The Encounter

 The Encounter

For Cathie Flynn

 

Johnny stared at the beer, stale as his damn life.

 

“Johnny! Ain’t you gonna join in the fun?” Wes had a girl wrapped in each of his arms.

 

“Not now, Wes.” Johnny didn’t feel like partying after walking away from all his hopes. He kept thinking at some point, his old man would let up or maybe stop him from going out the door. Was that what Johnny pushed for? A sign that his father wanted him for more than a ranch hand or a cheap gun when trouble showed up.

 

“Hey, Cowboy.” She was pretty, but he didn’t want company.

 

“The party’s back there.” Johnny thumbed toward the tables where Wes, two girls, and some other guy were drinking and laughing.

 

“What if I like what I see here better?”

 

Johnny sat up straighter. Just because he’d had a mess of a day, no reason to insult the girl. “Can I buy you a drink?”

 

“How long have you hugged that beer? How about something with a little more punch?” She turned and caught the bartender’s eye. “Harry. Set us up, the good tequila.”

 

“Coming right up, Cathy.”

 

Johnny dug in his pocket. The watch money was going fast. The only way he knew how to make more was to hire out his gun. That meant, well, killing, and it wasn’t what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.

 

“It’s on the house.” She placed her small hand on his arm to stop his search for coins.

 

“Yeah? And why’s that?”

 

“Just consider me your free angel. You look like you could use one.”

 

Johnny laughed. “How would you figure that?”

 

“Angels know those things.”

 

“And what else do angels do?”

 

“We ask questions.” She had a sweet smile. It was kinda angelic. And he couldn’t help but grin.

 

“And suppose I don’t have answers..”

 

“Oh, you don’t have to answer. But there’s no harm in listening, Johnny.”

 

She must have heard Wes call his name. He didn’t remember telling it to her. “Do you know me from somewhere?”

 

“I’ve heard plenty about you, Johnny Madrid, read a story or two about you. Or is it Johnny Lancer?”

 

The girl’s eyes bored into his, almost like she could read his thoughts. “Is that one of your questions?” Johnny didn’t smile when he asked.

 

“It’s something to think about. But I have other questions.” She folded her hands and leaned closer.

 

“Should you let that fellow influence decisions that affect your future?” She nodded her head toward Wes.

 

“Wes? He’s a friend.”

 

“But has he been helpful to you?”

 

“Lady, how do you know? Wes. What did he tell you? You were back there drinking earlier, right?”

 

“Now I have two more questions, Johnny.”

 

“Okay, I’m listening.” Maybe he needed a stiff drink. Johnny licked some salt off his hand, took a sip of tequila, and sucked one of the lime wedges.

 

“Suppose someone came to you tomorrow with good reasons to be Johnny Lancer. Would you listen? And, my last question: Which life will make you happy?”

 

Just then, the rowdy group in the back got louder. Johnny stood, thinking he might ought to calm Wes down. He was pretty drunk. But the two girls had him sitting down. So Johnny turned to Cathie, but she wasn’t there. Her glass was gone, too. He hadn’t heard her leave. Strange.

 

“Hey Johnny, You alright?” Wes was okay; he had the two girls on his lap.

 

“Listen, I tell ya, I’m going to get some air.” Johnny had plenty to think about, partly because of an angel who went by the name of Cathie.