Pearl River Junction: The Sons of Daniel Shaye

61

Delay watched Dan Shaye leave, then turned his head to look at the other deputy, the one who had come in through the back door. He attracted the attention of one of the girls, who came over in a swirl of skirts and red hair.

“You want some company?” she asked.

“Yeah,” Delay said, “but not yours. Ask that deputy to come over and have a drink with me and then bring him what he wants.”

“That handsome deputy?” she asked. “Maybe he’ll want some company.”

“Ask him after I finish talkin’ to him.”

“Yes, sir.”

She turned and approached Thomas.

When Thomas saw his father step back out of the saloon, he knew what he had in mind: to wait in front for Collier to arrive. He was proud that his pa knew he could leave him in the saloon alone.

He saw the girl coming and was prepared to turn her advances away—temporarily, at least.

“Hey, handsome.”

“Hey, yourself, pretty girl.”

“Man over there wants to buy you a drink.”

“Who? The man in black?”

“That’s right,” she said. “Unless you’d rather have one with me?”

“I’d much rather have one with you,” Thomas said. “I like gals with red hair. But I’m afraid this is business.”

“All right, then,” she said. “Tell me what you’re drinking and I’ll bring it over.”

“A beer will do,” he said. “What’s your name?”

“Shannon.”

“Thanks for the message, Shannon.”

“My pleasure, handsome.”

Shannon went to the bar for Thomas’s beer and Thomas walked over to Delay’s table.

“Have a seat, Deputy,” Delay said. “Is the gal bringin’ you a drink?”

“She is.”

“Then let’s talk.”

Thomas sat, but moved the chair so that he could see the rest of the room. He also sat with his hip cocked so he could get to his gun if he had to.

“You’re a careful man,” Delay said.

“I learned from the best.”

“Your pa.”

“That’s right.”

“He was a good man with a gun in his day.”

“You know about that?”

“I do.”

“Well, he still is good.”

“How good are you?”

“Fair.”

“And your brother?”

“Fair.”

“Somehow I doubt that, in your case,” Delay said. “I think you’d be…interestin’.”

Shannon returned with Thomas’s beer and set it down with a big smile.

“Later, handsome,” she said.

“I’ll look forward to it.”

“You know,” Delay said, “that’s what you should do.”

“What’s that?”

“Get yourself a nice room,” Delay said, “lay up with that red-haired gal for a while.”

Thomas sipped his beer, holding it in his left hand, and asked, “And how long would you suggest I ‘lay up?’”

“Couple of days ought to do it.”

“And I suppose you’ll pay the freight?”

Delay laughed. “The way that gal was lookin’ at you, I don’t think anybody will have to.”

“Well,” Thomas said, “is that why you bought me a drink? To tell me that?”

“Just some friendly advice, Deputy.”

“It’s my guess Jeb Collier will be arrivin’ any minute,” Thomas said. “I got to be at my post when he does, so”—Thomas drank half the beer down and stood up—“thanks for the drink.”

“Think about what I said, Deputy,” Delay said.

“You tryin’ to save my life for a reason?”

“Maybe I’m just tryin’ to save you for myself.”

“Like you said before, Mr. Delay,” Thomas replied, “that might be interestin’.”

Thomas went back and resumed his position.

Shaye looked in the window of the saloon and saw Thomas sit down with Delay. He watched for the few moments they spoke and then Thomas got up and went back to his post, leaning against the back wall.

He turned away from the window and looked up and down the street. It was quiet, as if the town knew that something was amiss. It was so quiet, in fact, that he could hear a horse coming down the street. The clip clop of the horse’s hooves came closer and closer and Shaye knew that, after waiting all day long, they were finally about to get a look at Jeb Collier.