Another Saturday Night

Since a little socializing was long overdue and I still had a bone to pick with Emmett for sending that meddlesome preacher out here, I thought I’d go into town last night.

I was minded to hit town, the booze, the sheriff and anything that got in my way, but an hour in the saddle sapped the fizz right out of me and when I hitched my horse at The Lonesome Duck, I wanted nothing more than a peaceful drink. 

I sensed something wasn’t right as soon as I walked in. Outside of a funeral it ain’t customary to see so many men so quiet, but thirst came before caution as I strode to the bar, spurs jingling, boots clunking on the wooden floor.

Someone called my name as I ordered a whiskey at the bar. Though I recognized the voice from somewhere, I couldn’t place it.

‘Valance, is that you?’

A piece of the past jumped out at me when I heard the voice again. 

‘Howdy McKenna,’ I said as I turned around. ‘It’s been a long time.’ 

Other than a graying beard he hadn’t changed much in ten years; big and strong and wide as a door; same old buckskins; same old hunting knife strapped to his thigh. Same old McKenna, I thought, as my gaze strayed to his sidekicks. Seemed were having a friendly talk with a man they’d pinned to the wall; Sheriff Berry.

‘Ain’t it just,’ said McKenna. ‘Where was it now... Mahoney Springs... Glendale... Black Rock?’ 

‘Sherman Falls.’ 

‘Yeah, I remember now; we took you to a doc when you got an arrow in your back. Them injuns sure didn’t take kindly to watered whiskey. I guess you ain’t likely to forget Sherman Falls.’

‘Nope’ 

‘Well, ain’t this just like old times? It’s good to see you again Valance, you’re just in time to join the fun. The sheriff here objected to me and the boys having a little celebration, so we’re just gonna teach him some manners.’ 

McKenna’s sidekicks laughed. Four of them, I counted. Hell, if ever I saw a man in trouble it was the sheriff. Disarmed and bleeding at the mouth, he looked pitiful. Seemed nobody was anxious to help either, since those that weren’t sneaking out of the door were doing a fine job of minding their own business.

‘What’s the matter McKenna, ain’t five of you enough? I said. ‘Time was you’d have taken him on your own, with your fists.’ 

Right then the barkeep tried pouring me a whiskey. Jumpier than frog on a hot plate, he was spilling it everywhere when I steadied his hand and told him to leave the bottle. 

‘Time was you would too,’ McKenna replied. 

‘I’ve got a powerful thirst to take care of. If it’s all the same to you, I’ll just sit back and watch the show.’

Even as the first drop trickled down my throat, a fist connected with the sheriff’s jaw, sending him crashing to the floor. Nobody had eyes for me as they dragged him to his feet and set about beating him.

Blam!
 
Can’t say who was more surprised, McKenna and his boys or the sheriff, when they saw my smoking gun. 

‘Party’s over, McKenna,’ I said. ‘Stay right where you are, or I’ll put a bullet between your eyes.’ 

McKenna looked confused, like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Then his face twisted into a snarl. ‘Are you as good with that gun as you used to be?’

‘Nope, I’m better.’

‘We can take him!’ said a weasel faced kid with a few wisps of hair on his chin. ‘There’s five of us. He can’t get...’ 

Blam!

Weasel Face fell dead, the gun in his hand clattering across the floor.

Since his friends were quick to put their hands in the air, I only had to keep an eye on McKenna while the sheriff reclaimed his gun and rounded up those jaspers. 

My good deed for the day ended when I helped the sheriff lock them up.

‘I’m beholding to you Valance,’ he said when he hung up the keys and stroked his swollen jaw. ‘I just wish you’d jumped in a little quicker.’

‘Couldn’t be helped, Emmett. I had to wait for the right moment. Anyhow, you had it coming.’ 

‘Why’s that?’ 

‘For sending that preacher over to my place, that’s why,’ I said, as I poked him in the eye and hurried out of the door.