“Don’t count on it,” the sheriff replied and took a swig from his cup.
Adam’s brows shot up. “What do you mean by that? Do you suppose that we’ll have problems working together?”
The man shook his head and said, “I mean working together in general. Ain’t much work around here. We sit all day doing nothing. All we do is break up fights in saloons, is all.”
Adam’s eyes narrowed. “What about the Indians?”
Joe Tate frowned. “What about them?”
Adam wondered if over the years the sheriff and his men had become so lazy that they didn’t even know what was going on around them.
“I have heard rumors that Indians are looking to stir trouble in the area,” he solemnly said, hoping that the man would at least know something about it and give him some information.
“Injuns raising sand?”
The sheriff shocked Adam by bursting into raucous laughter. Adam held himself from saying anything.
“Ain’t nothing like that happening around here,” the sheriff remarked when he was able to contain his hilarity. “You shouldn’t listen to scuttlebutts, you know.”
“Are you saying it’s only a rumor?”
Joe Tate swung his legs from the table and sat up to stare at Adam with mocking black eyes.
“Listen, boy. Don’t go looking for trouble when there’s none.”
Adam took exception to being called a boy. “Look here, Sheriff. I acknowledge that I’m a greenhorn with affairs around here, but that’s not enough reason for you to insult me.”
The sheriff reclined back in his chair. “My apologies, Marshal. I meant no harm. I was simply telling you the plain truth. But not to worry, you’ll find out soon enough.”
Adam itched to tell the sheriff he didn’t intend to be a coffee boiler like him and was here to do a good job, but he changed the mind. There was no use in exchanging words with a man who was nonchalant about his duties.
Nodding, Adam slammed his hat on his head. “I’ll see you around.”
“You can count on that,” he snickered in return.
Adam ignored the jab and continued with his stride out of the office. He nodded at the deputies who were still lazing around. When he woke up that morning, he had considered recommending one of the sheriff’s deputies to be his. But after the show of shame, he would find his own deputies.
He shook his head as he stepped out of the building into the hot summer air.
Things had obviously changed around there. The former sheriff, Sheriff Benjamin, had been up and doing. Although the town had still been peaceful then, the man never failed to go around Ruby Rock, making sure everything was as it should be.
It was the late sheriff who had first ignited his interest in becoming a lawman. He had admired the way Sheriff Benjamin had gone about making sure everyone felt safe in the town.
Adam headed toward his office but then changed his mind. He was eager to know if the Indian uprising was just a rumor. And he knew just who to ask.
Henry Cage was just the person to meet when one wanted to know what was going on around the town. The man had a leaky mouth, which used to annoy Adam, but in this instance would prove beneficial.
Adam had known him since he moved to Ruby Rock years ago. They had been friends growing up until Adam moved away. Henry worked as a cobbler when he wasn’t drunk.
He had caught sight of him in front of the Broken Arrow saloon. He hoped he was still there. Sure enough, Henry was in front of the double doors of the place, hoping someone would toss him a coin to paint his nose till he wouldn’t be able to stay upright.
“Adam,” Henry called joyously upon sighting Adam.
Grinning, Adam nodded at the men around the saloon and walked up to Henry. He looked down at the man who had been born a cripple and squatted beside him.
“How have you been, Henry?” Adam questioned the smiling man.
With a twinkle in his eyes, he said, “As you can see, I’ve grown more handsome than you.”
