Pearl River Junction: The Sons of Daniel Shaye

59

When Vic Delay rode into town, it was almost three. The outlaws had spread their arrivals out pretty good. Shaye was still in front of the sheriff’s office with Cotton. They weren’t going anywhere until all the men had ridden in.

Thad Hagen was on the roof and James and Thomas were at different ends of the main street, on different sides.

“That’s Delay,” Shaye said to Cotton.

“I could’ve guessed.”

Delay was completely clad in black and was wearing his leather gloves. As he rode past the sheriff’s office, he turned his head and looked at each man in turn.

“Think he recognized you?” Cotton asked.

“No reason why he should,” Shaye said. “I’ve seen him before, but we haven’t met.”

Delay’s face was expressionless and then he turned away, but instead of going to the livery he stopped abruptly in front of the café, as if he’d just noticed it or caught a whiff of the food.

“Stay here,” Shaye said.

“Why?” Cotton asked. “What’re you going to do?”

“I just thought I’d have a talk with Delay,” Shaye said.

“Do you want me to come and watch your back?”

“No,” Shaye said, “I don’t want to spook him. I just want to have a talk. I’ll be back.”

Shaye stepped into the street and headed down to the café.

From the roof Thomas could not see that Delay had stopped at the café, but he did see his father crossing the street and he wondered what was going on. He waved at the sheriff, who looked up at him and shrugged helplessly.

Vic Delay entered the café and drew all eyes to him. The middle-aged waitress showed him to a table where he could sit with one shoulder against the wall. It was the next best thing to sitting with his back against one. Of course, Jeb Collier instructed everyone to board their horses and find a place to stay as soon as they entered town, but Delay didn’t feel the instructions extended to him.

Nobody told Vic Delay what to do.

From his vantage point James thought that the lone man—who he assumed was Vic Delay, since he didn’t match the description of Jeb Collier—was going to ride past him, but abruptly the man reined his horse in and entered the café. He wanted to go over and look in the window at the gunman, but suddenly his father appeared and actually went inside.

What was he doing?

Shaye stepped through the door of the café and became the center of attention. Most of the tables were taken, some by families. He hoped his appearance would not cause Vic Delay to do anything foolish. Briefly, he considered that he might be making a mistake, but once he entered the place he was committed. He walked over to Delay’s table.

Delay’s meal had not yet been delivered to him, but he did have a pot of coffee on the table and a couple of cups.

“Mind if I join you, Vic?”

Delay looked up at him calmly.

“Do I have a choice, Deputy?”

“Sure you do,” Shaye said. “Everybody’s got choices in life.”

“Have a seat,” Delay said. “Help yourself to some coffee.”

“Thanks.” Shaye sat across from the killer and poured himself a cup of coffee.

“What can I do for you, Deputy…what’s your name?”

“Shaye. Dan Shaye.”

“Shaye?” Delay frowned. “That name sounds familiar.”

“I’ve worn a badge here and there—”

“No, further back than that,” Delay said. “There used to be a fella named…what was it…Daniels, Shaye Daniels. Had him a rep around Missouri. He sort of…disappeared.”

“That was a time in my life I’m not proud of,” Shaye admitted. “That’s what I mean about making decisions. I made some wrong ones back then and now I’m making right ones.”

“Which name is the real one?”

“Daniel Shaye.”

“Well, Daniel Shaye,” Delay said, “changing sides may be the right decision for you, but I don’t think it would work for me. Can’t see myself drawing a deputy’s pay, wearin’ a badge…not for me.”

“Well,” Shaye said, “to each his own.”

“I guess you want to know what I’m doin’ in town.”

“No, we already know,” Shaye said.

“You do?”

“Your other men are already here,” Shaye said. “Now we’re just waiting for Jeb Collier to arrive. My guess is that after he takes care of his business with the woman and the child, you fellas are planning to hit the bank.”

“What if all I’m doin’ is passin’ through?”

“That would be nice,” Shaye said, “but we both know that’s not the case.”

“Wait a minute,” Delay said. “You got some boys, don’t you? I heard somethin’ about you and the Langer gang.”

“That was a couple of years ago,” Shaye said.

“Grown sons as deputies, right?”

“Yes.”

“They here with you too?”

“They are.”

“Any other law? Got to be a sheriff, I reckon.”

“There is and another deputy.”

“Five of you?”

Shaye shrugged. “At least that.”

“Well,” Delay said, “I guess you feel that’s enough.”

“It’ll do.”

“Not that I care,” Delay said, “’cause I’m just passin’ through, stopped here for a meal and a bed.”

On cue Connie appeared with a plate of food for Delay.

“Somethin’ for you, Deputy?” she asked.

“No thanks.”

“Bring more coffee,” Delay said. “The deputy is helpin’ me drink it.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I won’t be drinking much,” Shaye said. “I just wanted to stop in and say hello, introduce myself.”

“Well,” Delay said, “if you see me around town, introduce me to your sons. They know about their father’s past?”

“They know.”

“Odd to find a man who changed his life and ended up with a reputation anyway.”

“That’s life,” Shaye said, standing up. “We get to make our own decisions, and then we see how they play out. I’ll see you around town, Vic.”

“Glad to meet you, Shaye,” Delay said. “Hope you have luck with that bank thing.”

“Yeah,” Shaye said, “so do I.”