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liveryman.
    “How long?” the man asked.
    “Until the Graves boys have come and gone,” Commons said.
    They walked away from the livery, heading toward the center of town.
    “Now what?” Wilkes asked.
    “Sheriff’s office,” Commons said. “Clint Adams should have someplace for us to stay.”
    “Maybe even an advance on our pay,” Wilkes said.
    “Don’t go getting in trouble, Wilkes.”
    “I won’t,” the other man said, “not yet anyway.”

TWENTY-FOUR
    Later in the day Clint was in the office with Buck, Minnesota, Commons, Wilkes, and the Prescott brothers.
    “This is it?” Commons asked. “Just the six of us?”
    “So far,” Clint said.
    “How many men we facin’?” Wilkes asked.
    “We’re not sure,” Clint said. “We know there’s four or five brothers, and a bunch of cousins. They’ll also have other gang members.”
    “So a dozen, or more?” Commons asked.
    “Maybe.”
    “Buck told us you ain’t gonna stop lookin’ for men,” Harley Prescott said.
    “I’m not,” Clint said, “but starting today we’ll all have jobs to do.”
    “Like what?” Wilkes asked.
    “Somebody will be on watch at all times. If you see a gang of men approaching town, you’ll sound the alarm.”
    “Then what will we do?” James Prescott asked.
    “We’re going to work that out,” Clint said. “I’ll come up with a schedule, and we’ll all have jobs. We’ll rotate, too, so nobody does the same job day after day until the Graves gang gets here.”
    “Okay,” Commons asked, “so what’re our jobs?”
    “I’ll let you know later this evening,” Clint said. “I’m going to work it all out. Meanwhile, get yourselves scheduled, get yourselves armed. Wilkes, get yourself a gun.”
    “I don’t use a gun,” Wilkes said.
    “You own a rifle?”
    “No.”
    “We’ll get you one,” Clint said. “You’re not going to be able to use a knife, or your hands, when the Graves gang rides in.”
    “I don’t use—”
    “We’ll get him a rifle,” Commons said.
    Wilkes looked at his partner, who just shook his head. The big man subsided.
    “You boys make sure your guns are cleaned and in proper working order,” Clint told the Prescotts. “Buck tells me you can shoot. I’ll have to trust him.”
    “We can shoot,” Harley Prescott said. “Rifles better than pistols, though.”
    “That’s okay,” Clint said. “My guess is we’ll be doing a lot of rifle work when the time comes.”
    Clint was sitting on the edge of his desk while he talked. Now he stood up.
    “That’s all,” Clint said. “Come back here tonight at seven, after you’ve all had supper.”
    “Suits me,” Wilkes said. “I’m hungry now.”
    “Listen up,” Clint said as the new recruits headed for the door.
    They all stopped and turned.
    “Prescotts, you fellas have your rooms already. Commons and Wilkes, I got you rooms at the hotel. But as far as meals go, you pay your way, understand? No free rides just because you’re working for me.”
    “Sure, Sheriff,” Harley said.
    “No problem,” James said.
    Clint looked at Commons and Wilkes.
    “Okay,” Commons said.
    Wilkes didn’t say anything.
    “Wilkes?” Clint said.
    “Yeah,” Wilkes said, “yeah, okay. No free rides. Can we go now?”
    “You can go,” Clint said. “Wilkes, if you want a gun, I will get you one for free. That okay with you?”
    “That’s fine,” Wilkes said.
    “Okay, then,” Clint said. “See you all at seven.”
    The four recruits left. Clint turned to Buck and Minnesota. “That okay with you fellas?”
    “Sure, Sheriff,” Buck said.
    “Minnesota?”
    “Strikes me you still ain’t seen me shoot, Sheriff,” Minnesota said.
    “I have a feeling you’ll hold your own,” Clint said.
    “That’s so?”
    “If we have a chance, though,” Clint said, “I’ll watch you shoot. In fact, I can watch all of you shoot. I’ll try to work it out.”
    “Good,” Minnesota said. “I’d like to see those Prescott boys