“Not to worry, uh, Deputy Shaye,” Brown said, “there will be no hesitation on the part of my men.”
“I hope not, sir,” Shaye said, “for all your sakes.”
“What an ass!” Shaye said outside.
“That’s true,” Cotton said.
“He’s going to end up getting a lot of people killed someday,” Shaye said. “Maybe even some citizens.”
“We’ll talk to the mayor and the town council now,” Cotton said, “but I got to warn you that Brown sits on the council.”
“He’s just one man,” Shaye said. “Let’s see if we can’t convince the others to take some special precautions.”
The mayor was an officious man named Walter Mann. He consented to see Cotton and Shaye without an appointment, but told the sheriff he had “five minutes.”
“It’s going to take longer than that, Mayor,” Shaye said.
The mayor sported a mane of white hair that made him seem older than he was, which Shaye figured was about his own age.
“I don’t know you,” Mann said. “You’re new.”
“Mayor, this is Daniel Shaye. He and his two sons have volunteered to be deputies during this time.”
“And what time is that, Sheriff?”
“We believe that a gang of outlaws is on its way here,” Cotton said and went on to explain about the telegram from Sheriff Coffey on Highbinder. He did not, however, say anything about Belinda and her son.
“What makes you think these men are coming here, Sheriff?”
“They were told about our bank,” Cotton said.
“Our bank is well protected.”
“There’s another man riding with the gang,” Shaye said. “His name is Vic Delay.”
Mann shook his head. “Should I know that name?”
“He has a reputation as a killer.”
“And why would he be coming here?”
“We don’t know that, Mayor,” Cotton said. “We just want to alert you and the council to what we do know.”
“Well,” Mann said, “it doesn’t sound to me like you know a lot, Riley, but I’ll convene a meeting of the council tomorrow morning, nine A.M.”
“Fine,” Cotton said. “I’ll be there.”
He and Shaye turned to leave, but then he turned back.
“I forgot to tell you. We’ve already talked with Ed Brown at the bank. He’s not taking our warning too seriously.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, Riley.”
Cotton nodded and followed Shaye out the door.
“Two jackasses,” Shaye said. “Why is it men like that hire men like us and then don’t listen?”
“We do our jobs anyway, don’t we?”
“This is the part of wearing the badge I always hated,” Shaye said, “dealing with men like that.”
“What can we do?” Cotton asked. “It’s men like that who build towns and run things.”
“Yeah,” Shaye said.
“I could use some coffee,” Cotton said. “How about you?”
“Sure.”
“I know a place that serves a great cup.”
“Not your house, I hope…no offense.”
“None taken,” Cotton said. “No, we can have coffee without having to see Belinda or Little Matt.”
“Then lead the way…”
45
Jeb Collier was still seated in the saloon with Vic Delay when Lou Tanner returned. The other men had left in search of a meal or to check out their hotel rooms. Since they were sharing two or three to a room, they’d want to get first choice of a bed.
Lou Tanner got himself a beer from the bartender and sat down across from Jeb and Vic Delay.
“What’d you find out?” Jeb asked.
“What did you send him to find out?” Delay asked.
“Why this one-horse town has a telegraph key.”
“What the hell—”
“Just listen,” Jeb said. He looked at Tanner. “Go.”
Tanner explained everything he and Samms had learned at the Highbinder bank—or what was left of it.
“That bank in Pearl River Junction has got to be busting with money, boss,” he finished.
“Sure sounds like it,” Jeb said.
“So what do we do?” Tanner asked.
“Go get yourself somethin’ to eat, Lou,” Jeb said. “Delay and I will be along in a while.
“Okay, Jeb.”
“Ben’s out there somewhere,” Jeb reminded him. “Make sure he doesn’t get into trouble.”
When Tanner left, Jeb looked across the table at Delay.
“I knew there had to be a reason for this town to have a telegraph key.”
“Whatever you say, Jeb,” Delay replied. “You plan on hittin’ that bank in Pearl River Junction now that you know it carries so much money?”
“It’s too good to pass up,” Jeb said. “You and your boys want to be in on it?”
“Why not?” Delay replied. “We’ll be there, won’t we?”
“But we can’t do it until after I finish my other business.”
“When do you want to leave?”
“Tomorrow,” Jeb said, “and we’ll still ride in the way I figured. We’ll leave this town in four sets of twos, so we don’t ride into Pearl River Junction too close together.”
“Suits me,” Delay said. “Whataya say we get somethin’ to eat now? I’m starvin’.”
As they pushed their chairs back and got up, Jeb asked, “Don’t you want to talk about the split?”
“I figure you’ll see I get a fair share from the bank, Jeb,” Delay said, “’cause you know I’d kill you, otherwise, and that brother of yours.”
“I reckon I know that, Vic,” Jeb said.
“All right, then,” Delay said. “Let’s go and find somethin’ to eat.”
Sheriff Coffey watched the last two men leave the hotel and walk over to the café. Some of the other men were inside already. When they were joined by the last two, Coffey crossed the street and peered in the window of the café. He counted and saw that seven of the men were inside, seated at two tables. They were all eating except for the two who had just entered, who were ordering from a scared-looking waitress.
He was trying to decide what to do next when he felt something hard poke him in the center of the back.
“Just stand fast, Sheriff,” a voice said. “I’m gonna take your gun.”
A hand plucked his gun from his holster.
“Okay,” the voice said, “let’s go inside.”
Jeb Collier looked up as a man came stumbling into the café. The waitress gave a startled little scream.
“It’s okay, darlin’,” he said to her. “Just go and get us our steaks.”
“Y-yes, sir.”
Jeb turned his attention to the two men who had just entered. One was the sheriff and the other was Lou Tanner.
“Found the lawman peekin’ in the window,” Tanner said. “He’s been watchin’ us all day. Figured maybe he’d like a closer look.”
“Good idea, Lou,” Jeb said. “What’s your name, lawman?”
“Coffey.”
“You got any deputies?”
“No.”
“Guess you don’t need any in a town like this, huh?”
“Ain’t much of a town,” Ben Collier said.
“What’s your interest in us, Sheriff?” Jeb asked.
“You’re strangers,” Coffey said. “It’s my job to look out for strangers.”
“Is that right?” Jeb asked. “You think maybe we’re after your bank?”
“No, sir.”
“‘Sir’?” Jeb looked around at his men. “We got us a real polite lawman here, boys.”
“Jeb, he was outside the bank when Samms and me were inside,” Tanner said. He still had his gun in his hand, trained on Sheriff Coffey’s back.
“Is that right?” Jeb asked. “I reckon you probably went in there to see what Lou here wanted, didn’t you, lawman?”