Chapter 8: Bull's Eye Beal

Meeks opens his eyes in the boxcar. Daylight bleeds through the doorway. He leans up and he winces and wipes straw from his hair. Beal huddles near the corner and he is watching Meeks warily.

“Give me that canteen,” Meeks says.

Beal slides over and hands it to him. Meeks gulps down water.

“You were talking in your sleep. Want to know what you were saying?”

Meeks finishes the water and caps the canteen. “We need more water.”

“Kept saying names. Falcone, you said.”

Meeks throws the canteen at him. Beal ducks it.

“Don’t mention that name to me again.”

“Sorry!” Beak sulks but not for long. “That’s not all you said, though.”

Meeks checks his shoulder.

“Kept talking about Linda. And you said your name was Russell Meeks. You sure talk a lot in your sleep.”

Meeks raises the makeshift bandage from the wound. He winces as he pulls dried blood and skin along with it.

“I did the best I could,” Beal says. “You could use a doctor.”

“No doctors. I’ll get what I need in Lipton.”

“Lipton?”

“This train stops there for half a day.”

Beal retrieves the canteen and ponders the information. “How do you know?”

Meeks ignores the question and picks at his shoulder.

Beal wrings his hands and he’s agitated. “How far’s Lipton anyways? Why we stopping there?”

“Relax.” Meeks rolls his eyes. “I rode this train a few times.”

Beal relaxes and he offers a weak sort of smile. “Getting away from things?”

“You’re giving me a headache.”

Beal starts to say something but he thinks twice and doesn’t say anything at all. He rises and paces about the boxcar like a nervous animal. He glances at Meeks’ gun.

“That’s a cool looking piece. I’ve seen a lot of guns, you know. Had a couple myself.”

Meeks snorts. “Is that right?”

“Yup. Had myself a double action revolver. Thing was clean. I have really good aim. Do you?”

Meeks ignores him.

“Are you fast? You look like you’re pretty fast, I think.”

Beal watches Meeks for a reaction but doesn’t get any. He keeps talking anyway.

“I was fast with mine. Still would be if I had it.”

Beal quick draws an invisible gun. Testing himself. He side glances Meeks to make sure the man is watching him.

“See what I mean? Fast. Even had a nickname. Bull’s Eye Beal.”

Meeks shakes his head. “That has nothing to do with how fast you are.”

Beal’s face twists up into a pout. “I know. I’m just sayin’. That’s the nickname they gave me.”

“They who?”

“I don’t know. Just people. People who saw me shoot. How about you? Got a nickname?”

Meeks doesn’t answer.

“Well that’s alright. You don’t really need a nickname anyway with a name like Russell Meeks. That’s already one heck of a name. Maybe you’ll get one someday, though. Usually you gotta get yourself a reputation first. Then they give you a nickname. Yup. A reputation.”

Beal returns to his quick drawing. Meeks turns away from the kid and twirls the coin on his necklace.

##