Chapter 16

Scott saw Val leaning against the wall of the saloon favored by the majority of the Lancer hands. He and Johnny stopped, dismounted, and tied their horses to the rail. Murdoch continued on down the street.

"Saw most of the Lancer hands arrive 'bout half an hour ago." Val smiled as Johnny and Scott walked up.

"Bunkhouse serves supper early on Saturday if they can; Maria doesn't." Johnny grinned at his friend. "Of course, the bunkhouse doesn't serve none of Maria's lemon cake for dessert."

"Well then, what's a half hour more or less."

"Nuthin', my friend, but I don't intend to waste any more time standing outside." Johnny gave Val a backhanded swat to his stomach and walked through the batwing doors.

"I see I needn't have bothered with the clean blankets." Val's eyebrow rose in inquiry.

"It seems that Murdoch has a meeting of the Cattle Growers' Association Executive Board which he's known about for over a week." Scott watched the sheriff's grin grow a little smugger. "Who called the meeting was information our father did not share."

"So, it's gonna be a short night?"

"Actually, we're taking rooms at the hotel for the night."

"That so? Then I can haul Johnny to Papa Lancer instead of jail if need be?"

"I doubt there will be a need, but yes." Scott placed his hand on the saloon door but stopped before entering. "Val, um, ..."

"Ain't got any reason to think I'll be needing any backup tonight if that's what you're hem hawing about."

"I know it had nothing to do with what happened. It's just... well, Murdoch..." Scott paused as his back straightened.

"I know." Val shrugged. "It is what it is." A grin slipped back on the sheriff's face. "I got a few good rifles at the office, and Johnny tells me Lt. Lancer is a fair hand with a long gun."

"Actually, if..."

Val shook his head and chuckled. "Just see that Johnny has a good time without too much foolishness." Val backhanded Scott's forearm and headed down the street.

Scott entered the saloon where he spent the evening nursing three beers, playing poker, and observing his younger brother.

(L)(L)(L)(L)(L)(L)(L)(L)(L)

Scott folded his hand and leaned back in his chair. To his left, his brother tossed another dollar into the pot, called, and revealed a winning hand.

"Said ya was lucky for me, darling." The girl on his lap giggled as Johnny stuffed a bill into her décolletage receiving a kiss in return.

Scott studied his brother as the next hand was dealt. Johnny was relaxed and having fun. He had danced with Ruby, Pearl, and Opal; sung a quite bawdy duet with Garnet, drunk tequila from Diamond's slipper, and had smears of at least four shades of lip rouge on his face and neck. He had also won at arm wrestling, accepted three harmless dares from Lancer hands, and was currently ahead at the poker table. The evening had been boisterous and loud from laughter, cheers, and song, but not seriously rowdy and not even one fight had broken out. Of course, more than three-fourths of the saloon's patrons had been Lancer hands.

I wonder if Murdoch... Scott's thought remained unfinished as he saw his father walk in and approach their table.

"Boys."

"Sir."

"Hey, Murdoch." Johnny smiled. "Want to sit in?"

"No, thank you." Murdoch's eyes surveyed his younger son's face and the scantily clad girl in his lap. "Thought I might have a drink before I headed to the hotel."

"Deal Scott and me out." Johnny slipped Emerald from his lap. "'scuse me, darling, I'm gonna buy my old man and brother a drink." He rose and the three Lancers moved to an open table.

"I'll fetch 'em." Emerald smiled and took the men's orders.

"I see you've been enjoying yourselves." Murdoch's tone was relaxed, and he grinned as he reached over and rubbed a scarlet smear from the corner near Johnny's mouth.

Johnny did not bristle. He sent his father a teasing smile. "Aw shucks, Pa, I've been real good. Just ask big brother over there. He's had his eyes on me the whole night."

Murdoch's eyebrow arched. "Is that so?"

"Well... actually it is." Scott shrugged dismissively. "Did your meeting go well?"

"Yes. Hiram Marks is a rather long-winded blowhard though. We could have been finished over an hour ago."

Emerald had arrived and was placing the drinks on the table. Scott saw Johnny pull her close and whisper into her ear. She then sauntered off. Scott noticed the sparkle in Johnny's eyes, and the night's first tendril of worry wound its way around his stomach.

The Lancer men sipped their drinks and listened as the piano player began a new song. The man was actually quite good, and the saloon owner kept the piano in tune. The music held both Scott's and Murdoch's attention well enough for Ruby and Pearl to slip onto their laps. Both men instinctively brought their arms up and around the girl in his lap, and each girl settled her lips on the mouth of the surprised Lancer who held her.

When Pearl came up for air, Scott looked past her to see a flustered Murdoch and a grinning Johnny.

"Murdoch Lancer!" Johnny's voice did a perfect imitation of his father's admonishing "John!" and then dissolved into laughter. Ruby raised her head but kept her fingers intwined in Murdoch hair.

Murdoch sputtered. "I never... young lady..."

"Now that can't be quite true seeing as how brother Scott and I are sitting at this table." Johnny's guffaw rang out.

"He's right, honey." Ruby's drawl was sweet as sugar. Her eyes swerved to Johnny, and she smiled. "Being that good takes experience, lots of experience."

While Emerald settled again on Johnny's lap, Pearl spoke. "Did your daddy give you and Johnny pointers, Scotty boy, or is it just: like father like son?"

Scott, distracted by Pearl's fingers and his concern about Murdoch's reaction, was at a loss for words, but he relaxed when Murdoch leaned back with Ruby still in his lap and answered for him. "They were bound to inherit a little something from their old man, little lady." Feminine laughter bubbled onto the air followed by more laughter from both of Murdoch's sons.

Murdoch put his hands on Ruby's waist, lifted her up, and set her gently on her feet. Then he stood and fixed his tune-calling stare on his younger son. "John..." Johnny sent his father a slow smile and then dropped his eyes. "Whatever you promised these ladies, double it!"

"Yes, sir." His son's reply was soft and soon lost in increased laughter.

Murdoch tossed a hotel key onto the table. "I'll see you boys in the morning. Ladies!" Murdoch tipped his hat and departed.

"Johnny!" The call came from Marty Spooner who worked for the stage line. "They say there's a new dancer over at Rosita's. We're gonna go see just how good the little senorita is. You want to come along?"

Rosita's. Say no, little brother. Scott kept the thought to himself and schooled his features when he felt Johnny's eyes on him.

"Naw. Still got some money to win right here." Johnny stood, took his former seat at the poker table, and called to Emerald to come blow on his cards for luck.

When Val walked into the saloon several hours later, there were only four patrons and the bartender still present, and one of the patrons was snoring head down on a table. Val took a seat at the table occupied by the Lancer brothers.

"A drink for my friend, Mack. Beer or tequila, Val?"

"Beer." Vall eyed the pile of money still setting in front of Johnny. "You the big winner?"

"Yep."

"Well, then you get to buy the second round too, and we'll make it Mack's best tequila all round." When Val reached for his beer, both Scott and Johnny noticed the bloody bandana tied around his hand.

"Trouble?" Johnny's inquiry held interest not concern.

"None worth mentioning." Val took a long swallow.

"Your hand? Should Sam..." Scott caught his brother's eye.

"I ain't waking the Doc for a little slip of a cut. What the ..."

Johnny had made a grab for Val's hand, and the bandana came loose as Vall jerked it back. "Let us see."

Val shook his head but held his hand up for observation. The cut was long but not deep and did not appear to need stitches. "See! I cleaned it up and disinfected it with some tequila at Rosita's. It's fine."

Scott drew his freshly laundered linen handkerchief from his pocket and proceeded to use it as a fresh bandage.

Val rolled his eyes. "Well, I never... Johnny boy, now I can believe everything you say about your city boy brother."

Johnny laughed. "He's had too much practice lately. Nursing the injured has done become a habit."

It happened at Rosita's. Thank you, Lord, that Johnny wasn't there. Scott decided not to bristle at his brother's teasing. "Saw too much infection during the war." He shrugged and reached for his beer.

A grin settled on Johnny's face. "Since you're here, Val, and Mack's ready to close the place up..." Johnny straightened from his slouch. "I was thinking... you know, you could come along to the hotel with us and bang on Murdoch's door. Ya wouldn't even have to say nothing..."

"No, no, no, little brother! The sheriff has much more important things to do. He will not be helping you pull another prank on our father."

"Old Man enjoyed the last one." Johnny's grin had widened.

"And he's going to continue to enjoy an uninterrupted night's sleep. Tell him no, Val."

"The boy always had a hard time judging when enough was enough." Val stood and looked down at Johnny. "You had a good night?"

"Yea... yea, I did."

"Then we're gonna keep it that way. I'll walk with ya to the hotel, but I ain't going up the stairs."

"Spoilsport!" Johnny sent his brother a pout but then laughed and rose. He gathered his winnings, paid the evening's bill with a five-dollar tip for the bartender, and followed his brother and the sheriff out the batwing doors.

(L)(L)(L)(L)(L)(L)(L)(L)(L)

The church bells faded and Scott opened his eyes. He turned his head and saw his brother rise to a sitting position on the bed across from him.

"Ain't no way you're making it to church before the service is half over."

"Murdoch!"

"Didn't wake ya. More important, he didn't let Teresa wake ya. She was supposed to bring your church clothes in the buggy, wasn't she?"

"Yes." Scott relaxed but swung off the bedcovers and swung down his feet. "Obviously, we managed to stay in our father's good books and sleeping in was our reward."

"Your reward for keeping me in line."

Scott snorted in exasperation. "You kept yourself in line."

"That so?"

"Yes, well... yes, you could have pounded on Murdoch's door yourself when Val wouldn't."

"Still think seeing Murdoch's face if Val had told him he had both of us in jail would have been worth..."

"Most men's ire but not our old man's!"

Johnny laughed. "May be that you're right."

"You know if we rise now, we can dress, have a relaxed breakfast, and still meet up with Murdoch and Teresa for the ride home." Scott seemed to stress the word home.

Johnny smiled. "Sounds like a plan, Brother."

Scott smiled back and headed for the wash basin.