The Duel Page #4

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with anything?

Are you married,

Abraham?

My wife died many years ago

birthing Isaac.

She left him

with many of her talents.

I'm sure

she was beautiful.

She could back the buzzards

off a gut wagon.

But truly, she was lovely.

There was never a more pure

heart to wreck a man.

So tell me,

how did you

come to wreck David?

My father was a drunk

and a swindler.

He was shot and left for dead

after cheating at cards.

David saw him

back to health.

As a show of gratitude,

i was betrothed to him

by my father.

Betrothed by debt?

That must have been

very difficult for you.

I'm sorry.

Any children?

I'm afraid I'm unable.

Mmm. My wife was told

the very same thing

before I met her.

Dark eyes.

They say the eyes

provide a direct window

to the soul.

Yours have seen a good deal

of man at his worst.

You hold tight to it.

But are we not all

born into sin,

anger, violence,

jealousy, desire?

We cannot separate

ourselves from sin

any more than we would sever

a limb from our bodies.

Besides,

anger is instructive.

Jealousy, understandable.

Lust, perfectly natural.

I can see that my words

are not lost on you, Marisol.

It is refreshing.

So few these days possess

any openness of mind.

But if I may, Marisol,

this veil that you wear

offers only false comfort.

Remove it.

God knows

who you really are.

Ah, deputy Dave!

What are you doing here?

Thought I might

get a drink.

Aw, you wouldn't

like it in here, David.

The beer tastes

like day-old piss.

Well, I guess

I'll drink the whiskey.

I don't think

you're hearing me, sheriff.

I'm telling you no.

I've tried to be

cordial with you.

You choose

your next words

carefully.

I heard the beer here

is excellent.

I've no complaints.

Might I join you?

Be my guest.

Hoot, let's have a shot

for the gentleman.

I'm Naomi.

David.

I know who you are.

Hoot his real name?

That's what I hear.

What else do you hear?

Whatever falls earshot.

You have an honest face.

I'm not soliciting you.

I know about your wife.

News travels fast.

This town echoes every word

Abraham breathes.

Stay here long enough

and you might start

resounding him, too.

What about you?

Not yet.

How long have you

been here?

Almost a year.

My second husband

was a lieutenant

in the army.

He was shot and killed

by his own men.

I had no money,

no family, nowhere to go.

Until hoot here

rides into town,

offers me a job.

Perhaps naively,

i didn't ask for specifics.

My condolences

for your losses, ma'am.

Thank you.

I've tried to make

the best of it.

Save a little money,

maybe move

to San Francisco.

Well, you're a long way

from California.

Believe me,

we're a long way

from anywhere.

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