“Are you having a problem, Thomas?” Shaye asked.
“Not really, Pa,” Thomas said, standing up, “but I think we better pick someplace else to have a drink.”
“Oh sure,” James said, pointing to his brother’s empty mug, “now that you’ve already had one.”
“Believe me, brother,” Thomas said, “you don’t want to have a beer in here. Take my word for it.”
“Let’s get going, then,” Shaye said. “That is, if none of your new friends has any objection.”
Amazingly, the men had already started to sit back down at their tables now that Thomas had stood up.
“I don’t think anybody minds, Pa,” Thomas said and led the way out of the saloon.
“What was that all about?” James asked when they were outside.
“Well, supposedly, a table,” Thomas said, “but to tell you the truth, I ain’t really sure.”
“I spotted another saloon down the street,” Shaye said. “Let’s go there and then we can compare notes.”
“You were really gonna fight all those men over a table?” James asked as they started walking.
“It was the strangest thing…” Thomas started.
When they got themselves a table at the Wagon Wheel Saloon and nobody objected, Thomas breathed a sigh of relief.
“Why didn’t you just get up and walk out?” Shaye asked. “Wait for us outside?”
“I was about to when you both arrived,” Thomas said. “I’m still not sure what the hell was goin’ on in there.”
“You were tryin’ to change their routine,” James said. “According to Elizabeth, folks hereabouts don’t want to change their routines.”
“Elizabeth?” Thomas asked.
“I met this schoolteacher…” James started and continued on to explain how he’d walked her home.
“I almost got in a bar fight over a table and you’re walkin’ a pretty school marm home?” Thomas said in disbelief.
“Took me all the way to the south end of town too,” James said.
“Which I already checked,” Thomas replied. “Nothin’ but houses there.”
“I know,” James said, “she lives in one. But here’s somethin’ else. We passed the sheriff’s house.”
“At the south end of town?” Shaye asked.
“No,” James said, “the north end, near the schoolhouse. He and his wife have got Belinda Davis livin’ with them.”
“What?”
“They took her in, I guess,” James said. “Elizabeth really ain’t sure of the details.”
“Is she related to the sheriff?” Thomas asked.
“I don’t think so.”
“And the child?” Shaye asked.
“He’s there too,” James said. “I saw him.”
“Does he look like Matthew?” Thomas asked, anxiously.
“I couldn’t tell,” James said. “I only got a glimpse. They were in the sheriff’s backyard.”
“Well,” Shaye said, sitting back, “maybe that explains the sheriff’s reluctance to talk to us.”
“What do you think he’ll say when we go and see him?” James asked.
“I guess that’ll depend on what this Belinda says,” Shaye answered. “If she don’t want to talk to us—”
“She’s got to at least talk to us, Pa,” Thomas said. “Maybe now that she’s livin’ with the sheriff, she won’t want our help anymore, but she’s got to at least talk withus.”
“I think so too, Thomas,” Shaye said. “I just hope she feels that way.”
20
The Shayes finished their beer at the Wagon Wheel and then left to walk over to the sheriff’s office. They stopped just outside.
“Some office, huh?” Thomas asked.
“I wonder what it would be like to come to work here every day?” James said.
“Let’s just get inside,” Shaye said gruffly. His sons gave him an odd look, then followed him into the office.
Sheriff Cotton was seated behind his desk, waiting for them.
“Come on in, gents. Did you have supper?”
“Yes,” Shaye said, “we went to the place you suggested.”
“Good, good,” Cotton said. “Just got back from having supper myself. Come on, have a seat. Can I get you some coffee?”
“No,” Shaye said, answering for the three of them. “We’re fine.”
Shaye sat in a chair opposite the lawman and Thomas and James remained standing.
“We’d like to know what Belinda said about seeing us,” Shaye said. “We know that she’s living with you and your wife.”
“Somebody talked, huh?”
“James saw you with her out behind your house,” Shaye said, deciding to play it straight. “And with the child.”
“Matthew,” Cotton said.
“What?” James asked.
“His name is Matthew,” Cotton said. “We call him Little Matt.”
Shaye exchanged glances with his sons.
“Yes, I know,” Cotton said. “Your other son’s name was Matthew.”
“Sheriff—”
“Okay, here it is,” Cotton said. “She’ll see you, Mr. Shaye, and only you, and the meeting will take place at my house.”
“Wait,” Thomas said, “why not us?”
“Maybe later,” Cotton said. “All three of you at once would be overwhelming.” He looked directly at Shaye. “Surely you can see that.”
Shaye hesitated, then said, “Yes, I can. All right, I agree.”
“Pa—”
“Don’t worry, Thomas,” Shaye said. “After all, it was to me she sent the letter.” He looked at Cotton. “What other conditions?”
“Either I or my wife also has to be present,” Cotton said. “But not the boy. Not yet.”
“I want to see the boy,” Shaye said. “I’ll be able to tell if he’s Matthew’s.”
Again, Cotton said, “Maybe later. Belinda wants to see you first, Mr. Shaye.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow, around noon.”
“Why not tonight?” James asked.
Cotton looked at James. “I’m doin’ this the way Belinda wants to do it, sir.”
“What’s her relation to you, Sheriff?” Thomas asked.
“None.”
“Then why does she live with you and your missus?”
“She needed help,” Cotton said. “And she had a child. My wife is not the sort of person who could ignore that.”
“She sounds like a fine woman,” Shaye said.
“Thank you for sayin’ that,” Cotton replied. “She is.”
“All right, Sheriff,” Shaye said, getting to his feet. “We’ll do this your way—the girl’s way.”
“Come by here tomorrow at eleven forty-five and I’ll walk you over to my house,” Cotton said.
“I’ll be here.”
“Meanwhile,” Cotton said, also standing, “I’d appreciate it if you and your boys could stay out of trouble while you’re in town.”
“We always do our best to avoid trouble, Sheriff,” Shaye said. “It’s just not always our choice.”
“Just your word on behalf of you and your boys that you’ll try is fine with me,” Cotton said.
“You have it.”
“Good enough. See you tomorrow, then.”
Shaye nodded and led his sons out on to the street.
21
They spent the evening drinking in the Wagon Wheel and trying to stay out of trouble. Thomas got a deck of cards from the bartender and they played three-handed poker for pennies, turning away any who wanted to join them.
“Family game,” Shaye told them.
While playing, they talked over the day’s events and what tomorrow might bring.
“I think we should go together to see her,” James said. “We’re all entitled.”
“Maybe we are,” Shaye said, “but the sheriff has a point. Facing the three of us at once would be too overwhelming for her.”