Calder Brand - Janet Dailey Page 0,9

appetizing as horse piss. But he was a cowboy and a man, and he knew what was expected of him. Bracing himself, he lifted the glass and took a swallow.

The cheap whiskey burned its way down his throat. The taste was sharp and bittersweet, but strangely compelling. He took another swallow, feeling the subtle heat spread through his body. By the time he’d emptied the glass, he felt strangely light-headed and mellow.

“More?” Zeke looked at him and grinned.

Joe nodded. Zeke laid a few more coins on the bar, and the bartender poured them another three fingers of whiskey. The second glass went down easier. Joe belched, then laughed at himself. His saintly mother, bless her, clearly didn’t know the meaning of a good time.

Zeke leaned over the bar and spoke to the bartender in a low voice. “Maybe you can tell us where to find some, uh, good-lookin’ ladies.”

The bartender sighed. From out of a box on the shelf behind him, he took two round copper medallions. “These will get you a dollar off at Madame Lulu’s, across from the railroad station. The house has a red door. You can’t miss it.”

The medallion warmed in Joe’s palm as they walked out of the saloon. He knew what Zeke had in mind, but things were happening too fast. He didn’t feel ready. Maybe he should just give his medallion to Zeke and wait for him outside while his friend got his money’s worth.

But the cheap whiskey was singing in his blood. He remembered lying next to the Calder wagon in camp, hearing the creak of the boards and the unmistakable sounds coming from under the canvas. He recalled the images in his mind and the strange yearnings that had tugged at him until he’d had to block his ears.

If he let this chance pass by, he’d be kicking himself all the way to Ogallala. And if Zeke let it slip that Joe Dollarhide had gotten cold feet, Joe could just imagine the snickers from the men.

So why was he still dragging his feet?

Following the bartender’s directions, they walked down the street to the railroad depot at the end. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe had just let off passengers and was backing into the yard to take on water and hook up a string of cattle cars before continuing on the long run to Pueblo. The few arriving passengers were already leaving the platform. Farther back, empty cattle cars waited on sidings. A small station house, set back from the tracks, stood farther down the platform.

On the nearest corner, separated from the platform by a dusty street, stood a tall house with a second-floor balcony. Covered steps led up to a plain door with a brass knocker. The paint on the door was peeling, but the crimson color was unmistakable.

Grinning, Zeke looked the house up and down. “This has got to be the place,” he said, walking Joe to the steps. “Are you ready for a good time?”

Joe didn’t reply. He had turned away, distracted by a ruckus on the platform.

Three big, dirty-looking cowboys were closing on a petite young woman. Surrounded, with no one there to help her, she was doing her best to fight them off. Her only weapon was the carpetbag she carried. She swung it like a club, landing harmless blows that only made the cowboys laugh.

At first they’d appeared to be teasing her. But then, with the platform left empty, their mood changed. The biggest man grabbed her arm, twisting it, ripping the sleeve and forcing her to drop the carpetbag. Joe knew what was about to happen, and he knew he had to stop it.

Tossing away the medallion, he plunged into the street. His boots left a trail of dust as he raced for the platform. He’d hoped that Zeke would follow him to help, but a swift backward glance told Joe otherwise. Zeke was already knocking on the red door.

“Come on, honey. Time for some real fun.” The man began to drag the girl, kicking and struggling, across the platform, back toward the line of empty cars. The other men followed, closing in behind.

Alone and unarmed, Joe sprang onto the platform and kept running. He didn’t have a chance against three big men, but he could at least distract them long enough for the girl to get away.

“Leave her alone!” he shouted, trying to get their attention. The cowboys gave him a glance, then returned their attention to the girl. Moving fast, Joe crashed