“You know what the HJ ranch is, Merrick. Seven thousand is a lot of money against it. I’ve got to have another thousand, if I send Peggy back with Laura.”
“Well, I might let yuh have it, Jim. Bank got a mortgage?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I’ll take your note. How soon do yuh need it?”
“Any time in the next couple of days.”
“All right, I’ll let yuh have it, Jim.”
They separated and Merrick went to the Pinnacle Saloon, where he met Honey Bee. Honey had drunk enough to make him loquacious.
“Didja accept Joe’s resignation?” asked Honey.
“Nothing else to do,” replied Merrick. There was little love lost between these two men.
“Uh-huh.” Honey leaned against the bar and cuffed his hat to one side of his head.