Doucette and Vin each had a huge steak dinner, followed by pie and coffee for dessert.
“So what are we gonna do, just walk out?” Vin asked, as they finished their pie.
“We came to this town to kill a man, Vin,” Doucette said. “Tell me not payin’ for a meal bothers you more than that.”
“Hey, I jus’ mean that feller, he deserves to die for what he done to you,” Vin said. “This was a real good meal. They deserve to get paid for it.”
Doucette stared across the table at the younger man, the only one of his men left who was out of jail or alive.
“You know what, Vin?” he asked. “You’re right.”
“Huh? I am?”
“Sure,” Doucette said, “and just to make you feel better, we’ll pay for the meal. Howzat strike you?”
“That’s, uh, real good, boss.” Vin wasn’t all that sure, though. He wondered if Doucette was going to leave it to him to pay the bill. That wouldn’t be good, because he had no money.
Doucette waved the waiter over.
“Sir?”
“The check, please.”
“Of course, sir.”
When the check came, Doucette made a show of taking out his money and setting it on the table.
“See?” he said to Vin.
“I see,” Vin said. “Thanks, boss.”
Outside, in front of the restaurant, Doucette said to Vin, “I think it may be time to make our move.”
“Should I get my gun?”
“Yeah,” Doucette said, “strap it on. And wait for my signal.”
“Yessir.”
Doucette looked at Vin.
“Are you ready?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
“This could be reputation-making, you know.”
“I know,” Vin said.
“Go on,” Doucette said. “I’ll see you later.”
“Thanks for the steak, boss.”
“Sure. Hey!”
Vin turned.
“Make sure you stay out of trouble.”
“Yessir.”
Doucette watched as Vin headed for the hotel, where he had a room. The kid was the least experienced of all his men, but the most talented. In the end, this was going to be very, very interesting.
Shaye heard about Doucette and his man Vin eating at the Rawhide Steak House. He figured Doucette was still trying to put a scare into Mayor Snow, thinking the man might be having supper there.
Maybe it was time to put an end to this once and for all. Time to push Doucette into making his move.