Badlanders by David Robbins Page B

hadn’t taken his eyes off Jericho. “Do you know what happens when there are two roosters in the same barnyard?”
    â€œI do,” Jericho said.
    â€œHow about we get to it, then?”

7
    T o the considerable astonishment of nearly everyone, Edana Jessup picked that moment to step between Neal Bonner and Jericho and the three hard cases. Putting her hands on her hips, she demanded of Scar Wratner, “What is the matter with you?”
    â€œEdana, no,” Alexander Jessup said. “Move out of the way.”
    â€œI will not,” Edana said, glowering at Wratner. “I’ll ask you again, sir. What is the matter with you?”
    Scar didn’t seem to know what to say or do. He looked at her and then at Jericho, who appeared equally nonplussed. “What is the matter with
me
?” he repeated. “What in hell is the matter with
you
? Listen to your pa and move or you’re liable to take lead.”
    Beaumont Adams made a loud clucking sound. “No, no, no. You don’t want to do that.”
    Scar glared at him. “Another word out of you, cardsharp, and you won’t like what happens.”
    â€œHow about a dozen words?” Beaumont said, and paused. “Harm a hair on her head and you’re as good as dead.”
    â€œOh, I am, am I?” Scar swiveled toward him. “I’d like to see you try.”
    â€œMe?” Beaumont said in mock dismay. “It’s the rest of the town you have to worry about.”
    â€œWhat are you jabberin’ about?”
    â€œLook around you,” Beaumont said, and gestured.
    All along Main Street, people had stopped what they were doing to stare. Riders, those on foot, a man in a buckboard, were so many statues, awaiting the outcome.
    â€œYou’re a braver man than me, Scar Wratner,” Beaumont continued. “I’d never threaten to put lead into a woman with a whole town listenin’. Not when females are so scarce west of the Mississippi and even scarcer here in the Badlands. Why, shootin’ one would be worse than horse stealin’. Especially ladies as pretty as these two. Can you imagine how upset that would make the male population? It wouldn’t surprise me a bit if every man in town was to haul you to the nearest tree and treat you to a strangulation jig.”
    Scar looked up and down the street. “Son of a bitch.”
    â€œIf I was you I’d sheathe my horns,” the gambler advised gravely. “Do your shootin’ another time.”
    â€œDo you want I should gun him?” Grat asked Scar. “He gets on my nerves with all his prattle.”
    Scar shook his head. “No. He’s right. This ain’t the time to be slingin’ lead. We’ll go to the Tumbleweed and have us a drink there.” He went to walk off.
    â€œHold on,” Jericho said.
    Scar looked at him.
    â€œLet’s mosey on out into the street a ways and shoo everybody off and finish this.”
    â€œI’d just as soon,” Scar said.
    Before either could move, Edana Jessup whirled on Neal Bonner. “Are you just going to stand there like a lump of clay?”
    â€œWhat did I do?” Neal blurted, taken aback.
    â€œNot a blessed thing, and that’s the problem.” Edanajabbed a finger at Jericho. “Does he or does he not work for the Diamond B?”
    â€œHe does.”
    â€œAnd are you or are you not the foreman at the Diamond B?”
    â€œI am,” Neal said, becoming more bewildered by the moment.
    â€œAnd are you or are you not employed by the Badlands Land and Cattle Company?”
    â€œI am.” Neal liked how her cheeks flushed when she was mad.
    â€œAnd is my father or is he not the ranch manager duly appointed by the aforesaid Badlands Land and Cattle Company, for whom you work?”
    â€œThe what-said?” Tuck interrupted.
    â€œI didn’t hear your answer,” Edana said to Neal.
    Distracted by her looks,