's gaze. Heyes was looking him right in the eye, a smile on his face that didn't quite reach his eyes. Reed glanced up to Heyes' left shoulder. There was the man whose place he'd taken. The man he'd pegged for a fellow gunslinger. He stood with legs slightly apart, arms folded across his chest. Even in the dim lighting, his Colt gleamed against his thigh. He could almost feel the blue eyes drilling into his own.
"Go ahead, Joshua," Curry prompted. "I think everyone will find it real interesting."
Heyes laid down his hand with a flourish. Two Pair: two Aces and…..two Queens! He continued to stare at Reed, still smiling dangerously.
No one at the table said a word as they looked at the two poker hands laid out side-by-side on the scarred wooden surface and the two players staring each other down. William sat forward in his chair, unfolding his arms. Jake, who'd been taking a sip of his beer, coughed as it went down the wrong way. The smile faded slowly from Howie's face and he drew his eyebrows together, frowning, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Seth's mouth gaped open.
Curry was the first to break the silence.
"Now I ain't no expert or anything, so you folks correct me if I'm wrong here, but I am pretty sure there should only be four Queens in a deck," he remarked with false innocence.
Everyone at the table was staring at Reed now.
"Now hold on! What makes you think I put that in there! He dealt this hand. Who's to say HE didn't add the extra lady?" Reed demanded, jerking a thumb towards Heyes.
"Let's just stop and think about this for a minute," Heyes suggested reasonably. "If I really were cheating, would it make any sense for me to deal you the winning hand?"
"He's gotta point," Howie agreed cheerfully, not seeming to grasp the severity of what was happening.
Seth shot Howie a warning look as both Jake and William scooted their chairs back from the table cautiously.
Reed narrowed his already squinty eyes at the Kid and growled around the stub of his cigar, "You gonna stand there and accuse me of cheatin' or are you gonna back it up?" He shoved his chair away from the table and rose dramatically to his feet. Seth and Howie pushed their chairs back too. The entire barroom hushed as the other patrons became aware of the unfolding situation.
"Well, I don't wanna shoot ya," Curry answered blandly, arms still folded across his chest.
"I've shot men for less," Reed said menacingly.
Curry's voice remained calmly reasonable, but his clear blue eyes never left Reed's as he unfolded his arms and hooked both thumbs in his belt, saying, "Seems to me shootin' a man is a somewhat harsh punishment for an extra queen. What say you just clear on outta here?"
As it always seemed to happen, it was over almost before it started. Reed reached, but even before he could clear leather, Kid Curry's gun leapt into his hand. Several patrons in the bar gasped in amazement. Jake let out a low whistle. Reed froze, fingers still grasping the pearl handle of his pistol, which had never left its holster, his face a mask of fear. But when it became apparent his opponent didn't seem inclined to pull the trigger, he swiftly regained his composure.
"I ain't playin' with you no more," Reed scoffed, as if it were he who had made the decision, not the other way around. He turned back to the table and began to scoop up the pile of bills and coins in front of his seat.
Heyes's hand shot out and grasped one of Reed's wrists, as he protested, "Now hold on a minute there. You've been cheating all night long – why should we let you take our money with ya?" Reed stared at him furiously but impotently, well aware that the Kid was still holding his gun steadily pointed at his chest.
Heyes looked around at the other players, then back to Reed. Releasing his hold on the man's wrist, he said, "Tell ya what. How about you take what you brought to the table and we'll call it square?"
"I think that's more than fair," Curry agreed. "And it's more than what I woulda suggested," he added in a tone that clearly allowed no room for argument.
Reed hastily pocketed a small portion of what he'd been about to take, then stomped out of the saloon.
Heyes pushed the rest of the pile from Reed's place into the center of the table and said cheerfully, "Now, how's about we put all this money in the Kitty and see if we can't earn some of it back?"
The rest of the players readily agreed, and the saloon patrons exhaled the collective breath they'd been holding. Murmurs about the incredibly fast draw they had just witnessed rippled through the establishment.
Dark brown eyes met blue, a mixture of relief and pride in the former.
"Thanks," Heyes said simply.
Curry shrugged nonchalantly, then asked with a slightly lopsided grin, "Think you can stay out of trouble long enough for me to go get a refill?"
Heyes grinned at his partner and began to shuffle the deck.
