Shaye left his office, intending to find Doucette and, hopefully, have it out with him. With most of his men in jail or dead, he had very little backing. Maybe Daniel could convince him to leave town—but he doubted it.
He found the man sitting in front of the hotel, leaning his chair back against the wall, seemingly relaxed.
“ ’Afternoon, Sheriff,” Doucette greeted.
“Doucette,” Shaye said. “You’re lookin’ pretty content.”
“And why not? It’s a beautiful day.”
“And probably your last in town,” Shaye said. “At least, your last without bein’ behind bars.”
“That’s so?” Doucette asked.
“Up to now I’ve been content to wait for you to make a move, but I gotta give it to you. You outlasted me. I need you to ride out of town or show me a reason why not?”
“The reason why not,” Doucette said, “is I haven’t done what I came here to do.”
“Kill Abner Snow.”
“That’s it,” Doucette said. “I’ve scared him pretty good, don’t you think?”
“You’ve scared him a lot.”
“Yeah,” Doucette said, “that part’s been fun, but I’ve got to give you credit, Sheriff. You almost outwaited me. Seems like we both ran out of patience on the same day.”
Shaye put one foot up on the boardwalk and leaned his left shoulder against a post, leaving his gun arm free.
“So, whataya say, Doucette? What’s it gonna be?”
“Well,” Doucette said, looking off into the distance as if seeking some inner guidance, “it doesn’t seem right for me to leave before I’m done, so I guess that isn’t going to happen.”
“Have it your way,” Shaye said. “Let me have your gun and we’ll go and join your men in the jail.”
“And how long do you think you can keep me there?”
“I don’t know,” Shaye said. “I guess we’re gonna find out.”
“Well, I don’t think so,” Doucette said. “Vin?”
From out of the lobby came the young man Shaye only knew as Vin. He looked as young and innocent as he had looked all week, except for one thing—now he was wearing a gun on his hip.
“Shaye, you know my man Vin.”
“Mr. Shaye,” Vin said.
“So he’s got you wearin’ a gun now, son?” Shaye asked.
“Oh, I usually wear a gun, Sheriff,” Vin said. “Mr. Doucette actually had me take it off just before we got to town.”
“I see.” Shaye looked at Doucette. “You havin’ babies fight your fights for you now, Doucette?”
“Oh, he looks like a baby, Sheriff,” Doucette said, “but he ain’t. See, I had a cellmate in prison who told me his son was a natural-born gunhand. Ever since he was a small boy, he could handle a gun like nobody you ever saw. When I got out of prison, I went and looked him up. That’s why it took me so long to get here. I had to go and take a look at Vin myself, and then convince him to come along. But here he is. This kid is the fastest gun I’ve ever seen.”
“Is that a fact?” Shaye asked.
“Oh yeah, it is,” Doucette said. “And he’s gonna show you.” Doucette smiled. “You don’t look worried. Still a little overconfident because you took care of the rest of my men so easily. I knew you would. See, I only brought them along to give you something to do, and to let Vin watch you.”
“I seen how you handle yourself, Sheriff,” Vin said. “You’re a good man. I’m gonna be sorry to kill you.”
“Vin,” Shaye said, “you’re lettin’ this man turn you into somethin’ you really aren’t cut out to be. You ever kill a man before?”
“Oh, I checked on that, too,” Doucette said. “He’s only in his early twenties, and he’s already killed nine men in fair fights. Just plain outslicked ’em. You’ll be number ten, the biggest. He’ll have a reputation after he kills you.”
Shaye looked at Vin, who seemed very relaxed.
“You really want to do this, son?”
“I kinda have to, Sheriff,” Vin said. “It’s my next step in growin’ up.”
“Did Doucette convince you of that?”
“Oh, no,” Vin said, “I knew I’d have to face somebody with a reputation sometime. I’m just sorry it’s you.”
“And no time like the present,” Doucette said.
“I don’t have a reputation as a fast gun, Doucette,” Shaye said. “As a matter of fact, my son Thomas is faster than I ever was.”
“But he’s not here, is he?” Doucette asked. “So you’re elected, Sheriff.” Doucette turned his head, but kept his eyes on Shaye. “Vin?”
“Don’t we need a big crowd, Mr. Doucette?”
“Don’t worry, son,” Doucette said. “When it’s over, there’ll be a crowd, and everyone will know who killed Sheriff Dan Shaye in a fair fight.”
Vin looked at Shaye, then stepped down into the street.