by Dale Chase
“How much?” I ask.
“Four hundred two. We’ll split it.”
“What about his stuff?”
“Take what you want.”
I can’t read Wade’s attitude on my killing Jack. He acts like nothing is wrong while he counts out seven stacks, acting like it’s loot just taken. I glance at Evan, who keeps his head down, polishing his gun to excess. I wish some of the other fellows would come in, but none do, and the cabin starts feeling hot when I know it’s not. I want to get up and go outside, maybe ride somewhere, maybe go up to Baggs, Wyoming, where they welcome outlaw trade. Get drunk and stay that way. I can almost feel the liquor in my gut, but I stay put, shut my eyes to it all.
“Well, look there,” Wade says.
I don’t want to look, but I do. So does Evan. I see Wade holding up a badge he’s taken from Jack’s satchel.
“U.S. Marshal,” Wade says. “Don’t that beat all. Think he was a lawman once?”
“Doubt it,” I say. “Probably took it off a fellow he killed.”
“Might come in handy,” Wade declares, putting the thing into his pocket.
Once everything is gone through, Wade leaves the pile on Jack’s bed and I stare at it, thinking how a man has disappeared. Here yesterday, gone today, and how quick it was. Killing Jack took less time than Wade going through his things.
Silence fills the cabin until Wade, taking up the whiskey bottle, says he thinks we should do another job. “We was talking on the bank in Lovell, remember? Back before Evan brought us Kettner.”
“Why so soon?” I ask. “You out of money? I’m not.”
Wade takes a long swig of liquor, pauses, takes another, then replies, “No, I’m not out of money, but there’s more reason than that. It’s what we do and I’m feeling Lovell is ripe.”
“Banks are always ripe.”
“You saying you’re not with me?”
“No, I’m saying there’s no hurry.”
Wade’s color is coming up. He takes one more drink of whiskey, looks at Evan, then says to me, “Let’s talk outside.”
“Fair enough.” I follow him out and we walk over by one of the corrals. Nobody’s around. “What’s eating you?” I ask, “because something surely is.”
He blows out a big sigh, then looks me head on. “I ain’t blind, Roy. You’re taken with the kid, and you don’t come near me anymore.”
I take this in, then attempt to turn him elsewhere. “What’s that got to do with robbing a bank?”
“It’ll give me a stake, that and the Kettner money. Then if you want me out, I’ll go.”
“I don’t want you out,” I lie. “Christ, Wade, we’re a team, we run this outfit together.”
“But it’s not the same now. It’s always been good, but not now.”
“Well, I’m sorry for that. I’ll admit to being taken with the kid, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care for you.”
“Care for me? I want you to fuck me, Roy, not care for me. Show me it’s still the same. Fuck me here and now.” He starts undoing his belt.
“Don’t, Wade. Please.”
He’s got his pants open now and I don’t know what to do. I doubt I could get stiff for any man at present. When he starts to push down pants and drawers, I reach to stop him, but he slaps me back, then bares himself. “I know why you killed Jack,” he says. “You fucked the kid when you scouted Kettner. I could see it on you, smell it, and if I took note, Jack sure as hell did, too. Only way to show me otherwise is you give it to me right now.”
“I couldn’t even if I wanted.”
He stands bare-assed, then steps toward me, dick in hand. I put out my hand to stop him.
“Please, Wade. Don’t put me on the spot like this.”
“Wasn’t but a couple weeks ago that you couldn’t get enough.”
“That’s true, and okay, yes, things have changed, but you and me never declared for one another. No promises were made. I didn’t ask for Evan to strike me like he has.”
Wade’s shoulders slump and he pulls up his pants, buttons up, and fastens his belt. In the look he passes me before walking away, I see he might be caring more than he’ll admit, though showing it is a first. I almost want to stop him, but I’ve no idea what I could say that wouldn’t make things worse.
* * * *
Later that day, Wade gathers the men and says he’s tired of sitting around and wants to hit the bank in Lovell. “Harry, you and me will go up there and scout the place. Pack up and let’s get moving.”
Nobody objects. Nobody points out we still have money. Wade has always planned things, and we go along. Of course, first thing I think on is how I’m going to get after Evan while Wade is gone. When I glance at him, I find him standing with hand at his crotch.
“Take a ride with me,” I tell him once Wade leaves.
He grins, knowing what I’m about.
We saddle up and ride way out, past the horse herd, going beyond the edge of the ranch to where some big rocks stand in a kind of circle. I know the place because Wade and me have used it. Once there, we leave the horses to munch grass while we take bedrolls into this circle nature has given us. The passage to get in is so narrow, a man has to slip in sideways, but once inside, it’s like a little round room open to the sky. It’s hot in there, but I don’t care. Without a word, we strip naked and I take Evan standing against the rock, so eager to get into him that I come in about two strokes. He’s just as pent up, spraying his stuff onto the rock. Once done, I pull him around and kiss him, still hungry.
“Wade’s onto us, isn’t he?” Evan says when we lie together on our little bed.
“Yep. That’s why the Lovell job. He needs to be occupied, else he’ll go nuts.”
“I’m sorry to get between you.”
“That’s not your fault. You were invited in and things just happened.”
“Jack didn’t think so, and Wade doesn’t seem to either.”
I crawl down to suck his dick to shut him up, and he gets his mouth on me to do the same. As we feed, I care on nothing else, my life complete with him.
When thirst overtakes us, I tell Evan there’s water close by, and he giggles as we run naked to a tiny spring. The horses have already discovered it and look on as we lie drinking. Once full, we stand and I take Evan into my arms, noting his dick hard against me.
“Don’t that thing ever go soft?” I ask.
“Now and again.”
He’s rubbing against me and I’m stirring, thinking to get at him again, when he says, “Let me put it to you, Roy.”
I flinch, but Evan holds on.
“Think on how good it was last time. Well, this time will be better and I want to be inside you, Roy. I need that something awful.”
We slip back into our little “room,” and when he stands pulling his dick, I feel somewhat lost, what with always having taken control. Maybe that’s part of it, letting him take charge, but then I think back to how it was with him inside me, and I drop down on all fours. When he mounts me, I feel myself rising to heaven, and when he comes, shouting how I’m taking his stuff, I nearly swoon, such is the pleasure.
When he’s done, he lies atop me, kissing my neck. “Turn over,” he says as he rolls off.
I do as asked, being somewhat still in that swoon, and he goes down to take my cock into his mouth. He proceeds to suck and play until I finally shoot a gusher into his sweet mouth.
* * * *
It’s nearly suppertime when we ride back to the cabin. We stink with sex and sweat, but I don’t care. I’m not about to miss the meal because of that.
Everyone is seated when we come in. All look at us, then back to their food as we take seats. Bowls are passed to us and we dish out stew, take biscuits. Evan sits next to me, and as we eat, he rubs his leg against mine.
Wade and Harry are gone three days, Lovell being more distant than Kettner. I think of Wade a couple times, wondering if he’ll get up to something, though it won’t be with Harry, since he doesn’
t go our way. The rest of the time, Evan and me are like rutting pigs, that room in the rocks feeling like a wallow. He mounts me every day, sometimes more than once, and I get into him all kinds of ways. And on the third day, when we lay spent, things spill out of me without consent.
“You know I have feelings for you, Evan. Way beyond the sex.”
“I feel for you, too, Roy. Feel like I never have. You make me happy, and after Bart died, I didn’t think I’d ever get that.”
“You think it’s maybe love?”
“Don’t know.”
“Men can love each other,” I tell him.
“Then I guess I do, only…”
“Only what?”
“Wade. You two appear paired.”
“Nope. That’s not the case. Not at all.”
“You sure? I see him angry and also hurt.
“He’s pissed I’ve left off him,” I argue. “That’s all.”
“Just saying. I’m not about to leave off you for any reason, but still, just saying.”
“Well, stop saying.”
* * * *
We do horse work when Noble gets more stock. We never ask who rustles them—sometimes just three or four coming in, sometimes a dozen or more. He buys them, then sells them later, and that, along with what we give him, keeps him going. So Evan and me work alongside, which is good, working up a sweat in a different way.
Nights in the cabin are hell because we know to spare the men our urges. Doesn’t much matter because we wear ourselves out during the day, at each other if no work to be done. Then Wade and Harry come back and we have to back it off.
“How’s it look?” I ask Wade, wanting things to appear like usual.
“Not as ripe as Kettner. There’s a marshal and two deputies who appear on the level. And get this, there’s a bank guard. You ever heard of such a thing?”
“I have,” says Evan. “In big cities. Bart told me he’s seen it in Cheyenne and Dodge.”
“Well, it’s catching on, but that don’t mean we can’t do the job. I figure to go in looking rough, parcel under my arm. That’ll be a rifle, and I’ll take out the guard right off. Then we do the job regular.”
“Shoot going in?” I ask.
“Yep.”
We’ve never fired unless fired upon, and that’s always going out, not coming in. I’m not sure I like this turn, but say nothing because I want Wade to have his way.
“We found a spot for the spare horses. There’s a rancher name of Boyer who’s about at his end, and for fifty dollars he’ll let us use his barn and whatever else we need. It’s about twenty miles south of Lovell. Good spot. We can hide out there, if need be, but we can decide that then, depending on the posse. I can’t tell if Lovell has that already organized, like some places have started doing. Asked around, but not enough to raise eyebrows. Couldn’t gain much of an idea, but I’m told the marshal is hardline.”
“When do you want to do it?” asks Virgil.
“Couple days.”
I leave off Evan those couple days, which is hell, but I don’t want to get Wade riled. It’s a lousy spot we’re in, and Evan, being so young, takes to pouting, which I find both annoying and endearing. Nights I hear him abusing himself.
* * * *
Day before we start for Lovell, Wade decides who’ll do what. When he says Evan is to be outside with the horses, I see the kid bristle, but am relieved he doesn’t object. Wade says four will do the job—Wade, Me, Virgil, and Harry—with Leland and Evan outside. We need only one man at Boyer’s, since Boyer and his son will be there. When Wade asks if we have any questions, I speak up.
“Noon?”
“Noon. The place cleared out then and the guard ate a boxed lunch where he sat.”
“Maybe we can catch him with his mouth full,” I offer. “Knock him down instead of shoot him.”
Wade glares at me, appearing to forget we’re partners in running things, but he turns and says it’s time to drink to our upcoming success. He fetches the whiskey and we all take a swig, then he takes another, and another.
I offer no comment, thinking it maybe best he’s a little soused.
* * * *
On the appointed day, we saddle up and tie on bedrolls because we’ll camp on the way to Lovell. Each man carries a sack with food or eating implements so we can at least enjoy meals on the way there. Once the job is done, there’ll be little concern for eating, only for running.
Riding out, Wade is next to me, Evan back with the others and the extra horses. I know he gets that this pairing is necessary. Trouble is, something starts to needle me about Wade, like how everything appears like was before Evan arrived when it’s not. This makes me wonder if something might be up his sleeve, which leads me to further wonder if maybe Wade has bad plans for Evan. If there’s gunfire, which is likely, a stray bullet could hit the kid and nobody could say who fired. Except maybe me.
I glance at Wade, who appears to calm, so I say “Let’s get moving.” I spur my horse and set off at a good clip, everyone following. This faster going chases off any thoughts but the ride.
Wade had scouted a stand of trees beside a small creek that’s about halfway to Lovell, and here we camp for the night. Harry, being somewhat domesticated as a married man, does the cooking, frying bacon and potatoes, making coffee. Best camp food we’ve had in some time, and it puts fellows in good spirits, as does whiskey. We need not take care on drinking too much since the job is two days away, and as the campfire finally dies away, the men fade as well. Evan has laid his bedroll next to me and I’ve got Wade on the other side so there’s some danger in him getting his hand under my blanket to fool around. Soon I’m doing the same with him, all as Wade starts to snore. Under a clear sky, we both manage release.
* * * *
Next day, we ride to the Boyer place, which is downtrodden at best. The few cattle scattered nearby are thin, the two horses looking much the same. The barn we are to use appears ready to fall down, as does the house, which was likely not much in the first place. Wade says Boyer’s wife died last year and he’s not done well. He has a son attempting to keep things together, and he’s the one who welcomes us.
He couldn’t be even twenty, yet to fill out, but his eyes are ringed dark, and he’s unwashed. When I shake his hand, I find it bony.
“I’m Ethan,” he says. He’s a sad case, yet when we speak, he smiles and there are good teeth. I can see he’s excited by our presence. “Coffee’s on, if you want some. Pa’s in the house.”
“Thanks for the hospitality,” I tell him.
While Dewey and Leland herd the horses into a corral that appears the only solid thing about the place, the rest of us go inside, where we find Jim Boyer sitting at his kitchen table.
“Fellows,” he says without getting up. “Help yourself to coffee and whatever else is around. Ain’t much, but you’re welcome to what I have.”
“Thanks, Jim,” says Wade. “Coffee will be fine.”
As we sit at the table, Wade explains to Jim what will happen. “We’ll come in hell-bent tomorrow afternoon, having ridden hard from Lovell. We’ll stop to changes horses, then move on, so I’ll pay you the fifty now.” Wade counts out the money. “We don’t expect a posse to figure you in on things, and if they come by, you say you never saw us. That’ll maybe get them thinking they’re on the wrong trail. But you may see nobody. Can’t tell. Just keep your mouth shut with any law or anybody asking after us.”
“Deal,” says Boyer. “This fifty will help us more than you know.”
“You’re the one doing the helping. We’ve got our spare horses in your corral. If you can spare them some oats, it would be appreciated. We’ll be riding on to Lovell now, stay the night there. What do you know about the law and such?”
“Marshal Dobbs don’t take no shit, keeps things in line, and his deputies are the same. Real law-and-order man.”
“What about that bank guard?”
“Jack Fraser. I don’t think he’s ever fired his gu
n, but you never know with fellows like that. Could prove eager in the right circumstance.”
Soon, we’ve left the Boyer place and ride on to Lovell, which we reach about dusk. It appears like many other towns, larger than Kettner, but not by much. New buildings are under construction, which means money, and when I glance at Wade, he nods, knowing my thoughts.
We stable the horses, then get rooms at a hotel, doubling up, as is the custom. Wade says nothing, just takes one of the keys and starts up the stairs, leaving me caught between him and Evan. Harry and Leland, being the married men, room together, leaving me to take up with Wade and leave Evan to Dewey, who I know will get after him. This is what Wade likely expects, and I find Evan wide-eyed at such a prospect.
“You go in with Wade,” I tell Dewey. “Evan can room with me.”
Dewey, who is not a bad-looking man, but has rotten teeth that give him a smell, looks uncomfortable at the prospect of bedding down with Wade. I can’t tell if he’s thinking to get up to something or fearing to get hell beat out of him if he tries. “Okay, Roy,” he says and follows Wade upstairs.
“Let’s get a drink,” I tell Evan once we’ve tossed bedrolls and saddlebags into the room.
He grabs me, runs a hand down between my legs, which I allow for a couple minutes. Then I ease him back. “Drink, supper, then we’ll get to it.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
The saloon next to the hotel does us fine, as does supper later at a place across the street. “So far, I’m liking Lovell a lot,” I tell Evan.
His color is up from the drink and food, not to mention his spirits. He leans forward and silently mouths a “fuck me,” which sets me to laughing.
Not long after this, I do as asked.
It’s well into the night when we come up for air. I’m happily beat, eager to let sleep take me, except something starts needling me.
“Tomorrow when we do the job, keep an eye on Wade when we come out.”
“Why?”
“If shooting starts, I fear he might send a bullet your way.”
“He’d do that?”
“I’ve no idea, but he’s onto us, and me not doubling up with him tonight may be too much for him to bear. If lead starts flying tomorrow, he can shoot you and not be accountable.”