Bannerman the Enforcer 45 Page 2

  “Hold it, gents,” Cato said, but he was too late.

  Slick Magee suddenly jumped out of his chair, his right arm out in a straight line. Cato knew there was a spring harness under Magee’s sleeve that would send a derringer into the palm of his hand in the bat of an eye.

  But, as fast as Magee was, Yancey was faster. The Enforcer came out of his chair and there was a blazing Colt in his hand before Magee could cock the small derringer. The gambler looked shocked as Yancey’s bullet smashed into his right arm at the elbow. He staggered six feet from the table before a scream escaped from his throat. Then, blubbering in his agony, the gambler dropped to his knees and sagged forward, his forehead against the sawdust as he hugged his shattered arm to his chest.

  Yancey stared coldly at Magee through the gun smoke and slowly sent his gaze around the stunned room as he backed up. Drawing level with Cato, he said, “He’s needed that for a long time.”

  Then Yancey passed Cato and left the saloon through the side door. Cato went out the batwings and caught up with Yancey on a side street near the hotel. He froze as Yancey whirled, his Colt in his hand.

  “Don’t shoot,” Cato said. “It’s me—Johnny.”

  Yancey hesitated before holstering his Colt. Then he leaned back against a building, thumbing back his hat and rubbing hard at this forehead.

  “You got that headache again?” Cato asked.

  Yancey whipped his hand away. “Hell, it’s only a hangover.”

  Cato looked dubious. “Listen, what’s wrong, Yance?”

  “What the hell do you mean?”

  “You know what I mean. Somethin’s wrong with you. You’re edgy as hell, and you’re raisin’ hell all over town. Don’t think Dukes is gonna like you bustin’ up Magee that way, even if he was four-flushin’.”

  “He was cold-deckin’ all night. I just forced him into the open was all.”

  “But you never had any proof. It could’ve been a streak of good luck.”

  Yancey looked steadily at Cato. “Hombres like Magee make good luck happen.”

  Cato sighed and nodded. “Yeah, okay, so he has a rep for bein’ a four-flusher. But the governor still ain’t gonna like it. Listen. How about you and me takin’ the rest of our leave down in San Antone or mebbe El Paso? There’s them Chavez sisters we ain’t seen in a coon’s age and that young one fancies you. I can tell you she knows every trick to make a man happy.”

  Yancey didn’t seem to be listening. He was going through his pockets. Suddenly he held up his hands, counting a few coins and one-dollar notes. He looked at Cato.

  “Johnny, how about you stakin’ me to fifty bucks?”

  “For what?”

  “I hear there’s a game goin’ on in the back room of the Trailman’s Rest. Big stakes. I reckon I could run fifty into five hundred before the night’s out. Not a bad profit, huh? How about it, amigo?”

  Cato frowned at Yancey. “Are you and Dukes up to somethin’ I dunno about?”

  Yancey looked blank. “What the hell’s Dukes got to do with me playing poker? What’re you talking about, Johnny?”

  Cato, still frowning, shook his head and sighed. “Nothin’. Just a crazy notion I had.”

  “Well, have all the notions you want, but lend me that fifty first, huh?”

  “Nope.”

  Yancey stiffened. “What? Hell almighty, how many times have I staked you? How many times have I saved your neck from husbands on the prod? Or from outlaw lead? Judas priest, man, the least you can do for me is stake me to fifty bucks!”

  Cato was silent for a spell, his face hard. Suddenly he reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of money. Without counting it, he thrust it into Yancey’s hands.

  Yancey grinned. “Muchas gracias, amigo! You’ll get it back with interest!”

  Then, shoving the money into his pocket, Yancey turned and hurried into the night.

  Cato stared coldly after his partner, wheeled around sharply and crossed the plaza, starting up the long slope of Capitol Way towards The Hill and the governor’s mansion.

  Lester Dukes was not a well man and hadn’t been for many years. The strain of governing Texas might have killed him long ago if he hadn’t been able to ease some of his pressures onto his daughter Kate’s willing shoulders. Kate did all she could to make the burden of office lighter for her ailing father, and she did it cheerfully and willingly, asking only that her father enjoy better health. The only person she cared as much about was Yancey Bannerman.

  Cato knew this and had done his best to talk in private with the governor, but Dukes’ gaunt face was seamed with pain and Kate refused to leave his side.

  “Whatever you have to say, Kate can hear it, John,” the governor said weakly. “Kate knows all my business so I reckon there can’t be anything you can say that she oughtn’t hear.”

  Cato looked at the beautiful woman administering brownish medicine to the governor. She was in her mid-twenties, her beauty showing in every curve of her lithe body and even-featured face. She smiled at Cato and the warmth in her eyes reached out and touched him.

  “Governor—Kate—it’s Yancey. Either of you seen him since he got back from that last assignment?”

  Kate frowned. “We went to the Gilded Peacock Theatre a few nights ago, Johnny. But I haven’t seen him since then. In fact, I was wondering why he didn’t come around as he promised ...”

  Cato nodded. “How about you, Governor?”

  “Well, I had him in here after I had a complaint about his brawl with those four cowmen. He said he had had too much to drink, otherwise it wouldn’t have happened.” Dukes paused. “I heard, sort of unofficially, that Yancey stretched you out, too, John.”

  Kate looked sharply at her father and then at Cato.

  “I guess it was an accident,” Cato said.

  “You guess?” Kate said.

  Cato shrugged. “Yance was mighty riled at the time. Guess he didn’t realize who he was hittin’.”

  Kate shook her head. “That’s not like Yancey. He’s usually in control at all times.”

  “You’re right,” Cato said. “It ain’t like Yance at all. Nor is gamblin’.”

  Dukes and Kate gave Cato their full attention as he went on: “He lost a couple of hundred tonight already. Shot down Slick Magee ’cause he was four-flushin’, or so Yancey claimed—”

  “The hell you say!” snapped the governor. “Yancey shot down Magee? I’m surprised he even played with that thief.”

  “For high stakes, too,” Cato said. “Then he borrowed dinero off me and went lookin’ to get in a big game in the back room of the Trailman’s Rest. When I wasn’t keen to lend him the money, Yancey reminded me how many times he saved my hide and that I owe him a helluva lot more than fifty bucks.”

  “I can’t believe it!” Kate exclaimed. “It doesn’t sound in the least like Yancey.”

  “Which is why I’m here,” Cato said. “I think there’s somethin’ wrong with Yance.”

  “Something very wrong,” Dukes put in, “if Yancey is behaving as you say, John.”

  “Take my word for it, he is. And I figure it’s somethin’ to do with his head.”

  “His head?” Kate said.

  “He keeps rubbin’ at his forehead and complainin’ that he’s got a hangover, even though we ain’t been drinkin’ much, no more’n four or five whiskies at a time. Unless Yance hits the bottle after I go to bed, but I don’t think so. I heard him moanin’ and callin’ out in his sleep, too. Can’t make out what he’s sayin’ through the wall, but that sure ain’t like Yancey.”

  “Of course it isn’t,” Kate said, looking worried. “As you’ll recall, almost a year ago he had that bad head wound and we wondered if he would gain full use of his faculties because a sliver of bone was pressing against his brain. Dr Boles said at the time that he was worried about brain damage if Yancey received another head injury.”

  Johnny Cato’s gaze met Kate’s anxious eyes and held them steadily for a moment before he turned to D
ukes. “I can’t think of any other explanation, can you?”

  “No,” Dukes answered. “I can’t.”

  Three – Fall

  It was pitch dark when Kate Dukes awoke with the certain knowledge that someone was in her bedroom moving towards her.

  Just as she started to scream, a hard hand was clamped over her mouth and she was pulled tightly against a man’s body. She tried to twist free as the buckle on his gun belt dug into her shoulder through her thin nightgown. But her struggles ceased as he spoke.

  “Don’t be frightened, Kate. It’s me. Yancey.”

  He took his hand from her mouth and she knelt on the bed, straining to see him in the darkness. She heard him moving around and then a match flared and he touched its flame to a lamp wick. He looked feverish as he set the lamp on the bedside table.

  “Sorry to frighten you, Kate.”

  “What time is it?” she asked.

  “Dunno. One-thirty, two maybe ...”

  “Good grief, Yancey!”

  “It don’t matter.” He took her shoulders between his big hands and looked into her eyes. “Kate, I’ve got to have some money.”

  She was stunned by his words. “How much?”

  “All you can lay your hands on.”

  “What on earth’s happened, Yancey?”

  “Never mind. We’re wastin’ time. They won’t wait forever.”

  “Who won’t wait?”

  “The fellers at the Trailman’s Rest. In the poker game.”

  Kate’s eyes widened. “Poker? Do you have the hide to bust in here at this hour, wake me up and scare me half to death, all because you want some money to—to gamble with?”

  Yancey’s eyes had a crazy glint to them. “Yeah,” he said defiantly. “Yeah, that’s right. That’s exactly right. Hell, if I can’t ask you to stake me, who can I go to?”

  “I don’t know, Yancey, but I’m certainly not going to give you any money to gamble with!” She got off the bed and went to him, looking into his strained, angry face. “Oh, Yancey, calm down, please. Look. I’ll fetch Dr Boles and he can give you something for your head. Then—”

  “What the hell’re you talking about?” Yancey snapped, wrenching free of her grip. “My head’s all right. I don’t want to see Boles.”

  Kate slumped. “Oh, Yancey!”

  He glared at her. “The hell with it! If you aren’t gonna gimme any money I’ll try someone else.” He started for the door. “Yancey, wait! Please!”

  She ran around the bed after him but he straight-armed her, knocking her back across the bed, and then he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

  Kate sobbed into her pillow.

  Doctor Boles sat back thoughtfully in his chair and nodded slowly to the red-eyed girl. “What you say is possible, Kate, but I would have to examine Yancey to make sure.”

  “I’d be mighty obliged if you’d do just that, Doctor,” Kate said, struggling to keep her tone level.

  Boles glanced at her shrewdly. “He didn’t—harm you?”

  She shook her head. “No. He only pushed me onto the bed. It was just the shock of seeing him like he was. Doctor, if I can get him here to your office ...”

  “I’ll handle it from there,” Boles assured her.

  But it wasn’t that easy. Yancey wouldn’t listen. She found him returning to his room in the Lone Star Hotel, staggering, his face wolfish and wild after an all-night poker session. He shook off her hand on his arm.

  “No, I don’t wanna come to the mansion for supper, Kate. All I wanna do is sleep for a spell. Then I’m gonna go and win my money back from them sidewinders.”

  “Oh, Yancey! For Heaven’s sake!” Kate was angry with him now. Seeing a hint of shock in his eyes, she followed through. “You’re behaving very badly. It’s not like you at all. You’re worrying everyone, all your friends, including Johnny Cato.”

  “What’re you talking about?” he murmured. “Worryin’ people? Me?”

  Kate sighed. “I just ran into Johnny Cato. He told me that you’re writing I.O.U.’s you can’t hope to honor.”

  “’Course I can honor ’em, as soon as the banks open. Just let me be, damn it, let me be!”

  He went on up the stairs, rubbing at his forehead as Kate looked on helplessly.

  Finally, Governor Dukes sent Cato with an order for Yancey to go straight to the house on Capitol Hill, where Doctor Boles was waiting to examine him.

  Yancey simply ignored the order.

  Cato got a second written order from the governor, but by then Yancey had gone to the Trailman’s Rest and was involved in another poker game.

  “Governor’s waitin’, Yance,” Cato said.

  The big Enforcer looked up irritably from dealing the cards. “I’m busy.”

  “Hell, man, don’t be stupid!” Cato’s patience was wearing razor-thin. “I said the governor is waitin’!”

  Yancey dealt out the rest of the cards to the uneasy players and placed the remainder of the deck before him on the baize cloth. He picked up his hand and fanned out the cards slowly.

  “It’s a top-priority order,” Cato said.

  “I’ll be there later,” Yancey said.

  “When?”

  “We’ll see. Okay, who’s openin’?”

  The hand went on. Yancey drew a deuce to a pair. The opener bet twenty. A cowman raised him fifty. Yancey saw the bet and the raise, then bumped it a hundred. The others threw in their hands and Yancey turned his cards over.

  “Judas priest!” hissed his opponent. “I had three treys.”

  Yancey laughed. “Way it goes. Okay, who’s dealin’?”

  Cato dropped a hand on his shoulder. “Yancey, the governor!”

  “I’m hot,” Yancey said. “Can’t come now. I’ll be along directly.”

  Cato’s jaw tightened. He stepped back and players and watchers scattered as the Manstopper appeared in his hand and he rammed the two muzzles against Yancey’s spine. The big Enforcer stiffened.

  “Now …” Cato said.

  Yancey smiled faintly. “You won’t use that on me.”

  “Mebbe not. But I’ll gladly gun whip you and then drag you up to Capitol Hill unless you come peaceable. We’ve all had a bellyful of you, Yance!”

  Yancey turned, genuinely puzzled. “Hell, take it easy, Johnny. You say the governor’s waitin’? All right. No need for the hardware. If he wants to see me, I’ll come along with you.” He looked at the stunned players. “You fellers keep a seat warm for me.”

  He pocketed his money and stood up, winking at Cato as he waited for his partner to accompany him to the batwings. Cato frowned at the abrupt about-face, then he sighed, put away the Manstopper and walked to the batwings.

  “Does it hurt when I press here?”

  “No, Doc.” Yancey grinned up at the sober Doc Boles as the man moved around, putting gentle pressure on various parts of Yancey’s skull.

  “Here?”

  “Nope. Look, if you just give me somethin’ for this headache, Doc ... Judas priest!” Yancey almost jumped out of the chair. He sagged back, breathing hard, his face twisted in pain. “What the hell’re you trying to do to me, you old quack?”

  Boles blinked at the insult and stepped back. “Take it easy, Yancey. I’m just trying to determine if you have any undue pressure on your brain. From your reaction I’d say you do ...”

  Yancey suddenly slapped the medic’s hand aside as Boles reached out to test the tender area again.

  “Get the hell away from me!”

  “Yancey, I’ve got to see what’s what. I’ll try not to hurt you again. If you’ll just sit down ...?”

  “Like hell!” Yancey thrust the medic aside and started for the door, scooping up his hat.

  “No, Yancey! Don’t go!” Boles lunged after him but Yancey had already wrenched open the door and was storming into the passage. Boles went after him and shouted to the Ranger on guard down the hall, “Stop him, Jed!”

  The Ranger lunged at Yancey but the big En
forcer stepped nimbly aside, whipped out his Colt and pistol-whipped the man, laying him out on the floor. Then he spun, wild-eyed, to face Boles who froze. Yancey waved the gun.

  “Keep away from me!”

  Boles swallowed. “Yance, you’re sick, man! I can help you. I can stop the headaches.”

  Yancey hesitated, frowned, then spat a curse, whirled and hurried out.

  Boles knelt beside the moaning Ranger, fearing the man might have a fractured skull.

  “Well, the only thing to do is send some men out to bring him here. It’s for his own good,” Dukes said.

  The governor leaned back in his chair, rubbing at his left shoulder. Kate hurried to his side.

  “Father, do you need some medicine?” She looked at Doctor Boles across the room.

  “It wouldn’t hurt,” Boles said.

  Kate nodded and began to mix the tincture of digitalis and cardamom at the sideboy.

  Dukes scowled. “I’m all right.” He glanced at Cato. “I don’t think you’d better go alone this time, Johnny.”

  “What?” Cato stiffened. “Hell, Governor, I’m Yancey’s best friend!”

  “Sure. But it hasn’t meant much.” Dukes irritably waved away Kate as she approached with the medicine, but she kept pushing the glass back under his nose until he downed the brownish liquid, making a face. “Lousy slop!” He scrubbed a hand across his mouth. “Johnny, it could be that your presence might provoke Yancey, but a couple of Rangers he’s only on nodding acquaintance with might be able to get him here.”

  “I don’t follow your logic, Governor,” Cato said shortly. “I can talk him round.”

  Dukes shook his head. “It didn’t work before and there’s no reason to think it will work now. Doc says he’s in a violent mood again. Truth is, I don’t care to risk your neck.”

  Cato snorted. Kate looked at her father sharply and Doctor Boles regarded the governor soberly, nodding.