A FRESH START 21

the next morning at first light bill rolleed out of his blanket and stumbled out side to a full horse trough. there he washed the sleep from his face with the cold water. drying himself with the tail of his shirt he started up town.at the board walk in front of the commercial dry goods store he stepped up and started down the wooden walk way. two doors down light showed out from a window. bill could smell coffee and bacon he stepped in and took a stool at the counter. the cook looked over his shoulder and nodded. bringing a cup of the coffee to bill he asked" one egg or two?" bill took a sip of the coffee and mumbled" three" a few minutes later the cook slid a plate with bacon and eggs with a side of fried potatoes in front of bill. bill dug in like the hungry man he was when he asked the cook "how much" the cook simply said " 75 cents" when bill finished eating and drained the cup he laid a silver doller next to the plate and walked out side and stretched. dealing with all this had him stressed out and this morning that good meal was a good relaxer. he started toward the town jail. as he got close he saw two horses tied in front. when he stepped inside old man kearney was pounding his fist on the desk ( i want to talk to that low life! why did he shoot edwin?" " i can answer that mr. kearney, the scum was trying to shoot me. he saw the boys ride away from my barn and thought edwin was me. ime sorry. i came to talk to the bum my self i want to know for sure why ime being stalked.and by who"how is edwin?"bill explained. " he has a groove in his skull and a bad head ach. but he will be ok."the elder kearney answered. " good, now lets ask the shooter who sent him. i think i know but i want to hear it."bill turned to the jailer and held his hand out for the key. the jailer laid the keys in his hand, " wont do you no good. he died last night. we are waiting for the under taker now." the jailr nodded to the door leading to the cell block. bill snatched the keys and sto mped to the door with old man kearneyy following.sure enough the shooter was stretched out on a cot. his sightless eyes stareing at the ceiling. stood there with his head bowed. " this is all my fault" he said" i had a faro game back east i cleanned out a fellow then took the money i had in the bank and came here for a fresh start and all thats happened people around me been shot. " he brushed past old man kearney and started out side , dropping the keys o the desk as he passed. he was standing on the edge of the board walk when kearney steped up behind him and laid a hand on bill shoulder. " we under stand. i dont blame you. some folks just cant stand to loose. ime gonna get my boy and go home. you want something come see us." the smelly old man walked past and got on his horse. his son following they turned to go down the street to the doctors. bill watched them ride away.to no one in particular bill said" life sure sets you up with some strange folks." he followed along headed to the livery stable.