Dorothy Garlock (29 page)

Jill had not realized it until now, but she might have fallen a little bit in love with the boy that night in the woods when he saved her from the man who would have raped and possibly killed her. Thad had held her in his arms and covered her naked breasts with her shirt as if she were his little sister.

Here in Rainwater, he still treated her like a kid except when he felt the urge to play with her emotions. She shouldn't have allowed him to kiss her that night on the school ground, and what had happened on the back porch had definitely been a mistake that must not happen again.

Thad Taylor, I'll not be another one of the stupid girls who you can charm right out of their drawers!

Thad sat on a stool at the bar and listened to the talk swirling around him. The drink he had bought was little more than watered-down beer. But it was what was legally served. He hadn't been in town long enough for the bartender to serve him the good stuff he kept under the counter. Thad didn't really care; he wasn't much of a drinker anyway.

A mustached drummer down from Kansas City was enjoying the attention he was getting by telling how folks in the city carried their booze.

“Most everyone has a hip flask, ”he said. “Some carry their liquor in fake books, coconut shells and hot water bottles. One fellow got caught with two boxes of eggs. He'd drained them and refilled the shells with liquor. American ingenuity is having a heyday.”

The Oklahoma City policeman sat at a table playing a game of solitaire. Thad wondered how many in the bar knew he was an officer, sworn to uphold the law. He must be aware that occasionally the bartender reached under the bar to fill a glass for a certain customer. With his fancy coat, vest and spit-polished shoes, Jelly Bryce looked more like a rich college boy than a police officer.

“I heard that back in 'twenty, right after Prohibition became law, Billy Sunday, the Bible thumper, had a mock funeral for 'John Barleycorn. 'Now, don't that just chap yore ass? ”

One after the other the avid listeners spoke up.

“It just ain't goin 'to work. The gover'ment can't afford all them revenue agents it takes to enforce the law. It's breeding more gangsters than a dog's got fleas.”

“I been hearing about them fellers who'd drink things like lemon extract and denatured alcohol till they get jakeleg or go crazy.”

“What's denatured alcohol? ”someone asked.

“It's ruined booze, is all I know.”

“It's alcohol with kerosene or something like that in it.”

“The law forces the poor man to drink that rotgut. It keeps him from having a decent drink.” Lloyd Madison had come into the bar and was standing beside the door. All eyes turned to him.

“The law doesn't
force
a man to drink, ”Thad said loud enough for all to hear.

“A poor man is entitled to a drink as well as the rich man, my friend.” Lloyd looked directly at Thad, then spoke to the room in general. “My bet is that Hunter Westfall is drinking damn good whiskey.”

“How you know that? ”The bartender swiped a wet rag over the bar.

“Didn't say I knew it. Said I'd bet on it.”

“Yeah? Whatta you drink, Mr. Madison? ”Thad asked.

Lloyd's eyes honed in on Thad again and narrowed. When he spoke, his voice was patient, as if he were talking to a child.

“I never let alcohol pass my lips except for medicinal purposes. It's against my religion.”

“Is that so? What else goes against your religion? ”

“I try to live by the Ten Commandments, sir.”

“Humm — I commend you, Mr. Madison. I really do. With so much wickedness in the world, it is gratifying to find a man who lives by the teachings of the good Lord.”

It was obvious to only a few men listening that the big dark man on the barstool was baiting the slender man with the mark on his face. Jelly Bryce never missed a word or a play as he placed a black jack on a red queen.

Lloyd's temper flared. He just barely stopped his hand from reaching up to stroke the red mass on his face as he was wont to do when he was irritated.

Hayseed bastard! You may be bigger than I am, but I'm a hell of a lot smarter.

“I try, sir. I use the law to help keep the workers in this town from being taken advantage of by the rich and powerful. I need the Lord on my side, for it is a formidable task.”

“And we appreciate it, Mr. Madison.” After the roustabout spoke, there was a murmur of approval from the men in the bar.

“I know you do, Mr. Sample.” Lloyd worked his hands down in his pants pockets. “I'll work for you men as long as there's a breath in me. You can count on it.”

“Ain't another man in this town carin 'if we get a decent wage but you, Mr. Madison.”

“I wouldn't go that far, Oscar, ”the bartender said tersely, then angrily slapped the rag down on the bar.

“The barkeep's right, Oscar.” Lloyd raised his voice so all could hear. “A few of the smaller operators want to pay you decent wages, but they have to stay in line with the big operators or be run out of business.”

“That shit-faced Westfall is rakin 'in the money off the sweat of our brow.” The voice came from the back of the room.

“Yeah. He's livin 'high on the hog, all right.”

“Now, wait a minute, ”the bartender said. “Mr. West-fall is furnishin 'ya with a job. He's riskin 'his money. Don't that count for somethin'? ”

“Precious little risk he's taking, ”Lloyd replied smoothly. “We may not have to worry about him much longer.”

“Why is that? ”

“I'm not at liberty to say at this time.” Lloyd gave Oscar a shy grin.

“Ya think he killed that woman, don't ya? ”

Lloyd laughed. “A man can get in trouble accusing another man of murder without proof. I'll wait for the sheriff and the marshals to dig up the evidence, then we'll talk about it. Meanwhile, I've got to keep my opinions to myself so I'm free to help you fellows.”

“Don't seem like them marshals is in any hurry to catch the killer. Just lollygagging around playing cards and such while a murderer runs loose is what they're doin'. Go by the jail any day and the sheriff's sittin 'in there with his feet on the desk.”

“They're doing the best they can. Meanwhile, we'll all hang in here together, look after our womenfolk and put as much pressure as we can on the companies in hopes they'll come around to our way of thinking and pay a decent wage — that is, if they want to keep producing. That means Westfall, if he still has a company when this is over.”

Thad looked at the floor to keep his eyes from rolling to the ceiling, showing his absolute disgust. The conniving son-of-a-bitch was playing these men like the strings on a violin — slyly working them up against Westfall — and they were too dumb to realize it. This was definitely a side of Lloyd Madison he'd not seen before. He wondered what they would think if he told them how Madison tormented Mrs. Byers and how scared she was of him.

They'd not believe it.

Thad set his glass on the bar and stood up. It was time for him to get out of here before he said something that could possibly start a riot.

“Leaving, Mr. Taylor? ”Lloyd asked.

“Yeah. If the shit gets any deeper in here, I may not be able to get out.”

“Whatta … ya mean? ”the man called Oscar spoke up belligerently.

“Just a little joke between me and Mr. Madison, friend. Nothing to get riled over.” Thad put his hand on the man's shoulder in a friendly manner as he passed him, but he kept his eyes on Madison until he went out the door.

Thad half expected Lloyd to follow him out, but it was the young marshal from the city who fell in step with him as he headed for the hotel.

“Need a little fresh air, do you? ”

“That and a pair of high boots.”

“The shit was getting pretty deep.” Jelly Bryce spoke with a drawl somewhat like Blue's.

“Son-of-a-bitch could talk his way out of a damn gunnysack.”

“He's smooth. Knows what strings to pull.”

“I wanted to hit the bastard, but I was afraid I'd start a riot.”

“Why does Madison have his hooks out for Westfall? ”

“Hell, I don't know. I've worked in fields for the past four years. Westfall pays as good as any and a little better than some.”

“What's Madison done to get your back up? ”

Thad looked at the young officer. He'd heard that he wasn't very brainy but a fast shooter. They crossed the street and stepped up onto the boardwalk that fronted the hotel before Thad spoke.

“I don't like the son-of-a-bitch. He's as full of shit as a young robin and as phony as a wooden nickel.”

“What do you mean? ”

“You saw how he was with the men in the bar. He'll be looking out for their welfare as long as he breathes? Bullshit! His religion doesn't allow him to drink? Again, bullshit! ”

“I thought that was stretching things a mite.”

“There's something going on between him and Mrs. Byers. The poor woman is scared to death of him. She even wants the door to her room kept locked at night. She's afraid he'll come in.”

“Mrs. Byers, the owner of the hotel? I understood that she was bedfast.”

“She is. He manages to get to her once in a while and needles her about something only the two of them know. The last time we took her to the porch, he needled her until my Indian friend tossed him backwards off the porch rail. Madison was shook up a bit and madder than a peed-on snake. I might have to bust his head.”

“How about a game of checkers? ”Jelly asked as they went up the hotel steps to the porch.

“Sounds good to me. There's a board set up in the lobby.”

Thad decided that he liked Jelly Bryce. Liked him a lot. He was good company, never bragged and had a dry sense of humor. Whoever said he was low on brainpower hadn't talked to him much.

They had played four games and were on the fifth to break the tie when Lloyd Madison came through the lobby. He paused to pass a few words with the man at the desk before going up to his room.

Thad's eyes followed him up the stairs. He grinned at Jelly when he saw the officer watching him.

“How come he's living in a hotel? ”

“His house burned down.”

“Oh, yeah. I heard about that.”

“It's a good thing he went on upstairs. If he'd gone toward the family living quarters, my friend back there would've torn his head off. We take turns sleeping beside Mrs. Byers's door.”

“I've noticed the two of you never leave here at the same time.”

Thad lifted his brows. “Well, now. Aren't you observant? ”

“It's my job.”

Thad made a move on the board, looked up and saw Blue coming across the lobby. “Howdy. Where you been? ”

“I went on a rampage out on the prairie. Took a few white scalps, ”Blue answered casually.

“Meet Jelly Bryce, Blue.”

“Met him. Howdy, Jelly.”

“Howdy, Blue. Been back to Mountain View lately? ”

“Not for a spell. Been too busy keepin 'two knot-heads out of trouble. How's your grandpa doin'? ”

“Died last year, Blue.”

“Sorry to hear it.”

“He was old and I think he wanted to go.”

“Hell of a good man, your grandpa. Never had the slightest urge to scalp him.”

Thad moved a piece on the board and jumped two of Jelly's pieces. “Hell's bells, Blue, you never told me you knew Jelly Bryce.”

“You didn't ask me. If I told you everything I know, boy, it'd take me a hundred years working my mouth day and night and you'd still be as dumb as a pile of horse-shit.”

“Bull-foot, ”Thad snorted.

“I'm going to bed.” Blue headed for the stairs. “Just had a long walk.”

“Hey, Blue, ”Jelly called. “I'd like to take you up on the offer to drive me out of town so I get in a little practice.”

“Sure, Jelly. How about in the morning? I plan to go out on the prairie. I got business to do out there.”

“You going to set up a factory to make arrowheads, Blue? ”Thad asked.

“No. I'm going to call on the spirits of my ancestors and pay my respects. I may need their help and I've got to stay in good with them.”

“He likes to play the dumb Indian, ”Thad said to Jelly after Blue left them.

“I know. He did that for me once in a dive in Oklahoma City. Helped me catch a crook.”

“How long have you known him? ”

“A long time. My grandpa knew Ocie Bluefeather, Blue's grandpa.”

“Blue doesn't talk much about his family.”

“Blue came from good stock and is smart as all get-out. He could be president of a university or anything else if he set his mind to it.”

“Joe and I found that out the first few months we were out here. We met him on an oil rig down by Ponca. I'd opened my big mouth when I should have kept it shut. Joe and I were jumped by six of the crew. They might have killed us if Blue hadn't dealt himself in.”

“It's a lucky man who has Randolph Bluefeather for a friend.” Jelly sat back and studied the board. “Heard you helped put out a couple of derrick fires.”

“Yeah. Down near Chandler.”

“Dangerous work.”

“Money is good. You have to use a little common sense is all. Damn! ”Thad exclaimed, “You skunked me. How are you at cribbage? ”

“Not worth a damn.”

“How about a game tomorrow night? ”

Chapter 21

J
ILL, WAIT.

Thad came out of Justine's room. His hand fastened on to Jill's arm and stopped her as she hurried down the hall to the stairs with clean towels for the rooms on the second floor.

“I'm busy, Thad. I've got to hurry and get back to the front desk.”

“What's the matter, honey? You've been avoiding me for the last two days.”

“I'm not avoiding you. I've got work to do.” She pulled on her arm, but he refused to release it.

“I don't want you going upstairs alone when Madison is in the hotel.”

“Then you can stay down here, be the lookout, and alert me when he comes in. Can you hoot like an owl, quack like a duck or whistle like a bird? ”she asked with raised brows.

“Don't get smart, Jill.” Thad's green eyes turned frosty. “The man is dangerous. I've crossed him a time or two. I'm afraid that he'll hurt you to spite me.”

“Aunt Justine has been saying all along that he was dangerous. Why are you just now believing it? ”