Shaye left the undertaker’s office after seeing to the delivery of the bodies of Hawko and Tayback. He now had four of Doucette’s men locked up, and had killed three of them. There was only Doucette and Vin left, but Hawko and Tayback had indicated there was a surprise in store for Shaye. Did that mean another man? More men on the way? Was that what Doucette was waiting for?
Shaye heard the sound of boots on the boardwalk. Quite a few townspeople had walked by him, nodding or exchanging a greeting, but these footsteps sounded different. He turned and saw Tate Kingdom coming toward him.
“I heard about the shootin’,” the gunman said. “You okay?”
“I’m fine,” Shaye said. “It’s two of Doucette’s men who are inside.”
“Well,” Kingdom said, “you keep up this pace, and you won’t need my help at all.”
“That would be fine with me,” Shaye said. “I’d be very happy handlin’ all of this on my own.”
“And do you think that’s going to happen?”
“I doubt it,” Shaye said. “Doucette doesn’t seem to be alarmed about any of this.”
“And that bothers you?”
“To no end.”
“It would seem if he’s that calm, he must be planning something.”
“And all I can do is wait him out.”
“Can you keep his men in jail that long?” Kingdom asked.
“With the help of the local judge, yes, but not forever.”
“Well . . .”
“Well what?”
“You could stage a jail break,” Kingdom suggested, “and just kill them in the process.”
“I’m afraid that’s not an option,” Shaye said.
“It was just a suggestion.” Kingdom gave the front of the undertaker’s a good, long look, then said, “I’ll be in the Renegade if you want me.”
“Thanks.”
Shaye watched the gunman walk away, disturbed by the fact that he had already thought of the jail break idea himself.
Shaye sat in his office later. There was no point in double shifts on his rounds anymore. For one thing, he still thought about Thomas and James, wondering where they were and what they were doing. Had he made the right decision, sending them out separately the way he had? And second, there were no more of Doucette’s men to keep an eye on.
And the ones in his cells were making their presence known, complaining loudly about being hungry, and having been locked up for no reason. He also heard them talking amongst themselves, complaining that Doucette wasn’t doing anything to get them out. They were so displeased with their boss that Shaye was tempted to release them, figuring they might leave town. But he decided against it. Might as well wait until the whole ugly business was over.
“Boss?”
Cole Doucette looked up from his mug of beer and saw Vin standing there.
“What?”
“Um, I know you got a plan, boss,” Vin said, “but we got three men dead and four in jail.”
“Vin, do you think you’re tellin’ me somethin’ I don’t already know?”
“Well, no, but—”
“There ain’t no ‘buts,’ ” Doucette told him. “You’re the last man standin’, Vin. Now it’s gonna be up to you and me.”
“That’s okay with me, boss, but . . . what’s gonna be up to you and me? What are we gonna do?”
“We’re gonna do what we came here to do,” Doucette said, “what I told you all in the beginnin’ was my goal. Do you remember that?”
“Sure I do, but—”
“What did I say?”
“You wuz out for revenge.”
“And I’m gonna get it,” Doucette said. “You can believe in that, Vin.”
“I do, boss, but—”
“Then stop sayin’ but and do what I’ve been tellin’ you to do.”
“Just wait for your signal?”
“That’s right.”
“Can I go get somethin’ to eat?”
“You know what, Vin?” Doucette stood up. “Why don’t we both go and get somethin’ to eat.”
“Where, boss?”
Doucette put his hand on the younger man’s shoulder and said, “I know just the place.”
When Cole Doucette and Vin walked into the Rawhide Steak House, they had been in town long enough for everybody to know who they were. That was why it got very, very quiet as they stood inside the door, waiting to be seated.
“Uh, just the two of you gentlemen?” one of the waiters asked.
“That’s right,” Doucette said.
“This way, please.”
The waiter showed them to a table and handed them menus, then scurried away. The other diners in the place were watching the men with interest.
Doucette looked around and stared back at them. He didn’t see Mayor Snow there anywhere. That was too bad. He really wanted to make the man sweat before he finally killed him.
“This is a nice place,” Vin commented.
“Too fancy for you, Vin?” Doucette asked.
“No, no, this is fine,” Vin said. “It’s just that . . .” he leaned forward and lowered his voice, “. . . everybody’s lookin’ at us.”
“They’re not lookin’ at us, Vin,” Doucette whispered back, “they’re lookin’ at me.”
“Oh,” Vin said.
“So don’t let that ruin your meal,” Doucette said. “Order anythin’ you want. It’s on me.”
“Thanks, boss.”
“Yeah,” Doucette said, “have the biggest steak they’ve got. It ain’t like we’re gonna pay for it.”
“We’re not?”
Doucette shook his head. He had no intention of paying for this meal, and that was only the beginning.