knew he was no match for even one of those men, let alone twenty-five or thirty of them. They could do whatever they wanted to and he couldn’t stop them.
They hadn’t molested Maggie while he was still there, however, and so he clung to a shred of hope that they would leave her alone if he did as he was told. They had given him a horse, told him to ride on into Arrowhead as if he were just a saddle tramp.
Then, when he had found out what the situation was with their boss, Joshua Shade, he was to drift out of town again, making sure that no one noticed him leaving. Garth had promised that as soon as he returned, they would let him and Maggie and Caleb go on their way.
Ike didn’t really believe him, but he had to hope that Garth was telling the truth.
What else could he do?
If things were similar here to the way they were back in Ohio, the best place in town to hear all the gossip would be one of the saloons. He reined the horse to a halt in front of the biggest one he saw, a place called the Ten Grand. With his pulse pounding in his head, he dismounted, looped the reins around the hitch rail, and went inside.
The saloon was crowded, with men lining the bar and occupying most of the tables. Young women with painted faces and gaudy, low-cut dresses circulated among them, delivering drinks and bawdy comments. Laughter and loud conversation filled the room.
Ike paused just inside the batwings and took a deep breath of the boozy air that was also scented with sawdust, tobacco, and human sweat. He steeled himself and made his way to the bar, finding a place among the men crowded there.
He ordered a beer from the jolly-looking bartender who greeted him. “Town’s boomin’ today, looks like,” he said as the bartender placed a foaming mug in front of him.
“Well, of course it is,” the man replied with a grin. “Joshua Shade’s going on trial today. This is the biggest day in Arrowhead’s history, my friend.”
“Joshua Shade?”
The bartender’s grin disappeared and was replaced with a frown. “You never heard of Joshua Shade? He’s the worst outlaw in these parts. The worst in the whole territory.”
Ike realized he might have made a mistake by pretending ignorance of Shade. He tried to correct it by saying, “I’ve, uh, been up in Colorado for a while. Just rode down this way to look for work.”
The bartender’s forehead smoothed as he nodded. “In that case, I reckon it was just luck that brought you here on the big day, friend. Stick around for the festivities.”
“Festivities? Is this fella Shade gonna be hanged after the trial?”
Garth and the other outlaws had known that Shade was going to be put on trial, and the crowds gathering in town made them suspect that today was the day. Ike had picked up that much from listening to them talk with each other. They had wanted Ike to confirm that, though, along with finding out when the hanging that was bound to follow the trial would take place.
“Well, you’re assuming that he’s gonna be found guilty.” The bartender chuckled. “Which, of course, he is. But I don’t think the hangin’s gonna be here. There’s talk that Shade will be taken somewhere else for the sentence to be carried out. But we’ll be celebrating anyway, let me tell you, just knowing that he’s gonna get what’s comin’ to him.”
That was news to Ike, so it would be to Garth and the other outlaws, too. And probably welcome news, because it would mean they would have more time and opportunity to rescue Shade before his neck was stretched. Ike was certain that was what they planned to do, even though they hadn’t said as much while he was around.
To be sure what was going to happen, he would have to stay in town longer. If he went back now, he couldn’t tell the outlaws anything that they didn’t already suspect. So even though he hated the idea of leaving Maggie and Caleb alone with those bastards any longer than he had to, he didn’t have much choice.
“Anything else I can do for you?” the bartender asked. He had other customers along the hardwood demanding attention.
Ike shook his head and lifted his mug of beer. “No, thanks, I’m fine,” he said.
It was probably the biggest lie he had ever told in his life.
Chapter 17
Matt and Sam came into the sheriff’s office and nodded to Randy Johnson, who had been left in charge at the jail.
“We’re supposed to take Shade over to the town hall for the trial,” Matt said.
Johnson nodded as he stood and picked up the shotgun that lay on the desk in front of him. “We’ll go along with you,” he said, referring to himself and the other two guards who were posted just outside the building.
Matt got the keys from the nail on the wall, unlocked the cell block door, and then swung the door open. Shade was at it again, ranting and raving inside the cell.
His voice was hoarse and not as strong as it had been when he was first locked up. He had slept some during his incarceration, but not much. Nor had he eaten all that well. He had to be getting a little weaker by now.
That was all right, Matt thought. Shade was less likely to cause trouble that way.
With their rifles at the ready, Matt and Sam went into the corridor between the cells. Johnson stood just outside the door with the shotgun in his hands.
Matt unlocked the door of Shade’s cell and stepped back quickly, leveling the Winchester at the door. “Come on out of there, Shade,” he called.
