The sun was just a shimmering promise in the early-morning sky when Carlo buckled his saddle once more onto his horse. He’d only just taken it off the animal’s back the day before, but he went through the familiar motions without the slightest hint of impatience or anxiousness. On the contrary, every move was as precise as ever as he took a moment to brush a few tangled spots on its gray coat.
“Today we’re really going to get you some exercise, Old Man,” he said. “I know you got anxious to stretch your legs yesterday, but it didn’t quite work out the way I thought it would. Come to think of it, I was partway convinced that I might be dragged in by the sheriff before last night was through. I guess that shopkeeper must have done some fast talking in our favor, huh? Imagine that.”
“When’s the last time we’ve been to Wichita?” he asked while putting the saddlebags in place. Although the horse only seemed interested in lapping up a few more sips of water, Carlo said, “Well, we’re headed back that way again. Should be eventful.”
“You always talk to your horse?” Luke asked as he walked into the stable.
“Mostly when I don’t think anyone’s around,” Carlo replied. “But since we’ll be riding together, I imagine you’ll be hearing it plenty.”
“Red’s waiting outside.”
“He’s probably not too happy about leaving town.”
“He’s not happy about leaving Stormy’s,” Luke corrected. “Probably wouldn’t matter what town it’s in.”
“Makes sense. A place like that is right close to heaven when you’ve got a bag full of money. That girl you were favoring. Emma, was it?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you tell her about that money?”
Luke bristled as he said, “What does that matter?”
“It matters because the fewer people that know about it, the better.”
“She didn’t steal anything, if that’s what you mean.”
“You don’t know that,” Carlo said as he calmly prepared his horse for the day’s ride. “You told me you never even counted it.”
“You got your money just like I promised. The rest isn’t your concern.”
Carlo turned to face the younger man. “I’m not questioning her loyalty, but you just met her. You don’t have any notion of where her loyalties lie. She may be sweet and all, but you’ve got to keep your eyes open. She’s a whore, and whores—”
Without hesitation, Luke pounced at Carlo. His right fist flew straight at Carlo’s head and slapped against a callused palm before strong fingers closed to trap him. Luke tried to pull his hand free but couldn’t break the other man’s grip. The moment he moved his other hand to take a swing, Carlo warned, “Don’t do it, kid.”
“Don’t call her a whore!”
“It’s not meant as an insult. That’s just the job she picked. If you intend to ride this path you’re on, you’ve got to start seeing things simpler. A woman in her line of work, call it whatever you like, steals from the men she entertains. That’s just the nature of the beast. And stealing wasn’t even what I was concerned about. Just telling her about that money did enough damage.”
“Yeah?” Luke grunted as he kept trying to reclaim his trapped fist.
Carlo relaxed his grip to let Luke yank his hand away. “That much money coming from a known killer . . . do you really think nobody else will come looking for it?”
“I . . . meant to keep moving.”
“That’s a good idea,” Carlo said. “But all someone has to do is keep asking around before they eventually find someone who talked to some girl who talked to your Emma to find out where that money was headed.”
Luke shrugged. “I bet Emma or any of those girls could get a man to believe anything they want. They could send a man off to New York City looking for me, just to get them away from here.”
Where Carlo had been calm and near tranquil before, he suddenly became something else. His expression darkened and his eyes turned cold as he knocked Luke back with a quick shove. “Right there is why you’ve got no business making the ride into Wichita! You don’t know anything about how this world works.”
“I’ve seen plenty of this world!”
“You’ve seen some blood and felt some pain, but I’m talking about the world where killers live. Killers who don’t forget when they’re slighted and they don’t get sweet-talked by some little thing with a pretty face. They have no qualms with taking a knife to those pretty faces or a hammer to their soft little hands just to make them talk. And no matter how good their intentions are, even if that girl you fancy truly thinks highly of you, there ain’t no one who will stand up under that kind of misery. That’s the world I’m talking about and that’s where you’re fixing to go!”
“Maybe I know about that too,” Luke said. “I didn’t just take that money away from the man that killed my family. I killed him to get it. I shot him dead and left him to rot on the floor.”
Without so much as a flinch, Carlo shook his head and said, “That doesn’t mean a damn thing. Getting lucky and firing a few scared shots into someone isn’t the same as being the one who walks into a quiet place on a quiet day knowing full well that he’ll be spilling blood before he leaves. It takes a certain kind of man to do a thing like that, and that man ain’t you. Not yet.”
“I can do what needs to be done where Granger or his men are concerned.”
“That might be true,” Carlo replied. “And that’s why I keep trying to talk sense into you. I’ve seen plenty of men who’ve done their share of killing. I’ve waded through more blood than you can imagine, and the ones who ride into hell of their own accord aren’t the same as normal folk. They got no spark in their eyes. Your friend may have a big mouth and is quick to anger, but his spark is still there. Yours is dwindling, kid. That’s what worries me.”
“You don’t even know me.”
“I know enough.” Slowly, the darkness in Carlo’s features receded and he appeared to be more human than he’d been a second ago. “It may not be my place to change you or even to try. At least I can help you stay alive.”
Doing his best to salvage some of the dignity he’d lost by being so easily stopped when he’d tried to punch Carlo, Luke turned his back to him and waved him off. “Eh, what do you even care? You’ll be getting what you want out of this.”
Carlo reached out to place his hand on his horse’s neck and kept it there. “When a man has been broken down to a certain point, he tends to grab on to any chance at all to do some good. For some of us, those chances don’t come along too often. I don’t expect you to understand, but you probably will before too much longer.”
“You did your part and preached to me about being a good person,” Luke spat. “Are you coming with us to Wichita or not?”
“I suppose I am. I still need what Granger has.”
“Yeah,” Luke grunted. “That’s what I thought. Get your horse ready and meet us outside.”
Waiting until Luke was almost out the door, Carlo said, “One more thing.”
Luke stopped and turned toward Carlo without looking directly at him. “What now?”
“Don’t mistake kindness for weakness. You talk to me again like I’m some dog you’re telling to sit or fetch, and I’ll hit you so hard you’ll forget your own name. Got that?”
This time, Luke was so rattled he didn’t think to hide it. When he turned away, it wasn’t out of disrespect or youthful smugness. It was to keep his face from being seen directly. “I got it.” He then went outside where Red was waiting.
Carlo rubbed his horse’s ear. “You want another drink before we go? Take your time and have a drink. We’re in no hurry.”