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 be willing to pay a bonus of, say, one thousand dollars.”
“Yeah,” Shamrock replied with a grin. “Mighty profitable. Only how come I had to change my name, but you didn’t have to change your name? You was involved in the robbery back in Sulphur Springs, same as I was.”
“No, I wasn’t involved. I set the job up for you, but I didn’t actually take part in it, if you remember.”
“Yeah, I remember. I wound up taking all the chances, but you got most of the money.”
“What I’ve got set up for us now, why, you will be in position to make as much money as you did from the bank robbery in Sulphur Springs, and much more money than you earned from that job in Seven Oaks.”
Shamrock smiled. “Yeah, I will, won’t I?”
“The first thing you must do is instruct your men to refer to you as Paul Harris, not only in public, but even when you are alone. As I intend to do.”
“Yeah, all right, if you say so.”
“I do, indeed, say so.”
* * *
As soon as Houser and Shamrock returned to the ranch, Shamrock rounded up Jaco, Evans, Wix, Pete, and Hawke, and told them that Houser wanted to talk to them.
“What about me ’n Malcolm ’n Dobbins?” Knox asked.
“He didn’t say nothin’ about none of you,” Shamrock replied.
Turley didn’t even ask about himself; he had already learned that there were two groups of men employed by Houser, those who worked, like he, Cooper, and the remaining cowhands, and those who, as far as he could tell, did nothing.
Turley shrugged. It didn’t really bother him all that much that Houser had so much dead weight at the ranch. He wasn’t paying their salary.
* * *
“What do you mean we’re goin’ to be deputies?” Jaco asked. “You signed us up to be deputies? I thought we was goin’ to be makin’ some money while we was here. What does a deputy make? Thirty dollars a month?”
“You won’t be deputies for the sheriff, you’ll be deputyin’ for the governor of Wyoming,” Shamrock said with a wide smile.
“The governor?”
“Yeah, I’m a special lawman for the governor of Wyoming. ’N from now on when you talk to me, you’ll call me Captain Harris.”
“Why the hell should we do that?” Wix asked.
“For two hundred dollars a month, ’n a chance to make a lot more money,” Shamrock said.
“Two hundred dollars a month?” Jaco replied excitedly. “Damn, that’s ten times more ’n a cowhand gets.”
“Yes, it is. So, what do you say? Do you want to be my deputy?”
“I say you got yourself a deputy,” Jaco replied.
“Two deputies,” Wix added.
The others signed on as well.
“Here’s a hundred dollars apiece to get you started,” Houser said. He smiled. “And this, gentlemen, is just a bonus. It will not come out of your monthly salary.”
Happily, and eagerly, the men took the proffered money.
“Hey, Shamrock, you ain’t said what it is that we’re goin’ to be doin’ as deputies,” Hawke said.
“The first thing you’re goin’ to do is stop callin’ me Shamrock ’n start callin’ me Captain Harris. ’N then, after that, why, you’re goin’ to do whatever I tell you to do,” Shamrock said.
“That’s all right with me,” Hawke said.
The others agreed.
“Hey, Sham . . . uh . . . Cap’n Harris, is it all right with you, if me ’n some of the others go into town tonight?” Jaco asked. He smiled. “I mean, what good is it to get a hundred dollars if you cain’t go into town ’n spend it?”
Shamrock looked over at Houser, who, with a slight nod, gave his acquiescence to the request.