Free The Sunshine Killers by Giles Tippette

room. “Oh, don’t get jumpy,” Letty said. “You’re all right.”
    â€œWhat?” he asked, the single word encompassing his whole situation and how he got there.
    She understood. “Never mind now, I’ll tell you all about it later.” When she spoke to Saulter there was a perceptible softening of her tone.
    As if she’d been waiting for Saulter to wake so he too could hear what she had to say, one of the girls at the door, a hard-faced woman of twenty-five, spoke up. “Listen, Letty,” she said, “I don’t like this one little bit. What business is this of ours? We want him out of here.”
    â€œOh, shut up, Hester,” Letty told her.
    â€œListen, I mean it. You want to get us all killed? That bunch over there finds him in here and that Tomlain just as soon beat you to death as look at you. We’ve been talking about it all night and you’ve got no right to do this.”
    Letty turned on her in a blazing fury. “Listen, you little bitch, don’t you tell me what to do! I’m still running this house. All of you, just keep your mouths shut and they’ll never know a thing. We can hide him here. He needs a few days’ rest and he’s by god going to get it! You hear me!”
    The women at the door wilted before her. She took a step toward Hester. “And you better make sure everybody stays shut up, Hester, because if you don’t I’ll tell them you brought him in here. And they’ll believe me. McGraw especially. You got that?”
    Hester said, “Now, Letty ... Now, Letty ...”
    â€œGo on,” Letty ordered. “Get out of here. All of you.”
    She shooed them out and then stood by his bed, watching as they disappeared. Finally she looked down at him. “You’re all right,” she said. “The wound’s not bad. You’re just exhausted and need some food and to get your strength back.” She started away, but his hand suddenly darted out and caught her wrist. She looked down and their eyes locked. He said, “I don’t want to cause you any trouble ... Letty.” He hesitated over the name.
    â€œDon’t worry.”
    He continued holding her wrist. Finally she bent down and kissed him gently on the lips. Then she straightened up. “You sleep. You’ll be all right here. I’m going down and fix you some barley soup with beef in it. Go to sleep.” She went out the door, closing it behind her. For a second he stared after her. Then his eyes went to the bed and his surroundings. He brought his hand up and fingered the faded lace of the quilt that covered him. Finally his gaze wandered over to the corner where his big rifle stood. His revolver and other belongings were piled around it. Then he seemed to relax. He closed his eyes and went to sleep.

    The short winter day waned. Occasionally Letty looked in, but he continued to sleep. Once she sent Juno up with a bowl of broth which the maid spoon-fed to Saulter. When he’d finished he let his head drop back down on the pillow. “Where’s Letty?” he asked. “She busy,” Juno told him. He nodded slightly and then closed his eyes and went back to sleep.
    Downstairs, in what served as the parlor in the rough building, the girls were lounging around in various stages of boredom and undress. Letty came in the room and looked grimly around for a moment. “All right, sisters,” she said sharply. “It’s open house tonight. Time to start getting up and getting ready. Your gentlemen callers will be here soon. Move, dammit!”
    They got up lethargically and began going to their rooms. Letty looked around, then took her shawl and stepped out on the front porch. First she looked across at the saloon. Then she looked off in the distance, north toward where the snow-filled road wound. Dark was coming fast. As she stood there, Barney came out on the porch and called across to her,