Shaw frowned. “Why, either one. Besides, what difference does it make if I run across them. I’ll be coming from the southeast. They won’t be looking for me.”
Longarm nodded toward Shaw’s face. “There is that birthmark, Jack. It’s a dead giveaway.”
Shaw touched his face. “Hell, I figure whiskers is hiding that cursed thing by now. I ain’t shaved in a week. Can you see it?”
“It’s too dark to tell. Besides, I know it’s there.” He changed the subject. “Let me ask you something, Jack. You claim if I hadn’t been going to manacle you that you’d of never surrendered. Now, truth be told, wasn’t you gettin’ a little pent up in that cabin? Way you tell it, you don’t like to be crowded, and I had you where you couldn’t go out the back or the front.”
Shaw reached up and rubbed the whiskers on his neck as he thought. He finally said, “Yeah, they is some truth to that. I can’t stand that feeling, and you was pressing me pretty close. But I think I’d of broke for it before I surrendered. I was balanced on a knife blade anyways. But I figured on a two-day ride after you made the offer about New Mexico. I figured I’d have a chance to get loose from you. I know your reputation and all, but I was counting on that key.”
“So it wasn’t just the thought of the Rangers made you decide to surrender.”
Shaw nodded. “Not altogether. I never figured to see the inside of prison if that is what you are asking. But now let me ask you something.”
“What?”
Shaw hesitated for a moment. By the light of the fire still coming through the door Longarm could see something in Shaw’s face he couldn’t identify. It looked a little like uncertainty, and a little like fear.
But Shaw didn’t have any reason to feel either of those. Finally Shaw said, “You talked about men you’d brought to bay running at your gun. Are you talking about men that knew you?”
“What do you mean, knew me?”
“Aw, hell, Custis, you know damn good and well what I mean. Did they know it was you, the famous damn Longarm? The dead shot? Quit acting modest. Did they charge at you with any hope of overcoming you or getting past you?
In other words, did they know it was a sure thing they was going to get killed?”
“You mean, was they executing themselves after passing judgment? Yeah. I’d have to say they knew what was going to happen. As to that famous stuff and the dead shot, I don’t know. They didn’t stop to give me their opinions on the matter. What the hell are you so interested for? Ain’t got a damn thing to do with you. Last time you felt guilty was when you had to pay a whore full price.” Longarm suddenly shivered.
“What’s the matter with you? You feel somebody walk over your grave?”
“Hell, Jack, it’s cold. Or ain’t you noticed?”
“You want me to get your jacket?” Longarm said quickly, “No!” Then, realizing that Shaw might have read something into his quick refusal, he said, “Can’t get the damn jacket on without taking off the cuffs, and then I’d be stuck in it when the sun commences to blaze. You might hang one of my blankets over my shoulders. I’d be obliged for that.”
He turned his head and watched Shaw go into the cabin. He didn’t want Shaw going anywhere near the jacket with the key in the pocket. It was the wrong key, but it was the only key he had. And besides, may be Shaw was right. Maybe one key fit more than one set of manacles.
Shaw came back and threw the blanket over Longarm’s shoulders. He said, “Well, ol’ partner, I reckon this is where we fork trails. It is getting on for dawn and I better get to moving.”
Longarm said, “I can’t believe you are heading back in the direction of them Rangers.”
“Believe it. Believe it about sixty thousand dollars worth.”
“I think you lied to me, Jack. I think that money was there at the cabin all the time. Though I’m damned if I know where unless you buried it, but I didn’t see no shovel.”
Shaw said, “Look at it this way, Custis. All in all, what the hell difference does it make to you?”
Longarm shrugged. “None, I reckon. Except I always had a natural curiosity.”
“It didn’t kill you this time. But I’d try and keep it in check was I you.” Shaw came over and dropped two cigars and a half-dozen matches. He said, “I wish you good luck, Custis. I’m leaving two horses in the corral. I’m even leaving your saddle and gear. They’d just slow me up.” Longarm said, “You know, Jack, if somebody don’t come along I ain’t going to last long like this. Two, maybe three or four days.”
Shaw nodded. “I know it. Tell you what. When I get where I’m going I’ll wire the nearest sheriff where you are. Maybe they’ll get to you in time and maybe they won’t.”
“I don’t hold it against you, Jack. We both know how the game is played. You are on the run. I’m just amazed you didn’t put a bullet in my ear.”
“I would have if I hadn’t had no other choice. But I think this will slow you up long enough for me to get my business done. I’ll be taking off now, Custis. I hope we don’t see each other again. Not where business is concerned. Maybe you’ll take another vacation in Mexico and we’ll meet up.”
“You take it easy, Jack.”
“Yeah, and you.”
After a while Longarm heard the muffled sounds of hoofbeats, softened by the sand, receiding into the distance. Only then did he realize how tightly he’d been holding himself. He slowly relaxed down on to the ground. “Damn!” he said aloud. “Boy, howdy!”
Given the situation, he would have never believed that Jack Shaw would have ridden off and left him alive. He’d been expecting a bullet with every word, with every move, with every second. But then, what made a man like Jack Shaw so dangerous was his unpredictability. As a last gesture Shaw had brought the coffeepot out, still half full,
