Everybody knows you hate Reeve, and Reeve fears you.
Otherwise would he act like this, aside from being afraid of a lynching, in case you should die?
No, he wouldn't.

Well, one of these days you take this gun"-- here Harry shoved one under the pillow of Bull--"and call Pete Reeve over to you, and when he leans over your bed, blow his brains out! That's easy, and it'll do what you'll want to do someday.

You hear?
Then you can say that Reeve started something--that you shot in self-defense.

Everybody'll believe you, and you'll get one big name for killing Reeve! You foller me ?" Bull opened his eyes, but they were squinting as though he was in the severest pain.

"Listen, Harry," he said at last.