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“We need to get those men out of here as soon as we can. What do you usually do with prisoners?”
Doc shrugged. “I don’t think we’ve had any before.”
Preacher shook his head. “We have, though it’s been a while. Before you came,” he said to Doc. “Though it’s been a good long while since we’ve needed to transport any elsewhere. Other than Frank, the last sheriff didn’t bother much with arresting people.”
“Frank? The town drunk?” Gray asked.
Both men smiled and Doc said, “Every now and then he gets a little rowdy. Needs to be thrown in a cell for a few hours to dry out. Honestly, I think he does it when he wants to nap.”
Gray snorted. He could understand that logic. “Do we need to send them into Denver?”
Preacher shook his head. “We can. Though, there’s a good-size town about thirty miles south. They’ve got a judge that comes by once a month. I think we could probably take them there.”
Gray nodded. “Good. Josiah will most likely be expecting us to head to Denver, so if there’s another option, we should take it. With any luck he’ll send his men north or west and buy us some time.”
“Agreed,” Preacher said, and Doc nodded.
“So, which one of you wants to volunteer to take them?” he asked, looking between Doc and Preacher.
“Which one ofus?” Doc asked.
“I need Sunshine here,” Gray said, ignoring the way Jason straightened with pride at that. Pickings were slim, and Jason had proved himself. He might not be much good, but he was willing. He didn’t know that for sure about Doc or Preacher. And he didn’t want to find out when it was too late that he couldn’t count on them. So, Jason stayed. And one of them needed to escort the prisoners. Simple as that.
Preacher shook his head. “We haven’t left town since the day we arrived. And won’t now. But—” He held up a hand to ward off the argument Gray had been about to make. “There are several reliable men in town that we can count on to get them there. I’ll round them up if you’d like.”
“That would be helpful,” Gray said. He didn’t like leaving it in the hands of men he’d never met, but it wasn’t like he knew Doc or Preacher all that well, either. And he couldn’t fault them for refusing to leave. They obviously had their reasons.
Preacher nodded. “Give me a few hours. It’ll take a few days to get there and back, so they’ll need to make arrangements. I’m assuming you’d like them to leave today.”
Gray nodded again. “The sooner we get these men out of town the safer Mercy will be.”
The other men exchanged glances tinged with more amusement than Gray wanted to acknowledge, so he ignored them.
“We’ll probably need a wagon,” Doc said. “One of them for sure can’t sit a horse, and it might be easier to keep an eye on them if they don’t have their own horse, anyway.”
“That’s no problem,” Preacher said. “I have a wagon they can use. I’ll get it ready after I round up our men.” He headed out on his tasks without waiting for a response. Gray was liking the man more and more.
“Doc,” Gray said, “I was told I could hire a deputy.”
Doc nodded. “You got someone in mind?”
“Yeah.” Gray looked over at Jason, whose eyes widened in surprise.
“Me?” he asked.
“Well, you’re already doin’ the job. Might as well get paid for it.”
Sunshine’s face lit up, and he started sputtering his profuse thanks.
Gray held up a hand to stop the deluge. “I need someone here, and you’re all I got. Don’t let it go to your head.”
Jason nodded, but the pleased grin didn’t leave his face. Gray sighed. He was creating a monster.
He looked back at Doc. “Since I’m livin’ with my wife out at her place, I’m assuming it’s okay if Sunshine continues to use the apartment here.”
Doc nodded. “I don’t see why that would be a problem.”
“Great. Well then.” Gray sat in the chair behind the desk and scooched down until he was comfy. It had been a very full morning, and he was more than ready for a little break.
