“I get the feelin’ neither of them volunteered either.”
“Whataya mean?”
“I mean,” Thomas said, pulling the cinch tight on his saddle, “I think they’re only doin’ it because Pa asked them to.”
“Why would they do that?” James wondered. “You think Pa knew them before we came to town?”
“Probably not,” Thomas said, “but I think he knows them now.”
“Well,” James said, “we’ll be on the trail with them. Maybe we’ll find out just who knows who.”
Thomas turned his horse and waited for James to bring his around.
“I don’t think they know each other,” he said. “They didn’t look real comfortable together, out there.”
“Think maybe they got money in the bank?” James asked. “That’s why they agreed?”
“Rigoberto doesn’t look like someone who has money, does he?” Thomas asked.
As they walked their horses to the doors James said, “I never would have picked him for ridin’ in a posse either.”
“Good point.”
When they got outside, Cory and Colon were already mounted.
“Some of these tracks have been trampled,” Cory said, “but I think we got a general direction.”
“Let’s head that way, then,” Thomas said. “We’re losin’ daylight fast.”
Cory and Colon exchanged a glance, then looked at Thomas and James.
“Who takes the lead?” Cory asked.
“Let’s start with you, Mr. Cory,” Thomas said, “and see how it goes from there.”
“Okay,” Cory said, “and the name’s Ralph.”
“Lead the way, Ralph,” Thomas said. “We’re right behind you.”
Shaye dragged himself to the door and outside onto the boardwalk. From his vantage point he was able to watch the four riders leave town.
“That’s the best you could do?” a voice asked.
He turned and saw Mayor Timmerman standing there.
“I don’t see you gettin’ on a horse, Mayor,” Shaye said, “and it was your daughter they killed.”
“Don’t be a fool,” Timmerman said. “I’d probably wind up getting one of your sons killed.”
Shaye leaned against the wall and said, “I hate to admit it, but you have a point there.”
“You couldn’t get more than four men?”
“This is your town, Mayor,” Shaye said. “What do you think?”
“Cowards,” Timmerman said sourly. “You know, there was a time people had pride in their town and would rise up and protect it when there was a need.”
“Those days are long gone, Mayor,” Shaye said. “Now it’s up to two green deputies, a gunsmith, and a drunk.”
Shaye limped back into the office and closed the door in Timmerman’s face.
35
“I can’t see a thing,” James said.
“Quiet,” Thomas said.
Ralph Cory was down on one knee, examining the ground in the waning light of the day.
Rigoberto Colon rode up next to the brothers from his position rising drag.
“Señor Cory has very good eyes,” he said. “One would think he once did this for a living, es verdad?”
Thomas said, “I don’t know…maybe.”
“What do you see, Rigoberto?” James asked.
“I see nothing from here,” Colon said. “It is Señor Cory’s job. If he asks for my help, I will look.”
James looked up at the sky. It wasn’t dark yet, but the moon had replaced the sun in the sky.
“We should camp,” he said.
“Wait,” his older brother said.
“For what?”
“Pa told us to use Mr. Cory and Berto,” Thomas said, “and that’s what I intend to do.”
“One of you want to step down here?” Cory said then, over his shoulder.
“Sit tight,” Thomas said, and dismounted. He walked over to where Cory was still crouched.
“Come on down here,” Cory said, and Thomas got down into a crouch. Cory pointed. “See that?”
Thomas leaned forward. “It’s the print we’ve been followin’,” he said, “isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Cory said, “and there.” He pointed again.
“The horse that’s been ridin’ with it.”
“Slightly longer stride on the right side,” Cory said.
“How can that be?” Thomas asked.
“What?”
“Both horses have somethin’ unusual about their tracks.”
Cory looked at Thomas. “If you have a good eye, no two tracks are alike.”
“Yes, but—”
“Look there.” The man was pointing in yet a third direction, but still within arm’s length.
“What’s that?” Thomas asked. “Tracks of a third horse?”
“Very good,” Cory said. He reached down and brushed away some debris. “The third horse’s tracks have crossed those of the other two.”
“Someone else is trackin’ them?”
“Apparently,” Cory said. “Wasn’t there some mention of a third man?”
“Yes, there was. The man who rode into town with Ben Cardwell, originally.”
“Looks like maybe he didn’t appreciate being left behind.”
Cory brushed his hands together and stood up, followed by Thomas.
“What do you suggest we do now?” Thomas asked.
Cory started to answer, then stopped and looked up at James and Colon.
“Ask Señor Colon,” he suggested.
“Rigoberto?” Thomas said. “What do you think?”
“If someone is crossing their tracks, we’re going to need daylight,” Colon said immediately. “I suggest we camp here for the night and get an early start.”
Thomas looked at Cory.
“That’s what I suggest.”
Thomas looked at James, said, “We’ll camp here.”
James let out an exasperated sigh and commented, “That’s what I said.”
“Then it’s unanimous,” Thomas said to his brother, “isn’t it?”
36
Thomas took control and divided up the labor. Rigoberto look care of the horses. James got the fire going and was in charge of preparing something to eat. Thomas and Cory scouted the general area on foot, just in case.
“If they’re close by, they’re going to see the fire, or smell what’s cooking,” Cory said.
“Won’t make a difference,” Thomas said. “They gotta know we’re comin’ after what they done, don’t you think?”
“I suppose.”
“I get the feelin’ you more than suppose, Mr. Cory.”
“What’s that mean, Deputy?”
“Means my pa knows somethin’ about you that I don’t,” Thomas replied, “but I aim to find out what it is.”
“How do you intend to do that?”
“Maybe I’ll just ask.”
“Well,” Cory said, “maybe when you do, I’ll just answer. I hear a stream. Think I’ll fill all the canteens.”
They went back to camp, and when Cory left with the canteens, Thomas stayed.
“We haven’t come that far, you know,” James said.
“We’ll make up some time tomorrow.”
“What do we do if Davis catches up to them first?”
“James, we’re just gonna get the money back from whoever we catch up to.”
“And take them back to Vengeance Creek to hang for killin’ Nancy,” James added.
“Is that what you want to do?” Thomas asked.
“Whataya mean?”
“I had the feelin’ you just wanted to kill them. You know, for killin’ your girl and all.”
“Thomas, I’m not stupid.”
“I never said you were, little brother.”
“I know Nancy wasn’t my gal,” James went on. “Hell, I never said more than two words to her at the bank, and that was when I was makin’ a deposit.”
Thomas remained silent, even though that was the way he’d had it figured.