Free Ralph Compton Sixguns and Double Eagles by RALPH COMPTON Page A

sorry,” said Monique, smiling at El Lobo.
    The waiter arrived and the women ordered first.
    â€œSteak, potatoes, coffee, and pie for this side of the table,” Wes said.
    El Lobo still said nothing, his dark eyes on Monique. She blushed, looking down at her clasped hands. Empty, coming closer, sensed El Lobo’s hostility and growled.
    â€œYour dog doesn’t like us,” said Louise.
    â€œHe’s got to know you awhile,” Wes said, “and then he may not like you. Careful you don’t make strange moves. He’s been known to bite.”
    El Lobo laughed, and Monique took that as a sign of friendliness. She edged closer to the table, and Empty made his move. He seized the hem of Monique’s skirt and she let loose a scream like she’d been attacked by a lobo wolf.
    â€œEmpty,” Wes said, “back off.”
    Only then did Empty let go, growling as he backed away. But a gunshot wouldn’t have attracted as much attention as the girl’s scream, and the steamboat’s captain, Captain Ponder, was there almost immediately.
    â€œWhat is the meaning of this?” Ponder said with a growl.
    â€œHe’s my dog,” said Wes, and Empty growled again.
    â€œHe doesn’t belong in the dining hall,” Captain Ponder said. “If he can’t behave himself, he’ll have to be confined to your quarters. Remove him at once.”
    â€œCaptain,” said Monique, “he didn’t bite me. He only frightened me a little. I’m sorry to have disturbed anyone.”
    â€œQuite all right,” Captain Ponder said, smiling.
    â€œI’ll be back,” said Wes. “Come on, Empty.”
    Empty followed Wes out of the dining hall and down the narrow corridor to the cabin Wes and El Lobo shared. Wes unlocked the door and Empty followed him inside.
    â€œSorry, fellow,” Wes said, “but you went a little too far. ”
    Wes went out, locking the door behind him, and returned to the dining hall. Louise was talking, and Monique had regained her composure.
    â€œSorry about that,” said Wes, taking his chair at the table. “He’s never done that before. I reckon after he’s been fed in the kitchen, I’ll have to take him back to the cabin.”
    â€œMonique and me grew up in town,” Louise said. “We haven’t had much experience with animals.”
    â€œHere comes our food,” said Monique.
    Wes was grateful for the arrival of the food, for it was an opportunity for them all to remain silent while they ate. He caught El Lobo’s eye a time or two, uncertain as to how the Indian might react to these suspiciously friendly women. El Lobo seemed to know something was amiss, for he seemed to relax. Unbuttoning his coat, he leaned back and sipped his coffee, regarding Monique with interest.
    â€œMonique and me are going to Boulder, Colorado,” Louise volunteered.
    â€œFor a visit, I reckon,” said Wes. “It’s an interesting town.”
    â€œOh, we live in Boulder,” Monique said. “We grew up in New Orleans, and we’ve been here visiting our families. They think we work for a mining company in Boulder.”
    â€œI reckon you don‘t, then,” said Wes.
    â€œHardly,” Louise said. “We started working at the Pretty Girl Saloon in Denver, and when a new one opened in Boulder, we were offered a bonus to go there.”
    â€œI’ve heard of those places,” said Wes. “All the girls are naked.”
    Monique laughed. “Not totally. We wear shoes and red ribbons in our hair.”
    â€œI can’t say I blame you for claiming to work for a mining company,” Wes said. “Most folks don’t consider it respectable for a woman to walk around naked in a saloon.”
    â€œRespectable folks expect a woman to spend her days over a hot stove and her nights pleasing some no-account man,” said Louise. “There’s one kid