Chance

After lunch, Hawk said, "I will say bye to Seth and leave. Take care, brother."

"You too, brother."

I started downtown and got almost to the Bon Ton Saloon when the bat-wing doors opened and Jake Summers stepped out.

Jake said, "It's time, Marshal."

"Time for what?"

"Time for you to learn who runs things around here."

I stepped from the saddle and told Blacky to move. "Jake, you really don't want to do this."

"Yeah, I do. Nobody pistol-whips me, takes my gun, and locks me in jail. Nobody."

"Well, Jake, you draw a gun on me, and I will kill you."

With that, Jake went for his gun. I drew and shot him in the heart. Jake fired one shot that went into the dirt at his feet. Two men on the boardwalk in front of the Bon Ton started to pull their guns.

But Joe said, "I will fill both of you with buckshot if you touch them guns, boys."

Bob said from behind me, "All good here, Marshal."

Travis came riding hard from the direction of the office. The sheriff and one of his deputies came running with pistols in their hands. The sheriff walked up to Jake, knelt down, and checked the body.

He said, "He's dead."

I looked and said, "Who are these two?"

The sheriff said, "They work for Old Man Summers."

"Bob, Joe, bring them out here. Did you two know what Jake was planning here?"

"Yes, Marshal, but we couldn't do anything about it."

"You damn well could've told me or my deputies. Even the sheriff or his deputies. Might have saved this boy's life."