Sunday's Colt & Other Stories Read Online Free PDF Page B

to dine alone.”
    Sam was as quick on the uptake as a mustang finding an open corral gate. “Let’s go, Billy.”
    â€œWhat fer?” the sprout asked, his voice rising. “I ain’t had my dessert.”
    Sam eyes near to cut the kid’s hat from his head. “We need to be a-getting that bottle for Candle.”
    Billy reacted like he’d just caught himself in the ear with his own quirt. “Oh, yeah, right. We need to be going, Ty Lee.”
    Sam wanted to slap the sprout out of his chair. “Ty Lee don’t need to go. I’m sure he’d rather stay here and visit with the lady.”
    â€œYou gonna stay here, Ty Lee?” Billy asked.
    Ty Lee didn’t take his eyes off her. “Yeah. You fellers go on. I’ll catch up by and by.”
    â€œHow you know where we’ll be?”
    Sam put his hand on Billy’s shoulder and dug his thumb into his collarbone like he was spurring the Black Queen. “Let’s go. Time’s a-wastin’. Ty Lee knows our plans.”
    Billy winced from the pain, looked up at Sam and started to complain. He held up when he read Sam’s face, then took on the look of a dunce in the corner who finally understood the lesson. He nodded meekly, feeling stupid for not getting the drift in the first place. “Yeah, we got to be going,” he said in a too loud voice. “I don’t think Ty Lee needs to go.”
    â€œYeah. You fellers go on. I’ll catch up by and by,” Ty Lee repeated, looking like a freshly weaned calf watching his momma leaving for the range.
    Sam near to jerked the sprout out of his bootheels. He threw down his money and roughly escorted the boy through the door. When they hit the boardwalk he turned for the Wish-Key. “I tell you, boy. You are about as slow as a turtle on a log in the middle of winter.”
    Billy shook his head. “How was I to know you was setting him up? How was I to know that she was really interested in him?”
    â€œShe was interested, believe me. Ain’t no gal ever ask a perfect stranger fer the time unless she’s eager to palaver. She was giving him the moon-eyed look and boy, when a gal like that gives someone like Ty Lee the moon-eyed look, it’s the chance of a lifetime. You’ll know that when you get some learning bout the feminine persuasion.”
    Billy nodded and struggled to keep up with his friend’s pace. They made for the bar in quickstep, leaving their compadre to his fate.
    Ty Lee waited until they were out of sight before he spoke to her. “My name’s Ty Lee Driscoll. I ride for the H Bar Seven out of Williamson County, Texas.”
    She was impressed. “From Texas! Well, I’ll declare. I’m Lannie Anderson. I work here in Abilene.”
    â€œSchoolteacher, I suppose,” Ty Lee said.
    She smiled prettily. “No, Mr. Driscoll. I’m a professional woman, although I’ve always wondered if I wouldn’t make a good teacher.”
    â€œI reckon you would.” Ty Lee smiled shyly and his face turned crimson.
    She smiled at his bashful ways. “Your friends were certainly eager to be on their way. I’m glad you decided to stay for a spell.”
    Ty Lee nodded. “They don’t need me.”
    She took one more small bite and daintily dabbed the corners of her mouth with her napkin. “That was a fine dinner and certainly first-rate company from an exceptional gentleman.”
    Ty Lee rose from his chair. “Thank you, ma’am. I guess I need to be getting on.”
    â€œI wonder if I might impose upon you one more time?” she asked.
    He nodded and smiled.
    â€œIt is getting dark outside and with my companion’s failure to keep our dinner date, I was wondering if you would be willing to act as my escort to my boarding house. I know it’s asking a lot, but a lady shouldn’t be seen unescorted this time of night.”
    â€œIt would be my