She felt the mattress yield beneath his weight. The gun would be at his side, under the blanket and next to his hip. He would lie still for a few moments, then roll toward her and put his hand on her shoulder.
What have you got the nightgown on for?
Im cold.
Well now, what do you think Im for?
Tell me, Gay Erin said.
Ill show you.
As a lover or a husband?
Tanner groaned. Jesus Christ, are you going to start that?
Six months ago you said wed be married in a few weeks.
Most people probably think we already are. Whats the difference?
She started to get up, to throw back the blanket, and his hand tightened on her arm.
I said wed be married, we will.
When?
Well not right now, all right? His hand stroked her arm beneath the flannel. Come on, take this thing off.
She lay without moving, her eyes open in the darkness, letting her hesitation stretch into silence, a long moment, before she sat up slowly and worked the nightgown out from beneath her. She pulled it over her head, turning to him.
3
You hear her?
No, maybe one of the girls did. I can ask.
It doesnt matter.
I heard what youre doing, Inez said.
Well, Im not doing very good. I wanted to tell the woman maybe it would take me a little longer.
Youre crazy.
Listen, Im tired, Valdez said. Im not going to argue with you, all right?
Go upstairs.
I said Im tired.
So are the girls. I mean take a room and go to sleep.
I have a run to St. David this afternoon and dont come back till the morning.
Tell them youre sick.
No, they dont have anybody.
That Davis was in here last night. I threw him out.
You can do it, Valdez said.
He was in no condition. Only talk. I dont need talk, Inez said. She made a noise sipping her coffee and watched Valdez shape a cigarette. He handed it to her and made another one and lit them with a kitchen match.
Now what do you do, forget the whole thing?
I dont know. He rubbed a gnarled brown hand over his hair, pulling it down on his forehead. I think
maybe talk to this Mr. Tanner again.
Youre crazy.
I didnt explain it to him right. The part that its like a court where you get money for something done to you. Not like a court, but, you know.
Youre still crazy. He wont listen to you. Nobody will.
But if he does, the others will, uh? Valdez sipped his coffee.
Put a gun in his back if you can get close to him, Inez said. Thats the only way.
No guns.
The little shotgun.
Valdez nodded, thinking about it. That would be good, wouldnt it?
Boom! Inez laughed out and the sound of her voice filled the kitchen.
Valdez smiled. Has he ever been in here?
They say hes got a woman. Maybe he beats her or does strange things to her.
Hes never been here, but you dont like him, Valdez said. Why?
My book.
Ah, your book. I forgot about it.
Youre in it.
Sure, I remember now.
Inez called out, Polly! and waited a moment and called again.
A dark-haired girl in a robe came through the door from the front room. She smiled at Bob Valdez, holding the robe together in front of her. Early bird, she said.
No early bird. Get me the book, Inez said.
Which, the black one?
No, the one before, Inez said. The green one.
Valdez shook his head. Black ones and green ones. How many do you have?
They go back about twelve years. To your time.
Like Im an old man now.
Sometime you act it.
The girl came into the kitchen again with the scrapbook under her arm. The green one, she said, winking at Bob Valdez and handing it to Inez, who pushed her coffee cup out of the way to open the book on the table. Inez sat at the end of the kitchen table with Polly standing behind her now, looking over her shoulder. Sitting to the side, Valdez lowered and cocked his head to look at the newspaper clippings and photographs mounted in the book.
He seems familiar, Valdez said.
Inez looked at him. I hope so. Its Rutherford Hayes.
Well, that was twelve, fourteen years ago, Valdez said. He looked up as Polly laughed. She was leaning over Inez and the top of her robe hung partly open.
There were photographs of local businessmen, territorial officials and national figures, including two presidents, Rutherford Hayes and Chester A. Arthur, Profirio Diaz and Carmelita at Niagara Falls, and the Prince of Wales on his visit to Washington.
Have they been to your place? Valdez asked.
No, but if they come I want to recognize them. Inez turned a page. Earl Beaudry, on his appointment as land agent. Inez moved to the next page, her finger tracing down the column of newspaper clippings.
Here it is, she said. The first mention of him. August 13, 1881 Frank Tanner and a Carlisle Baylor were convicted of cattle theft and sent to Yuma Penitentiary.
Valdez seemed as pleased as he was surprised. Hes been to prison.
For a few years, I think, Inez said. It doesnt say how long. He was stealing cattle and driving them across the border. Theres more about him. Her hand moved down the column and went to the next page. Here, October, 1886, Frank J. Tanner, cattle broker, arraigned on a charge of murder in Contention, Arizona.