Page 63 of The Sheriff and the Outlaw

“What are you doing here?” Daxton asked Austin.

“You know what I want, rather,whoI want,” Austin replied.

Daxton scoffed. “Like I’m really going to hand her over to the likes of you.” Daxton inclined his head toward him. “What do you want with her anyway?”

Austin pounded a fist against his chest. “That’s my business!”

Daxton took a step forward. “Well, if you want her, you’d better start telling me why.”

Austin let out a deep breath. “She killed my brother.”

Daxton’s heart stopped. It couldn’t be. She couldn’t have killed Logan Slater. No wonder she was on the run.

Austin dismounted. “Right now, I’m going to get me something to drink.”

“You’re not going anywhere but to a jail cell.” Daxton stepped in front of him, blocking his way. “Austin Slater, you’re under arrest.”

Austin laughed so hard that tears came to his eyes. “Really? Now? Why didn’t you arrest me in Laramie?”

“You know why,” Daxton replied. He wasn’t about to risk the lives of his children... for anyone.

“Right now, I’m going into that saloon.” Austin pointed toward the door. “I need a drink.”

Then everything happened at once. Daxton drew his six-shooter and so did Austin, but Colton was quicker and pulled both of his guns, pointing them at two of Austin’s men, and Wyatt pulled his gun and pointed it at James.

“As I said, you’re all under arrest.” Daxton motioned with his gun toward the sheriff’s office. “I only have two cells, but you’ll fit... until I can send to Laramie.”

Austin looked around at his boys again and then burst out laughing. “I own the sheriff there. If he comes to get me, he’ll let me go as soon as we get there.”

“Well, then, I’ll have to make sure that doesn’t happen. I’ll send for the U.S. Marshall… for you and for him.” Daxton motioned toward the Sheriff’s Office. “In you go.”

Austin shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

James took off down the road at lightning speed and Wyatt shot at him but missed, and he rode out of town. Then Austin and the rest of his men opened fire. Colton fired and took down two of his men, but Austin slammed into Daxton, catching him off guard, and jumped on his horse. When Daxton got to his feet, Austin was riding off with the rest of his men.

“We need to find Josey… now,” Daxton said, firing at the men as they rode out of town.

“Yeah,” Colton agreed, watching the men as they rode away. “Before they do.”

Wyatt Nash bit his lower lip and then released it. “I’m coming, too. Give me a minute to wrap up a few things in the saloon and I’ll be right out.”

Daxton shook his head. “Too dangerous. He nodded toward Colton. “Colton and I can handle it.” Wyatt had been a gambler before he came to Whiskey River. Now, he was a family man with a wife and owned the saloon. Since his arrival, he had cleaned up the saloon and had become a prominent member of the community.

One corner of Wyatt’s lips curled into a smile. “I wasn’t asking for permission.”

Daxton arched an eyebrow, smiling. “Fair enough.”

Wyatt nodded and started to walk away, when Daxton stopped him. “Wyatt?” Wyatt turned and lifted his eyebrows. “Thanks.”

A smile spread across his lips. “Don’t mention it.”

“I’ll see if Harrison can come with us, too,” Colton announced, nodding to the hotel across the street.

“Colton, wait.”

Colton turned and stopped.

“Thank you,” he replied. “You have to know, I didn’t intend for anyone to get hurt.”

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