Evan checked the three men and found that they were all dead, one having been shot in the back. He stood up, waved to Jubal across the street, and then looked for Sam. Sam McCall was across the street checking on the other two men.
Sam checked both men and saw that one of them had been shot in the back. He couldn’t figure that. They were both dead, though, so he turned to check on his brothers. He saw Evan across the street and waved.
The McCall brothers came together in front of the telegraph office.
“Looks like you boys got here just in time,” Sam said.
“Jubal spotted it,” Evan said.
“Just by accident,” Jubal said.
“Thanks, Jube.” Sam put his hand behind his younger brother’s neck. “Thanks.”
“Sure.”
“They all dead?” Sam asked.
“All of ’em,” Jubal said.
“You know, there’s something funny about one of the men across the street,” Evan said.
“What?” Sam asked.
“He was shot in the back.”
Sam looked at his brother.
“You know, one of the others was shot in the back, too.”
“One of those two was shot in the back,” Jubal said, pointing behind him, “but Evan shot that one.”
“Who shot the other two in the back?” Evan asked.
“I don’t know,” Sam said, “but I think someone else might have some questions for us.”
“Who?” Evan asked.
Sam pointed behind his brothers, and they turned and saw Sheriff Kelly hurrying toward them.
Coffin saw the sheriff and slipped out of sight, into an alley. It was the same alley he had used to slip up behind the bushwackers. He paused a moment to eject the two spent shells from his .45 and lay in two live shells.
He wasn’t all that sure why he had decided to help the McCalls, unless it was to keep Sam McCall alive until…
He retraced his steps down the alley. He had left a beer on the bar in the saloon.
Sam sat in a chair in the sheriff’s office, picking at the bottom of his left boot, which now had no heel.
In two other chairs sat Evan and Jubal. All of their rifles and pistols were on the sheriff’s desk.
The sheriff was seated behind his desk, wearing a hangdog expression.
“You know, this is a hell of a mess,” Sheriff Kelly said, shaking his head.
“Not of our making,” Evan said.
“No? Then whose?”
“Why don’t you talk to Lincoln Burkett?”
“Mr. Burkett? Why should I talk to him?”
“Those were his men, weren’t they?”
“Maybe, but that don’t mean that he was involved.”
“It doesn’t mean he wasn’t, either,” Evan said. “I think you should talk to the man. Hell, we’ll even go with you, if you like.”
The sheriff bristled.
“I don’t need help doing my job.”
“You could have fooled us,” Sam said.
“Look, McCall,” he said, speaking to Sam, “if anyone’s to blame for this it’s you.”
“Me?”
“You and your reputation, you invite things like this to happen.”
“I was minding my own business, Sheriff, sending a telegram. You tell me how I invited this.”
“Come on, you know how many men would like to be the man who killed Sam McCall.”
“Or the seven men who killed Sam McCall,” Jubal said. “You’re saying that seven men tried to bushwack my brother and it’s his fault?”
“He ought to leave town,” Kelly said, glumly. “You all should leave town.”
“Oh?” Evan said. “Are my brother Jubal and I inviting some sort of attack by being here, Sheriff?”
“We’re not leaving until we find out who killed our parents,” Jubal said.
Kelly stared at him.
“Your father killed your mother and then himself.”
“That’s what we hear,” Evan said, “but we’re not accepting that.”
“I think we should leave now,” Sam said. He stood up and took his gun off the desk, fitting it into his holster.
“I didn’t say you could have your gun,” Kelly said.
“You want to take it away from me again?” Sam asked. “It ain’t gonna be so easy this time.”
“Easy, Sam,” Evan said.
“You’re the one who said I invite these attacks,” Sam went on. “Well, if that’s the case, I’m not about to walk around unarmed. Boys, pick up your guns.”
Jubal didn’t have to be told twice. He stood up, picked up his handgun, put it in his holster, and then took a rifle from the desk.
“Sheriff,” Evan said, “my advice to you would be to talk to Burkett. Tell him his men missed this time. Maybe next time he should send more.”
“I’m sure Mr. Burkett had nothing to do with this.”
“Well then maybe he’d appreciate a visit from you and the information that he’s got seven dead men.”
Evan picked up his guns and started for the door, followed closely by Sam and Jubal.
Before leaving Sam turned and said, “Much obliged for your understanding, Sheriff.”
From the sheriff’s office they went back to the hardware store, where Serena had waited all this time.
“At last!” she said when they entered. “I was so worried. Jubal, are you hurt?”
Jubal looked down at his left arm. The shirt had been torn by the bullet, and his flesh inside creased. Whatever bleeding it had done had long dried.
“Are you all right, Jube?” Sam asked.
“I’m fine,” Jubal said. “Don’t make a fuss.”
“Are you all okay?” Serena asked. “It sounded like a war.”
“It wasn’t a war,” Sam said, “just a battle.”
“And we won it,” Jubal was quick to point out. “Seven men were waiting to bushwack Sam when he came out of the telegraph office.”
“Seven?” That someone would think it would take so many men to do it seemed to shock Serena. It was as if she was just beginning to believe the stories she had heard about Sam McCall.
“Don’t worry,” Jubal said. “We got them all. In fact, I think if we hadn’t come along Sam would have gotten them all anyway. They were amateurs, weren’t they, Sam?”
Sam seemed deep in thought and appeared not to have heard a word Jubal said.
“Be still, Jubal,” Evan said. “If we hadn’t gotten there Sam would be dead.”
“He coulda taken them all, I tell ya,” Jubal said. “Couldn’t you, Sam?”
“You’re right about one thing, Jubal,” Sam said.
“What’s that?”
“They were amateurs, or we’d all be dead.”
“What are you getting at?” Evan asked. “You don’t think they were sent by Burkett?”
“I don’t know,” Sam said. “The sheriff was right about that. Just because they were Burkett’s men doesn’t meanhe sent them. I think if Burkett wanted me dead he would have sent a hired gun.”
“You mean, someone like Coffin?” Evan asked.
“Coffin?” Jubal said. “Who’s Coffin?”
“A gun for hire,” Evan said.
“And he’s here?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Serena asked.
“We just found out today.”
“So if Burkett hired Coffin,” Evan said, “why would he send seven of his hands after you?”
“That’s what I’m thinkin’.”
“Look,” Serena said, “you boys haven’t eaten since breakfast—”
“We didn’t have breakfast,” Jubal said. “You know what? I just realized how hungry I am.”
“I have to make dinner for Papa,” she said. “Come back to the house and I’ll cook for all of you.”