Page 55 of The Sheriff and the Outlaw

“Thank you. I think so, too.” Daxton watched his children race off, smiling proudly. “How much do I owe you?”

Mr. Townsend smiled. “We’ll settle up when you get back.” Then he leaned in conspiratorially. “But don’t worry. I’ll go easy on ya.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Daxton teased.

But in reality, since Mr. Townsend found out that he was the sheriff of Whiskey River, he hardly ever charged him anything when he came to town on business. And if he did, it wasn’t much to speak of.

Daxton shook his hand. “Much obliged.”

“The pleasure is mine, indeed,” Mr. Townsend replied, shaking his hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of your rig. They’re in good hands.”

“Well, I guess I’d better go follow my young ‘uns. Make sure they stay out of trouble,” Daxton joked.

The elder man laughed. “Your children? You don’t have to worry a lick about ‘em. As I said, they’re good kids.”

“Thanks, Mr. Townsend. We won’t be too long.” Daxton looked at the sky and over the town. “We’ll be on our way before sundown.”

Mr. Townsend nodded. “If you ever get caught here after sundown, I’m sure Mr. Frakes at the hotel will give you a good deal on a room.” Mr. Frakes was the owner of the Laramie Hotel, and yes, he would give him a good deal. But Daxton didn’t want to leave Josey alone in the house overnight to fend for herself. She would be worried sick and scared to death. No, he couldn’t do that to her.

Daxton tipped his hat as he walked in the direction that his children had gone, headed toward the rodeo. But the closer he got, the denser the crowd became. Daxton started to worry that he’d never see his children again. If he’d have known there would be this many people here, there was no way he would have let them wander off alone.

“Andrew? Lillian?” Daxton called out over the din of the crowd. But the more he looked, the more panicked he became. His breath quickened as he willed himself not to panic. His children were there… somewhere. Then he turned a corner, and Andrew was standing behind Lillian with his hands on her shoulders. A man was talking to them both. Their eyes were wide with fear. The man towered over them and was scruffy, with an unkept beard, wearing a dusty hat, coat, and cowboy boots, even though it was June.

“Andrew? Lillian?” Daxton asked, without taking his eyes off the man. “Go find us good seats. Go straight there and nowhere else. I’ll be right there.”

“Yes, Pa.” Andrew grabbed Lillian’s hand and pulled her away.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Daxton demanded, his blood boiling. “Scaring innocent children!”

“You’re the sheriff of Whiskey River, right?” The man drawled, moving his coat to the side, revealing a six-shooter in his gun belt.

Daxton glared at him, and then nodded. “Yes, that’s right. What’s it to you?”

The man’s beady eyes narrowed. “You wouldn’t happen to know a woman by the name of Josey Slater, would you?”

Daxton donned his best Poker face and then slowly shook his head. “Never heard of her. What she look like?”

“Oh, blonde hair, real pretty face, good figure, green eyes, not very tall—”

“Never heard of her.” Daxton took a step closer, staring him down. “But from here on out, if you have any more questions, I suggest that you come to me like a man and not harass my children.”

The scruffy man stared into his eyes and smirked. “Fair enough.”

Then it hit Daxton. This was Austin Slater, the man on the Wanted poster that he just got. He and his brother, Logan, were wanted for murder and about a dozen bank robberies, dead or alive. The Slater Boys. He would have arrested him right then and there, but he had his children to think about. No, he would bide his time and would tell Harland Duffy, the local sheriff, that he saw him.

Daxton turned his head sideways but didn’t let on that he recognized him. “So, what do you want with this woman?”

Austin took a step closer, looking directly in his eyes and smirked. “That’s personal business.”

A chill ran down Daxton’s spine. “Well, I suggest you don’t start any trouble while you’re here. Everyone’s here to have a good time.”

Austin held up his hands in surrender. “Hey, I’m not looking for any trouble, sheriff.” Then a sly grin spread across his face. “But you would tell me if you saw her, wouldn’t you?”

Daxton stared into his eyes. “I wouldn’t tell you a damned thing.” He looked him up and down, showing no fear. “Now, git out of town! No one here needs your kind.”

“My kind?” Austin shrugged. “Well, now. That’s not very hospitable of you, sheriff.”

Daxton noticed that they were attracting attention.

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