“The Kid’s not going to like that,” Stone said.
“He around?”
“No, he went out on that posse with the Earps. And Frank Leslie rode out with the sheriff when they went back out after they brought in their prisoner.”
“I said, let me go!”
The man pulled her down on his lap, laughing. “Playin’ hard to get, eh?
Well. I know what you like!” Jenny struggled as the man started roughly fondling her breast. The other men at the table were laughing and egging their companion on.
“Excuse me,” Finn said, pushing back his chair. He went over to their table. Jenny was making angry, whimpering sounds as the man forced his kisses on her. “I think I heard the lady ask to be let go,” said Finn.
The man stopped kissing Jenny and stared up at Finn belligerently, though he still held onto her tightly.
“What the hell business is it of yours?”
“I just don’t like seeing women bullied, that’s all.” Finn said.
“Is that so? Well now, just what do you intend to do about it?”
“How about if I break your knees” asked Finn, with a smile.
“Hey, now! I don’t want any trouble in here!” the barman shouted.
“You stay out of this, Lem! It ain’t none of your concern!” shouted the cowboy.
Lem didn’t seem inclined to make it his concern. The cowboy let Jenny go and stood up. He was a beefy man, as big as Finn, though heavier and not as muscular.
“Mister, you just bought into a pack of trouble.”
Delaney hit him in the face with a quick, sharp blow and the man dropped like a felled tree. His three friends were on their feet in an instant. One of them swung at Finn. Delaney caught his fist in his left hand, then brought his right hand up to cover it, gave a quick, sharp twist and the man howled as his wrist bone snapped like a twig. The other man had picked up a chair and was bringing it down hard. Delaney swung the man with the broken wrist around and made him take the blow. The chair broke over the man’s head and Delaney released him as he went down. The third man was reaching into the pocket of his coat. Delaney snatched up a half empty whiskey bottle from the table and smashed it into the man’s face. Whiskey, broken glass, blood and a few teeth spattered on the table as the man went down.
The man who’d swung the chair came up with a bowie knife he had in his boot. Delaney just looked at him and grinned. The man with the knife found the grin highly disconcerting. The knife made sweeping arcs in front of him as he bent over in a crouch. Cards, glasses and coins rained to the floor as Delaney picked up the table and ran it at him.
“Jesus…!” yelled the man with the knife as the table struck him and he was propelled back against the wall, struck it hard and remained there, pinned by the table. The knife fell to the floor. Delaney dropped the table on the man’s feet.
“Yowww.”
And then Delaney struck him once and knocked him out.
“Great day in the morning!” someone said.
A few people applauded and whooped. Delaney turned and gave them a small bow.
“I’d like to thank you, mister.”
Finn turned to see Jenny standing behind him.
“My pleasure, Ma’am.”
“Can I buy you a drink?”
“I’d be delighted.”
He glanced at Stone, who was watching him thoughtfully. Stone gave a slight smile, inclined his head and raised his glass to him.
“My name is Jennifer,” the girl said. ‘Jennifer Reilly. What’s yours?”