Pearl River Junction: The Sons of Daniel Shaye

38

The next morning all three Shaye men appeared at the sheriff’s office. Both Sheriff Cotton and Thad Hagen, his deputy, were there.

“Sheriff,” Shaye said. “I guess you got all three of us here, ready to help you.”

“Well, that’s fine,” Cotton said. “That’s just fine.” He stood up, then opened a desk drawer. “I got three deputy badges here. I know you’re used to being the sheriff, but I’d be honored if you’d wear them.”

Shaye turned and looked at his sons, who both nodded.

“We’d be proud to.”

Cotton brought the badges out, swore all three men in, and handed the tin stars over. Shaye made holes in his brand-new shirt pinning it on and knew they wouldn’t be the last.

“I’m proud to serve with the three of ya,” Deputy Hagen said and shook hands with all three men.

“Thank you, Deputy,” Thomas said.

“What about your other man?” Shaye asked. “The part-time one?”

“I explained to him and Thad this morning that we might be facing some desperados in the next few days and he turned his badge in.”

“He was scared,” Thad said.

“And you’re not?” Shaye asked.

“Well…”

“It’s all right to be scared, son,” Shaye said. “Keeps you sharp.”

“Yes, sir,” Thad said. “I guess I just wasn’t scared enough to quit on Sheriff Cotton.”

“Sounds like you got yourself a good man here, Sheriff,” Shaye said.

“Yep, I reckon I do,” Cotton said and Thad Hagen’s chest filled up until they thought it might burst.

“Well,” Thomas said, “we were wonderin’ what it would be like to work in a sheriff’s office this grand.”

“Now we know,” James said.

“We might as well get our duties straight,” Shaye said.

“Well,” Cotton said, “I figure if we’re waiting for a gang to show up and we don’t know what size it’ll be, that most of us should be on duty all day.”

“Sounds right,” Shaye said.

“Dan,” Cotton said, “if you or your boys’ve got any suggestions, I’d be glad to hear them.”

“Well,” Shaye said, “if you’ve got a nice high building here in town, we can have one deputy up there all day. He might spot the gang from a ways off and give us some warning.”

“That sounds good.”

“We can set up shifts,” Thomas said, “so no one is up there for too long a time.”

“Good,” Cotton said. “Anything else?”

“I’d say keep at least one of us on duty all night,” James said, “in case they ride in after dark.”

“Also good,” Cotton said. “That can work by shifts as well.”

“How many days we gotta do this?” Thad asked.

“I’d say they’re getting here any day now,” Shaye said, “if they’re coming at all. But Sheriff, I have another suggestion.”

“Let’s hear it.”

“If you could send some telegrams to some lawmen along the line, we might get some advance warning if the gang passes through one of their towns.”

“Good thinking,” Cotton said. “I’ll take care of that today.”

“Thomas, why don’t you and James work with Thad setting up shifts for the roof and the night work?”

“Sure, Pa.”

“I’ll walk over to the telegraph office with the sheriff.”

“We can all share this other desk over here,” Thad said, “since we’s all deputies now.”

Thad walked Thomas and James over to the extra desk while Shaye followed Cotton out of the building.

“Seems like those three will get along,” Shaye said outside. “Your deputy doesn’t seem threatened.”

“He ain’t,” Cotton said. “I explained the situation to him and he knows we need the help.”

“And he’s ready to use his gun—if he has to?”

“He says he is,” Cotton said. “I believe he thinks he is. We won’t know til the time comes, though.”

They started for the telegraph office.

“Sheriff, you mind if I ask how often you’ve had to use your gun?”

“A time or two,” Cotton said, “but if you’re asking if I’ve ever had to kill a man, the answer is no. That doesn’t mean I won’t, though.”

“I’m just asking—”

“No need to explain,” Cotton said. “I know your life depends on knowing who you’re dealing with—on both sides of your gun. I’ll watch your back, Dan—yours and your boys’.”

“Okay,” Shaye said, “that’s good enough for me.”

After they finished sending telegrams to sheriffs of other towns, Cotton asked Shaye to take a turn around town with him.

“Might as well let folks see you with the badge on,” he said.

“Fine with me,” Shaye said, “but what about your mayor? And the town council?”

“I’ll introduce you and your boys to them later, but I’ve got the power to swear in deputies when I need to—especially in case of an emergency.”

“Well,” Shaye said, “this just may qualify.”