Leaving Epitaph

59

In the morning, Aaron Langer’s anger and resolve had not waned one bit. After they’d had breakfast, broken camp, and saddled the horses, he turned and tossed a set of saddlebags to his brother, and another—somewhat less packed—to Branch.

“There’s your share,” he said.

“We’re still splittin’ up?” Ethan asked. Since his brother hadn’t mentioned it, and they’d broken camp, he thought it was forgotten.

“You thought I’d sleep on it and change my mind?’ Aaron asked.

“Well…”

“When you smarten up, Ethan,” Aaron said, “maybe things will change.”

“Or when I kill Dan Shaye.”

Aaron smiled, but there was no humor in it. “That ain’t gonna happen.”

“What if it does?”

“Then I’ll read about it in the newspaper,” Aaron said, “and maybe I’ll find you.”

“Aaron—”

“That’s it, Ethan,” Aaron said. “Morales and I are heading north. I don’t care what direction you head, but I’d advise you not to hit a town—Hays, Dodge, anyplace—until you get out of Kansas.”

“This is crazy—”

“Maybe you should go and see Vincent again,” Aaron said, mounting his horse. “Maybe he’ll hide you in his church.”

He wheeled his horse around and headed north with Morales right behind him. Ethan stood there a moment, stunned and puzzled.

“That might not be a bad idea, Ethan,” Branch said.

“What?”

“Going back to see your other brother. Who would look for us in a church?”

Ethan looked at Branch, then said, “That might not be such a bad idea at that.”

Hours later, Shaye and his sons reached the campsite, which was cold, but recently so. Thomas, James, and Matthew remained on their horses while Shaye dismounted and walked the area.

“I was afraid of this,” he said.

“What?” Thomas asked.

“They split up.”

“They’re not goin’ to Hays?” James asked.

“Two of them went north,” Shaye said, “and two of them went south.”

“Do you think Aaron and Ethan Langer stayed together?” Thomas asked.

Shaye looked up and said, “You’d think that, wouldn’t you? But no, I don’t think that. I think Aaron took his man and went north, and Ethan took his man and went south.”

“Why?” James asked. “I mean, why do you think that?”

“Aaron’s been working the North, and Ethan the South,” Shaye explained.

“I mean, why do you think the brothers split up?” James asked.

Shaye, who had been down on one knee, stood up.

“Aaron is going to have to blame someone for what happened,” he said, “and I think he’ll blame Ethan. They probably split the money and went their separate ways.”

“They’re brothers and they didn’t stay together?” Matthew asked, clearly puzzled.

“Maybe they get on each other’s nerves a little more than you and your brothers do, Matthew,” Shaye said.

He walked back to his horse and mounted up.

“So who do we follow, Pa?” Thomas asked.

Shaye hated to split up from his sons. Sure, they had survived their baptism of fire in Salina, but he had to decide who to send after Aaron and who to send after Ethan. He wanted Ethan because that’s who had come to Epitaph, but Aaron was the more dangerous, the more ruthless, of the two. How could he send two of his sons after him just so he could have the satisfaction of killing Ethan himself?

Also, he had to split himself and Thomas up, since they were the most proficient with a gun.

“Pa?” Thomas said. “I can go north.” He knew his father wanted Ethan badly. “I’ll take James.”

“Thomas, you take Matthew and go south,” Shaye finally said. “I’ll take James and go north.”

“South is Ethan, Pa,” Thomas said. “You said so yourself.”

“I know.”

Thomas looked at his father, saw a muscle pulsing in the older man’s jaw.

“Aaron’s more dangerous, Thomas,” Shaye said. “I can’t send you after him.”

“Pa,” Thomas said, “the three of us can go after Aaron while you go for Ethan.”

That was something Shaye hadn’t figured.

“Yeah, Pa,” James said. “We can do it.”

“Aaron and Morales are too dangerous,” Shaye said after a moment. “I just can’t. Thomas, take Matthew and go after Ethan. Watch for that marked hoof, it’ll be easy to track.”

“Yes, Pa.”

“And when you catch him…”

“Yes, Pa,” Thomas said, “I’ll kill him.” He looked at his brother and said, “Come on, Matthew.”

“James,” Shaye said, “let’s go north.”