Chapter 15, Part Two

No Honor Chapter 15 Part 2: Smoulder

The man Marco bit, turned out to be Jacob Waters. That was Jake, the man with the five year beard. Unfortunately, he don't have much of a nose above that beard now, but he's dead, so I can't imagine he cares. No one knows too much about Jake's three friends, that fell with 'im; I'm just glad that Dave and Wally wasn't among 'em.

I wondered if it was my pay, that made Dave wanna push powder for Jonas. He coulda had that place o' his, paid Marco and 'ave been fine, but... That's not enough for some people. Some folk wanna live more comf'table, and I can't say I disagree.

That night, after my shift, I met up with 'The Mystery Men'... That's what I call 'em at least. I got my own scarf, dark hat, and coat from 'em then. It was now official. I was mixed up in shit I had no business in, but I was sure I was on the right side.

I felt a thrill I hadn't felt in years, when I put that stuff on; it was exciting and terrifying, all at once. Like fixin' ta rob a bank, you're anxious and tense, and you know how it's supposed to go, but when does it ever? The one thing made it different was the cause. I was in it to protect someone, to make sure that Carter made good on 'is promise.

Wally left the bar first, and then later, Dave locked it up. I watched Carter and Norm and Dancer, cut 'im off from his walk home, much like they did me. He bolted, and I got another chance ta see the cowboy's talents. It's amazing to me, watchin' a man rope the limbs of a scared, fleeing animal.

The timing has to be just right, and the placement... Where you put the rope is everythang. You pull it taught, you force their legs together, and then you grab the front limbs, and tie 'em to the rear. If you good at it, you kin get 'em subdued wit' no chance of a struggle.

Norm was good at it. Dave was on 'is side, with 'is hands and feet tied together, behind 'is back. It was the first time I'd seen Dave angry, and even then it showed as mild annoyance. I was watchin' from down the street, with my hat on as low as I could get it, and my scarf so high on my nose I could hardly see.

They questioned 'im, and patted 'im down. Norm took one of those pouches off 'im, and with his keys, Norm went in his house and got more. Carter and I was lookouts, and Dancer had us covered, from the shadows. At the end of it, Dave was cut loose, and we went on so Moon could get more info on this 'Price'; our next target.

Moon got the Indian to show 'imself now and then, throughout the night, He was set up ta spook the locals, but they was already scared. You could feel it on the wind even; we was stirrin' the pot and it was finally boiling over. That robbery attempt on that office was just the start o' thangs.

Back at the grocery store, Mitch was sitting in front of Rex and the other four guests, whittling away at a wood block. We walked in, and the sight o' Dancer agitated the Mexicans, who was tryin' hard ta curse, through their gags. The Indian opened a small sack, he had slung over 'is shoulder, and he came out of it with a mass o' hair, lined red on one side.

The Mexicans fell back against the wall, and huddled together, and cussed, more riled up than ever. I looked at Carter.

He said, "We have problems with them gettin' squirrelly. That there is his way ah keepin' em in line."

"Does he have ta carry that around everywhere?"

Carter shrugged. "You're free ta argue the point with 'im, but he won that scalp fair 'n square, and I reckon he kin do what he likes".

Danca wasn't payin' attention. He just held out 'is trophy, shook it and scowled. The Mexicans closed their eyes, and huddled closer, and made muffled curse words. If they hands wasn't bound, I imagine they'd be crossin 'emselves. Rex just rolled 'is eyes, and looked away.

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