Silence.
Hog said, “Mr. Cahill, you beat us fair and square, and you weren’t mean about it. We remember things like that.”
“We ain’t fighting men like you three,” someone called. “We’re just farmers and ranchers.”
“I know it’s not fair that you’re in this position. But here we are.” Matt looked down. Suzie Pickens and her brother were each on one knee. Sally was seated cross-legged on the floor, staring up at him, wide-eyed and smitten. Doc, Wally, and all the others watched him as silence took hold. They were waiting, obviously expecting him to take charge, even though he didn’t know the first thing about combat. And then it hit him. Matt had been wondering why he’d come back to life, why he’d been spared. This was another one of those times when it felt like destiny. His arrival had caused the situation, but it had also saved lives and brought the whole town together. Perhaps this was all supposed to happen.
Matt said, “Kyle, can you draw me a detailed map of the town? Every building, hiding place, electrical panel, water source, whatever you can think of that might help us out?”
Kyle nodded, then exploded into motion. People began whispering as the young man dug in a desk drawer for paper and pencils. Sally joined him and they both got to work. Seeing that, the other residents gained a bit of confidence. They were standing taller, even though Matt didn’t have a plan-he just sounded like he did. Apparently, that was enough for the time being.
Oh man…
“Okay, I’m no expert,” he said, “but I’ll try to figure out how to buy us the time we need until the National Guard can get here.”
The sheriff said, “Listen up. One thing I do know about is firearms. This is crucial, okay? Once we figure out the best defensive positions, you’re all going to have to think about finding cover, not concealment. Concealment is a rosebush. Cover is a brick wall. Get it? These men shoot, and bullets go through just about anything.”
Matt rolled his shoulders. He felt a lot stronger now, almost normal. “Give some thought to some booby traps we can rig to at least slow these bastards down.” He looked around the room. “Does anyone have a working telescope, or at least a great pair of binoculars?”
A teen in the back raised his hand.
“What’s your name, son?”
“Timmy, sir.”
“Timmy,” Matt said, “you need to grab some bottled water and climb the tallest building. Get as high up as possible, son. Start looking around and don’t stop. These guys are well trained. They may come from any direction, or more than one. You’re our listening post, our eyes and ears. Someone else needs to go with him and wait down below to carry the word. Pick him or her now. And remember what the sheriff said. Stay down, behind bricks, not brush, okay? Get your stuff and go.”
Matt continued to bark all the instructions he could think of until everyone had some initial function. He figured it was better to have them all staying busy, and in the meantime he could focus on setting up some specific defenses.
And on how the hell he’d manage to bluff his way through something he knew so little about.
“Doc? How long before those drugs wear off?”
Doc looked at his watch. He seemed less terrified, a bit resigned. “Pickens was right, basically. If he drove back out there now, there’s a good chance that one of them would already be awake enough to shoot his ass dead. I’d say most of them won’t be coming out of the fog for at least a couple of hours, though. Maybe three or four, tops.”
They didn’t have much time.
CHAPTER NINE
Monday, 1:04 p.m.
Matt sat in the sheriff’s office, clumsily cleaning an old Taurus.357 the way the lawman had told him. Sally sat across from him, taking stock of the other weapons, laying the guns and ammo on a table.
Matt sighed, feeling overwhelmed. He was a fraud, but these people were desperate for a leader. The smart thing to do would be to run-and hope he could get the mercenaries to follow him and leave the town alone. But what if they wouldn’t follow? Worse, what if he got away and the town paid the price?
“I’m sorry I ever came here,” Matt said aloud.
“I’m not,” she said. “You saved a life, and then saved my bacon in the bar. In some strange way, you’ve inspired us to come together as a town.” She paused. “Are we all going to make it through this?”
“I certainly hope so.” He resumed cleaning the gun. “I guess it depends on who steps up when the time comes.”
“What do you mean?”
Matt fumbled with the three speed loaders and set them aside with the newly cleaned.357. “I don’t know most of the people in Dry Wells. Bert is okay. Hog and Zeke may come through, they seem to have had a real change of heart. Wally-he’s an alcoholic, but in some ways seems like the most genuine man in town other than Kyle. And that boy, Kyle? Well, he just loves you to death-you know that, right?”
Sally shrugged. “I’m all there is around here.”
“You’re underestimating him-and yourself.”
“What about Doc?”
“He’s scared, but he’ll do okay, too.”
“You spend a lot of time reading people, don’t you?”
Matt didn’t answer. He didn’t want to have to explain how or why. He collected the handguns and put them into cardboard boxes. “Sally, get a couple of the women to help you distribute these, okay?”
“That’s it, right?”
“I guess. We’re down to firing up the kerosene lanterns, shouting at each other, hand signals, and anything else we can think of.”
“Like it’s 1875 or something.”
“Pretty much. We’re as ready as we’re likely to be without any outside help. Remember, all we have to do is make it through the night.”
She kissed his cheek. The kiss drifted to the side, and for a long moment their passions leaked out. Her hands grabbed at his back, but Matt broke away and kissed her forehead instead.
“You’d best get moving.”
Sally sighed and hurried out.
When Sally was gone, Matt sat in his chair. He wondered whether there might still be some way to leave the citizens of Dry Wells out of the confrontation. The mercenaries needed his blood, not his corpse, so they’d have to be careful. As for Matt, he wasn’t willing to be taken alive again, because there would be no guarantee Sally and the others would be safe. If Mr. Dark was around, perhaps there was some other solution, a different deal to be struck…a way to save the others, if not himself.
If Scotty gave him a chance, they’d have to talk.
CHAPTER TEN
Monday, 4:51 p.m.
Why are they taking so long? They should do something.
Sunset was coming soon. Matt Cahill walked down the middle of Main Street in old town, heading west towards Sheriff Pickens and the jail, making the rounds yet another time. He hoped to hell he looked inspirational. He waved at the men stationed on the roof of the hotel. Matt cupped his hands and called out.
“Got water?”
Timmy gave a thumbs-up.
“Remember what Sheriff Pickens said-stay the hell down behind the bricks. Cover, not concealment, right?”
Matt stopped in the shade of the old gazebo. He spun in a lazy circle, his boots kicking up dust. The sun was getting lower and the sky was beginning to color as evening approached, but the heat still lay on Dry Wells like a thick blanket. Matt let his eyes roam to check the windows and rooftops, making sure everyone was in place for the battle to come. Doors and windows had been nailed shut. Pits had been dug, streets blocked to slow the intruders down.