“Did ye take these creatures back?” Duff asked.
“No, sir, I wanted to, but I had some more brandin’ ’n castratin’ to do so’s I could leave to go pick up Sara Sue. I left ’em back at the ranch, but I’ve got ’em separated out into their own corral, so’s it’ll be easy to take care of it when I get back.”
“It’s getting about that time. Come along, lad, we’ll walk ye down to the depot,” Duff offered.
It was a short walk from Fiddler’s Green to the depot, but even before they got there, they heard the whistle of the approaching train.
“Do you think Sara Sue will like it out here?” Percy asked nervously as they waited for the approach of the train.
“It’s a little late to be a-worryin’ ’bout that now, ain’t it?” Elmer asked.
“Oh! Do you think maybe she won’t?” The tone of Percy’s voice indicated a newfound concern.
“Come on, Percy, I was just a-funnin’ with you,” Elmer said. “What’s there not to like about the Valley of the Chug? Besides which, I’ll ask Vi to go out to your place ’n help Miss Sara Sue get settled in.”
“Thanks, Elmer. I appreciate that. I appreciate that a lot.”
By now the train arrived, and it rumbled through the station, the big drive wheels wreathed in ribbons of white steam, black smoke streaming from the stack, the wheels squealing, and couplers banging as the cars slowed against one another.
Nobody got down from the train, and Percy was the only departing passenger. Duff and Elmer stood on the depot platform until the train departed.
“There goes one happy man,” Elmer said.
“Aye,” Duff agreed.
Chapter Twenty-two
“Duff, what do you think about what Percy told us about them cows he found from some of the other ranches?” Elmer asked.
“I’m givin’ the question some thought, Elmer,” Duff said. “It’s a good question, because having cows from three different ranches show up as they did was, indeed, quite puzzling.
“I suppose, what with roundup ’n all, that such a thing could happen,” Duff said. “But I wish he had taken them back before he left. I don’t know about this special detective ’n his crew of deputies ’n all, but I’d feel better if the creatures weren’t in a corral on Percy’s place.”
“How ’bout me ’n Wang takin’ ’em back to where they belong, tomorrow?”
“Aye,” Duff said, nodding. “’Twould be a good thing for ye to do so.”
“Wang will like goin’ with me, ’cause he likes gettin’ out ’n about,” Elmer said. “’N you know what else he likes? He likes helpin’ folks. It’s kind of a honor thing with him. Actually, lots of Chinese are big on honor, I learned that when I was in China.”
“I’m sure there are many honorable Chinese,” Duff answered. “And I know for a fact that honor plays a significant role in Wang’s makeup.”
* * *
Houser and Shamrock were riding toward Twin Peaks alone. Wix, Jaco, and the others had been told that they were going to be used in a scheme that promised to bring everyone a rather sizable payroll, but as yet, they had no idea what that scheme might be.
“Paul,” Houser started to say.
“Why don’t you call me Sid when we are alone? I’ve had that name long enough that I’ve done got used to it.”
“On your bank robbery in Seven Oaks, did you kill someone?”
“Yeah, I kilt the bank manager.”
“Why?”
“The son of bitch grinned at me. The bank had what they called a time lock safe, ’n it couldn’t be opened till four o’clock. He told me to come back at four o’clock, ’n he grinned at me while he was sayin’ it.”
“And for that, you killed him?”
“Yeah. You shoulda seen ’im, that big mocking smile like he had me just where he wanted me. It pissed me off so much that I couldn’t help it, so I shot the son of a bitch.”
“Yes, well, you should have controlled your temper. Did you not also say that you saw the name Sid Shamrock in the paper for the bank robbery and murder you committed in Seven Oaks?”
“Yeah, I seen it. ’N seein’ as I never was there before, I don’t have no idea how it is that they knowed it was me. But, anyhow, that was down in Texas, that’s a long way from here. So I don’t see as how anyone up here can find out.”
“Do you think we are on the back side of the moon up here?”
“What?”
“I was using an analogy.”
“What’s an analogy?” Shamrock asked again.
“Never mind. What I am saying is that, sooner or later, your name will be known up here as well. And the name Shamrock is just too easy to remember. In our business, it doesn’t pay to have everyone know about you.”
“Everyone knows about you,” Shamrock said.
“Not as Brad Houser, and I’m quite comfortable with that name. You had better get used to being called Paul Harris. Anyway, when I secured your commission from the governor, I did it under the name of Paul Harris.”
“What about the others? What names did you use for them when you was talking to the governor?”
“It wasn’t necessary for me to even bring their names up. You and I were the only two who required a commission. We have the authority to appoint our own deputies. Thus, they will derive their authority from us. You are answerable only to me, and I am answerable only to the governor.”
“What does that mean, that you are answerable only to the governor?”
Houser smiled. “That means that I can do anything I want. And, if you have my permission, you can do anything you want.”
A broad smile spread across Shamrock’s lips. “I can do anything I want?”
“Within reason, and as long as it has my approval.”
“Ha! You know what I’m thinkin’, big brother? I’m thinkin’ this here is goin’ to be a lot of fun.”
“And profitable,” Houser added. “For each miscreant standing in my way who’s disposed of by you and your men, I’d
