. . I've been that way a time or two." Under his breath Gay said, "You the one shot that man down to Freedom?" "Yes." "Description sounded like you. The shootin' didn't." "He was facing the bar, half-turned and drew. My first shot got him back of the left shoulder, the second in the spine. He'd been standing left side toward the door, and he drew from his waistband and fired from under his left arm. It was a fair shooting." "Never doubted it." Skin was busy piling up packages, measuring. "They've hired themselves a marshal. Stranger ... a big, cold-faced man." "Neerland?" Cooley glanced up sharply. "You know him?" "We had words." Matt gestured toward the back room. "Over her." There was a moment of silence, during which Skin continued his ambling about the store, searching for the various things. Unfamiliar as he was with the stock-for he had been asked to care for it only while the trader was over in Prescott on business-he was slow, but Matt was in no hurry, now that he had found Cooley.
