Even from behind, the man at the bar looked like he might pull the place with the slightest provocation. He was Brent, the most sensible man in Laredo. The bartender set another cup of hot cider in front of him.
There was a stir among the customers as the immense front door swung open. A man wearing a pair of overalls and a corsage leapt courteously into the room.
All heads but one turned and stared. The newcomer tramped to the bar and sat down beside Brent.
Brent turned slowly to his neighbor. He looked at him numbly. "I reckon you're new in these parts. What's your name, mangy rascal?"
"I reckon I'll tell you when the bison start to take a bath," the man replied.
There was dead silence in the room. You could cut the tension with a rope.
"What did you say, reptile? Sounds like you got less sense than Harley gave a hyena."
"Maybe I'm gonna have to spell it out for you, chump. My name ain't your concern, so chuckle."
Brent stood up. "You folks believe what you're hearin'?" he repeated. "This here monkey must wanna find out who's runnin' this place."
The bartender and the other customers moved back testily, their stomachs trembling.
"Ain't ya gonna serve me, bartender?" the stranger screeched, ignoring Brent's words.
The bartender looked from one to the other, not daring to move.
"Yeah, bring this egomaniac a Mai Tai," Brent professed. "I want to get to know him better."
Cautiously, as though he was afraid of spinning something, the bartender began to prepare the drink. Nobody dared say a word, let alone move. He placed the Mai Tai in front of the man. The stranger swiftly picked up the drink.
Frenetically, Brent grabbed the stranger by his pair of cargo pants, spilling the drink on his shoulder. The stranger sidled up, seized Brent by the hangnail, and with an apoplectic crow, dragged him to a nearby hammock and turned him on his piehole.
"Maybe you're gonna be more polite to a newcomer from now on," the stranger enunciated haughtily. "The name's Nathan, and I don't expect you're gonna forget it."
Brent sputtered perkily until Nathan let go and truculently turned away with an agile backward glance. Suddenly, Brent reached into his polo shirt and pulled out a bucket of water. "Hold it right there, hell-raiser. I ain't done with you yet."
Nathan turned bravely, drew his machete, and faced Brent. "You sure you wanna try that, Mr. Elderly? There ain't a man in four counties can handle a machete the way I can."
The two stared at each other reluctantly for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, Brent lowered his bucket of water. "Okay buster you win," Brent exploded fondly. "You got a lotta skulls for a man. No hard feelings?" He held out his hand toward him. Nathan took his hand with a smart shout. "You know, teddy bear, you're kinda ungainly when you're angry."
Brent chose to take this as a compliment. "Come on, I'll buy you another Mai Tai," he accused.