Cotton nodded, his jaw firm.
While they continued to watch the street, the first two men who rode in walked over to the Wagon Wheel Saloon and entered. Shortly after that the second duo did the same, followed by the third. Finally, Vic Delay walked into that saloon as well.
“What’s the Wagon Wheel got that the other saloons don’t?” Shaye asked Cotton.
“Well…it’s the biggest saloon in town.”
“That’s probably it,” Shaye said. “They want to meet there and blend in.”
“But…Collier’s not here yet.”
“He’ll probably ride in any minute,” Shaye predicted. “They’re not all going to the Wagon Wheel for nothing.”
“So what do we do?” Cotton asked. “Keep waiting out here?”
Shaye tried not to tell the sheriff what to do unless the man asked first.
“I think you and James and Thad can stay out here, while Thomas and I go inside.”
“You gonna talk to them again?”
“We’re just going to be seen,” Shaye said. “That’s all. Just to let them know they’re being watched.”
“Well, okay,” Cotton said, “but if I hear a shot, I’m gonna come running in there.”
“I can’t ask for more than that,” Shaye said. “I’ll go and get Thomas.”
“Be careful, Dan.”
“I always am.”
The Wagon Wheel had a back door. Shaye decided to send Thomas in that way, while he went in the front door. The saloon was in full swing, girls working the floor, gaming tables open and operating, and a piano player tickling the ivories in a corner.
It took Shaye a few moments to locate the outlaws. Two were standing at the bar, two were at a table drinking beer and grabbing for girls, and two were gambling: one playing poker and the other standing at the wheel of fortune. Vic Delay had managed to secure himself a table at the back of the room. He was sitting alone, nursing a beer. Shaye had no doubt they were waiting for Jeb Collier to arrive.
Farther back in the room he saw Thomas, standing with his back to a wall. Just a few feet to his left was Vic Delay’s table. Shaye knew that Delay was aware of Thomas’s presence.
Shaye was torn between staying in the saloon with Thomas or stepping outside and waiting in front of the place for Jeb Collier to arrive. In the end he decided to treat Thomas as if he was just another lawman and not his son. He would not have hesitated to leave another lawman in the room alone. That was the way Thomas would want to be treated.
Shaye turned and went back out through the batwing doors.
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?”
