Chapter 21

No Honor; Chapter 21: Approach & Escape

We dug a grave for 'im, immediately. With all but Carter on tha job, it didn't take that long. We started a bit, on one for tha horse, but we decided ta just throw some o' the earth from Walt's hole on top of 'im and call it, for tha night. After we was done, Carter said he wanted Dancer, ta stay with Rex at tha grocery, and tha rest was free ta join 'im.

But then he said, "Wayne, if you'd like ta take some time fer yerself, I could see maybe puttin' this off, 'til the morrow."

I looked at Walter's grave. It's a damn shame, what that drug did ta him... Even though Dave dealt more, with tha money side o' thangs, I woulda turned tha bar keys over ta Wally, without a second thought.

"No", I said. "Let's get it over with."

We fetched me another horse, on loan, from The Stable. This mare was young, and pure white, which was fitting. Ridin' out though, she was fussy, and slow ta respond.

We headed fer Carter's tent, and tha view o' Marco's buildin hadn't changed much. There was no lookout though, and inside Marco's rooms, tha curtains was drawn. The man 'isself was pacin' back an forth, in front o' tha windas. Every once in a while, he'd stop and he'd peer out and he'd growl, and he'd stand there, talkin' ta absolutely no one.

We, all of us, had a look through Carter's spyglass. Then Carter took a second look, before closin' it up.

He said, "Well, if I'm wrong, he certainly ain't in those rooms. From all I can see, there's nowhere ta hide 'n there."

Norm said, "You think Marco can see us?"

Carter shrugged. "Even if he can, I doubt he kin do much about it...

"Let's go."

We rode our horses, up to tha gate. Carter did his thang, with tha lock, and we was inside in seconds. Before we got much closer, we saw a black, horse-driven coach movin' toward us. We aimed at it, but Carter put us at ease. As it got closer, I saw that the lone horse was bein' led by Marco's girlfriend... The busty one.

Carter said, "Whoah, whoah", and stopped tha horse. The woman looked annoyed. She spoke a little o' that Español... just mutterin' really. Then she grabbed her purse an' started riflin' through it.

Carter said, "Hey!"

I heard hammers cock back, and I honestly did raise my shotgun a little then. She looked shocked, and froze.

Carter said, "Easy now. Easy..."

The woman eased her hands out tha bag, and set it aside.. nice an slow.

Moon half-turned. "Cow'and?"

Norm dismounted and moved towards tha coach. With one pistol trained in front of 'im, he used tha otha ta slowly, move the black curtain back. My breath caught in my throat. Inside, there was another woman that screamed so loud I started.

Her hair was stuffed in a hat, an' tied up. Her hands covered her face, as soon as tha moonlight touched it, and she cried, and cried, and shook like a leaf. Then she peaked through her hands, and screamed, and cried again. Then she shrank away.

Norm looked at Moon, who said, "Nothin' else in thair?"

Norm shook his head, and Carter waved 'em along.

"Gracias", he said, an tipped 'is hat. The woman on tha horse smirked, and whipped tha reins. As they left out tha gate, it dawned on me.

"Carter", I said. "That was Rita!"

He nodded. "I got no quarrel with her... Not taday...

"Alright gentlemen. They obviously know we're here. So let's trot up slow, and be careful... Cover the windows as you approach.

"If anythang moves, you shoot it dead."

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