Hawkins put the books back into the chest after carefully wrapping them in a silk cloth. A couple of the windows were open and he could hear the sounds on the street below and feel the warm breeze blowing thru the open windows. The dry desert air was much different then the humid air of the south and it felt good as the smell of sage and desert flowers wafted in the air. He decided it was time to get dressed and to take a look around town, keeping a low profile. Out of the chest he pulled a pair of black pants, a red native trade shirt, a brown vest and a coachmen's hat. He got dressed wrapping a red silk scarf around his neck. lastly he pulled a double barrel pearl handled derringer out of the chest, loading it and placing it in his vest pocket. He headed out the bedroom door and down the hallway, down the stairs and thru the kitchen walking out the rear door of the Desert Rose Saloon.
The town of Wickenburg was full of People and Horses, Hawkins found it easy to almost disappear into the crowded street. You could tell that many of the people were nervous and that there was a feeling of uneasiness in the air. Hawkins walked several blocks until he came into view of the Sheriffs office. He stopped in front of the tobacco shop across the street from the Sheriffs office and stepped inside. The elderly man behind the counter was friendly and sold Hawkins some twist tobacco for his pipe, after having a short conversation. Hawkins then took some of the tobacco and loaded the pipe while looking out the window across to the Sheriffs office. A tall man in his 20's stood on the front porch of the sheriffs office smoking a thin cigar and leaning on a post, watching people pass up and down the street. He wore black pants with a white shirt and double breasted red vest. His hat was black with a small brim and a silver band. He wore a black gun belt with two Colt Pistols holstered in it. Hawkins had seen his type before, especially after the war. This must be the man named Dallas. Hawkins knew he would be a formidable opponent, and was most likely as fast at the draw has he was. Hawkins was not in a hurry to be shot down by a young kid who was fast on the draw and most likely a very good shot. This would take some planning and the right time and place to face Dallas and not get killed.
Hawkins smoked the pipe and continued to watch Dallas thru the window of the Tobacco shop. A man walked up the steps of the sheriffs office with a bag in his hands giving Dallas plenty of room as Dallas stared at the man watching him climb the stairs and enter the sheriffs office. Hawkins could see that Dallas said something to the man as he passed, but he could not hear what was said. The man had a deathly look of fright on his face as he passed and disappeared from sight. After several minutes a voiced yelled, "Dallas, Get in here". Dallas dropped the cigar stomping on it with his boot, and disappeared into the Sheriffs office. The man who had entered with the bag then ran out of the sheriffs office into the street and Dallas was close behind. The man fumbled down the stairs falling into the street. Dallas stopped on the porch spreading his feet wide. Hawkins knew what was coming next. "We don't abide by cheaters and liars" Dallas yelled at the man. The man arose from the street and stumbled backward, as Dallas pulled the pistol with his left hand so fast that you would have almost missed it even looking right at him. Flame erupted from the end of the chrome plated pistol as the gun fired in this hand followed by three more quick shots. All four rounds struck the man in the street one of them passing completely thru the man and striking the frame of the window Hawkins was looking thru. He continued staring down at the man laying in the street as his blood ran out into the dirt. All of a sudden Hawkins felt the hair on his neck stand up, as he realized that Dallas was looking directly thru the Tobacco shop window at him from across the street. Hawkins took several steps back and saw that Dallas was starting to walk down the steps toward the wounded man in the street. Hawkins reached down to his gun belt and remembered he had only the small pistol in his pocket. He was holly unprepared to face Dallas, and it was very likely that he was going to walk thru the door and ask who he was. How could he have made such a stupid error in judgement? Caed would never let him hear the end of it, he was certain of that. Dallas stopped at the now dead mans feet kicking him and watching for movement. Then again looked thru the shop window in Hawkins direction. Dallas put his hand on his gun and began to walk to the Tobacco shop entrance. Hawkins swore under his breath and looked quickly around the room for an exit and there was none. As Dallas reach the Tobacco shop door he reached for the handle, just as a voice boomed out from behind him. "Dallas, dame you. I don't pay you to do this boy". Dallas spun around to face Miles Andres who was standing in his wagon in the street. "Sheriff, clean up this mess and Dallas you get back to the Mine where you belong". Miles roared at the young gunfighter. Dallas looked at Miles and told him "Yes, sure". Dallas turned back to the entrance of the Tobacco Shop and started to turn the handle of the door. "Dallas, I mean do it now boy". Dallas turned with a hard stare at the large man in the wagon, and let go of the door handle, turned and walked down the street back toward the mine on the south end of town. Hawkins realized he hadn't taken a breath for several moments and that he now had the small pistol in his hand behind his back. He was brought back to reality when the Tobacconist spoke to him. "Hell of a thing, shooting a man down like that, you alight mister"? Hawkins shook off the cloud in his head and responded. "Yes, ah, I wasn't aware it was such a dangerous place this town of yours". "Just give the Dallas kid plenty of room if you see him in the street and you'll be fine". The Tobacconist told him. Hawkins shook his head thanking the man and slipped the pistol back into his vest pocket. He quickly stepped out of the door and headed back to the Desert Rose Saloon and to his room.
Caed was waiting for Hawkins when he returned to the room. Hawkins explained everything that had happened and how he almost had a face to face meeting with Dallas in the Tobacco shop earlier. Of course Caed had a few choice words for Hawkins and was sure to let him know that his error would not be forgotten for sometime. Hawkins knew he had made an error in judgment and would be more careful in the future as he knew Dallas would now be looking for him in town. Caed eat dinner that was brought up to the room by Marcus, and headed back down to the gambling hall to collect more info on Dallas and the other men that worked for Miles Andrews. He had wanted Caed to be sharp, but Hawkins knew now, that he needed to worry more about himself being sharp then Caed at the moment. He changed his clothes to his night shirt and climbed into the soft bed with his bowie knife at his side and pistol in hand.
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