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-So what was the bet?, the hotel owner Hersham asked and made a gesture towards the table where no money could be seen. Next to him, the town mayor Sam Bolden adjusted his hearing trumpet.

-The bet, fellers, was for Mayer to become a part of this little family of ours here in Sabbath, Lucas announced and signaled the barman. –A round of drinks for everyone! And now, if you gentlemen excuse us, we have some business to discuss. These lovely girls can keep you company in the meantime.

Once the two were alone again, and with a glass of good whiskey for each, Lucas raised his glass. –Welcome aboard, Mayer. Your job is to keep an eye on what goes on down here, and also upstairs. You know, if cowboys or outlaws come looking for trouble. Also, you will have your own table over there, and you are welcome to run any games you wish. How does it sound?

-Sounds like a nice chance to wash my sins and start a new life, friend -I said, offering my hand to Lucas. In that moment, I thought he knew me too well and he knew that this 'job' was maybe what I needed.

With a firm handshake, Lucas and Mayer sealed the deal. And that was how Mayer started working for Lucas in the town of Sabbath. He soon got to know the townsfolk, especially the regulars such as the sheriff Cotton Ryan, the mayor Sam Bolden who was hard of hearing and his friend Hersham. They all visited the church on Sundays, and listened to the Minister Tyner, but in the evenings they headed for the saloon.

The locals did not stir up any trouble, and most days Mayer could simply concentrate on the different games he ran. He also spent the night there, and often in the company of a saloon girl.

After a few weeks, one day Lucas was waiting for Mayer downstairs. It was early, but Mayer was used to Lucas getting up very early. His crippled leg was probably painful, and there was maybe something more. Demons inside that sometimes visited him at night, no matter how many shots of whiskey he had taken, or how soft the skin of the whore he was enjoying was.

Lucas was reading a newspaper from the previous day, and without taking his eyes off the front page asked Mayer to sit down. Then he said: -Mayer. Before you start your work today, I would like you to visit Luther Harris. He is the shop owner and he can order almost anything. Even from the East coast. You need to get yourself adequate clothing, your jacket looks fine but not “excellent”, if you know what I mean, he said and adjusted his suit. -Also, this is for you... 

He left the newspaper on the table, and took a nice leather suitcase from the floor. Even before Lucas opened it, Mayer knew it was a gambling kit.

-Thanks, feller -I accepted the gambling kit. It was excellent, I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened it: it was flaming new, and very far from anything I could afford (at that moment, at least).

Then I took a look at my clothes:

-What's wrong with me? You want me to look like some fancy girl, like one of yours? I love this jacket.

-Glad you liked the kit, Lucas said smiling. –And I guess your jacket is OK. But at least a new hat and fancy boots. You need to look better than the drunk and dirty cowboys that sometimes come to visit us. Speaking of which..., he said and showed Mayer the newspaper.

Bronson Cattle Drive!

The most important cattle owner in the county, Mr. Vincent Bronson, has confirmed the Sabbath Herald he will summon another two cattle drives to Fort Worth. Any cowboys interested can apply at Harris´ Shop.

On a separate note, foreman Harvey Stenbaugh is getting back to work after many weeks of intense recovery from injuries suffered in a recent shooting incident. However, he will not be able to lead the trail this time around.

-Mr. Bronson is the big man in town. Everyone around here owes him, and he controls everything. This paper is from few weeks ago. I think they the cowboys are now ready to start the drive. Some of his men will probably come looking for one last night of drinking and girls tonight, so I need you prepared, OK? I don´t mind the drinking, as long as they pay. But I don´t need them brawling and scaring my regulars away. 

-Alright -I said-. Leave it to me, I'll handle those drunk bastards.

I closed the kit and left it there, not knowing where to store it. I smiled at Lucas and took a look at my dirty boots: they had been a long time guiding my steps.

-I'll get the clothes.

Mayer purchased the fancy black boots and the high ground hat. He also got a pair of gloves as a gift from Luther Harris.

That night, the music was playing and everyone was having a good time. Lucas sat at his usual table, smiling and greeting everyone close to the stairs going upstairs. Mayer had his own corner, on the other side from the stairs. From there he could see the stairs, the doors leading tot he girls´ rooms, the main entrance and the bar. Normally Mayer would play cards or other games with the customers, while keeping on eye on what was going on. A few gunshots could be heard from far away that made the music stop. But a few seconds later, everyone started laughing and chatting again. Around midnight, four cowboys came in. They had been drinking heavily, and one of them was holding a revolver in his hand. He was not pointing at anyone. He was a bit overweight, and was wearing suspenders and cowboy overall. He had his arm around another cowboy, also a bit older than the other two who tried to calm him.

-WHISKEY!!! WE WANT WHISKEY! AND PUSSY!! WHERE ARE ALL THE GIRLS!?? READY OR NOT, UNCLE MARC IS COMIN´ FOR YA!!

I sighted and got close to them. There was not a smile in my face: I learned how to smell trouble from miles away like a hound dog in my bandit days, and those drunk cowboys were'nt there to have a relaxed night.

-Calm down, cowboy -I said to the man holding the revolver.

Then I stared at the most not-drunk-looking ones

-Put your feller's gun down. There's no need to hold it in here.

Mayer took a step forward the four Bronson cowboys. The drunk loudmouth Marc Corman looked like he was on the peck¹, and he was holding on to the shoulder of his friend and waving around with the gun on his other hand. Two of the cowboys were younger, and no doubt brothers. They were looking around mostly at the girls and grinning. The cowboy Corman was holding to was about to walk pass Mayer, but something made him stop. He did not seem to be drunk at all, and he listened to Mayer, and nodded. He then put his hand on his friends´ the shoulder and with the other hand he took the gun away and put it under his belt. –I´ll handle this, Marc. Ya go and find yerself a table.

-Hiya, I don´t think we´ve met, feller. I´m Joe, and it looks like my friend has had a little bit too much to drink.

He looked at Mayer with respect, and then waived at the waitress. -Two coffees here, and two beers for the youngsters Tim and How over there, he signaled.

–We ain´t lookin´ for any trouble, just a bit of fun before the cattle drive... So, has Cotton Ryan got himself a deputy now?, he asked checking if he could see a tin star on Mayer´s chest.

The aging local marshal Ryan “Cotton” Ryan was a regular at the saloon, but tonight he had not shown up. As if he had smelled trouble, and had preferred to stay away.

-Yeah... I'll keep an eye on him -I answered, makin' reference to the drunk feller-. No, we've never met before. I'm Mayer.

I offered my hand to the man. It wasn't a sign of friendship, just showing some manners.

-I'm working for Decroux, not Ryan. Just keepin' things calm, we don't like trouble around here, you know.

-Ah… OK, Brimley replied and shook Mayer´s hand. It was a firm grip that came with a stern look to the eyes. –I guess Lucas did the right thing. We´re all like Cotton Ryan, but he´s played out to handle things here in the saloon.

The saloon girl brought the coffee Brimley had ordered, and another one for Marc Corman who was almost asleep on the table close by.

-Huh? What?

-Drink the coffee, and sober up Marc! You need to say good bye to your missus tonight, eh?

Brimley shook his head and drank his coffee.–Marc is my brother-in-law. And a friend, even though I sometimes wonder what Joyce saw in him. If I didn´t know better, I´d think he didn't have nuthin' under his hat but hair.

He smiled at Mayer, showing off a few missing teeth. –Tomorrow, we go on a cattle drive for Bronson. He´d better be able to ride a horse if he aims to come along, or Bronson ain´t gonna be happy. I´ve been riding for his brand for a long time, and so has Marc. It´s the first time for the Jenkins´ brothers over there, but their dad runs the saddle business here in town, and they go way back.