The Man Who Loved Cole Flores (Dig Two Graves 1)

“Is that enough for me to trust you?” Cole asked, blowing air at the mouth of the bottle where Ned’s lips had touched it only moments ago.

“You’re the one to come here with a bottle of good booze and an offer.” Ned let his smile widen. “I think you already decided I’ve got something you need.”

Cole’s mouth opened. From up close Ned noticed that his lower lip was slightly fuller on one side. Had he been in a fight, or was this a quirk of his appearance? If Ned managed to charm his way into Butcher Tom’s gang and stayed at Cole’s side, he’d soon find out.

“So it seems,” Cole said and took a swig from the bottle at last, sealing their deal. “Let’s go.”

The floor trembled under Ned’s feet, about to crumble. “Now?” he choked out, heart rising in his throat. Was this it? His life would never be the same once he left the ranch to join the Gotham Boys, even if with the purpose of being the rotten fruit who’d spoil them from the inside. He’d had a lot of time to ponder death on long afternoons spent in the company of horses or cattle, but now it stared him in the face with enticing black eyes that promised Ned he’d feel truly alive before he met his end.

Cole shrugged, and the crooked smile that both pleased and scared Ned was back in place. “Why? You have anything else to do?”

That was true enough, just… sudden. “And your buddies are fine with this? Don’t want to meet the pointy end of a knife for no reason.”

Cole gave his shoulder a pat. “They’re already on their way to our camp. We have almost two days’ ride ahead of us, so we better not slack.”

Ned wasn’t sure why Cole’s fingers lingered on him for so long. Was this some kind of test? Should he shrug off the hand and warn Cole about respecting his space? Cole couldn’t be older than him, so other than experience, they should be on the same footing.

The distant clop of hooves quickened, and Uncle Liam made half a circle in front of the house, his face flushed as if he’d ridden at speed. “I don’t want to see you with this menace! The two of you are the talk of town since yesterday. Cheating at cards? A shootout? I want you off my property immediately,” he said while Cole approached the bannister and leaned against it as if it hadn’t occurred to him Uncle Liam could be serious.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, sir.”

Uncle Liam stopped his mount altogether, facing them with a stern expression. “A greaser with long hair, dressed like he was in mourning, who rides a fine coal-black stallion. You fit the description, and I say it would be too much of a coincidence if there was two of your lot in the valley. Leave or we’ll use force.”

Ned froze when Cole’s fingers twitched against his shoulder, his face tensing, but after two seconds of keeping his hands off the revolvers resting at his hips, Cole let out a snort. “Force? This ‘greaser’ is your nephew’s guest,” he said, with a crooked smile, letting the offence slide for Ned’s sake.

Heat flushed Ned’s face. He needed to resolve this amicably so Uncle Liam wouldn’t reveal something that might put him in hot water with Cole and the Gotham Boys.

“It’s all good, Uncle. He offered me a job.”

Uncle Liam slid off his horse and touched the single revolver on his hip. It was meant as a threat, but could become his death sentence if his trigger-happy opponent chose so. Ned had seen the speed at which Cole drew, and the last thing he wanted to see was his uncle on the other side of one of those fancy ivory-handled guns.

“You are the one who wanted me to leave in the first place,” Ned said, stepping closer to Cole. “What do you expect me to do?”

“Find honest work!” Uncle Liam’s whiskers twitched in fury. “Do you know who this rattlesnake is said to be travelling with?”

Ned scowled at him, even though Uncle Liam had the best intentions in trying to warn Ned. “I don’t care for gossip. I’ve made up my mind.”

“What is this needless chitter-chatter, old man?” Cole asked, sliding his hand over his stallion’s shiny coat. “You don’t own his life.”

Uncle Liam’s face reddened. “This is the company you want to keep? Your parents are turning in their graves!”

No matter how much respect Ned had for his uncle, he couldn’t allow him to speak anymore. If Cole found out the truth about what really motivated Ned to join him, the Pinkerton scheme would be over before it started.

He grabbed the bottle out of Cole’s hand and splashed the brandy at his uncle despite shame flushing him from head to toe. “Shut your mouth! They’re not here now, and that’s that. You were the one to let me go, and I’ll do what I think is right for me. I’m leaving today.”