The Shopkeeper (32 page)
Authors: James D. Best
Tags: #Western stories, #Nevada, #Westerns, #Historical fiction, #Fiction
I shrugged. “I never give money to strangers.” Sharp and I were both well fixed, so I asked, “How about you?”
“Had to make a contribution, but I wasn’t as smart as you. I gave cash.”
I knew what he meant. Sharp was known to run the largest private mining operation in Nevada, and if he wanted to do business with the people in this town, he had to show sympathy for their troubles. Sharp had been the second-largest independent mining operator until I got into an ugly feud and killed the largest miner in the state—but that story
is behind me.
Suddenly, Dooley came bounding back into the dining room, gasping for breath. “Couple of men been askin’ about Steve Dancy.”
“Asking about me?” I said. “Why?”
Dooley bent at the waist and laid a hand across his belly. “Don’t know more than that. One of the men in the posse told me they’re askin’ lots of questions. Didn’t sound right, so I thought ya oughta know.”
“Slow down. Are these men threatening me?”
“All I know is they’re armed, strangers to Durango, and asking your whereabouts.” He looked toward the door. “Gotta go. I’m holdin’ up the posse.”
Before I could say thanks, Dooley had bolted out the door.