Silver Spurs

The jangle of spurs disturbed my drinkin'. The silver dollar that landed on the table in front of me told me this was business. I don't like doin' business over a bottle of whisky.

"You this Holmes fella I been hearin' 'bout?"

I nodded and took another swig.

"I want you to find the varmint that took my Maisie. See that there dollar, I got me plenty more."

I looked up at the stranger. He was dressed all in black, with a fancy watch chain hanging from his embroidered waistcoat. This man had money. I poured another drink from the bottle, then I tossed the silver dollar to Sam, the barkeep. A deal had been struck. "Tell me more."

"I had some business over Tombstone way. The missus and the girl was on theys own. This mountain man rode in wantin' to water his horse. Next you know, he's knocked the woman to the floor and hogtied my girl to his mule."

"How old is Maisie?"

"She's just fifteen, a child."

"What you want me to do when I find this varmint? You want I should kill him?"

"No. I want that privilege for myself."

-*-

We rode out at noon. He wanted sun up, but after two bottles of whisky, that was best I could do. His place was about ten miles to the west. As we rode in, a woman came a'runnin'.

"Have you found her?"

Wyatt shook his head. "Mr. Holmes here is gonna help." The house was fancy for around here. I expected servants. What I got was a tiny Chinaman.

"You want I make coffee, boss?"

"First I want answers. Where were you when Maisie was taken?" He looked from me to his employer, like he needed permission to speak. A nod told him to answer.

"I was in field. I milk cow."

I could see no cow, so the field must be aways off. Or else he was lying. As he went to make coffee, I heard a jangle. What house servant wears spurs? Fancy silver ones at that.

"Your man ..."

"Hoi Sin."

"How often does he go into town?"

"He goes in once a week for supplies, stays over, comes back next day."

A picture was forming in my head. The Chinese like to gamble. How much of his debt was paid off by the mountain man in exchange for Maisie?

-*-

The next day Hoi Sin was due to go to town. Wyatt and I trailed him. Sure enough he went straight to a secret gambling den at the back of the feed store. A horse and a mule were tied up outside.

"No guns. You shoot the varmint, we won't know where he's keepin' Maisie."

We hid outside until the straggly stranger came staggering out. The trail he left was easy to follow. His home was a cabin someways north, in the hill country. A plume of smoke told us Maisie was inside.

Guns drawn, we rushed the place. The man was too drunk to defend himself. "I ain't touched her, honest. I just wanted someone to cook and clean."

"Is that right, girl?"

"Yes, Pappa."

"She's your daughter? That filthy Chinaman said as she was a servant. Here, take her."

"Put your gun away, Wyatt. If anyone deserves shootin' it's Hoi Sin."

550 words