I bite my tongue, nearly in two, but I get the next words out. The ones I’m sure he needs to hear. “I protect yourinterests. That was our deal, right?”
Maddock barely removes his gaze from Cypress for more than a second, but I still see it when he flicks his eyes to the floor, appearing slightly nervous before he shakes it off and nods. “It was. You planning on holding up your end of it?”
“Outside.” I turn, choosing not to acknowledge that last part before letting myself brave Cypress, letting him search my face in that all-seeing way he seems to have. “We take this discussion outside.”
There’s no real reason for him to agree. He’s better off in here where there are witnesses, even if none of them appear ready to come to his defense. But I trusted him last night when he silently told me to stand down. And I’m hoping that might be enough to convince him to at least consider—
Both of Cypress’s arms drop without hesitation, both guns returning to their holsters as he nods in my direction, then waits for his former opponent to do the same.
“Don’t,” I tell Maddock again when he hesitates, his finger still hovering near the trigger. “You’ll get your chance. But not here.”
A minute that feels like an hour passes before he finally nods, too. His arm falls in much the same way Cypress’s had, though far slower, and even if he doesn’t reholster his pistol, I feel like I’m able to start breathing once more.
“He goes out first,” Maddock says, gesturing toward Cypress and then his men. “You follow him. And you…” He addresses the older man. “You best stay out of it this time if you know what’s good for you.”
The man opens his mouth as if to reply, but thankfully looks to me before he does, sees me shake my head, and falls silent rightas Maddock steps forward. On reflex, I grab his arm before he can get far, and when I do, his eyebrows shoot up again, this time in anger as well as shock, but I don’t care. “Don’t do anything until I get there.”
“Andwhereare you—”
“Need to check my weapon over.” I say, not entirely having to lie about the excuse. “Before.”
“Really areprudent, aren’t you?” Maddock rolls his eyes, jerking his arm away. “Fine. Do whatever it is you need to do so long ashegets what he deserves. This is your chance to prove yourself, you understand?”
“I do,” I assure him, looking past his shoulder just in time to see Cypress hesitate by the door, his eyes finding mine as they’d done that first night I’d seen him. Before the first time I’d followed him.
How fitting for him to do it again before the last.
I’m grabbing my coat and hat and moving before the door has a chance to fully swing closed behind Maddock, gesturing for the older man to follow me as I take the shortest path toward the back of the saloon.
“You’re not…” he starts to say, practically having to jog to catch up. “You’re not going to leave him out there with them?”
“No,” I say, the word coming out a bit sharper than I intended. “And neither are you.” Quickly, I look back over my shoulder, pointing at the bartender so he understands my next order is for him. “You stand by the front door and you don’t let anyone in here. Otherwise you really will have a mess, you understand?”
He nods and goes to take his place as the older man asks, “What can I do?”
“You can go get your buddy,” I tell him as we arrive at the door to the alley, pausing before reaching for the handle. “When we step outside, you go left until you’re far enough away that you’re not going to be seen. Then, when you get to the sheriff, tell himhe needs to bring backup with him. More than a couple people.”
I glance to my right, catching the eye of the closest armed citizen inside the saloon. “You.Take this door when we leave and don’t let anyone back in if you want to remain alive. Got it?”
The man’s eyes widen, but he gets up to do as I say. Redeeming himself, albeit only slightly. When he assumes his position, I turn to the older man while I start checking my gun, just as I said I would.
“Tell me honestly,” I say, counting out the six rounds in the chamber. “He cheat?”
“No,” he replies, confidently. “Seems to me he only started actually playing.”
I nod. “That’s what I figured, but wanted to be sure.”
“What will you do?” he asks, expression shifting to concern. “You’ll go out there? On your own?”
“Not entirely on my own. I’d like to believe Cypress might participate in his own rescue.” I pause, noticing the way the older man is suddenly studying me. “What?”
“Didn’t realize the two of you were on a first-name basis.” The corner of his mouth twitches upward. “How’d that come about?”
“Must have…” I clear my throat, glancing around the room and wondering how long the men in here will actually have good sense to stay put despite the guards I’ve placed. “Must have overheard it.”
“Interesting,” the older man says. “Then you know mine, too? Since I gave it to you directly.”
“Sure I do. It’s…” My mind remains completely blank, though I know hedidgive it to me, and I sigh with exasperation before replying, “It’shurry the fuck up and go get some help when I open this door.”