Devils Unto Dust(13)
Elsie nods decisively. “What you want is the Garrett brothers.”
“I can’t afford two hunters.” I can’t even afford one, I remind myself.
“They work together and split the single fee. They’ll be able to watch your back, and they’re honest. Well, as honest as their kind can be. Benjamin and Curtis. They ain’t been here long, but I’ve heard nothing but that they’re decent folk.”
“You think they’ll hire on for the price?” I look at Ned as I ask, though it’s Elsie who answers.
“I don’t see why not. That’s Curtis sitting by his lonesome next to the staircase. Why don’t you ask him yourself?”
10.
“I’m looking for Curtis Garrett.”
“I’m Garrett. What can I do you for?” His voice is cautious but polite, which is more than I can say for some of the men in Glory. He’s tall, I can tell from the way his boots stick out from under the table; newer boots than mine, stiffer leather with shiny roach tips. He has an open, honest face, round and clean-shaven under sandy brown hair. I put his age closer to thirty than twenty, judging by the laugh lines around his mouth and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. He could be younger; the sun is unkind and takes its toll early here.
“Mr. Garrett, my name is Wilcox.” I avoid telling people my first name if possible, and I see no reason to give it to this man, even if I’m inclined to take a shine to his friendly face. “I’m in need of a hunter to go east, most likely all the way to Best. I was told to speak to you.” I hold out my hand to him, and he gives it a firm shake.
“Nice to meet you, Miss Wilcox,” he says, like he actually means it. “It must be my lucky day; I’ve never had the pleasure of being recommended to so lovely a lady.” He smiles at me, still holding my hand, and I can’t help but smile back; his teasing is gentle and harmless. I wonder how long he’s been a hunter, if those hands did something I’d rather not know about.
“You’re a fair hand at flattery, Mr. Garrett, but how are you with a pistol?”
Garrett gives a surprised laugh and releases me, clapping. “Full of piss and vinegar, ain’t you? I’m curious as to what you said to the Judge to make Vargas put his hackles up.” He pushes out a chair with his boot for me, which I settle into.
“We had a—a misunderstanding.” Garrett raises his eyebrows, but I refuse to say more. My mouth has gotten me into enough trouble for one day.
“I see. There’s not many would want a misunderstanding with the Judge. Now tell me, Miss Wilcox, why I should go up Best way.” He’s still smiling politely, but his eyes are serious. To his credit, they stay on my face, which is a rarity for the hunters.
“You’re new to Glory, Mr. Garrett, but it may be you know of my father. Harrison Wilcox?”
Garrett nods. “I’ve met Harry. Trapper, right? Not that there’s much in the way of hide these days.”
“Mostly we do snake and lizard skin.” I pause, biting the inside of my cheek. “Well, the thing is, I’m in a tight spot of trouble, and I need to find my pa.”
“I see. Any chance the name of that trouble is McAllister?”
I scowl. Does the whole town know my business? “What if it is?” I ask him. “It doesn’t change what I need.”
“Well, you certainly have a situation, I’ll give you that. Now if I go looking for your father—”
“Mr. Garrett, you misunderstand me,” I interrupt, straightening my back, glad the whiskey has made me bold. “I intend to look for him myself. What I need are extra guns and eyes.” As if I would send hunters to track down my father alone—he’d come back a body, or not at all.
He makes a small coughing noise, which I take to be surprise.
“That does complicate matters, a bit,” he says.
“I don’t see how. Since I’ll be funding this expedition, I make the terms. And the terms are, I go to Best. The only question is who I go with.”
Garrett rubs his chin thoughtfully. “Fair enough. Can you use that?” he asks, pointing to my holster.
“I wouldn’t carry it if I couldn’t.”
He nods approvingly. “All right, then, Miss Wilcox, here’s the deal: my brother and I charge one hundred for Best and back. We take care of food and transport, but you provide your own weapons. Take no more than you can carry; we travel fast and light. If it’s sunup we’re on the move, and we bed down at the way stations on the Low Road. Those are few and far between, so if you can’t keep up, we’re in trouble. We don’t want to be caught outdoors at night.”
“I’ll keep up. And as for the money, I can pay you fifty now, and the rest when we return.” My stomach churns at the lie, and I hope he doesn’t notice that I can’t meet his eyes.
“I can agree to that.” Garrett looks at me, considering. “When were you wanting to leave?”
“As soon as possible,” I say. “I have to make a few arrangements, but I was hoping to leave by tomorrow.”
Garrett gives a low whistle. “You don’t give a fellow much notice. I need to run this by my brother, but I think I can safely say we have a deal, Miss Wilcox.” He stands up and holds out his hand, and we shake on it. I’m slightly stunned at the swiftness with which this is happening; some part of me did not expect it to work.