The man looked the animals over critically. “Been riding them hard and long, looks like.”
“Some,” Thomas said.
“Well, I’ll give them care and a good night’s rest. How long you plannin’ on leavin’ them with me?”
“Just overnight,” Thomas said.
“Good enough,” the man said with a nod. “They’ll be ready to go in the mornin’.”
“Much obliged,” Thomas said.
“Lawmen, I see,” the man commented, noticing the badges on their shirts.
“That’s right,” Thomas said, “from Texas.”
“A little far from home, ain’tcha?”
“We’re just passin’ through,” Thomas said, remembering his father’s warning not to ask questions.
“Lookin’ fer somebody, are ya?”
“My brother said we’re just passin’ through,” James answered.
“Sure, sure,” the man said. “Well, my name’s Ike. I guess I’ll be seein’ you boys in the mornin’.”
“What do we owe you?” Thomas asked.
“You kin pay me in the mornin’,” Ike said. “If I can’t trust the law, who can I trust, right?”
“Thanks,” James said.
He and Thomas recovered the saddlebags and bedrolls from their saddles, bid Ike good afternoon, and left the livery.
“Too many questions for my taste,” James commented as they left.
“I was thinkin’ the same thing, little brother.”
When they reached the hotel, they found Matthew waiting for them with a key.
“You bunkin’ with Pa tonight?” Thomas asked, accepting the key.
“I guess,” Matthew said with a shrug. “He didn’t say.”
“Might as well,” Thomas said. “You checked in with him.”
“We got to take baths,” Matthew said. “Pa says so.”
“Before we eat?” James asked.
“The hotel clerk said we smelled.”
“You do smell,” Thomas said.
“So do you,” Matthew said.
“I didn’t say I didn’t,” Thomas replied, “I just said you did.”
“You think I smell worse than you?”
“You’re bigger,” James said. “There’s more of you to smell. You smell worse than me ’n’ Thomas put together.”
Matthew lifted an arm and sniffed himself carefully. “I smell fine.”
“Well,” Thomas said, “all I know is, I ain’t usin’ the same tub as you unless I go before you.”
“Man said he got three tubs.”
“As long as I get to one before you fill it with mud,” Thomas said.
Thomas and James walked past their brother, who took one more sniff of himself before following them.
15
When they reached the restaurant called Magnolia’s, Shaye could see why the clerk had warned him about bathing first. It looked like a family place, with couples as well as people with children dining. Everyone was dressed better than they were. They had donned extra clothes they’d brought with them, but they were still trail clothes, though at least they were clean.
“Gentlemen,” a man in a dark suit said, fronting them, “a table for four?”
“Please,” Shaye said.
“This is fancy, Pa,” Matthew said, clearly uncomfortable.
“Don’t worry, Matthew,” Shaye said, “the food will be fine.”
“People are lookin’ at us.”
“They’re lookin’ at you,” James said, poking Matthew from behind. “You have your hair parted in the middle.”
“Leave your brother alone, James,” Shaye said. “They’re looking at our badges.”
They were led to their table, where they were seated between a middle-aged couple and a family of three, with a little girl.
“A waiter will be right with you,” the man said, and left.
“I thought he was our waiter,” Matthew said.
“His job is to show us to our table,” James said.
“Why couldn’t he take our order?” Matthew asked. “It don’t seem so hard.”
“It’s not his job, Matthew,” Thomas said.
“We’re all having steaks and beer, right?” Shaye asked.
His three sons agreed.
“Some people are still lookin’ at us, Pa,” James said.
“They’re curious why four lawmen are in here,” Shaye said. “Don’t worry about it. Word will probably get to the local law and he’ll come looking for us with some questions.”
“What are you gonna tell him?” Thomas asked.
“I’ll see what the questions will be before I decide that,” Shaye said, “but remember one thing—I’ll do the talking. Okay?”
They agreed.
When a waiter appeared, Shaye ordered four steak dinners and four beers. Matthew looked over at the little blond girl at the next table and smiled at her. Her mother leaned over, hissed at her and made her turn away.
“Scarin’ little girls again?” James whispered to his brother.
Matthew just scowled at him.
Their steaks came and Shaye ate while watching and listening to his boys. Shaye rarely interfered when his sons were arguing or kidding with each other. Mary had always said the boys should work things out for themselves. The only time she ever interfered or had him interfere was when they came to blows—which they did often as small boys but hardly ever as young adults.
Thomas was very smart, but James had the quickest mind. Shaye knew that Matthew probably had the softest heart and was an easy target for both of his brothers if they wanted to pick on him. He was physically intimidating, but would never lay a hand on either of them in anger.
And all three boys cleaned up very well, and Shaye knew that girls liked them. Thomas was very good with women, Matthew too shy, and James was learning by watching his older brother. Shaye knew they all got their personalities from their mother, because he kept to himself most of the time and, except for Mary, didn’t like other people very much.
By the time they finished their dinners, the people at the tables surrounding them had changed, but they were still pretty much the center of attention. They all ordered pie and coffee and were almost finished with that when a man with a badge entered the restaurant. He stood just inside the door, easily located them, and started toward their table.
“Here comes the local law, boys,” Shaye said. “Remember, I’ll do all the talking.”
The boys nodded as the lawman approached.
16
“Gentlemen,” the sheriff said when he reached their table, “my name’s Ray Stover. I’m the sheriff here in Lawton.”
