‘No-o-o.’
‘Well, who in hell is with her?’
Lem slowly rolled a cigarette, as he told about Rex Morgan and his experiences. Hashknife leaned forward on his chair and absorbed every word of it, while Sleepy scowled over his cigarette, sighing wearily.
Lem told them of old man Lane discovering Spike Cahill and Bert Roddy, fighting in the dark, and Noah seemed greatly amused over that incident. Knowing that Hashknife did not know of the incidents which led up to this, Noah explained about the coming of the nester family, the persecutions of the 6X6, and the killing of Ben Leach.
‘And this young feller says his name is Morgan, eh?’ queried Noah. ‘I wonder if he’s any relation to Pete or Dave.’
‘I dunno.’ Lem shook his head. ‘Bunty Smith says he’s loco, but I don’t see anythin’ wrong with him, except that he talks like a dictionary and ain’t never been out in the sun very much. Didja ever see this?’
He took the Colt from inside his shirt and placed it on the table in front of Noah, who examined it quickly.
‘That’s Pete Morgan’s gun, Lem. I’d know it by them handles. Spike Cahill shaped ’em for him. Said he’d make me a pair like ’em as soon as he got time. That was a year ago, which leads me to believe Spike has been pretty dang busy. Where’d yuh get it, Lem?’
‘I picked it up in Lane’s corral this mornin’.’
‘Oh-ho-o-o-o! So old Pete went over to clean-up on old man Lane and lost his gun. I’d keep it, if I was you, Lem. Serves him right.’