"I know." Duggan turned to look down the street. A few moments passed. "Fact is, Jack, I ain't got a clue what killed those men this morning."
"Looked like critters to me. Bears or wolves or some such."
"That's what I thought at first, too. Big old grizzly attack, and if anybody asks, that's our story. Between you and me, though, that was one special bear."
The chill started crawling up Jack's spine again. "What's that mean?"
"Whatever killed those men got it done without giving their hounds a scratch. I've known a good number of wolfers in my day, and every one of them trusted their dogs with their lives. Swore up and down that their hounds would jump down a grizzly's throat for them. Them dogs with those men this morning lit out without getting so much as a drop of blood on their coats. Whatever killed them boys must have scared the dogs bad, and a wolfhound don't spook easily."
Jack stared at the livery's sign, pondering the marshal's words. "So what's out there that could spook a wolfhound, then?"
"Nothing I'd care to meet." Duggan stood silent for a moment, fingering the hammer of his Colt. Finally, he stirred himself and looked at his deputy. "Don't worry about it, kid. These mountains are full of strange critters. I'd lay twenty dollars on this being a one-time thing, a story to scare your kids with one day." He clapped Jack on the shoulder. "Go home and get some rest. I'll take the evening shift till the night boys show up."
"If you insist," Jack said, standing up. He pulled his coat closed and tipped his hat to the marshal. "See you in the morning, sir." Duggan grunted and went back into the office.
Jack turned his back on the Pioneer, making clear tracks away from the saloon. He didn't know if the marshal would be watching him or not, but it wouldn't do for Duggan to see his deputy heading straight for a saloon on a day like today. Jack kept his head down, his boots crunching in the snow past the general store and down Main Street.
When he was a safe distance from the marshal's station, Jack ducked into an alley and doubled back toward the Pioneer. He could already feel the whiskey warming his belly. The afternoon sun hung just above the western peaks, turning the clouds a brilliant shade of pink. Jack paused and glanced up, drawing the cold mountain air into his lungs. Evenings like this could be deceptive. Everything seemed peaceful, but the men from the second shift in the mines would be heading out in search of their nightcaps soon. Cold nights and drunken miners meant trouble.
Maybe he shouldn't get all that drunk tonight.
The Pioneer greeted him with a jingle from the doorbell and a warm rush of air. The familiar smells of coffee, spirits, and sweat blended into a single fragrance as Jack took in the saloon's afternoon lull. A few miners stood at the bar, getting an early start on their drinking. Two had their backs to the door, staring into their whiskey between gulps. Another at the end faced the room, both elbows planted on the bar. Drops of liquor clung to the man's beard like beads of dew on a grizzly's fur. The only other patrons sat around a game of poker at one of the rough-hewn pine tables, talking and laughing as they studied the cards in front of their faces.
"Afternoon, deputy," Boots said as Jack walked up to the bar. "Nothing else to worry about in here."
"I'm off duty, Boots," Jack replied, making sure the others at the bar could hear him.
"Good." The bartender set a glass of whiskey in front of the deputy, a grin on his round face. "This one's on the house. Payment for them thugs you and Mart ran off earlier."
Jack picked up the glass, nodded his thanks, and threw it back. The alcohol left a burning trail through his chest down into his stomach. Eyes closed, he relished the feeling for a moment, then he looked at the bartender and grinned.
"Ain't seen no lawman enjoy his whiskey like you, Jack," Boots said, refilling the glass.
"I deserve it today," the deputy replied. An image from the clearing sprang into his mind, the sight of red guts hanging from a branch, and his face grew serious. He'd seen plenty of gunshot wounds, frostbite, and mining accidents; they came with the territory out here.