Page 66 of Discovered Magic
“Looks like Harlan’s kid, boss,” Jennings replied uselessly.
Gus was as familiar with these outlaws as they were with his pa. They’d all colluded at some point.
“Heard you went straight, Green,” Silas said, ignoring his main henchman and pinning Gus with a snakelike stare. “Working for Sheriff Thorne. Ain’t that right, boys?”
A chorus of confirmation chilled Gus’s blood. No way was he getting out alive. He was doubly sad he hadn’t saved Mary’s man for her. Without him around, she would need someone else to look after her.
“Nobody likes a rat, Green,” Silas stated coldly. “And I’ll be damned if you ain’t the biggest one around.”
“I ain’t never told on you or did you no harm, Mr. Hastings. You know that.”
“What do we do with rats, fellas?”
“We shoot them in the head,” Royal Hastings supplied, as if bored to be there. “But the boy’s right, Si. He’s never harmed any of us. And pulling the wings off butterflies ain’t sporting when we have a job to do.”
Silas’s considering gaze shifted from Gus to Royal and back again. “Seems my brother likes you, Green. What do you say to that?”
“Mr. Royal is a fine man,” he said, unknowing if it was true or not. He lifted his chin. “But maybe I can help you. About that job and all.”
Though his mouth curled, Silas’s eyes were void of humor. “Is that right?”
Gus shot a glance at Royal. His heavy sigh and eye roll said Gus just stepped in it. Seems he screwed up right proper by offering his services.
“Well, sure. Maybe.” He did his damnedest to hold back a stammer. “If I can, that is.”
To Silas’s right, Jennings smirked, probably already knowing how this confrontation would go.
“What are you doing out here, Green?” Royal asked. “Aren’t you far from home?”
No way was he going to give Mary away. Dealing with Bart was dangerous enough. These men would use her poorly and, when done, shoot her full of holes for the fun of it.
“I’m looking for the sheriff’s injun friend,” he lied.
But his flush gave him away, and the pity in Royal’s eyes was uncomfortable.
“Hear that, boss? We got us a two-fer-one this fine mornin’!” Jennings crowed.
“I’m not deaf, you half-wit,” Silas growled.
Although Jenning’s cheeks reddened, he wisely held his tongue, making him more of a three-quarter-wit to Gus’s way of thinking.
“If you don’t mind, Mr. Hastings, I’ll be goin’, sir.” Gus gestured to the canyon. “Gonna see if Stands-in-Shadow is hangin’ around and tell him Sheriff Thorne’s lookin’ for him, if he is.”
“Don’t let us stop you, Green.” Silas straightened, tightening his rein and spinning his horse in the direction Gus had pointed. “As a matter of fact, why don’t we help with your search?”
“It’s not that I don’t appreciate your help, Mr. Hastings, but I wouldn’t wanna take you away from your job, and all.”
“It’s no trouble. We noticed the merchant has new goods to sell, and my friend Morcant here is feeling peckish.”
Gus turned his attention to the thin man on Silas’s left.
A thin, cruel mouth worked in conjunction with the sharp, beak-like nose, thin-set eyes, and pallid skin, giving him a gruesome appearance. If vicious had a look, it belonged to Morcant. Though the man couldn’t have been more than a few years older than Gus, he had an aged quality, as if he knew too much. And it seemed the more nervous Gus grew, almost certain of death, the man’s eyes glowed with an unholy glee. As hard as he tried, he couldn’t break the mesmerizing hold.
“Lead on, Green,” Royal barked, causing Gus to blink and return to himself.
Why did he suddenly feel sweatier and weaker? “I’m not so great. Maybe I’ll head on back to town and talk to Doc.”
“You’ll ride toward that canyon if you know what’s good for you, boy,” Silas replied, unmistakable menace in his voice. “Start moving.”
