The Reckoning by Len Levinson Page A

cowboy; it looked like war, and then the officer said, “You give me any trouble, Mr. Pecos, and I'll arrest you.”
    Duane leaned forward. “You're a lowdown skunk!”
    â€œThey'll throw me out of the army if I whip youbefore so many witnesses. Care to go outside?”
    Duane was poised to attack, when McGrath's hand dropped onto his shoulder. “You better settle down, boy. Yer in way over yer head. That's the Fourth Calvary yer a-talkin’ to, an’ if you fight one, you gotta fight ‘em all.”
    Duane was ready to fight them all, if that would win back Vanessa's love. He looked at Lieutenant Dawes's weatherbeaten features. “You'd better take good care of her,” he warned, “otherwise I'll kill you, and I don't make idle threats.”
    The general store was a spinning carousel as Duane lurched toward the door. He stepped outside, and stumbled among the shacks that comprised Shelby. He felt lost, defeated, and dismayed, catching strange flashes of a baby in a wagon, being driven to the monastery in the clouds.
    He sat heavily against the side of a building, out of sight of the saloon, and gazed at the open range. Two flat-topped mountains stood like sentinels overlooking rolling hills backlit by blazing stars. The truth of the universe blasted Duane loose from his moorings, and all he could do was bow his head to the Glory of God. Father in Heaven, forgive me.
    Now he understood why priests and brothers were celibate. Women make men crazy enough to kill each other, just like bucks during mating season. I threatened that officer, and he had a roomful of armed men with him. If I'd punched him, I'd be in shackles and chains right now, on my way to the stockade.
    Duane heard footsteps, and his hand dovetoward his gun. McGrath turned the corner of the building. “How're you doin'?”
    Duane shrugged. McGrath sat next to him, and rolled a cigarette slowly and deliberately with his callused hands. “Are you really the Pecos Kid?”
    â€œSo what if I am?”
    â€œI don't know what's eatin’ you, but it must be pretty bad.”
    â€œMy woman just told me that she's marrying that lieutenant, and I'm not feeling so hot.”
    â€œWhat'd you ‘spect from a woman? One day they want this—next day they want that—can't ever make up their minds! I been married to two, and lived with a few more, and I still don't understand ‘em.”
    â€œShe told me that she loved me, but I guess she lied.”
    â€œShe probably did, but they change their minds all the time, and don't know what the hell they want. You'd best settle down, otherwise you'll spend Christmas at Fort Leavenworth. Just take three deep breaths, and one step backward. And if'n you don't have a cat in that gunnysack when you get back to the ranch, you'd better start a-lookin’ fer another job.”
    Lieutenant Dawes knocked on Vanessa's door, then waited patiently. The faint sound of sobbing could be heard through the wooden planks. He turned the knob and saw her facedown on the bed, perfectly still. For a moment he thought she was dead, and Duane Braddock had murdered her, butshe turned her tearstained face toward him. “Please leave me alone.”
    â€œDid he do something to you?”
    She shook her head and sniffled. “I've broken his heart, poor little boy.”
    â€œAnd he just threatened to kill me—poor little boy my ass! I can't imagine how you could be serious about someone like that!”
    â€œYou should've seen the look on his face when I told him. He actually cried real tears.”
    â€œYou should've seen the look on his face when he was threatening to kill me. When it comes to sheer viciousness, he'd be hard to beat. I'm tempted to lock him up, but out of love for you, my dear, I'll let it ride.”
    She raised herself to a sitting position, and he lowered himself beside her. She kissed his cheek. “Thank you for being so understanding.