‘Like I said, you made a big mistake,’ Wilder sneered.
Wilder lifted his gun. Comfort flung himself forward in a desperate bid to grapple with his opponent but Wilder was too quick and stepped aside. With a contemptuous smirk across his features he raised his gun but before his finger closed on the trigger a shot rang out and he staggered back. Comfort glanced in the direction of the stairs; standing on the middle landing he saw the figure of Jenny. In her hand was a smoking derringer. As he watched she dropped the weapon and sank to the stairs, sobbing.
He turned back to his would-be killer. Wilder’s eyes were wide in astonishment. He opened his mouth as though to speak as blood oozed from a hole in his forehead. He looked at Comfort as though to ask a question, then fell forward at Comfort’s feet.
After the boom of gunfire an eerie silence filled the room. Comfort bent down to examine the bodies of Wilder and Sabin. Both were dead. The pain in his upper arm began to make itself felt but he knew he wasn’t badly hurt. He also knew how lucky he was. Even though she was only a matter of a few feet away from Wilder, the chances were slim that Jenny’s bullet would have proved fatal. He moved to the staircase and, climbing the few stairs to the landing, raised Jenny to her feet.
‘It’s all right,’ he said, trying to soothe her.
‘I came back to get my things,’ she said inconsequentially.
Below them, the Crystal Arcade was stirring back into life. Together, they descended the stairs and walked towards the door. Nobody made any attempt to stop them. As they were about to step through the batwings, Comfort turned back.
‘You got a chance to make this a decent town,’ he said.
A few people began to murmur and someone gave a cheer. Comfort and Jenny pushed through the batwings into the clear light of day.
‘You stayin’at the doc’s place?’ Comfort asked.
Jenny nodded.
‘Guess you’d better take me there,’ Comfort said.
A few days had passed. Both Annie and Comfort were responding well to treatment. Annie was getting around with the help of a stick and Comfort’s right arm was in a sling. They were both sitting on the veranda of Annie’s house together with Bannock, Briggs and the reverend when Jenny put her head round the door.
‘There’s some people to see you,’ she said.
Annie looked up.
‘To see me?’
‘They didn’t say. More for Mr Comfort, I think.’
Comfort got to his feet and walked through the house. Sitting outside in a carriage were two people he had not expected to see. One was Daniel Stead and the other was his sister Corrina. Something stirred in Comfort’s chest at the sight of her and she blushed at his approach. Then she seemed to notice his sling for the first time and concern spread across her features.
‘You’re hurt!’ she said.
‘It’s nothin’ serious,’ Comfort said.
Their eyes met, then she looked away.
‘We heard somethin’ about what happened between you and Wilder,’ Daniel said. ‘I think the whole town is in your debt. You know the marshal has resigned and the town council is meeting to appoint a new one?’
‘Yeah? Well, that’s a good sign.’
There was an awkward pause.
‘We were passing by,’ Daniel said. ‘We had some business in town and now we’re just on our way back to Willow.’
‘You didn’t think of taking a boat this time?’ Comfort said, making an effort to keep things light.
‘We just wanted to thank you for everything, and especially for what you did for our uncle.’ Corrina looked at him again. ‘It was very brave of you,’ she added.
Comfort didn’t know what to say. He felt very uncomfortable.
‘How is your uncle?’ he said.
‘His burns are quite bad but he’ll be OK. It’ll just take time.’
Comfort nodded.
‘Give our regards to your friends,’ Daniel said.
He held out his hand and Comfort took it. He glanced at Corrina but neither of them made any motion towards the other. Daniel flicked the reins and the carriage drew away, raising dust. Comfort watched for a moment, then turned when he heard sounds in the doorway of the house. Annie was coming towards him, hobbling on her stick.
‘Who is it?’ she asked.
‘Clayburne’s folks.’
She looked after the retreating carriage.
‘Why didn’t you invite them in?’ she said.
‘They had other business. They couldn’t stay,’ he replied.
They stood together till the carriage disappeared from sight, then he put his arm around her shoulders.
‘Come on,’ he said. ‘Let’s go back and join the others.’
Guns of Wrath Page 13