The poker game had ended as quickly as it had begun. And now Jim drank at one end of the bar while Jess drank at the other. For the entire game, Mort had been in the saloon, cradling a rifle. Watching. Waiting. On alert in case trouble broke out. But none had.
"You sure been looking at your watch tonight, Slim," Mort observed.
Slim clicked the case shut.
As Mort finally left the saloon, Slim moved to stand beside Jess.
"Well? You ask him?" Impatience sounded in each word spoken by Jess.
Slim gave a short nod. "Mort ain't seen hide or hair of Mattie or Val all night."
"I don't understand, Slim. Mattie should have been in town by now."
"You sure she said she was coming in tonight?" Slim questioned.
Jess nodded, then gulped his drink. The slamming of the whiskey glass on the bar showed his frustration.
"Something's got to be wrong," Slim stated. "Maybe Jim found out."
"If Jim suspected them girls knew about the rustling, he wouldn't be here," Jess reasoned. "He'd be long gone out of the territory."
"Jess, I'd feel a whole lot better about this if we ride out and check on Val and Mattie."
"Well what are we waiting for. Let's go!"
Jess started for the door. Slim gulped his liquor and hurried after him.
"Harper!"
Jess spun on his heels, turning quickly to face Jim. Jess' body reacted on instinct, becoming tense and alert, ready to fight.
Jim grinned, but his eyes were cold as he moved close to Jess. "Easy, boy. I just got something to say. That's all."
Slim kept his hand close to his own gun.
"I'm listening," Jess stated.
"We lost some more cattle today."
Slim's hand tightened on his gun butt as Jess' breathing quickened.
"Don't suppose you know anything about that?" Jim asked.
The saloon grew eerily quiet. Jess and Jim had everyone's attention. Even the card game at the back of the saloon stopped.
"I told you once that I don't rustle. I'm not sure you can say the same thing," Jess responded. He took a step backwards. His legs were slightly spread. His hand moved to hover over his gun.
"Someone get Mort!" the bartender yelled out, but no one moved. No one dared.
Slim said, "You got a beef about the Sherman Ranch, you take that up with me."
Jim glanced just for a second at Slim; then his stare returned to Jess. "You know, Harper, soon, real soon, this boy's going let you off the leash and then you and me going to tangle."
Jess said nothing. But he now watched Jim's hand.
"And when we do, I'm going to teach you a lesson about sticking your nose in where it don't belong. Yes sir, it's going to give me great pleasure to put you in your place."
"If you want to try now?"
"Jess!" Slim's whisper was low, but all heard.
Jim laughed. "Still on your leash, huh Harper? When you get tired of taking orders and you can stand on your own and be a man, you know where to find me. 'Til then, you jump when Sherman says jump, just like a good dog follows his master."
Jim walked past Jess, pushing him aside, knocking him hard in the shoulder. Jess swung around keeping Jim in his view; but Jim never looked back. Jess watched until Jim was out of sight.
Once again the saloon became loud with voices as men talked and laughed.
Jess glanced at Slim with a look of puzzlement. "What do you reckon that was about?"
"I don't like it, Jess."
"Then let's ride out to the King's now!" Jess started forward.
"I want to see Mort first."
Jess turned back with surprise. "We can handle this! We don't need the law!"
"Jess, he was baiting you. He wants you to follow him."
"Well, then let's go! If Jim wants a fight, be my pleasure to give him one. I told you one day him and me would tangle." Jess took a step towards the door. .
But Slim still didn't follow.
Jess faced Slim with impatience showing on his face. "Well, ain't you coming?"
"Something just ain't right. But I can't figure it out. The way he was egging you on. He wants a fight with you. Yet he cleared out of here."
"Well let's ride out and see what he's up to."
"Jess, I don't want to give Jim an excuse to shoot at us."
"We can handle him!"
"It's Val and Mattie I'm thinking of. They could get in the way of a bullet. Jim will be different if Mort's along. He ain't going to fight the law." Slim started out the door, then turned back. "Well ain't you coming?"
Jess looked taken back. "I've been trying to leave!"
