“There is,” B.W. said and gave Rance a hard look.
“Said those boys attacked you?” the sheriff said.
“Came charging out of a thicket, shootin’ at us,” B.W. said. “Didn’t have a choice but to shoot back.”
“Known them boys all their life. They was having a hard time makin’ it.”
“The war has made it hard for all of us,” Rance said.
“You lose that arm in the war?” Sheriff Shaw asked.
“I did.”
“He was a rebel major,” Tommy said.
“What ‘bout you,” Shaw said, looking at B.W.
“Was on the winnin’ side,” B.W. said.
Shaw looked at B.W. with a cold stare for several seconds and B.W. returned it.
“You got any deputies?” Rance asked.
“Not yet,” he said. “Mayor appointed me sheriff two weeks ago. May not be able to pay me unless the Yankees fork over some money.”
“You got a bank?” Rance said.
“No, went belly up some time ago.”
“Got anyone to help you look after that money you can trust?” B.W. said.
“Just me. That’s it.”
“Is there a telegraph to let the sheriff in Pinefield know what happened?” Rance said. “So they can come get their money.”
“We got a telegraph at the train station.”
“You got a train runnin’ out of here?” Rance said, surprised.
“Yep, twice a week. One going south on Tuesday, one going north on Saturday.”
“That’s tomorrow,” B.W. said. “The one going south headed to Texas?”
“Think so,” Shaw said. “You thinkin’ ‘bout catchin’ it?”
“Maybe,” B.W. said. “Is there a livery stable and a place to eat in this town?”
“On down the street. Livery’s ‘fore you get to the Chinaman’s café.”
“I see you got a safe,” Rance said.
“We’ll have to count it,” Billy said. “Need a witness on how much is there ‘fore I put it in the safe.”
“Don’t know if they spent any,” Rance said. “We haven’t touched it.”
“Major, how ‘bout you and Tommy go take care of the horses and eat,” B.W. said. “I’ll help him count the money and put it in the safe. I’d like to know how much is there, too. Bring me some biscuits and whiskey.”
Shaw looked at B.W. with a strange expression. “Biscuits and whiskey?”
“Good,” B.W. said.
Shaw shook his head. “Okay, I’ll give the undertaker their horses for burying ‘em since there’s no one to claim ‘em.”
“That okay,?” Rance said, looking at B.W. and Tommy.
“One oughta do it,” B.W. said. “Think the sheriff should have one for takin’ care of the money.”
Rance and Tommy nodded in agreement.
“Appreciate that,” Shaw said. “Comin’ from a Indian Yankee.”
B.W. grinned.
“Okay, we’ll be back in a little while,” Rance said. “B.W., you make sure none of that money disappears.”
“Don’t forget the whiskey,” B.W. said.
“And biscuits,” Rance said and left.
When Rance and Tommy returned, they brought B.W. the whiskey and biscuits and sat them on the desk.
“Thanks,” B.W. said. “We counted the money. Twenty-one-thousand, eight-hundred dollars and ninety-six cents. Sixteen thousand in paper money, the rest in gold and silver coins. He gave me a receipt.”
“I’ll go send the telegram to the sheriff in Pinefield and wait for a reply,” Shaw said.
“What time that train leave for Texas?” Rance asked.
“Tomorrow morning, ten-o’clock,” Shaw said. “The Fast Hitch Saloon has beds, fifty cents. Can come by there, let you know what the Pinefield sheriff said when I hear back.”
“Just as soon you didn’t say anything ‘bout us in that telegram,” Rance said. “Just tell him ‘bout the boys and the money.”
“What if there’s a reward?” Shaw said.
“We’ll take it out of the bank money,” B.W. said.
“I’ll handle it right now,” Shaw said.
“Good. Find out if we can ship our horses too,” Rance said and they walked back outside.
“Don’t think I want to sleep in a bed,” B.W. said. “Somethin’ bad always happens when I do.”
“That’s ridiculous, just a coincidence,” Rance said.
“Don’t think so.”
“That’s silly,” Tommy said. Rance nodded.
“Alright, but I warned you,” B.W. said and they walked across the street into the saloon.
A big-headed man with almost as much hair on his eyebrows as his head and a salt-and-pepper beard watched them come in and walk up to the bar. He looked at Tommy and shook his head.
“Don’t allow no kids in here,” he said.
“We just want a bed for the night, nothing else,” Rance said. “Got a train to catch in the mornin.’”
“Don’t matter. No kids in here.”
“Just as well,” B.W. said. “Didn’t want to stay here anyway.”
“You’re not goin’ to rent us a bed?” Rance asked.
“Not with the kid,” the man said. “My place, my rules.”
“Give it up, major, we’ll sleep in the livery,” B.W. said. “Would feel better there, anyway.”
“Let’s go,” Rance said and they walked back out on the street. “We’ll wait for the sheriff then go to the livery stable. Guess sleepin’ on hay don’t count as a bed, huh, B.W.?”
“Nope.” B.W. sat down on the board sidewalk and stretched his long legs out in front of him.
When the sheriff showed up they were leaning against the wall, half asleep.
“How come you’re not inside?” Shaw asked.
“Wouldn’t rent us a bed with the boy,” Rance said.
“Wait here, I’ll take care of it. Solomon can be a cantankerous old cuss sometimes.”
“It’s alright, B.W. don’t want to sleep in a bed anyway,” Rance said.
“How come?”
“It’s a long story,” Tommy said.
“What did Pinefield say?” Rance asked.
“They’re gonna catch the next train to pick up the money,” Shaw said. “Bank put up a five-hundred-dollar reward for the return of the money.”
“Anyone beside the telegrapher know about the money?” Rance asked.
“No.”
“Keep it that way,” B.W. said. “That’s a big temptation for anyone.”
“Sure is,” the sheriff said.
“Think we better move on,” Rance said. “If they got a place for our horses on that train in the mornin.”
“Asked them ‘bout that,” Shaw said. “The one comin’ tomorrow is a cattle car, said you can take your horses.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do,” Rance said.
“Sheriff,” B.W. said. “Think we’ll take that five-hundred now unless you’ve got some objections.”
“And if I did?” he asked.
“We’ll, we’d have take it anyway,” B.W. placed his hand on the butt of his Colt.
“I’ll tell them when they
