or would they take to the streets, the way he had when he was a
youngster? Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Ryan on a black
horse riding at a gallop down the main street. He hoped the marshal
would catch the monsters who had made those children orphans. In one
night, their lives had been changed forever.
He turned back when the sheriff spoke again. 'There was no call to
kill those two, no call at all. You know what Ryan said? ' 'No,
what's that? ' Cole asked.
'That it was a miracle they didn't kill those little boys. If one of
them had come into the room while they were butchering, they would have
killed him for sure . . . the others too.'
'What's going to happen to them? ' 'The boys? ' The sheriff looked
bleak, disheartened. 'My Josey and me offered to take them all, but
the relatives back east said they'd give them a home. I think they're
gonna farm them out between them. That doesn't seem right to me.
Brothers ought to stay together.
' Cole agreed with a pensive nod.
'I got my own opinion why they killed Luke's wife. Want to hear it? '
'Sure.'
'I think they were sending folks a message.' His voice dropped to a
whisper of confidentiality as he continued. 'Word gets around fast,
and anyone who might see something or hear something in the future is
gonna think long and hard before stepping forward.
Witnesses don't survive.
That's the message.'
'They're bound to make a mistake one of these days.'
'Son, that's what everyone is hoping will happen. I'm praying it
happens soon, cause a lot of good people have died, and not just men,
but women and children too. Those men are gonna burn in hell for what
they've done.'
'They've killed children? ' 'I heard about one little girl that got
killed. She was in the bank with her mama. Of course it could just be
speculation. I asked Ryan about it, but he got a real strange look in
his eyes and went out the door without answering me, so I don't know if
it's true or not. The marshal sure has his hands full, ' he concluded
with a shake of his head.
