Merrick found Honey a little later and asked him about the incident. He told Merrick about the same story Abe had told, except that he elaborated on the shooting in the dark between Hashknife and the unknown gunman.
“Well, what do yuh make of it?” asked Merrick.
“I don’t know,” laughed Honey. “Looks like somebody had gone plumb crazy.”
“Does look like it, Honey. What did Hartley think?”
“That feller never says what he thinks, Ed. He bandaged Slim’s head and made him stay all night. Slim wanted to go home, but Hashknife told him it was a bad night for a tall cowpuncher to be ridin’ around.
“Him and Sleepy and Slim pulled out before daylight, but didn’t tell me where they were goin’. Yuh never can find out anythin’ from Hashknife. He just grins at yore questions. It’s a wonder they didn’t accuse me of bustin’ Slim.”
Honey laughed and grimaced at the thought.
“Accuse you?” queried Merrick.
“Yeah. Yuh see, Slim ruined my supper. He told about findin’ a horse that had been skinned. Why in ⸺ anybody would skin a horse is a mystery to me. But anyway, they got to talkin’ about that dead horse. Hashknife was interested, it seemed, and when Slim saw it was botherin me, they went strong.”
Merrick laughed shortly.