Vengeance Creek: The Sons of Daniel Shaye

32

James watched while Ralph Cory studied the ground in the two empty stalls. Standing off to one side, the livery man, Ron Hill, also watched.

“Did you and your brother walk in here?” Cory asked.

“No,” James said, “we stayed outside.”

Cory started to step into the stall, but remembered that Shaye wanted the Mexican, Colon, to examine them as well. He stepped back and swept the floor of each stall with his eye.

“Do you see anything?” James asked.

“Yes,” Cory said, hunkering down in front of one of the stalls, “but it’s understandable that you and your brother missed it.”

James came over, squatted next to the man and said, “Show me. I want to learn.”

Cory looked at James, then said, “All right. Look there.” He pointed to a set of tracks. “This horse steps more lightly on his left hind leg.”

“Is he lame?”

“No,” Cory said, “it’s just an odd gait the animal has. Otherwise, it’s perfectly sound.”

James looked at the man with undisguised admiration.

“Well, I’ll be…” Hill said, scratching his head. “I never woulda noticed that.”

“I don’t think my pa would even have seen that.”

“Don’t sell your pa short, son,” Cory said, straightening up. “Take me out to the corral and show me those other two horses.”

“Yes, sir. This way…”

Thomas and Colon went to the general store and got the Mexican outfitted with saddlebags, blankets, a bedroll, and some new shirts and trousers. With both of them carrying bundles, they walked to the livery to get him a horse and let him have a look at the now empty stalls where the bank robbers’ horses had been.

Upon entering the livery they set the bundles aside on a bale of hay, then Thomas showed Colon the stalls.

“Muy bien,” the Mexican said after only a moment. “I have seen enough.”

“Then let’s find Hill and get you a horse,” Thomas said. “Must be out back.”

The two men went out to the corral, where they found Hill and James watching while Ralph Cory inspected the horses formerly owned by the bank robbers.

“Mr. Hill,” Thomas said, “Rigoberto needs a horse.”

Hill frowned at Colon and asked Thomas, “He got money for a horse?”

“The town does,” Thomas said. “They’ll be footin’ the bill.”

“Go ahead and pick one out, then.”

“Con permiso,” Colon said. “I will wait for Señor Cory to finish.”

“Fine,” Thomas said. He walked over to his brother, who quickly told him what Cory had found in the stalls.

“The Mexican said the same thing,” Thomas informed his brother.

“He did?” James was shocked. “I guess Pa’s right about him not bein’ just a drunk.”

“We been livin’ here as long as Pa has,” Thomas said. “How come we don’t know these two men?”

James shrugged and said, “’Cause we ain’t Pa.”

Cory came waking over to them, remaining inside the corral. “Double W brand,” he said. “Know it?”

“Never heard of it,” Thomas said.

“Me neither,” James said.

“Maybe your old man has,” Cory said. “You buyin’ the Mexican a horse?”

“Yes,” Thomas said, “but he’s—”

“That claybank over there looks good,” Cory said, “but I expect he’ll want to pick his own out.”

He opened the gate and exited the corral.

“What about you, Mr. Cory?” Thomas asked. “Do you need a horse?”

“I have my own, thanks,” Cory said. “Did the Mexican see what I saw in the stalls?”

“Uh, yeah, yeah, he did,” James said.

“Good,” Cory said, “then he’s got a good eye. When are we pullin’ out?”

“One hour,” Thomas said. “We’ll meet back here.”

“Fine,” Cory said. “I’ll see you then.”

As the man started walking away James asked Thomas, “Should I go with him?”

“No,” Thomas said. “We’ll see him in an hour.” He turned. “Rigoberto, time to pick a horse.”

The Mexican came over and stood next to the two brothers. “I already have, Tomas.”

“What, without goin’ into the corral to look them over?”

“Sí,” Colon said. “I have—how do you say—the eye for horseflesh? I can ‘see’ what makes a good horse.”

“Which horse?” Hill asked.

“The claybank.”

“Good choice,” Hill said.

Thomas and James exchanged a glance.