Pearl River Junction: The Sons of Daniel Shaye

58

Thad was inside the sheriff’s office when Lou Tanner and Ben Collier rode in.

“What about them?” Cotton asked.

Shaye stared at the two men, who stared straight ahead as they rode by.

“That looks like Lou Tanner,” Shaye said. “He rides with Vic Delay.”

“And the other?”

“Don’t know him.”

By this time James and Thomas had changed places and Thomas was on the roof.

“Where are the other four?” Shaye asked.

“I took a walk while you were waking Thad up,” Cotton said. “Two of them got rooms at the hotel over there.”

“And the other two?”

“Don’t know,” Cotton said. “Not at the same hotel anyway. Now two of them are at Bo Hart’s Saloon—his first customers of the day—and the other two are eating at the café.”

Shaye started to laugh.

“What’s funny?”

“They’re riding in separate and staying in separate places,” Shaye said. “Sounds like a good plan—except for one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“They’re all using the same livery,” Shaye said. “Anybody could get a count from the liveryman.”

“Charlie Styles.”

They watched the two men ride to the far end of the street and disappear.

“Well, we know one thing, at least,” Shaye said.

“What’s that?”

“Where Lou Tanner is,” he answered, “Vic Delay won’t be far behind.”

“So the next two will be Jeb Collier and Vic Delay.”

“Unless they ride in separate.”

Jeb emptied the remnants of the coffeepot onto the fire and then kicked the rest of it dead.

“We ridin’ in together?” Delay asked.

“I been studying on that,” Jeb said, tossing the coffeepot away instead of packing it. “I think we should go in separate.”

“Why?’

“Because you and me are the only ones somebody might recognize,” Jeb said. “We’ll attract even more attention ridin’ in together.”

“Who goes first?”

“You.”

“Why?”

“Okay, then,” Jeb said. “Me. I thought you might want to get to a hot meal and a drink, but it’s okay with me if you don’t.”

“Forget it, forget it,” Delay said. “I’ll ride in.” He mounted up and looked down at Jeb. “How far behind me will you be?”

“Not far. I’ll finish breakin’ camp.”

Delay nodded and rode off in the direction of town.

Jeb looked around, decided a lot of what was in camp could stay. After they hit the bank, they’d have plenty of money to buy new stuff. As far as sending Delay in ahead of him, he figured once the killer was recognized, it might take the attention away from him. Just one extra reason for having a man like Vic Delay ride along with him.

Jeb figured once he finished his business in Pearl River Junction—the girl and the bank—the only man he’d need would be his brother Ben. Not that he really needed him, but he was his brother. He couldn’t very well sacrifice him the way he would the other men.

The only one he’d have to kill, though, was Delay. Once he realized that Jeb had no intention of sharing the bank money with him, he’d come looking for him for sure. Jeb didn’t want to be looking over his shoulder while he was spending the proceeds of the Pearl River Junction bank job.