Vengeance Creek: The Sons of Daniel Shaye

43

At the camp, Thomas made the introductions and gave Forbes the cup of coffee he’d promised for not killing him.

“It’s a good thing you’re not havin’ a cup of Thomas’s coffee,” James said after hearing the promise. “You’d have killed him anyway.”

They all had a laugh at the expense of Thomas’s coffee, and he made a silent promise not to ever make another pot of coffee again, no matter who begged him.

“You don’t mind me sayin’ so,” Forbes commented, “you fellas sort of look like a posse.”

“We are,” Thomas said. “James and I are deputies out of Vengeance Creek. Ralph and Rigoberto are—well, they were pressed into service, I guess you’d say.”

“Vengeance Creek?” Forbes said with a frown. “That’s quite a ways south. You trackin’ your men north?”

“We are.”

“Any farther north and you’ll be out of Arizona,” he said. “Your badges won’t be much good then. How far you boys willin’ to go?”

“As far as it takes,” James said. “The men we’re after robbed a bank and killed a lot of people.”

“A lot?” Forbes asked.

“Everyone who worked in it,” Thomas said. “They executed them.”

“And you intend to catch them and execute them?” Forbes asked.

“Maybe—” James started, but he was cut off by Thomas.

“We intend to catch them and bring them back to be tried in court,” he said. “That’s our job.”

Forbes looked at each of them in turn, then said, “I see.”

“Tell me, Mr. Forbes,” Ralph Cory said, “what brings you out here?”

“Me?” Forbes asked. “I work here.”

“Here?” James asked.

“You’re on the Double W land.”

“Double W?” Thomas asked.

“It’s a ranch—”

“I know what it is. Who owns it?”

“A man named William Wilson,” Forbes said. “I work for him. I’m the foreman.”

“What are you doin’ out here?” James asked. “Isn’t a foreman supposed to supervise his men?”

“I’m out checking for strays.”

“Horse?” Thomas asked.

“Cattle?” Cory asked.

“Both,” Forbes said, “and men.” He finished his coffee, dumped the dregs on the fire, and stood up. “Thanks for the coffee.”

“Mr. Forbes—” Thomas said.

“Call me Hal.”

“Hal,” Thomas said, “the men we’re chasing rode into Vengeance Creek on Double W horses.”

Forbes frowned. “What were their names?”

“Ben Cardwell and Sean Davis.”

“These the two you’re chasin’?”

“Them and one other,” Thomas said. “We’re not sure of his name, but two of them are definitely Cardwell and Davis. Do those names ring a bell?”

“Can’t say that they do.”

“What about your boss?” Thomas asked. “Would he know them?”

“I guess you’d have to ask him that.”

“We can’t stop to do that, Thomas,” James said. “The trail will grow cold.”

Thomas was in a quandary. He thought that William Wilson would be worth talking to, but did he do it himself and allow James to continue to follow the trail? Or should he send James to the ranch to talk with the man and continue on himself?

“James,” he said, “it’s worth talking to Mr. Wilson about.”

“Send Colon.”

“That’s not why he’s here.”

“Then Cory.”

“Same reason.”

“Why me?”

“I didn’t say you.”

“But you were gonna.”

“I gotta get back,” Forbes said. “I saw your fire, smelled it, figured I’d check it out. Since you’re lawmen, I got no beef with you. I gotta get back to work. Is somebody comin’ with me?”

“Yes,” Thomas said, “I am.”

“Thomas—”

“Just keep following the trail, James,” Thomas said. “I’ll be able to follow the one left by you and Ralph and Berto.”

“Take Berto with you,” James suggested.

“No reason to,” Thomas said. “I’m just gonna talk to Mr. Wilson, see if he knows either of the men who were ridin’ his horses. I’ll be along in no time.” He turned to Forbes. “Just let me get my horse and I’ll be right with you.”

“Sure,” Forbes said. “Left my horse back a ways. We can pick him up and ride back to the ranch.”

“Fine.” Thomas turned and exchanged a glance with Cory, who followed him to the horses.

“You want me to watch James?” he asked.

“I’d be obliged,” Thomas said.

“You’re doing the right thing, Thomas,” Cory said. “Berto and I can take care of him.”

“Yeah, well,” Thomas said, saddling his horse, “don’t let him know you’re takin’ care of him, understand?”

“Perfectly.”

“He’s still the one with the badge.”

“I know it,” Cory said. “Berto and I are just…volunteers, sort of.”

“This shouldn’t put me more than half a day behind you,” Thomas said, turning his horse so he could mount up.

“Maybe, like your brother said, you should take Rigoberto along to watch your back,” Cory said.

“Against what?” Thomas asked. “I’m just gonna ask the man some questions.” He mounted up. “I’ll be fine.”

“You better be,” Cory said. “I don’t want to have to explain to your father that I let you go off alone.”

“You didn’t let me do anythin’,” Thomas said. “My decision, remember?”

“I remember.”

“I’ll see you soon.”

Thomas rode back to where Forbes was waiting, extended a hand and pulled the man up behind him.

“See you, little brother,” he said. “Keep on the trail. I’ll catch up soon.”

“Be careful,” James said.

“Keep these other two in line.”

“Count on it.”

As Cory reached the fire, Thomas rode off, following Forbes’s directions to his horse.

“I think one of you should have gone with him,” James said to Cory and Colon.

“His decision, James,” Cory said.

“Yeah, well,” James said, “I’m wearin’ a badge, and I get to make some decisions too…don’t I?”