Leaving Epitaph

38

With Petry dead, Ethan Langer actually started to miss having someone to talk to, even if it was just to tell him to shut up. For that reason he decided to start talking to Ben Branch.

As they crossed into Kansas he said, “Ben, I’m actually thinkin’ of making you my segundo.”

Branch was surprised. “But you said none of us was good enough.”

“Well, maybe I was wrong,” Ethan said. “Maybe you’re good enough. What do you think?”

“I been real happy just following you along these past few years, Ethan,” Branch said. “I ain’t really got no hankerin’ to give any orders, myself.”

“You wouldn’t have to give no orders, Ben,” Ethan said. “That’s still my job.”

Branch remembered what happened to the last segundo when Ethan left him in charge for just a little while. Terry Petry earned himself a real shallow grave. Branch was sure that a bunch of critters had already taken care of Petry’s remains.

“Whataya say, Ben?” Ethan asked. “Want the job or not?”

“Well, Ethan—”

“There’s an extra share in it for you,” Ethan said. “Petry’s share.”

Well, if there was extra money in it for him, that was a whole different story.

“Sure, Ethan,” Branch said, “I’d be happy to be your segundo.”

“Good,” Ethan said. “Then you ride back and tell the rest of the men about it, and then come back up here.”

“Right, boss.”

“He made you segundo?” Hackett asked.

“That’s right.”

“Did you ask for the job?” Ted Fitzgerald asked suspiciously.

“Hell, no,” Branch said. “I saw what happened to Petry.”

“So why’d you say yes?”

“How could I say no?” Branch asked. He didn’t want to tell them about the extra share. “I didn’t want to get blown out of my saddle.”

“So what’s he want you to do?” Hackett asked.

“Just ride with him,” Branch said, “and that’s what I’m gonna do.”

Well,” Hackett said, “if he asks you for any advice, why don’t you suggest we stop off in Dodge City? It ain’t far from here.”

“He ain’t gonna ask,” Branch said, “but I’ll keep it in mind.”

When he rode back up to ride alongside his boss, Ethan asked, “How did they take it?”

“They took it fine.”

“Anybody mention Dodge City?”

Branch looked surprised.

Ethan laughed. “We ain’t far from there. I figured somebody would suggest it.’

“Somebody did.”

“Dodge is a dead town,” Ethan said. “Besides, we ain’t stoppin’ anymore until we get where we’re goin’.”

“Where are we goin’, Ethan?” Branch asked, and then hurriedly added, “Uh, I mean, if I can ask.”

“Aaron and I agreed on where we’d meet, and when,” Ethan said. “We’ll be a little late, but he’ll wait for us to get there.”

“I know he will,” Branch said. “Think we got more from our bank than he got from his?”

“That’ll burn his ass if we do,” Ethan said. “Guess we’ll find out when we get there.”

“Uh, get where, Ethan?”

“Salina, segundo,” Ethan said. “We’re goin’ to Salina.”