Now Playing: Save The Girl!
Episode Nine concluded with:
“Well, Rance, I
hate ta make an old friend unhappy. Let me buy ya a drink. “Barkeep!”
Briscoe
pretended to start looking around the saloon for the bartender as he went for
his gun. Rance’s draw was a few seconds faster. He sent a blaze into Briscoe’s
chest, then crouched for another shot, ducking a bullet by inches. Rance fired
again, a necessary move. Even staggering, Briscoe Parker was capable of a good
shot.
The killer hit
the floor, less than five yards from his partner’s corpse. The bartender, a
surprisingly young man with a boyish face, disconnected from the crowd standing
against the wall and hastily looked at both fallen outlaws.
“Both of these
owlhoots are ready for Solemn Sam, the Undertaker. One free drink for each
cowpoke who helps carry them over there. The rest of you will have to pay for
your drinks. After all, the show was free!”
Episode Ten:
Laughter
filled the Big Diamond as the barkeep scooted behind the bar. He eyed the
newcomer and spoke in a voice that was low and respectful. “You handle a gun
well, stranger. I’d say you’re entitled to some free suds.”
“Thanks,”
Dehner replied. “I’ll accept your generosity.”
As
the bartender began to pour, Dehner looked over the establishment. Men were
already picking up the bodies in order to tote them over to Solemn Sam. An
elderly, stooped man who appeared to be a swamper was carrying a bucket and mop
over to where Briscoe Parker had hit the floor. Some of Parker’s blood and perhaps
a few small portions of his body were about to be mopped up. As he began his
task, the swamper looked over at where the other jasper had landed. This was
turning into a busy day.
The
patrons of the Big Diamond paid little attention to the clean up. Card games
resumed, a roulette wheel began to spin, and a Chuck –A- Luck wire cage went
back into action. And, of course, people flocked toward the bar.
One
of the flock was the saloon girl who Briscoe Parker had been harassing. She
smiled at Dehner as she approached the bar. “Tommy, I hope that beer you’re
pouring is on the house.”
“Sure
is, Miss Jerri, can I fix you something?”
“The
usual.”
Tommy
reached under the counter for a bottle and glass. He poured a light brown
liquid for Jerri. Probably tea, Dehner guessed. A saloon girl’s day is long and
“the usual” is often tea or water. Of course, the customer who is buying her
the drink doesn’t know that.
“The
name is Jerri Mae Swanson.” Her voice was deep and husky.
“Pleased
to meet you, Jerri Mae. My name is Rance Dehner.”
“Thanks
for taking care of those two owlhoots, Rance.”
Dehner
shrugged his shoulders. “The Big Diamond is a place for meeting old friends.”
Jerri
Mae smirked and looked at her companion carefully. “You impress me as a man who
has a lot more enemies than he does friends. Let’s sit down, maybe you and I
can strike up a friendship.”
Tomorrow:
Episode Eleven of Save the Girl!
