Daniel Shaye reined his horse in just outside the town of Vengeance Creek, Arizona. It was April, but judging by the heat, it could have been August. The town had grown by leaps and bounds since Daniel and his sons were last there. They could see the newest buildings in amongst the more weathered ones, and no doubt there were people in the same conditions.
James and Thomas, Daniel’s sons, followed suit, then moved up on either side of him. They had been riding for several days, were ready for hotel beds, baths and café food, not to mention cold beer. But they were also there for a much more important reason.
“You think they’ll take us back, Pa?” Thomas asked.
“From what I’ve heard, they ain’t had competent law enforcement here since we left. They’ll take us back, all right.” Daniel looked at his sons in turn, older Thomas, and then James. “What you boys have to tell me is whether or not you want to be my deputies again.”
Now the brothers exchanged a glance, and then Thomas nodded, understanding what had just passed between them.
“Pa, we’ll always wanna be your deputies,” he told his father. “Ain’t that exactly what you raised us for?”
“No, not exactly,” Daniel Shaye said. “Your mother would turn over in her grave if that was the case, but it does seem to be turning out that way, doesn’t it?”
“We’re the Shayes, Pa,” James said. “Enforcin’ the law is what we do.”
“All right, then,” Daniel Shaye said, picking up his reins. “Let’s get our asses down there and start doin’ it!”