He followed Mutt back into the barroom, where he was introduced to the Corbin brothers. “This is my boy, Billy,” Mutt said. “I ain’t never seen nobody faster with a six-shooter than Billy.” He paused only a moment before saying, “And I’ve seen Trip Dawson draw.” He paused again to gauge the interest generated so far in his selling of his son’s services, then continued, “Billy killed two men at the same time in a gunfight in the Trailsman Saloon in Cheyenne. That’s why he’s out here in Montana now, waitin’ for things to cool off in Wyomin’.”

“It’s a wonder we ain’t ever heard of you,” Booth said, talking directly to Billy. “Maybe it’s because you’re so young.” Billy shrugged indifferently. “How old are you, anyway?”

“What difference does that make?” Billy responded.

“He’s goin’ on nineteen,” Mutt quickly replied for him, afraid that his gruff indifference might queer the deal.

“Old enough to know what the consequences are if you ain’t as good as you claim, I reckon,” Booth said. “I’ve gotta warn you, if we was to give you this job, you won’t be comin’ up against some drunk in a saloon. This cat ain’t nobody to fool with.”

“Is he fast?” Billy asked, starting to get interested.

“With a handgun?” Booth replied. “I don’t know. He seems to favor a rifle from a distance, but he killed Tater Thompson with a knife. I’ve met him, although at the time I didn’t know who he was, and he didn’t know who I was. If I had, I’da shot him. He’s a big feller, tall, wears a buckskin shirt and a feather in his hat, like a damn Injun.”

“I’d like to see how fast he is when he’s standin’ in front of me,” Billy said. “A big man ain’t nothin’ but a big target. How much is it worth to ya?”

Booth glanced at Jesse before answering, in case he saw any signals guiding him one way or the other. There were none, so Booth made an offer. “This is more a matter of convenience because sooner or later one of us will get a chance to shoot the son of a bitch. He’s just a damn annoyance right now. He won’t show if you call him out to a face-off. Trip tried to call him out, and he shot Trip with his rifle before he got close enough to use his six-shooter. So it’s worth two hundred dollars cash money to have somebody take him out.” He glanced at Jesse again and Jesse nodded. So they waited for Billy’s response.