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“Thank you.” As soon as the Marshalls see that I have a baby with me they clear a seat for me. The place smells like men left to their own devices. There are four of them at present. They are lookin' pretty rough. Clean-ish, but tired. I wonder how long it has been since they slept in a decent bed or had a good spot of food. They seem really interested in what supplies we might have brought with us. I hold my bag close. I still have quite a bit of money left from my savings and I've squirreled what Danny had given us before she left. I overhear the man in black call Danny ‘Son’, and she doesn’t correct him. So apparently we are back to that game. Whatever. If that is what she needs then that is what she needs. I keep quiet and smile when the Marshalls coo at Daniel. It is amusing to see these seemingly tough men reduced to baby talking.
“So you've come tracking Jimmy Straights?” The man in black asks Danny as she looks around, surveying the place. It is mostly boarded up and all of the windows have bars. We are in the back of the building near the cells. I hope that they are honest men, and not just readying themselves so they can start something. I know how that will end and I don’t want to witness what the boys will do. Daniel doesn’t need to be around that kind of carnage either.
“We are. It's taken us a while to get out here, but I'm confident that we can help.” Danny answers sitting down and putting her feet up casually. The boys seem to surround us, each near a doorway but none more than a few feet away. Did they coordinate that? I wonder with a proud smile. They are making sure no one can sneak up on us. Good Boys.
“Do you have any idea what's been goin' on here, boy?” The man in black is getting agitated as he folds his arms across his chest starin' at Danny. I think he took offence to her defiance.
“I saw the headlines in the paper if that's what you mean.”
“And I suppose you think it's a town gone mad?”
“Just the opposite. I completely believe you.” Her eyes begin to glow bright blue. The Marshalls back up going for their guns.
Danny puts up her hands with a short laugh. “I wouldn't do that if I were you. You are pretty well outmatched.”
Now the boys’ eyes glow, shades of green and gold, as they let out low snarls. Where was I when this part of the plan was organized?
“Name's Danny Johnston. If you look me up in your database you will find two things, one I'm wanted in connection with a killin' in Columbine Spring, which I assure you was more than justified. And that I never lose a bounty.”
Danny stands up, scratching the table with her finger nail which has grown out to a claw. “I have no wish to do you or your citizens a disservice. I only want assurance that I am allowed to do whatever I need to so I can take down Jimmy and the rest of his pack.”
The man in black takes his hand away from his gun, and sits down. “They call me Giovanni Rubio. This is Wade Hayes, Charlie Walker and—”
“Montgomery. Ma'am.” The Marshall farthest from Danny tilts his hat at her. A halfcocked grin on his angular clean shaven face. Of all of them he seems the most pulled together.
Danny's eyes narrow then widen as if in recognition.
“Montgomery Striker?” Her mouth hangs open as he walks up to her. Jake makes a step toward them, but Danny puts up her hand to ease him. He shakes Danny's hand then gives her a gentle one armed hug.
“I was sorry to hear about Mike.” He has a sadness in his voice. “This spitfire was Mike Whittler’s wife.”
Giovanni shakes his head. “I would have never guessed. You pass awfully good child.”
“Now don't go changin' your attitude toward me now that you know I'm a woman. I'm still just as deadly as my reputation claims. More so now.” She throws her huntin' knife nailing a large fly on the wall.
“Sorry, Ma'am.” Giovanni tips his hat now too.
“If you really are fixin' to go after those animals,” Montgomery breaks in. “We may have something that can help. Follow us.”