Smoking Guns pt 2

“You see boys luck is on my side." Red started in sounding more harden that he had in his youth. "I don’t know what game Snake has been dealing ya,” He shot Snake a look, one Snake had come to miss these 10 years. He knew Red had a plan for him to play along with. “But since it looks like you’ve not fared so well, I’m gonna give ya’ll the chance to win this gold star.” Red slide the badge to the middle of the table as he pulled the cards out of the case and began to shuffle in a mad flurry. He obviously hasn’t forgotten how, Snake thought almost appalled at how quickly Red flipped out the lucky deck.

“5 card draw and I don’t believe in wilds. Now pony up ‘fore I kick you out that door!” Red didn't sound hostile but his voiced commanded attention. The drunks at the bar pretended not to watch the action. The wide eyed greenhorns couldn’t help but throw their money in, more scared than opportunistic. The coins clanged as they landed together, some shining brightly some faded against the clean felt.

“As I'm sure you heard, these are my lucky cards. And for the first time in a long time I’m feelin’ it.” Red's eyes were almost ablaze with a fire from deep inside as he talked himself up. Snake became a little nervous watching those eyes, seeing Red's hands deal out those cards in a fluid motion. He knew that look and it usually meant more trouble for him that Red.

Everyone stayed in adding more coins to the pot for the draw; no one was fool enough to fold out of this hand. The idiot at the end of the table can’t stop shaking as he took his three cards. This one isn't even worth the time, pair if that. The eye’s of the greenhorn in the middle darted around all the other players as It looked at two new cards. Two pair, Snake thought to himself knowing his read was accurate. The one across from Red tries to quickly hide the fact that the corner of its mouth creased as it shuffled in the one new card. A little too confident, what does he think he can prove? Flush at best but probably just a straight. Snake took in his two fresh cards. He got exactly what he needed to give himself a full house. He felt good, confident inside until the thought crossed his mind for a split second about what might happen if he won this hand. “I'm good," Snake said staying as calm as always but wanting to put out notion that he knew he had them all beat.

All except Red. He didn't take any new cards. This odd occurrence caused Snake to raise an eyebrow in his direction. What is he trying to prove here?

“I told ya'll these were my lucky cards,” Red chided. A smirk hit his face for the first time since he walked in as he laid down his four queens. “Lady luck has brought me her daughters!”

The greenhorn at the end of the table dropped his cards and was out the door before the chair hit the floor. Running for home crying all the way; no doubt to tell the family of its misfortunes and swear off the Saloon. The idiot in the middle couldn’t keep its jaw from dropping to the table in amazement. The one across the table from Red slowly put down its cards. I don’t like that look.

“I don’t think them cards is lucky, I think you is a cheat!” the fool said with a new found brashness that comes with losing all your money to some cocky stranger. The smirk wiped from Red’s face but he didn’t say anything, didn't even look at the man trying to give him the stare down across the table. He just leaned over to start raking in the mound of gold.

There was a loud screech of a chair being kicked back, then the loud clap of gunfire. The fool fell to the floor with a thud, dead from the gunshot to the temple before the pistol even got all the way out of its hostler. Snake calmly slid his smoking Peacemaker back into its resting place on his right hip. He hadn't even gotten out of his chair to draw. Red never flinched stacking his money as he watched the action.

“Ha! I knew it!” Red shouted out almost as a chuckle. “I knew you wouldn’t let me down.”

“It was a matter of time,” Snake returned coldly. “He’d been playing his cards the whole time like he was looking for a fight. You were the only unexpected thing going on around here!” A smile finally crossed his face; that extra part of him flooding back into his veins that had been missing for awhile now. Red was back and still trying to test him. “You know," Snake turned to Red, "I hate it when guys don’t take new cards.”

“What can I say? Luck doesn’t need new cards, she works her magic the first time. Besides, I had to rile one of those greenhorns enough to see if you still had it.” Red was now mocking Snake’s dramatic draw on the dead man.

“Yeah I should have just let him shoot ya first.” Snake was still smiling, he couldn’t stop. He knew he would've had to gun down the man even without Red's interference; he never let killing bother him. At least not when it was necessary.

Turning their heads they realized the third fool was still sitting at their table, mouth wide open as he gaped in terror. “Get on home boy!” Red reached out as if to slap it across the face but the fool was smart enough to run at the first word. Some folks around the Saloon were working together to move the dead body out back and out of the way. Another man was trying to soak up the blood pool off the floor. If the place had stopped for the ruckus, nobody could tell it now.

“The cards felt crisp.” Red was wiping them off and putting them neatly back into the silver case. “Had you not been playing them much?”

“Never got them out, not since that day you gave them to me.” The sadness crept into Snake’s face as the memory flooded back, but just for an instant.

“Really?!? Don't you know these here cards are lucky?” Red couldn't understand how a card player could leave such a thing in his pocket.

“You know damn well I don’t believe in luck nor do I need it. It wasn’t luck that gave me that big pile of money you just took from me or that told me when that greenhorn was gonna draw!” Snake always got a little offended at the notion that anyone thought he needed luck or that it was on his side during a card game. “I read people damnit! That’s what a real card player does!”

“Settle down. I haven’t had to listen to your diatribes for 10 years and I don’t right think I wanna start just yet. Besides we’ve got some business to discuss.” Red settled back into his chair now that he and Snake were alone at the table.

“Is that right?” Snake shot back with a sarcastic undertone. “Like what the hell you are gonna do now that you shot Sheriff Robinson!”

“There are a few things most people don’t know about their local sheriff.” Red replied coldly.

“Yeah like that he is dead. I am sure the Marshall is gonna wanna learn more about that.” Snake couldn’t help himself. Sure they had been wild in the past but they never crossed that line. In fact he had sorta made his peace with the law in these parts after Red decided to hang it up. I kinda liked the Sheriff, he left me alone to soak all these poor townsfolk at the poker tables.

Quit worrying! What I know would change a lot of minds in these parts, even the Marshall’s. But if he wants to get in the way of this so be it. Cause partner,” Red leaned in close to keep any stranglers from listening in, “we’ve got gold to go collect.”

What the hells he know bout gold? Snake couldn’t help but let his mind wander at the prospect. “What ya know?”

“I know where there is a heap of it that the Sheriff had been running protection on. And we are gonna go take it!” That look was back in Red's eyes, the master plan running in his mind.

“I'll need time to round up the gang.” Snake was already trying to remember who would be left at the hangout and who he would have to hunt down.

“I figured as much that’s why I am gonna come with ya. So let’s get moving and I’ll fill ya in on the way. Still the same place?” Red’s smile could have been seen clear across the territory.

“Best spot this side of Kansas City!” Snake replied with new found enthusiasm. This is gonna be like old times, if we don’t get killed first!