Figure It Out for Yourself

by Chase James

‘No-why?’

‘I had a girl with me when you spotted me. I sent her for the cops.’

‘That’s not going to help us. You’d never hear gunfire out of the valley. I don’t know how it is, but it’s a fact. Unless they come here to look for us, they won’t know a battle’s going on,’ Joe said. ‘Besides, it would hurt my pride to be rescued by a cop.’

‘I reckon I could sink my pride,’ Mac said and laughed. I’d sooner be pinched by a cop then fall into Barratt’s hands.’

‘Think it’s safe to smoke?’ Joe asked.

‘Go and sit on the floor if you must smoke,’ I said. ‘I’ll take your place.’

‘You’re a pal, pally. I’m glad I didn’t shoot you.’

‘So am I.’

He lit a cigarette while he sat on the floor.

‘These punks don’t show much initiative, do they?’ Mac said. ‘Maybe they’ve scrammed.’