\u201cRuben\u2019s going with us to town again tonight James.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAgain Stu? Why? All he did last week was just sit there at the bar and sip the same beer all night long while he watched us lose all our money to that gambler Spieler.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe didn\u2019t say. He just said he wanted to go, that’s all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell he doesn’t say much period, that’s for damn sure. You know I asked him last week right after the boss hired him where he was from and what he did before he came here and I never did get an answer from him. Hell Ruben Swanson might not even be his real name. You know Stu, I got me a funny feeling about him. Something just ain\u2019t right about that man.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just then baby-faced, twenty something, blonde hair, blue eyed Ruben Swanson, average in height and weight, generic in looks, still in his work clothes, still with cow manure on his boots, entered the bunkhouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou going like that?\u201d Stu asked him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He and James had gotten cleaned up and were wearing their dress up go to town Saturday night duds. Both had strapped on their gun belts. Stu wore two guns, James only one. After all, they were going to the Sure Shot Saloon. They had to make an impression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ruben on the other hand looked like he had just come straight from mucking out the dairy barn, which he had, and he was unarmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, are you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPacked and ready,\u201d answered Ruben.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stu looked at James nonplussed. James looked at Stu and shrugged his shoulders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOkay let\u2019s go then,\u201d said James.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not a word was exchanged between the three of them the whole way they rode to town together though James wondered why Ruben had his packed saddle bags with him since they were just going out for a night of fun. But he kept his mouth shut since he knew he wouldn\u2019t get an answer from him anyway. Stu never picked up on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now all three of them sat at the bar in the Sure Shot Saloon and sipped their beers as they watched the poker game already in progress. The poker game featuring Slick Spieler, a professional gambler, who had just blown into town last week with the hot Texas summer wind. He was a slick one alright, slick for the way he fancily dressed himself, slick for the way he haughtily carried himself, slick for his trademark slicked back coal black hair and pencil thin mustache, and most of all of course, slick for his sleight of hand that no one could ever catch him at. He was the Sure Shot Saloon\u2019s new main attraction, good for business, drawing a larger crowd than the can can girls ever did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was a certain organized madness to the man. First he only played five card draw. Second he only let three other players at a time at the table with him. And third he would go about eliminating each player one at a time, until all the chairs were empty before he called for the next batch of fools to join him. From the look on his face it seemed as if he enjoyed every second of it, relishing in this process of eliminating his opponents. So things progressed as usual that evening and soon only Slick Spieler was left at the table. He looked at the bar and recognized James and Stu from last week, gave Ruben a cursory once over, extended his right hand, and with cupped fingers motioned for them to come join him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome on you two. Who knows you might just get lucky this time. You too Hayseed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One look was all it took. Stu and James just had to take one more shot at getting their money back that they had lost last week. They chugged their beers and like flies drawn to honey buzzed over to join him, James plopping himself down to the right of him, Stu to the left. Then to the surprise of James and Stu, Ruben left his untouched beer at the bar and took the third chair directly across from Spieler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell Hayseed you sure you\u2019re up for this,\u201d taunted Spieler as he leaned across the table over to Ruben and pulled a piece of hay from his hair that he had palmed in his hand. Spieler stuck it in his mouth and began chewing on it. \u201cWell?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHIs name\u2019s Ruben,\u201d volunteered Stu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd he don\u2019t talk much,\u201d added James.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFine by me boys we\u2019re here to play cards anyway not to have an intellectual conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The game began and as usual Spieler let James and Stu win a little at first to get them to build up their confidence. He knew from last week that they\u2019d be an easy kill. And as to the hick Ruben he would take him out last. He\u2019d be easy pickings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stu was the first to go down and not long thereafter James. As James slid back his chair and was about to get up, Ruben grabbed his sleeve, pulled him to him, and whispered into his ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry. I\u2019ll take care of him. I\u2019ll fix it so that when I\u2019m through with him, he\u2019ll never deal again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
James pulled his head back, furrowed his brow, and gave Ruben a puzzled quizzical look. Taken back by what Ruben had just said, he didn\u2019t know what to make of it as he got up, went over to, and joined Stu at the bar who was gulping down Ruben\u2019s warm untouched beer. Stu was one who just couldn\u2019t let an untouched beer go to waste. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat did he say to you?\u201d asked Stu, wiping his mouth with his sleeve, and setting down the empty glass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat Spieler would never deal again after he was through with him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know Stu but something ain\u2019t right here. Like I said before there\u2019s something strange about Ruben and I got me a weird funny feeling about this. We\u2019re just gonna have to wait and see how this all plays out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The game resumed. Spieler let Ruben win the next three hands. It was Spieler\u2019s turn to deal now and he was ready to move in for the kill. He dealt the cards. Ruben looked at his hand. He held an ace of spades, ace of hearts, nine, five, and a three. He bet five dollars. Spieler saw him and raised him ten. Ruben took out his billfold, matched it and raised him twenty. Spieler raised him back another twenty. Reuben matched it and called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJesus, where in the hell did Ruben get all that money?\u201d said Stu as he elbowed James in the ribs. \u201cI thought he was broke when the boss hired him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI did too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow many Plowboy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ruben held up three fingers. Spieler dealt him three cards. Ruben kept the pair of aces and threw away the other three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe dealer takes one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone in the place had their eyes on Spieler as he dealt himself his one card hoping to catch him slipping himself a card either from the bottom of the deck or from up his proverbial sleeve. No one was paying any attention to Ruben though except for James.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spieler faked a faint smile as he looked at his new card. The crowd picked up on it, followed his lead, and likewise smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reuben stared at his three new cards, a jack, an eight, and a third ace, only it was another ace of spades. He said nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re bet Hayseed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ruben bet twenty dollars. Spieler matched it and raised him thirty. They kept on matching and raising each other until Spieler had bet every penny he had on him. As to Ruben though no one knew how much he still had left on him. But it was table stakes and since Spieler had staked all he had on the table, he called. It was time now for the two of them to show their cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spiler laid down his hand first and spread out his cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTwo pair kings and queens with a jack kicker. Beat that munchkin farm boy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ruben laid down his hand but didn\u2019t spread it out like Spieler had. Instead he put them down in a fashion where one of the ace of spades covered up the other one so that only the A was showing in the upper left hand corner of the covered up card, hoping to pass it off as the ace of clubs. Ruben reached for the pot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot so fast there country bumpkin,\u201d said Speler, grabbing Ruben\u2019s wrist. \u201cYou don\u2019t have three aces there, clodhopper.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slick Spieler uncovered the covered up ace of spades. A communal gasp went up from the crowd silencing the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYa blew it gambler wannabe. You got the wrong sleeve. Your ace of clubs is still up your right sleeve. But you being left handed naturally went to your left and that’s where you screwed up. Forgot that the ace of spades was there, didn\u2019t you?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou dealt me that card instead of the ace of diamonds which was the next card due up. That way you could accuse me of cheating since I would have beaten you with three aces.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then before Spieler could respond, Ruben reached across the table and uncovered the top card on the deck sitting before him. It was the ace of diamonds. The crowd did its second communal gasp double take. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell there\u2019s only one way to settle this then isn\u2019t there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stu jumped up from his bar stool and shouted out, \u201cHe’s not even packing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe is now,\u201d said James, getting up, and starting to take off his gun belt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJames what in the hell are you doing? Spieler\u2019s been in a couple of gun fights. He\u2019s still standing in case you hadn’t noticed. Ruben ain\u2019t got a snowball\u2019s chance. He couldn\u2019t outdraw him and even if he did, he couldn\u2019t hit a barn wall from inside the barn. This is on you James, not me if something goes wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
James offered his gun belt to Ruben.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ruben shook his head no.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank God someone has some sense around here,\u201d said Stu with a sigh of relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then Ruben pointed to Stu\u2019s gun belt and James knew why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe wants your guns Stu. He\u2019s left handed. My pistol is on the right. You got two guns. Give it to him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stu looked at Ruben and could tell from the pleading look in his eyes that he really really wanted his gun belt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTell ya what kid,\u201d said Spieler, \u201cjust to make it fair, I\u2019ll let you make the first move before I kill you. That way it\u2019ll be self defense.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stu hated Speiler with a vengeance having lost all his last two weeks wages to him and that taunt of his to Ruben pushed Stu over the edge. He gave Ruben his gun belt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is on your conscience now Stu, not mine,\u201d said James strapping back on his gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThanks a lot James. Thanks a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
James took Stu aside and whispered in his ear, \u201cTrust me Stu. I got me a hunch as to what\u2019s really going on here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYa mean like those hunches you got in the poker game.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ruben strapped on Stu\u2019s gun as Spieler checked his over. Then they both stepped over to the center of the saloon as the patrons scurried for cover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI’m going to get the Sheriff,\u201d said Stu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s midnight Stu. He lives clear on the other side of town. He\u2019s asleep. He ain\u2019t on duty just that dumb deputy of his and he won\u2019t do anything anyway until it\u2019s all over.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell I\u2019m getting him just the same and Doc Brady too,\u201d countered Stu as he ran out the door. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two participant\u2019s squared off about fifteen paces between them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Untrue to his word, Spieler made the first move. But Ruben beat him to the first shot, firing while his gun was still in the holster, the barrel protruding out the bottom of the holster. That plus the left side gun was why Ruben wanted Stu\u2019s gunbelt not James\u2019s. He had shot straight forward from the hip and shot the gun out of Spieler\u2019s right hand along with blowing off Spieler\u2019s thumb, index finger, middle finger, and a good size portion of his wrist. Spieler\u2019s wrist dangled there and he grabbed it with his left hand, fearing it would fall off, and cradled it to his chest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just then Stu, the deputy, and Doc Brady rushed in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Doc Brady went over to Spieler, pulled back his right hand, looked it over, scrunched up his face, sucked in some air through his teeth, and shook his head side to side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone handed him Spieler\u2019s thumb, index and middle finger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One look was all it took. \u201cI can\u2019t sew these back on. There\u2019s nothing left to sew. Same goes for the wrist. I can’t sow it back on either. The tendons have been severed. What\u2019s left is going to have to come off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He led the stunned Spieler out the door and back to his office. The deputy followed him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stu ran over to Ruben, grabbed his hand, and shook it vigorously. \u201cCongratulations. You\u2019re one lucky fella Ruben. He beat you to the draw but you got the first shot off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere was no luck to it Stu,\u201d piped up James.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThink about it Stu.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThink about what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ruben went over to the table, counted out what Stu and James had each lost and handed it to them. He pocketed the rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They both thanked him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSay Stu, why don\u2019t you go get yourself a beer. I need to talk to Ruben for a minute and then I\u2019ll join you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSure James sure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stu left for the bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPretty clever of you Ruben whoever you are,\u201d said James. \u201cHow long had you been after him before you finally got your payback here tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA while.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell since I see that you\u2019ve already got your saddlebags packed and are ready to go, I reckon you\u2019ll be moving on now won\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell I bid you adieu mon ami.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Exit one Ruben Swanson aka whoever he was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
James went to the bar and joined Stu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI just figured it out, James.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFigured it out what Stu?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFigured out what Ruben meant when he said that Spieler would be done dealing when he was through with him. This was all planned out wasn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYa know Stu I do believe there\u2019s hope for you after all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRuben\u2019s going with us to town again tonight James.\u201d \u201cAgain Stu? Why? All he did last week was just sit there at the bar and sip the same beer all night long while he watched us lose all our money to that gambler Spieler.\u201d \u201cHe didn\u2019t say. He just said he wanted … Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1031,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1008","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/underwoodpress.com\/truechili\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/keenan-constance-VTLcvV6UVaI-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C427&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/underwoodpress.com\/truechili\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1008","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/underwoodpress.com\/truechili\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/underwoodpress.com\/truechili\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/underwoodpress.com\/truechili\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/underwoodpress.com\/truechili\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1008"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/underwoodpress.com\/truechili\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1008\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1032,"href":"https:\/\/underwoodpress.com\/truechili\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1008\/revisions\/1032"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/underwoodpress.com\/truechili\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1031"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/underwoodpress.com\/truechili\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1008"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/underwoodpress.com\/truechili\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1008"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/underwoodpress.com\/truechili\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1008"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Author is a retired attorney now living in Texas.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"