were bushwhacked.”
Longarm said, “I can see that. Billy, this doesn’t make a damn bit of sense. I mean, what are all these soldiers doing that the town folks would be so interested in them getting on out of there? Are they a rowdy bunch? Are they going around raping the pastor’s daughter? Are they singing too loud in church?”
Vail said, “That’s the puzzle. That’s why I want you to go down there. I don’t know any more than what’s in that report. I cannot imagine the soldiers being a nuisance or a threat to the town, since that’s never been a part of the town’s complaint. The only complaint that has been made officially from the town’s officials, and that’s the mayor and the city council, is that the soldiers are no longer necessary and are taking up space that could be used for grazing and ranching. Of course, that doesn’t make a hell of a lot of sense either because the army reservation is not that big.”
Longarm sighed. It was a bitter pill to see the long rest that he had anticipated in the company of the lovely Shirley Dunn coming to such an abrupt and unwelcome end.
He asked, “Well, just what am I supposed to do? Go in there as a deputy U.S. marshal and start nosing around?”
Billy Vail gave him a disgusted look and said, “Yes, why don’t you do that, Custis. And while you are at it, why don’t you run a notice in the newspaper asking the party or parties who are murdering those soldiers to please turn themselves in to you.”
Longarm said mildly, “Billy, you ought not to upset yourself like that. A man of your age …”
“You never mind my age. I halfway thought of maybe sending you in there as a soldier.”
“As a soldier? Billy, I forgot all I knew about being a soldier.”
Billy said, “I was thinking about sending you in as a buck recruit, brand-new to the army.”
Longarm gave him a look. “That would probably make me the oldest recruit in the history of the cavalry.”
Vail said, “One of these days we are going to track down your real age. I’ve looked through your records and you may not be old enough for this job, some of the things that you put down. No … I want you to go in there without your badge.”
“Just go in as a private citizen? What’s my story?”
“I don’t care.” Vail shrugged. “Go in as a horse trader, go in as a gambler, go in as somebody just passing through. Go in as somebody prospecting for gold. Hell, think of something, Longarm. Do I have to do all of your thinking for you?”
Longarm said, “One thing’s for damn sure—I am taking my own horse. Maybe I’ll take two horses with me. I’m sure as hell not gonna ride any of those rawboned hides that the army furnishes.”
“Then you’ll buy their tickets on the train. The marshal service is not paying for any more of your horse- trading deals. Every time you leave with one bunch, you come back with a larger bunch. If you don’t want to use what the army will furnish you there, then you can damn well pay to transport your own animal or animals, however many you care to take.”
Longarm shrugged. “That is uncommonly unfair of you, Billy. Now you are going to make me work to figure out some way to make up the difference on some other part of my expense report.”
Billy Vail looked disgusted. “Get out of here, you big thief. Sometimes I don’t know which side of that damn badge you are on.”
Longarm said, “I knew that you were fond of me, Billy, but I didn’t know just how fond.”
“You can have yourself a little fling with that dressmaker, but you check in with me before you leave.”
Longarm looked startled. “How do you know about Mrs. Shirley Dunn?”
Billy Vail said, “I am in the law-enforcement business, remember? I am supposed to know what is going on. You ain’t the hardest lothario in the county to keep up with. I would have bet long odds that you’d be the first one in line the minute that woman stepped off the train. Now why don’t you get on out of here and tend to your fun and frolicking and get it all out of your system in time to go to work.”
Longarm put on his hat, a gray, wide-brimmed felt model that he had paid $24.95 for and was his pride and joy. He said, “Billy, you treat me too harshly.”
Billy Vail said, his voice dead serious, “I wouldn’t treat this one real lightly. Whoever is killing these soldiers is not exactly running on a straight set of tracks. Somebody down there is either nuts or they have a real mean streak in them. I’d be as alert and as awake as you can get.”
Longarm gave him a little salute and went out the door.
He hadn’t bothered to ask Billy Vail how long he could expect to be in San Angelo because he had known in advance what the answer would be. The answer would be for as long as it took, and that could be a day, a week, six months, or a year. The very thought depressed him so much that he went immediately to a saloon near the Federal Building and treated himself to several drinks of the fine Maryland whiskey that they stocked especially for him.
When Longarm was through with the saloon and somewhat reconciled to the situation, he walked down to the train depot to check the schedule that would get him to San Angelo. It took the ticket agent a few moments to figure out his route, but when he was through, it appeared that Longarm had no choice. If he were to be in San Angelo by Monday morning he had to leave Saturday. He swore softly under his breath.
The ticket agent looked up at him. “Is something wrong, Deputy Long?”
Longarm sighed. “No, Frank. Everything is just fine. A man in the law business ain’t supposed to get nothing, have nothing, or want nothing. Dammit.”
