Read Online The Gun Fight by Richard Matheson - Free Book Online

went on. “I believe a family meal should be eaten in peace.”
    “Yes, sir,” Robby said, thinking of the countless meals that had degenerated into stomach-wrenching agonies because of his father’s temper.
    “It’s just that . . . well.” His father gestured with his free hand. “Just that you’re my son and I want to be proud of you.”
    “Yes, sir.” The tight, crawling sensation still mounted in Robby’s stomach. Don’t, he thought,
don’t
; his eyes staring at the dark outline of his father’s head.
    “I don’t want to force you into anything, son,” said Matthew Coles in as understanding a voice as he could manage. “You’re of age and I can’t make you do anything your mind is set against.”
    Robby started to speak, then closed his mouth without a word. His father wasn’t through yet.
    “I can punish your younger brother if he does something I know is wrong.” Matthew Coles shook his head once, slowly. “I can’t do that with you, son,” he said. “You’re of age and your life is your own; your decisions are your own.”
    Suddenly, Robby wished his father would rage again, rant and yell. It was easier to fight that.
    “But I don’t believe you realize, son,” said Matthew Coles, his voice a steady, coercive flow. “This is a very serious matter. I couldn’t talk about it at the table because of your mother and your younger brother. It’s not the sort of subject men discuss over a family supper table.”
    Now his father’s arm was around his shoulders and, as they ambled slowly toward the stable, Robby could feel his stomach muscles trembling and he had to clench his hands to keep the fingers steady.
    “Son,” his father said, “there are certain things a man must face in this life. I don’t say these things are just or fair . . . or even reasonable. But they’re a part of our life and no man can avoid them.” Matthew Coles paused for emphasis. “And the most important of those,” he said, “is that a man defend his home and defend his family.”
    But she’s not my family. Robby wanted to say it but he was afraid to.
    “I . . . want to do what’s right,” he said instead, his throat feeling dry and tight, the gun at his waist seeming very heavy. He wished he hadn’t taken the gun with him. What if he ran into John Benton and Benton had a gun on too?
    “Of course, you want to do what’s right, son,” said Matthew Coles, nodding. “You’re a Coles and the men of our family have always done what’s right—what
has
to be done.”
    They were in the darkness of the stable now. Robby could smell the odor of damp hay and hear the soft stamping of the two horses in their stalls. He heard his roan nicker quietly and it made him swallow nervously. I’ll ride you when I’m ready, he thought belligerently as if the horse had asked to be ridden toward town, toward the possibility of meeting Benton.
    “Sit down, son,” Robby heard the firm voice of his father say. Weakly, he sank down on the wooden benchand his father sat down beside him, arm still around Robby’s lean shoulders.
    His father’s voice kept on, seeming to surround Robby in the cool, damp-smelling blackness of the stable.
    “I know that, strictly speaking, Louisa Harper is not yet a part of our family. And, if there were men folks alive in her family now, I would say no more. It would be
their
responsibility to defend her honor.”
    Honor. Honor
—the word thumped dully in Robby’s mind as he stared straight ahead, listening.
    “However,” said Matthew Coles, “there
are
no men left in the Harper family. There are no men left in the Winston family which was the family that Louisa’s mother was born to.”
    I know all that, Robby thought, trying hard not to shiver. He said quietly, “Yes, sir.”
    “And because there are no men in Louisa Harper’s family, the responsibility must shift itself to you. Since the young lady is your intended bride, you are the only one who can defend her