Western Omelette

There and gone

Hiram stared at Hoke, assessing his statement. "You were delirious from getting shot, and just waking up. You sure about what you're sayin'?"

"It was him. He told me he read about Alicia in the paper, and he spent some time figurin' whether he should take a chance or forget it altogether. Then he said, he felt he owed it to his sister, to his whole family, to take what might be a last chance to spend some time with kin."

Hiram waved for another coffee and chewed his lip. "How come he just happened to be at Crawford Canyon when all this took place?"

"He had been in the area a while – out of sight. He was just watchin' and waitin', and he found out about me meeting Alicia, and about Montgomery burnin' my place. Turns out he paid him a visit."

"Montgomery?"

"Yep. I don't think the Double M has an owner at the moment. He learned about Houseman but he missed him in town after that fiasco with Houseman's men and the Mexicans. Never saw when I went chasing after him either, and by the time he tracked us to the canyon, I'd been shot and Houseman had taken off.

Hiram's coffee arrived, and it sat, getting cold. "So he left you there and went after them?"

"Prob'ly looked and thought I was a goner. After he caught up with Houseman, Alicia made him hurry back to me, and she worked a little miracle I guess."

"And Houseman?"

"Horn killed 'im."

They heard an audible gasp nearby, and turned in time to see the couple rise from their chairs and hurry from the dining room.

"They should have waited for the newspaper version." Hiram tasted his cold coffee and winced.

"So, get what you needed?"

"Would have preferred not to get these," He said placing his hand on the badge and papers, "but I guess you know what you want. Did he ever mention the fact that you were trying to trap him?"

"He found all that out from his niece. Didn't bring it up with me, but I could tell he thought about what he might do just the way he looked at me."

Hiram took out some money and set it on the table. "I'll need a quick word with Miss Potter before I go – just some confirmation."

"I know. Let me go up first and tell her."

"Sorry, no." He gave Hoke a sympathetic shrug. "Need it straight and fresh from the pot, son. You understand."

Hoke nodded, and watched the Pinkerton man leave.

****

"Is it all over now? Are we finished with this business?" Alicia gripped Hoke's arm and leaned close to him on the buggy, as they journeyed to the new cabin.

"Hope so. Unless your uncle decides he really didn't like what I had planned."

"He won't bother us. We talked it all out, and I was impressed with his honesty about his past actions – including Houseman and your neighbour."

"I sure would like to have heard that meeting."

"Well, however it went, you saw the results out there. The cabin will be finished before the week is out, and the Double M will be paying you a monthly fee for watering its cattle on your land."

"Payin' us a monthly fee for our land, Mrs. Easterly." Hoke turned on the seat and kissed her, letting the team lead themselves. The ceremony had been quick and dirty, with Harold as a reluctant best man, and the prisoners, all threatening and hollering from their cell windows, as the newly-weds left town.