Carnal Innocence

Burke offered Tucker a light for his half cigarette. “But he seemed damned sure you and his daddy were going to kill each other down here.”
    “I’m not sure if I’m disappointed or relieved we didn’t have the chance to try. Cy’s a good boy, Burke. Austin threatened him with some nasty shit, but he did what was right.” He pulled in smoke, let it out slowly. “I’m thinking it might be best if he stayed on at Sweetwater for a while. Home’s no place for him. If Austin didn’t manage to get to him, Vernon will make him pay for this. I swear to Christ I don’t see how that boy could be kin to either of them.”
    “With any luck Vernon won’t hear about it for a day or two. Right now we’d better concentrate on finding his father.” He nodded at Tucker. “I guess we can say you’re already deputized.”
    “I’d just as soon you didn’t.” Tucker reached for the shotgun. It was then he noticed the scrawl of writing on the wall. “What the hell’s this?” He leaned closer, squinting. “You’re in my light, Burke,” he said, then swore when he made the letters out.
    AN EYE FOR AN EYE
    “Christ almighty,” Burke murmured as he rubbed his thumb against the first A. “Looks like he wrote it in blood. I’m going to call up some men. We’ll do a house to house. We’ll walk every inch of the county, but we’re getting that crazy sonofabitch tonight.”
    He’ll cut my eyes out!
    Tucker pressed his fingers to his own eyes as Cy’sterrified voice rang in his head. “I guess I’m going with you. Do I get one of those cheap tin stars?”
    Within the hour Burke had fifteen able-bodied and willing men. It gave him some twinges of uneasiness to see Billy T. Bonny and Junior Talbot both standing around with rifles. He had to hope that the excitement of going after a fugitive would put personal feuds on the back burner. For safety’s sake, he separated them, sending Junior off with Carl’s group and keeping Billy T. with his own. He took a chance and put Jed Larsson, slow but sensible, in charge of a third.
    Using a county map, he diced up territories.
    “I don’t want any hotdogging. Austin’s got himself two weapons, and unless he’s been taking potshots at rabbits, he’s only used one bullet. I’d sure hate to end the day by having to go to somebody’s wife or sweetheart and tell her that her man got himself shot by being stupid.”
    “We got ourselves more sense than those lard-ass county deputies.” Billy T. was excited at the prospect of shooting something.
    There was a lot of good-natured whooping to relieve nerves. Burke waited until it died down.
    “The last time Austin was seen was right down there in that culvert. Now he’s got at least an hour on us, and he’s on foot. But a man who knows this country could find a lot of places to hide. We want him brought in, all in one piece. If you spot him, you give a call on the two-way. Your weapons are for defense only.”
    Several of the men slanted sly looks at one another. Austin wasn’t a popular fellow.
    “If he ends up dead, there’ll be plenty of questions some of you might not like answering.” He scanned faces, holding gazes just long enough to make his point. “You boys aren’t going deer hunting, you are duly deputized public servants. Now, move out, and watch your butts.” He turned away to gather his own group. “And God help us.”
    Five of them piled into the cruiser. Burke, Tucker,Billy T., Singleton Fuller, and Bucky Koons. Singleton immediately lit up one of the cigars Happy wouldn’t let him smoke at home.
    “You ain’t called up the county boys, Burke,” he said casually.
    Burke’s fingers flexed on the wheel. “No. It’s our town.”
    There was a murmur of agreement through the curtain of foul-smelling smoke.
    At the intersection of Old Cypress and Longstreet, which Burke had designated as Base A, he pulled to the shoulder. The spot had significance for Tucker, who flicked a glance in the rearview mirror. Billy T. met the look with surly eyes.
    They separated there, three to go east with the cautious Singleton in charge, and Burke and Tucker to go west.
    “You want to tell me what’s cooking between you and Billy T.?” Burke asked as they started the wide circle that would bring them back as a group by McNair Pond.
    “Oh, that’s already boiled over and been mopped up.” He sent an uneasy glance in the direction of Caroline’s house. “You really figure he’d have gotten this