Pearl River Junction: The Sons of Daniel Shaye

64

The sheriff and his wife came out the back door and approached Shaye.

“She just walked past us without a word,” Marion said, “took Little Matt upstairs. What happened?”

“Collier says the boy is his,” Shaye said. “He says he’s going to take them away with him.”

“I knew it,” Marion said, pressing her face against her husband’s chest.

“What did Belinda say?” Cotton asked.

“Nothing,” Shaye said. “She just shrugged.”

“She’s afraid of him.”

“I don’t think so, Riley,” Shaye answered. “I didn’t see any sign of fear in her.”

“So…when did he say they’re going to leave?”

“He didn’t. He said he’ll be back to take her out for breakfast in the morning.”

“You think he’s headed for the saloon now?” Cotton asked.

“That’d be my bet.”

“Honey,” Cotton said, “go back inside. We’ll try to work this out, don’t worry.”

“We’re going to lose the baby, Riley.”

“Not if I can help it,” he said. “Come on, come inside.”

Cotton looked at Shaye, who motioned that he would wait out front while the sheriff took her inside.

When Jeb Collier entered the Wagon Wheel Saloon, he spotted James immediately.

“Hello, Deputy,” he said, turning his head.

James just nodded.

“Nice town.”

James nodded again.

Jeb walked to the bar, ordered a beer, and—when he had it in hand—turned his back to the bar and studied the room. He located each of his men and saw Thomas standing against the back wall. He’d picked Delay out as soon as he entered and now walked back to his table, where he was seated alone. It didn’t matter to him that he had told the deputy that he didn’t know him.

“You’re late.”

“I know.”

“Went to see the woman first, didn’t you?”

“That’s right.”

“The boy yours?”

“Yeah.”

“So what are you gonna do?”

“When we leave, I’m takin’ them with me.”

“And when are we leavin’?”

“After we take the bank.”

“You saw the deputies, right?”

“I see ’em.”

“You hung us out here so you could see the woman without any interference.”

“It didn’t work,” Jeb said unapologetically. “I met a deputy named Shaye at the sheriff’s house.”

“They’re all named Shaye, near as I can figure,” Delay said. “At least, these two are.”

“Father and sons?”

“That’s right.”

Jeb frowned.

“Dan Shaye?”

“That ain’t the half of it,” Delay said and told Jeb about Shay Daniels. He also told Jeb about his conversation with Thomas Shaye.

“You been busy.”

“I’ve had my mind on business, Jeb.”

“Don’t worry, Vic,” Jeb said. “My mind is on business.”

“With all this attention we’re gettin’, you still want to hit the bank?”

Jeb smiled and said, “More than ever. I got a family to support now.”