Chapter 10, Part Two

David Carnegie rode through Clear Creek, watching for faces he would recognize from his stays years earlier. He saw a few, but they did not recognize him, for he had only visited three times, and had never stayed long. This was just as well with him. Better to be in a town where no one knew him. The next thing to do was get a look at the Sheriff. Was it the same one they’d had years before, or was there a new man in town? David had to know, so he went into a hotel dining room across the street from the Sheriff’s office, requested a seat where he could see the street, because, as he put it, “he was expecting someone.” His request was granted, though he never saw any man with a badge go in or out of the Sheriff’s office while he was eating. After he got done, he stepped outside and joined an old-timer sitting in front of the hotel. After two hours of listening to the old-timer talk, he was rewarded for his suffering through the tales of the past. A man wearing a badge was riding down the street. As David peered at the man, trying to catch any clues to whether the man was the Sheriff himself or a deputy, he reminded himself to stay unseen, and tugged at the brim of his hat a little to hide his eyes. The law officer did not notice him, but the old-timer called out to the man. David quickly bowed his head and pretended to study his hands, taking note of the old-timer’s farewell to the lawman, “See ya later, Sheriff.”

A sigh shook David’s body. He was safe, for the moment. If the Sheriff was still in the town, at least he was no longer Sheriff. Which meant the next thing he had to check was the house.