The loot of the Lazy A
sure gettin’ weak in the knees.”
“You’re all fixed up,” said Faith. “This is the first time you’ve been
rational since the shooting, three days ago. You’ll be as good as new
in a few days. You’ll have to be, because you are going to be best man
at a double wedding.”
Cultus stared up at the ceiling and around the room.
“And both the Star X and the Lazy A gangs are settin’ outside the house,
waitin’ for the doctor to tell ’em you’ll get well,” said Shif’less.
“Settin’ together?” queried Cultus.
“Have been for three days. They’re workin’ the place in relays, like me
and Faith and Dude and Mary. They’ll be here soon.”
“Mary has told us the whole story,” said Faith softly. “Personally, I
think she should have married you.”
Cultus shook his head slowly, averting his eyes. “No-o-o, it’s better
this way. Yuh see,” he turned and smiled bravely. “I’m kind of a
nervous disposition, and I’d never be contented with a wife that--that
was always ridin’ runaways.”
Shif’less laughed heartily, and wondered why it didn’t sound funny to
Faith--who understood. But the looting of the Lazy A was over, the feud
ended; so Cultus smiled and went to sleep, realizing that he would need
more strength to be best man at a wedding than he would to be best man
at a gun-fight.
[Transcriber’s note: This story appeared in the August 10, 1926 issue
of _Short Stories_ magazine.]