THE DODGE CITY MASSACRE (A Jess Williams Novel.) by Robert J. Thomas Page A

another.”
                  Jess’ attitude and his cool demeanor he displayed just before a gunfight somewhat unnerved the two men. They looked at one another.
                  Dan Healy, who was the faster of the two, looked at Larry Frost. “I’ll take him Larry. You go ahead and have a drink while I shut this one’s mouth with a bullet. As soon as that’s done, I’ll join you for a celebratory drink, unless his friend there wants to get involved.”
                  Bodine put his glass down. “Hell, he doesn’t need any help from me. I plan on having another drink with him once he puts you two down.”
                  “You know what, John? Why don’t you go ahead and pour me a drink now. I’ll be having it in a few minutes,” said Jess.
                  “You’re a right cocky one, ain’t you?” asked Healy.
                  “I guess you could say that. I have to say though, you’re a lot smarter than I first thought.”
                  “And what the hell does that mean?”
                  “I’m surprised you knew the meaning of the word ‘celebratory’. I figured you for a little dumber than that,” said Jess.
                  That pissed Dan Healy off. He went for his pistol without saying a word. He did, however, say the word ‘damn’ just before he fell backward onto a table and then onto the floor. Larry Frost, who seen the blurring speed at which Jess drew his pistol, was completely taken aback. Jess looked over at Larry Frost as he replaced the spent cartridge and holstered his pistol.
                  “Well, I suppose it’s your turn next,” Jess said, smiling at Larry Frost.
                  “I changed my mind, Mister, especially after seeing that. A dead man can’t spend money.”
                  “You know, I’ve been trying to tell people that for some time now, but they just don’t listen,” replied Jess.
                  “Well, I’ll be leaving then,” said Frost.
                  “Naw, I don’t think so,” replied Jess.
                  “Why not? I said I changed my mind, Mister. I got no more beef with you.”
                  “Yeah, but you sure had one a minute ago.”
                  “And I told you I changed my mind, so just let me clear out of here.”
                  “I don’t think so, now come on over away from the bar and grab one of those pistols you have there. Besides, it’ll make up for the poor drifter that your dead partner killed earlier. He didn’t have any beef with you either,” said Jess sarcastically. Besides, I’m getting mighty thirsty and I have a drink waiting on that bar,” Jess said nodding toward his drink.
                  “I ain’t doing it and you can’t make me either,” exclaimed Larry Frost.
                  “You want to bet on that?” asked Jess.
                  John Bodine put his glass down. “I’ll take that bet,” he said looking at Larry Frost. “Do you have twenty dollars on you, Mister?”
                  “Yeah, I got twenty dollars, but it don’t matter, ‘cause I’m not going up against this man now after seeing him draw like that.”
                  “Oh, I think you are dead wrong about that, but as long as you got the twenty dollars, I’ll get it out of your pockets when it’s over,” replied Bodine.
                  “I told you, I’m not going against him,” insisted Larry Frost, as he started to turn to leave.
                  Jess slicked his pistol out and shot Larry Frost’s left ear clean off. “Son-of-a-bitch, you shot my damn ear off! Are you crazy, Mister?”
                  “Hey, you two are the ones who started this. I’m just the one finishing it. Now, you still