The Six-Gun Solution (TimeWars 12)

Neilson frowned. “I say somethin’ wrong?”

“Lower your voice, for Christ’s sake!”

Neilson’s eyes narrowed, but he complied with the request.

“Why?” he asked, softly.

Lucas frowned. “Scott, are you all right?”

Neilson regarded him with puzzlement. “I’m just fine, mister. But I seem to be a mite confused. We met before?”

Lucas didn’t say anything. He was completely taken aback. He looked at Neilson and saw no recognition in his face. None whatsoever.

“You don’t know me?” he asked, gazing at him intently.

“If we met before, Mr. Priest, I’m real sorry, but I don’t seem to recall. Where was it that we met each other?”

“You don’t remember London?”

“London? London. England?” Neilson shook his head. “I ain’t never been there. mister. I grew up in Montana Territory Spent most of my life there. Ain’t never been to England. Ain’t never even been east of the Mississippi. I’d say you’ve got me confused with someone else, only you seem to know my name. You got somethin mixed up, that’s for sure, only I don’t know what it is. I’ve never seen you before in my life. Leastwise, I don’t believe so.”

Lucas was speechless.

“You okay, mister?” Neilson asked. “You been drinkin’?”

“The name Forrester mean anything to you?” asked Lucas, uncertainly.

Neilson shook his head “Can’t say as it does.”

“What about Cross? Delaney? Steiger?”

“Don’t know any of those people,” Neilson said, with a frown. “What’s this all about!”

“How long have you been in Tombstone?”

“Only a few days. Why?”

“Were you injured in any way? A knock on the head or something?”

Neilson shook his head. He seemed thoroughly confused. “Mister. I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about”

Lucas sat back in his chair, stunned. “Never mind,” he said… I guess I thought you were someone else.”

“Someone else named Neilson?”

“I guess that must be it. I knew someone else with the same name and I thought you were him.”

“Oh. I see. I take it there was a resemblance?”

“Yes. A truly remarkable resemblance. You could he his twin brother.”

“No foolin’? You mean there’s somebody in London. England who looks like me and has got the same name?”

“Yes. Hell of a coincidence, isn’t it?”

“Well. I’ll be damned. I guess that explains it. Tell you the truth. Mister. for a minute there. I thought you might be drunk or off your head or somethin’.”

“I was thinking the same thing about you,” said Lucas.