Chapter 12

Merle dealt me into the game and I saw money he’d stolen from the sharp. Twice-stolen money now, once from the stage robbery, then from the gambler who’d won it. Frank had a good pile as well and I wondered if a time would come when they’d get bored and set off somewhere just to rid themselves of the cash. For now, they were enjoying the sloth.

Cards tired Bonner by late afternoon. “C’mon, Frank, let’s take a walk.”

Frank jumped up and the two headed up the canyon, Frank walking behind Merle. He had to know his actions were searing me like fire. To settle myself, I fixed on the roasting turkeys, enjoying the smell. By the time Frank and Merle returned an hour or so later, biscuits had been made as well as turkey gravy.

“Rath, you must have been popular on the trail,” I said as I ate. “This is fine fare.”

“Done it a thousand times,” he replied, “but it’s better now because I’m not feeding twenty men and cattle dust isn’t all over creation.”