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powerful man in town.”
    Clint found that statement very interesting.
    Clint thanked Alberto for his food and his words, and promised that Sheriff Vazquez would never hear what they had talked about.
    â€œGracias, señor,” Alberto said. “I only hope I was able to assist you in some way.”
    â€œYou assisted me in every way, Alberto,” Clint said. “Thank you.”

TWENTY-ONE
    In the morning Rydell and Chance awoke and had coffee together. Rydell had some beans, but Chance was waiting until he got to town to have a real Mexican breakfast.
    â€œNow, you understand what I want you to do, right?” Rydell asked.
    â€œYeah, Cord, I got it,” Chance said. “I ain’t stupid, you know.”
    â€œNo, you ain’t stupid,” Rydell said, “but sometimes you do stupid things, Hal. Don’t be stupid this time, because stupid is dead in this case.”
    What’re you sayin’?”
    â€œI’m sayin’ no matter what happens, when you find our guy, stay away from him. Don’t try to take him yourself. Don’t let him see you. Just spot him, and wait for me. Got it?”
    â€œHow many times I got to tell you, Cord?” Chance asked. “I got it.”
    â€œIf I get to town and find you dead, I’m gonna curse you all the way to hell, Hal.”
    â€œDon’t worry,” Chance said. “I won’t be dead.”
    â€œBut if you mess this up,” Rydell said, “I’ll kill you myself.”
    Â * * * 
    Clint awoke alone. Carmen had spent the night with him, but she had awakened early and slipped out. She needed to get ready for her job at Rosa’s.
    But the night before, prior to going to bed, he told her he wanted to talk to her about something . . .
    â€œWhat is it?”
    â€œSheriff Vazquez.”
    â€œDomingo?” she asked. “What about him?”
    â€œHis first name is Domingo?”
    â€œSí. What about him?”
    â€œI want you to tell me about him.”
    â€œTell you what about him?”
    â€œWhatever you know,” Clint said. “He’s been asking me for help, and I want to know if he’s worth helping. How well do you know him?”
    â€œI know him . . . very well,” she said.
    â€œDoes that mean that you were once . . . involved with him?” he asked.
    â€œIt means I am always involved with him,” she said. “He is my brother.”
    That stunned Clint. If she was Vazquez’s sister, she would have to be loyal to him, and Clint didn’t want her going back to her brother and telling him that Clint was asking about him.
    â€œWhat kind of help does he want?” she asked.
    â€œHe says he senses trouble coming, and only has two inexperienced deputies to back him.”
    â€œMy brother needs very little in the way of help, Clint,” she said. “He is the deadliest shot with a gun I have ever seen.”
    â€œThat’s not always enough, Carmen.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œEverybody needs help sometime.”
    â€œIf my brother needs help, he knows where to get it.”
    Clint wondered if she was talking about Ernesto Paz. But he didn’t go any further with the questions now that he knew she was related to the lawman.
    They went to bed . . .
    Â * * * 
    In the morning Clint dressed and thought about what he had learned the night before from both Alberto and Carmen. If Alberto was to be believed, Domingo Vazquez was a hard man, and not a good one. But he did his job. And both Alberto and Carmen talked about his prowess with a gun. What Clint liked about Sheriff Domingo Vazquez that he had never alluded to that talent at all. He was, apparently, not one to brag.
    Clint went down to the lobby, decided to have his breakfast in the hotel dining room. Over his steak and eggs he wondered who else he could talk to about Vazquez so that it wouldn’t get