Suited for Luck

by Daniel Schinhofen

  Pushing his plate away, Doc got up and walked over to the bar. “Dillon, my stuff that I’m not taking with is upstairs in my room. I need to see about extending my stay, but I won’t be using it for a portion of that time.”

  “Rooms cost—” Dillon started to say when the door behind the bar opened.

  “If you are willing to put up another dollar,” Lia interrupted him, “I will keep the room as yours for two weeks. You can have it for eight days upon your return with the same deal we have in place.” Her fan was slowly moving in front of her face.

  Doc smiled, “A very generous offer. I accept, Madam. The game appeared to have a lot of interest last night before I retired.”

  “It was still going into the early hours of the morning,” Dillon chuckled. “I came in early and there were five guys still there with Bubba dealing. I had to shut them down.”

  “Why?”

  “Town ordinance,” Lia said stiffly. “Gambling houses are the only ones allowed to run a game for over a full day. We must close the game before sunrise, and we can open the tables again an hour before noon.”

  “Mayor sure knows how to arrange things,” Doc snorted. Pulling a dollar out, he placed it on the bar. “For my room. I hope to be back within the week, but we’ll have to see.”

  “It would be nice if you were back for the first tournament,” Lia said.

  “I’ll do my best,” Doc said. “See you all when I get back.” He gave Lia a small nod before turning to retrieve his rifle and hat from his room.

  ~*~*~

  The livery stable was busy. Doc walked through the front door and had to wait, as a couple of others were already there. The man at the counter was quickly done and Doc hoped things were going to move quickly.

  “I’ve returned the nag and mule,” the man directly in front of Doc grunted to the shopkeeper. “I’d like my money now.”

  “My report from the stablehand is that the mule is missing two shoes and the nag, as you call her, has colic. Means that she’s not worth us buying her back.”

  “You saying I’m not going to get my money back?” the man hissed, pushing his dirt crusted coat back and touching his pistol.

  “The terms were agreed to when you took the steeds out, sir,” the shopkeeper said firmly, but was clearly unnerved by the man touching the gun. “If you wish to register a complaint, you should bring the sheriff.”

  “Don’t need no sheriff for you to give me my damned money. Lawmen only get involved if I have to kill you.”

  Doc grimaced as this was rapidly getting out of hand. Do I interfere or stay out of it?

  The side door to the yard opened and Wenn stepped inside. In a single glance, he took stock and had his gun drawn and trained on the belligerent man. “Remove your hand from that gun.”

  The man glared at Wenn, but slowly removed his hand. “Marshal, ain’t no need for you here. This man was just paying me.”

  “Marshal, this man threatened me with his gun if we didn’t buy back the colic horse he bought,” the shopkeeper said.

  “True, I heard it,” Doc added.

  The man glared back at Doc. His eyes were bloodshot and his lips pulled back to show blackened teeth. “Who asked you, huh? Mind your own damned business.”

  “What does a horse sell for if you give them to the tanner?” Wenn asked.

  “Two dollars,” the shopkeeper answered.

  “They will give you two dollars for the colic horse, or you can take it with you.”

  The man spat at Wenn’s feet, “Damned crooked lawmen. Keep the nag. Give me my money.”

  The shopkeeper handed over the money for the return of the mule and the extra two dollars. “We won’t do business with you again,” he told the man.

  “Don’t need your horses,” the man said, stomping out and almost colliding with Doc. “And you… I’ll be seeing you.”

  Doc shook his head, “I doubt it.”

  The door slammed shut, leaving Doc, Wenn, and the shopkeeper alone in the building. “Thank you, Marshal.”

  “No need for thanks. I came in here wondering what was taking him so long,” Wenn said and jerked a thumb at Doc.

  “And you saw,” Doc said as he approached the counter. “The coin, as agreed. Did the supplies get delivered?”

  “Yes, they are already loaded,” the shopkeeper said, counting out the money. “Marshal, if you don’t mind, can you show him where to turn in this chit?”

  “I got it,” Wenn agreed, taking the wood token. “Come on, Doc. Daylight is burning.”

  “Behind you,” Doc said. With his rifle in hand, he followed the marshal out the door.

  It was a short walk across the yard to the awning that had an older man standing under it. “Josep, this is Doc. He has horses waiting for him,” Wenn said and handed the old man the token.

  “Been waiting for him,” Josep spat to the side. “Philup, get number five,” he yelled.

  “Right away, Pa.”

  It was only a minute before a horse with saddlebags and a mule were brought into the yard. The mule had several bags loaded on its back, and the mare seemed docile. Doc gave them both a quick look, glad for his time with the reenactment group again as he checked the shoes on the horse and mule. Putting the rifle on the horse, Doc nodded, “Looks good to me.”

  “We’ll see you when you bring them back,” Josep said evenly. “Don’t bother bringing ‘em back if they are just going for the glue pot. Just makes me do more work.”

  “I’ll keep it in mind,” Doc said. “Wenn, you’re ready?”

  “My horse is tied up out front,” Wenn replied. “See you there.”

  “I’ll be there in a moment.” Doc checked the saddlebags and found trail rations. Nodding, he mounted the horse. The mule’s reins were tied to a knob on the back of the saddle. “They used to following?”

  “Our mules know what to do,” Josep said, spitting another stream of black juice.

  “Thank you.” Doc touched the mare’s flank with his boots and got her moving for the gate.

  Coming out of the yard, he saw Wenn already mounted and waiting. Doc gave the large stallion a look, “What’s his name?”

  “Justice,” Wenn laughed.

  “Funny,” Doc chuckled. “You know the way west. I’ll follow you.”

  “I’ll go slow, then. Your mare there wouldn’t keep up, otherwise.”

  “Don’t need to go fast, just need to get there,” Doc said.

  “But where is there if you don’t have a destination?” Wenn asked as he got Justice moving.

  “The destination is where Luck wants me to go. Just because I don’t know where it is doesn’t mean it isn’t there.”

  “Sounds a bit religious,” Wenn snorted.

  “That it does,” Doc agreed.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Doc groaned when Wenn called for a good place to stop. His legs felt stiff and rubbery at the same time. “Gods damn, that reminds me why I don’t ride so much.”

  Wenn chuckled, “You might as well check your bags for some cream if you’re that sore.”

  “Maybe after I take care of other business,” Doc said, getting some toilet paper from his saddlebags and the small spade from the mule.

  “Grab some wood on the way back,” Wenn told him.

  “Got it,” Doc replied, limping toward a stand of trees.

  Once he was out of sight, he used healing hands to help with the soreness from riding and felt better almost instantly. I might have wanted to wait to do that, but fuck it, Doc sighed, glad the pain was over. Selecting a spot, Doc started digging a small pit.

  He came back to the camp with an armful of kindling and set it down near the kettle on the ground. When he went to repack the paper and the spade, Doc checked the rest of his bags, making a quick inventory. He was just finishing when Wenn came back to the camp with a few big chunks of wood.

  “I’ll get the fire started and the pot on,” Wenn told him.

  “Good. It’ll take me longer than
you to settle my horse and mule.”

  “You know how to ride, but you do seem a tad rusty,” Wenn commented.

  “Twenty or more years,” Doc said without thinking.

  “Twenty years?” Wenn asked, giving Doc a hard look.

  “Huh?”

  “You said twenty years.”

  “Sorry, it’s been a long day. I meant ten years. Spent a year on a farm helping them round up strays.”

  “Good job for a young adult,” Wenn said, going back to making the fire.

  “Hard work,” Doc admitted, thinking back to his foster family. “Makes me glad I gamble. While I could do that job and live the life, I’d rather not.”

  Wenn laughed, “Decadent gambler, eh?”

  “If it works,” Doc grinned as he started to brush down the mare. “What got you into law?”

  “My family is all lawmen,” Wenn said as the fire caught. “Older brother is a sheriff back in Saskan territory. Our younger brother is raising his family on a good size farm there, too. Dad was a marshal, until…” Trailing off, Wenn shook his head and went to his horse. “What about you?”

  “Orphan at birth,” Doc said. “It was not a good life. I try not to dwell on it too much.”

  “Mother’s family didn’t take you in?” Wenn asked, puzzled.

  “Like I said, I try not to dwell on it,” Doc repeated. “Let’s just say that my life was not great until recently. Now, I have a purpose and life is finally starting to turn for the better.”

  “Fair. Didn’t mean to push. Don’t hear about too many orphans at birth, is all. Is it too much to ask what changed?”

  “I met a Lady,” Doc smiled as he thought of Lilly. “She set me on the right path.”

  “Good woman?”

  “Some will say yes while others will damn her,” Doc snorted. “I used to be in the second group. Now, I’m the vanguard for them.”

  “Sounds like a godsend. Must be a charismatic woman.”

  “That’s putting it mildly.”

  Silence fell on the camp while they focused on getting their horses settled for the night. By the time Doc finished with the mare and mule, Wenn was already pouring coffee into the two tin mugs.

  “Thanks,” Doc said, taking the offered cup. “Up at sunrise?”

  “Normally. I’ll be leaving you tomorrow. I doubt you want to stay on the road.”

  “I need to go off-trail,” Doc nodded. “I appreciate the company, though. Any advice on what to keep an eye out for danger-wise this far west?”

  “The usual; rattlers, bears, woodfolk. I don’t think you’ll have any trouble.”

  Doc bit back the question on woodfolk, wishing that the damned system had given him more knowledge. System, I’m almost thinking you owe me at this point. “I’ll keep an eye and ear out,” Doc said. “Why didn’t you stay at the Springs? Why the Lily?”

  Wenn eyed him for a long moment before shrugging. “Not like you can criticize me, not with you staying there and having your fun, too. I prefer them over human women. They’re more honest and don’t complain when it’s time for me to leave. What about you?”

  “I don’t have a preference, honestly, but the Lily just spoke to me when I got to town. I was heading for it before I knew I could even rent a room there. Wouldn’t stay anywhere else now, though.”

  Wenn chuckled, “Just happened to end up there, eh?”

  “Truth,” Doc replied. “Just Luck, I guess.”

  “I’d say you got lucky enough there,” Wenn laughed.

  “True enough,” Doc laughed.

  “You also had some good fortune at the tables. I don’t recall you leaving down on any of the days we played.”

  “I didn’t. I’ve been blessed by Luck.”

  “That’s another time you made that sound religious,” Wenn said.

  “Well, it is,” Doc replied. “I’m not one to proselytize.”

  “That’s good, because the church of Apoc doesn’t like prophets.”

  “I’m not going to set up a soapbox and shout in the streets,” Doc chuckled.

  “Best you don’t,” Wenn said seriously. “Grange is a follower of Apoc. He’d find some law to drag you in with.”

  “Good to know,” Doc replied. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t like me, Doc thought, but how would he know?

  “Just tread lightly there, Doc. You’ve been a good sort. I’d hate to see you end up on the wrong side of the law in Deep Gulch.”

  “You and me both. Though if things go the way I think they will, I’ll end up there anyway. Can’t change things and not make enemies.”

  “What’re you planning on changing?”

  “Who owns what,” Doc replied. “Suez and Goodman own almost the entire damned town. Brand used to own more, but now only has the Lily. Even most of the people in town don’t own their residences; they’re just renting them.”

  “How’re you planning on doing that?”

  “Poker,” Doc smiled. “They have a habit of side-betting for property.”

  “How are you going to get a stake in that game?”

  “By claiming a mine and using it as my bet.”

  Wenn exploded in laughter. “Oh, well then, that makes it all so easy.”

  Doc chuckled, but waited for Wenn to settle down. “You don’t think I’ll find a seam of ore worth their attention?”

  “If you can find anything worthy of being a mine at all, it’d be like finding a needle in a haystack.”

  “Good thing I have Luck on my side, then, isn’t it?”

  Wenn went quiet, clearly thinking about Doc’s seriousness. “You truly believe in Lady Luck?”

  “Hard not to believe in someone you’ve met.”

  “You have any proof?” Wenn asked slowly.

  “What kind of proof? How do you prove faith?”

  Wenn stared at the fire silently and Doc went to get some rations. He came back with a small piece of cheese, some jerky, and a bit of hardtack. Taking a seat, Doc began to eat and waited to see if Wenn had any other questions.

  “Can you use faith magic?” Wenn finally asked.

  “I can do a little healing,” Doc replied around a mouthful of jerky.

  “That’s it?”

  “That I really want to show. I have another trick or two, but those aren’t easily shown off.”

  “You’ve used it?”

  “Yup. Bedbug bites, small cuts, and in one case, an infection.”

  Wenn nodded, then drew his knife and cut his pinkie, hissing as he did. “Prove it.”

  Doc sat there in shocked surprise. “What the fuck, Wenn?” he finally managed.

  “I want to see proof of Luck,” Wenn said tightly.

  “Damn it,” Doc muttered as he triggered healing hands and grabbed Wenn’s hand. “You’re an ass,” he said, pointedly staring at the man.

  Wincing in pain, Wenn locked eyes with Doc. His brow furrowed as warmth surged into his injured finger; the pain receded, then completely disappeared after a couple of seconds. When Doc let go of his hand, Wenn wiped the blood away and stared at the thin scar marring his pinkie.

  “Well, fuck...” Wenn muttered. “I guess you are a faith healer.”

  “You’re welcome. What were you going to do if I hadn’t healed that?”

  “Use a salve from Henrick. It would do the job, just make things difficult for a day.”

  “Still an ass,” Doc muttered.

  “I do have my moments,” Wenn agreed. “You really intend to try taking the town from Suez and Goodman?”

  “Not taking. Acquiring through legal means.”

  “Ballsy. Neither of them are known for being reasonable when crossed.”

  “It doesn’t matter if the path is difficult. All that matters is putting the next foot forward.”

  Wenn got to his feet and retrieved some food of his own. “Do you really expect to find a mine?”

  “Probably not this trip,” Doc admitted. “I just need one before the solstice.”

  “Why?”r />
  “To get the Lily back for Lia.”

  “Didn’t think you had a thing for her.”

  “She’s beautiful,” Doc replied. “The most beautiful woman I’ve seen, besides Luck. Fiala and Lotus are nothing to sneeze at, but Lia is ahead of them in looks. We don’t have anything going besides trying to get the Lily back in her hands.”