Untitled Chapter

"You Walker?" the half-eared man asked. Jack hooked his water bag to the rope. "If you're buying whiskey, no." "We're here to make money." "Then you picked poor work." The tall hat rose slowly. "One thousand dollars dead. You're carrying ore besides. Unbuckle the gun, leave the horses, and maybe we let you die quick." Jack turned to him. "Five men splitting a thousand?" Half Ear grinned. "Still money." "It is," Jack said. "Enough for five coffins with a little left for the digger." The porch laughter stopped. The curtain moved again upstairs. Jack's right hand did not touch his gun. He only drew the water bag up and tightened the stopper. The man at the well moved first.