Well, at least Billy agreed with him. He had saved Clara's life (if Greer was as good a shot as he bragged) and probably his, too. Brendan gave the younger cowhand a short nod. Not quite an apology, but close enough to one for now.
Greer seemed confident that sooner or later - sooner, it seemed he thought - they would wind up killing the Redmonds. He was just "getting a jump on it," which seemed like an awful thing to think.
"Well, get a jump on it when I'm not down there too," he snapped. "I don't fancy bein' shot 'cause you decided to use me for bait."
He edged his horse closer to Greer, getting in his personal space and looking down at him.
"And I don't know what's good for me, I guess. But if Mr. Steelgrave thinks he c'n order me to shoot that gal down there, he's damn wrong. Now put that rifle away an' let's get out of here before her pa comes after us."
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Well, get a jump on it when I'm not down there too," he snapped. "I don't fancy bein' shot 'cause you decided to use me for bait."
Greer grumped, "Don't know what yer so mad about? I was tryin' to save yer life - she had a gun pointed at ya. Seems you oughta thank me. Besides sending you down there was Billy's idea."
Billy quickly jumped in, "It was just a joke. Didn't figure on her havin' a gun."
The new man was not quite finished with Greer yet as he manuvered his horse close up to Greer who then backed up a couple of feet.
"And I don't know what's good for me, I guess. But if Mr. Steelgrave thinks he c'n order me to shoot that gal down there, he's damn wrong. Now put that rifle away an' let's get out of here before her pa comes after us."
"Suit yerself but people don't say 'no' to Mr. Steelgrave. Well, maybe once they do but that's it," he left it for this new cowpoke to get the meaning of that statement.
"I'm puttin' it away now," he then turned to head for his horse so he could indeed shove the rifle into the scabbard by the saddle, "And I ain't afraid of that little bitch's Pa. He's just a sodbuster."
"Suit yerself but people don't say 'no' to Mr. Steelgrave. Well, maybe once they do but that's it."
Brendan understood the meaning of that, at least. He knew he would need to be careful on the Evergreen ranch and stay in line - or rather, not get out of line. His mouth tightened as he watched Greer move back to his horse.
"I ain't afraid of that little bitch's Pa. He's just a sodbuster."
"Sodbusters carry rifles, too." He nudged his horse gently to get it moving back toward the stables and bunkhouse.
"And some of 'em can use 'em." He glanced back at Billy, who seemed to realize that his joke had grown sour. Dealing with a defensive girl was one thing, but dealing with her pa - who might be one of the sodbusters who could use a rifle - was another. The faster they could get away from the Redmond farm the better.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Though the remark was directed at Greer - like he ever listened to anyone - it was Billy who nodded about the possibility the sodbuster might tote a rifle. Hell, what with frontier life and the possibility of Indian attacks everywhere in the territory only a complete fool would take up farming without also arming himself.
Brendan also pointed out the obvious - the man probably knew how to use it too. It wasn't that long after the war and odds were the man served with one side or the other. Unlike Billy who was too young. Billy once asked Greer if he had served in the war but the man ducked an answer.
The pair mounted up then and the three cowboys turned to head away from the Redmond place and back toward the Evergreen ranch. They had had their excitement for the day it seemed.