Skinwalkers by Bear Hill Page A

Hank shot a bird at both men’s backs.
    The bounty hunter lay propped up against the bar, his rifle held within the crook of an arm, Maxine at his side. He surveyed the captain.
    “You still ain’t told us what you’re doing here—“
    “You’ll address me as Captain ,“ Arrington said without looking in the bounty hunter’s direction.
    “ Captain Arrington,“ the bounty hunter said. “Or what happened to you and your men. Or why you got them at the door and windows looking out at the night like Santa Anna himself going to come marching down Main Street any moment—?“
    “I don’t have to explain myself to any murdering monkey-child like you.“
    The bounty hunter rose to his full height.
    “Yeah,“ Arrington said, finally turning to look the bounty hunter in his eye, “I seen your ilk before. Lincoln trains you niggers to shoot and now that the war’s over, you put a bullet in the back of the very white men who fought to free you. Tell me it ain’t true!“
    The bounty hunter gently pushed Maxine away from him. He stood straight and moved his Henry rifle into one of his ham-sized fists. “Captain, apologize .“
    “Men,“ the captain said. Muskets whirled to train themselves on the bounty hunter. Arrington looked to either side, smiling at the firepower he’d just called forth.
    “You’re yellow!“ The bounty hunter spat in a gesture of disgust.
    The captain motioned for two of his soldiers to approach the bounty hunter.
    “Bravery is a notion for children and idiots, assassin .“
    The two soldiers reached for the bounty hunter’s weapons. In the blink of an eye, the bounty hunter drew a revolver with his free hand.
    “Ah, ah, ah!“
    The bounty hunter looked to see the captain aiming his pistol directly at Maxine’s head. If Maxine’s eyes could’ve fired bullets, she would’ve killed Arrington where he stood.
    “Any trouble out of you, assassin, and not only will you go down in a blaze of glory, but the whore, too. Let’s have them.“
    Having little choice, the bounty hunter holstered his revolver and handed his rifle to one of the soldiers. He raised his hands above his head and the other soldier relieved him of his gun belt.
    “That’s better.“ Arrington holstered his gun. He strode up to the bounty hunter, a jackal’s grin on his face. “Now, I believe it is you who owes me an apology, nigger.“
    The captain punched the bounty hunter in his gut. The bounty hunter grunted, his knees bending for a second before he was able to upright himself.
    “Well, hell’s bells!“ The captain snatched the bounty hunter’s rifle and slammed its stock into the black man’s stomach. This time the bounty hunter dropped to his knees. The two soldiers on either side of him took hold of his arms. Arrington brought the rifle-butt back up and across the black man’s sharp, whiskered chin. The bounty hunter turned his head with the blow, blood spewing from his mouth.
    “A little more reasonable now, I suspect.“ The captain hunched over so that he looked the bounty hunter directly in the face. Arrington passed the bounty hunter’s rifle behind him, trusting one of his men to take it. “Now, how about that apology—?“
    “Fuck you,“ the bounty hunter said.
    “Fuck you!“ Pablo rocked on his haunches by the bar. “Fuck you! Fuck you!“
    Arrington backhanded the bounty hunter. The impact of fist against jaw made a popping noise audible throughout the room.
    “This ain’t right,“ Wilson whispered to Jimbo . “I know he’s just a colored, but this ain’t right.“
    A few of the soldiers, their rifles sagging in their hands, traded questioning glances with one another.
    “Last time I’m going to tell you, nigger : apologize!“ The captain didn’t wait for a reply. He struck the bounty hunter twice with his fists.
    “God damn it!“ Maxine screamed as she charged toward them. “You leave him alone!“ A soldier grabbed her before she could reach the captain. Maxine squirmed