Leaving Epitaph: The Sons of Daniel Shaye

45

Aaron Langer put two men outside the saloon in chairs, keeping watch on the street. When those men noticed the deputy across the street, one of them got up and moseyed back inside.

“Lawman across the street,” he said to Aaron.

“That don’t matter,” Aaron said, looking up from his whiskey. “They’re just keepin’ an eye on us. According to Zeke, there’s one sheriff and only two deputies. You stay outside with Rafe and watch for my brother.”

“Right.”

That man went back outside. Aaron turned his head, looked around and settled on another. “Tate!”

“Yeah, boss.”

“Take a walk around town, see if you spot the other two lawmen anywhere.”

“Yeah, boss.”

“And take somebody with you.” He turned back around. “I don’t want any of us caught alone.”

“Right, boss.” Tate reached out and tapped another man on the shoulder. The man followed him outside.

Esteban Morales, seated across from Aaron, took the whole thing in but said nothing. He doubted the law would take any action unless they did first. This put his boss, Aaron Langer, firmly in control, which suited him just fine.

Sheriff Holcomb had put Ray Winston across from the saloon and Will Strunk across from the bank. He made rounds, checking both locations out. He was down the street from the bank when he saw the two strangers coming from the other direction. Across the street, standing in a doorway, smoking a quirly, was his deputy. Blowing smoke that way was a sure way to get noticed. Both his deputies were young—ten to twelve years younger than his own thirty-six—and would have to be told.

He claimed a doorway for himself and watched the strangers. They didn’t seem interested in the bank. Most of their attention was on the deputy. They watched him for a few moments, and Holcomb didn’t think Deputy Strunk was even aware they were there. After those few moments, they turned and headed back the other way—he assumed, to report back to their boss. Aaron Langer was clearly checking out the town and counting lawmen.

When the men were gone, Holcomb crossed the street to bawl out his deputy.

Thomas came up to Shaye’s side when they had only been riding about two hours.

“Pa?”

“Yes, Thomas?”

“I think I can make better time alone, pushing my horse,” he said.

“You’re probably right, Thomas.”

“I’d be able to check out Salina in the daylight.”

Shaye gave it some thought. “You’ll have to be careful, Thomas.”

“I won’t make a move on them,” Thomas said, “and they won’t recognize me—”

“That’s not what I mean. There’s going to be a lot of strangers in town. The law will assume that you’re with them.”

“I’ll have my badge,” Thomas said. “I won’t wear it into town, but I’ll go and see the local law and introduce myself.”

“All right,” Shaye said. “You seem to have thought this out.”

“I have.”

“Give your bag of supplies to one of your brothers, then, and go ahead. We’ll still stop just outside of town—about a mile or two due south—and wait to hear from you.”

“Yes, Pa.”

“If we don’t hear something from you tonight, we’ll come on in.”

“I’ll get back to you tonight, Pa.”

“You’d better, son,” Shaye said. “You’d better.”