Free Hard Ride to Wichita by Ralph Compton, Marcus Galloway

the seams to tell me something else?”
    Luke walked over to his horse and motioned for Red to follow him. When both of them were standing close enough to pat the animal’s flank, Luke took the valise that had been hanging from his saddle horn. “You can’t tell anyone about this,” he said.
    â€œAbout what?”
    Opening the valise to show Red its contents, Luke said, “This.”
    Red gazed down at the money inside and his jaw dropped. Reaching into the bag, he dug his hand in to pull some money out. “Is this what that stranger came to collect?”
    Luke nodded. “He won’t need it anymore.”
    â€œAnd you could live for a while on it. Hell, if you play your cards right, you could stretch this much out for years!”
    â€œI guess that’s true.”
    Placing the money back in the bag, Red asked, “What do you mean you
guess
that’s true? One thing I knew about you from the first time I sat next to you in that schoolhouse was that you don’t guess about much of anything.”
    â€œWhen did you start scrutinizing every little thing I say or do?”
    â€œYou’ve just walked through hell and lost everything you hold dear. No matter what families we’re from, you’re my brother in all but blood and it’s my job to make sure you make it through something like this as best I can.” Leaning in closer while tapping Luke’s forehead, he said, “I know you’re tore up after all of this, but I can tell there’s more going on in there. I can see the wheels turning.”
    â€œI got a lot to think about.”
    â€œI know that. I just want to make sure you’re not thinking of doing anything crazy.”
    Luke turned away and took a few steps in the opposite direction.
    â€œI’ll be damned,” Red groaned. “You are thinking of doing something crazy. And if
you
think it’s crazy, I’m really worried.”
    â€œDon’t worry about a thing.”
    Storming around to stand in front of Luke, Red planted his feet to block him from going any farther. When Luke attempted to walk around him, Red grabbed hold of his arm and pulled him back. “You think you’re the only one that wants to get away from Maconville?” Red snarled. “You think you’re the only one who wants to do something other than what he’s expected to do by all the farmers and shopkeepers around here?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œYou and me have an understanding. We’re fighters. Even back when we were nothin’ but kids, we were fighters. What you’re doing is runnin’ away.”
    â€œI’m not just running away.”
    â€œSo tell me what’s got your wheels turning.”
    Luke stared into his friend’s eyes and prepared to lie to his face. When it came time to start talking, he just couldn’t do it. Instead he turned away from Red and pulled free of his grasp. He tried to think of other lies to tell him that were slightly smaller than what he’d originally planned and therefore might be easier to sell. He couldn’t say those either.
    All this time, Red stood his ground and waited.
    Finally Luke said, “When that stranger came to the house, he and Kyle spoke about a few things.”
    â€œUh-huh.”
    â€œMostly, they were trying to dance around what they really wanted to say. Probably on account of me and Ma standing right there.”
    â€œWhatever it was, there’s no reason to believe any of it,” Red told him. “You told me yourself that the stranger didn’t want any of his and Kyle’s business known.”
    â€œYeah, but after a while, the stranger started saying plenty of things. I think . . .” Luke had to pause to steel himself. When he turned to face Red again, his eyes were cold as two pieces of stone. “I think he’d already made up his mind on what he was gonna do with us. In that stranger’s head, we