Lucky at Cards

Morgan had his eye on Spender, and May and Noah had a running pool regarding how long it would take her to shoot him.

Or how long it would take Big Mike. Big Mike had a protective streak a mile wide when it came to his cousin Kitrie, and he wouldn’t stand by and let Morgan write her off just because some looker had ridden into town. He damn sure wouldn’t let her get written off in favor of a mere bounty hunter, looker or no.

May thought he had his fortune made on this one. Ed Kitting had his money on Morgan, because Morgan had a good track record with the passing-through sort of ladies, while May and Noah had both known Spender long enough to know better than to think she’d fall in with the sort of man who fell in with ‘passing-through’ types. They sounded like the crowd down at the bar, the day before the races.

“Not much else to do around here,” May said when Garcy told them to shut up or get the hell off his porch. He offered to deal Garcy into the game he and Noah and Kitting had going, but he ducked back inside the office without acknowledging the offer. Liosse supposed he wasn’t apt to gamble with mercenaries.

“Too bad,” Noah said, “Could’ve used his help fleecing old Kitting here.”

“Doesn’t look like you need the help,” Kitting complained, shoving hair out of his face and considering his cards with a studiously blank expression Liosse was sure Noah saw right through. She was a mean hand at cards, and May, her usual gambling partner, mostly kept money in his pockets by refusing to play. He was kind of sulking about being dragged into this game, paying more attention to the street than to Noah and Kitting’s attempts to out-eyeball each other.

“How much is in that pool?” he asked, nodding across the street to where Morgan was hitching his horse.

“Not sure. A bunch.” Noah was busy calculating, trying to figure out cards Kitting and May likely held. She didn’t look up.

“I’d almost bet on Big Mike, if it didn’t feel so disloyal,” Liosse said, leaning back and putting his feet up on the railing. May snorted.

“Aw, Kitrie doesn’t need Big Mike to shoot Morgan. I’m sure she can do it herself.”

“Morgan’s likely to shoot himself, the way he moons after Spender. I doubt he knows which way his gun is pointing, half the time.”

“Doubt he knows which way his head is pointing,” Noah chimed in, and tossed a card onto the upturned barrel they used as a table.

“What’s the pool on that? Morgan shooting himself?” Liosse asked, watching May sort his cards.

“I think that’s a new one. Want in? If he does you’re likely to make a bunch,” May grinned, chewed his lip awhile, then turned his cards away when he caught Liosse looking over his shoulder.

“I’m not even playing,” Liosse said.

“Best not to have witnesses.”

“I’d like to know the odds on him winning Spender over,” Kitting said, drawing a card, then placing his hand face-down on the table to light a cigarette before continuing the game.

“Sure you want to make that bet?” May said, “Noah not have enough of your money already? Hell, if you’re so eager to give it away, give it to me.”

Across the street, Kitrie came out of the bar and leaned up against the rail, smiling at Morgan and chatting. Noah snorted. May said, “Oh, Morgan, you’re so blond and blue-eyed,” in a mock-feminine voice. Noah grinned.

“Liosse should go give her a shot if that’s all it takes,” she said.

“Hell, it takes a bit more than that,” Kitting said, finally tossing out a card, “It helps to not be pot-ugly.”

“A sheriff’s porch full of outlaws,” Liosse said, “I’ve got half a mind to get Garce to arrest the lot of you.”

“We’re not outlaws down here in Smithtown. We’re downright law abiding here,” Noah said. “And anyway, Garce wouldn’t have the heart.”

Garcy wouldn’t have the heart to arrest Noah, that was true. Wouldn’t arrest Liosse either, though more out of friendship and past history than lack of pitilessness. He’d complain up and down about them and the rabble they’d brought to the porch of his office, but he wouldn’t be the law in Smith at all if Liosse hadn’t stepped aside and let him have it. If Liosse hadn’t got sick of it, some years back, when the job was dirtier than it was now. May and Kitting, on the other hand, he’d gladly lock up--and throw the key away, too if it weren’t for the likelihood he’d need it to shove a couple more questionable sorts in with them.

Garcy mentioned it often, how close they were to being locked-up. The only reason he hadn’t yet arrested them, he said, was that then he’d have to listen to them chatter away inside the office when it was bad enough having them talk out on the porch. If he could find a way to shut the lot of them up, he said, things would be a damn sight different around Smith.

“’Course he couldn’t arrest a pretty thing like you,” Kitting said, and tapped ash onto the porch.

Noah didn’t take the bait, “’Course not,” she said with a wink, and started to reach for a card.

“It’s May’s turn,” Kitting said.

“Dammit, May.”

May glanced over, “Hand me a card.”

Noah rolled her eyes, but did, making a show of not peeking at it, “You playing or mooning after Morgan?”

“Reconnaissance,” May said, “I’ve got money in that pool.” He absently moved cards around in his hand, shaking his head as Kitrie re-entered the bar and Morgan didn’t follow, “I’m starting to think Big Mike is going to shoot him. Bastard’s damn fond of shooting folks, after all. Town’d be empty if he had his way.”

“Will you just go?” Kitting said, “If you’ve got a grudge with Mike you can sort it out after I’ve got your money.”

“After Noah has my money, you mean. You don’t seem to be holding on to those bills nearly as well as you’re trying to make out.”

“Just go, May,”

“You got that great a hand, Kitting?” Noah said, with a sly smile, “Or can you just not wait to lose?”

“No matter how long you drag it out, May--“

“Oh, for God’s sake,” Liosse snapped, and reached across to grab one of May’s cards and toss it onto the barrel.

“That’s a good way to get shot in some parts.” May said, without malice.

“Shoot me and Garce will throw away the key,” Liosse said.

“Doubt it. Big Mike shot at you and he’s still roaming about town,” May said, laying his cards on his stomach to rummage through his coat and coming up with matches and cigarettes.

“I believe he shot at you,” Liosse said, picking up the cards and sorting through them. May let him, busy trying to light his cigarette with matches that kept going out.

“The hell,” he cursed, tossing a spent match to the porch and striking another. This time it stayed lit.

“I’ll say,” Liosse made a face at the cards, “You’ve got the devil’s own luck here, May,”

“And there goes any chance to bluff my way out of it,” May said, getting to his feet, and taking his cards back to toss them on the barrel. “I’m out.”

“If he’s out, I’m not hanging around to let you take my money,” Kitting said to Noah, gathering his winnings up with one hand.

“Even if you quit, you still owe me from last time. Both of you,” Noah said, leaning back and grinning.

“Gonna have to rob someone before I’ve got a chance of clearing that debt,” Kitting said.

“You’re lucky I’m not a bank, or you’d be in for a world of interest.”

“If that’s the best luck I can count on,” Kitting said, but Liosse scooted up a chair to take May’s place and he let her deal again.