Davis laced his fingers behind his head and leaned back in his chair.
“I reckon, to be exact about the matter, you could say I’m down here to do a little gleaning.”
Longarm frowned. “Gleaning? How is that?”
Austin Davis leaned forward and took up his glass. He had another drink and then stared at the amber-colored whiskey. “‘Bout a couple of weeks ago,” he said, “I was up from the border. Hanging around in Kimble County, near Junction City. Of course I’d been hearing about these goings-on for at least a year, this foolishness in Mason County. I’d been meaning to look into it, and then I heard you were here.” He gave Longarm the flicker of a smile. “Didn’t know you was famous, did you, Marshal Long. Longarm. The long arm of the law.”
“Get to your point.”
Davis shrugged. “It’s pretty simple. There is wanted paper out on several of the boys in that gang. Not big money, five hundred to a thousand. That bank in Junction has put that much on the head of any man involved in their robbery. Anyway …” He shrugged again. “Anyway, I figured you intended to give the three a pretty good shake. I just figured to be on hand and pick up any loose apples might be laying around on the ground. Do a little gleaning.”
“So you are a bounty hunter.”
Davis shook his head. “No, that ain’t exactly right. If you’ve got to put a name to my main vocation, I’d reckon you could call me a gambler. But only with money. I am adverse to gambling with my hide turning bullets. I have taken a few boys in for the money on their heads, but it was mainly because they more or less dropped into my lap. I ain’t never gone around making a habit out of chasing folks who didn’t want to be chased and would put a hole through you for your troubles.” He gave Longarm a careless smile. “Like I said, I was here doing some gleaning, some picking up after. I figured to let you do the dangerous work and I’d take what was left.”
Longarm studied him a long moment. “I got a hunch about you, Davis. I think you like to keep folks off guard. I think you’ve put your hide on the line a few more times than you are admitting to me.”
Davis yawned. “You think what you want to, Longarm. Don’t make no difference to me. But if you’ve got me pegged as being in with this outfit that’s doing the robbing around here, you can think again. When I found out they had robbed the auction barn, I knew right then and there they wasn’t going to last much longer, not as dumb as they appear to be. Nosir, I’d just as soon you wouldn’t lump me in with no outfit that dumb.”
Longarm said, “Raise your right hand, Davis.”
Austin Davis looked startled. He glanced at Longarm. “What for? I don’t need to go outside.”
“Don’t be an asshole. Raise your right hand. I am going to swear you in as a provisional deputy U.S. marshal.”
Davis gave him a mild look. “Like hell you are.”
“Why not?”
“All the use of a badge is that it makes a good target. No, thank you, sir.”
“Listen, Davis, as a federal officer I can procure anything that belongs to the federal government, all the way from horses and mules to wagons and soldiers. You are a citizen of the United States. That means I can procure you.”
“You ain’t drafting me.”
“You ever been called for jury duty?”
“Who hasn’t. But it ain’t the same.”
“It’s exactly the same. The government is calling upon you to do your duty. Now raise your right hand. If you don’t, I’m going to stick you in a jail cell with the sheriff and his deputies.”
Davis looked interested. “You arrested the sheriff?”
“And his two blood-kin deputies.”
“What for?”
“For collusion, for accessory, for irritating the hell out of me by playing me for a fool. What difference does it make.”
Davis looked impressed. “Well, well. Sounds to me like you are making progress.” He glanced at Longarm. “But I still don’t want no badge.”
“You ain’t going to get no badge,” Longarm said. “Hell, I don’t even wear mine half the time. And you ain’t going to tell nobody that you’ve been sworn in. I’ve got a special job for you.”
“Yeah? What is it?”
“I reckon you take yourself for a hell of a hand with the ladies.”
Davis gave Longarm his slightly arrogant, slightly amused smile. He said easily, “Oh, I reckon I could get some testimonial letters if it got right down to it.”
Longarm gave him a grim look. “I wouldn’t be taking all this with such a light heart. It might get a little rough in places.”
“Did I give that impression? Hell, Marshal, you misunderstand me. I am the most serious and humble of men.”
“Bullshit. If there was anybody else I wouldn’t even throw a rock at you. But I need some help. Now raise your damn right hand.”
Davis frowned slightly, but he slowly put his hand in the air. “Like this?”
“Like anyway you want. Do you swear to abide by the rules and conditions of the Marshals’ Service, so help you on your oath?”
