“Ah,” Cory said, “loose ends. Life seems full of them, doesn’t it?”
“Speakin’ of which,” Shaye said, “who’s Berto gonna be ridin’ with, Ralph Cory or Dave Macky?”
“I think it might be time for Dave Macky to put in an appearance, again,” Cory/Macky replied. “In fact, I was thinkin’ of hittin’ the trail right away, nice as a night in this hotel sounds. Berto? Can you ride?”
“Sí, Señor Ralph—I mean, Señor Dave.” The Mexican stood up. “I can ride.”
“Gents,” Macky said. “Good luck to you.”
“And you,” Shaye said.
The men shook hands all around, and then Macky turned to Thomas.
“Good luck, Thomas,” he said. “It was a pleasure ridin’ with you.”
“You too…Dave. It was a privilege.”
Macky and Colon waved one last time and left the hotel, leaving the three Shaye men at the table, alone.
“Pa?” Thomas said.
“Yes, Thomas?”
“There’s somethin’ I been meanin’ to talk to you about for a long time.”
“Really?” Shaye asked. “Well, there’s another coincidence for you. There’s somethin’ I been meanin’ to talk to you about too.”
James sat back and listened to his brother and father clear the air, hoping that maybe some of the ghosts from the year gone by might soon be gone…or at least laid to rest.
About the Author
ROBERT J. RANDISI is the creator and writer of the popular series The Gunsmith, under the pseudonym “J.R. Roberts.” He has written many other western novels under his own name.