Justin’s heart beat fast as the wagon halted to a stop. He heard the sound of approaching horses, and held his breath. He’d been able to hide as the sacks of flour and coffee had landed on him, and even managed not to yell when the hoe and shovel had skimmed his leg. He’d thought he’d gotten clear of the town. A jangle of harness sounded as the horses stopped by the wagon. “Chasez,” one of the riders said. Chasez must be the man driving the wagon, the wagon Justin had chosen to hide in. “Sheriff,” Justin heard the man reply, his heart now beating even faster than before. Sheriff? Justin could just make out the figures speaking through the weave of the blanket covering him. Three other men accompanied the Sheriff. The man, Chasez, was alone on the wagon bench. “Don’t see you in town much these days, Chasez,” the sheriff said. “I come in when I need supplies.” Justin saw Chasez shift on the bench. He wore no gun, Justin noticed. “Is there something I can do for you, Sheriff?” “Maybe,” the Sheriff said. “Seems Miller’s store was robbed, right about the time you were there.” The sheriff spat a wad of tobacco onto the ground. “Wondered if you might have seen something suspicious.” “Robbed?” “Well, not exactly robbed,” the sheriff allowed. “Miller said some vagrant kid was hanging around the store, then discovered a pair of boots was missing.” Justin wiggled his toes in the new boots he was wearing. “That all?” “A shirt, a hat, and a pie his missus put out for sale,” the sheriff continued. Justin’s hand clenched on his other prizes hidden with him under the blanket. “A desperate criminal, indeed,” Chasez commented. “Did you notice anyone hanging by the store?” the sheriff asked. “Skinny kid, dirty…” “With no shoes?” Chasez interrupted. “You find this funny?” The sheriff’s voice hardened. “I guess criminals just naturally defend other criminals, don’t’ they.” Justin saw the man, Chasez, stiffen at the sheriff’s words. “I did my time, Sheriff,” he said quietly. “And I don’t appreciate your constant observations of my movements or my actions.” “You don’t appreciate my observations, boy?” The sheriff laughed, as did his companions. “Fancy words for a criminal.” Justin saw the sheriff lean closer to Chasez. “I’ll do as I please, boy. I was elected to protect the people of this county, and to keep them safe from the likes of you.” He shifted in his saddle. “Now, did you see that thevin’ boy at Miller’s?” “No.” “That’s all I wanted to know,” the sheriff said. “You know, there’s a general store now in Folksburg. You might want to go there for supplies from now on.” “Folksburg is 40 miles from my place,” Chasez observed. “Yeah, it is,” the sheriff agreed. “But it’s not my jurisdiction.” He reined his horse away from the wagon. “Nice talking to you, Chasez,” he said. Justin watched as the men rode off. The man, Chasez, sat on the wagon bench for a moment, then picked up the reigns. “Let’s go home, Zeus,” he said to the horse, slapping the reigns softly against the horse’s back. The wagon’s movement lulled Justin into a hazy sleep, jerking awake when the movement came to a sudden stop. He wondered how long the wagon had been traveling. The sun wasn’t too far down, so Justin figured it hadn’t been long. He kept quiet and still as he watched Chasez through the blanket. The man leapt down from the wagon, coming around to the back and dropping the tailgate. Justin figured he’d sneak out of the wagon as soon as Chasez left the area. He didn’t know where he was, but knew, no matter what, it was better than where he’d been. He felt the hoe and shovel being taken from the wagon, but Chasez was still there, Justin thought. One bag of flour was removed…and dropped to the ground. Another one was pulled from the wagon, and Justin had to grip the blanket to keep him covered as it started to slip from over him. Another bag of flour was removed. Justin almost sighed with relief as this time, Chasez hoisted the bag on his shoulder and walked away. He listed for footsteps to disappear, then slowly lifted the blanket up. He sat up, gathering up his stolen clothes and the pie, and crouched, preparing to leap over the side of the wagon. He saw a long stretch of horizon, lighted by the setting sun. He’d made it. “The least you could do is help unload the supplies.” Justin jumped as the voice sounded behind him. He turned to see Chasez standing next to the wagon, leaning casually on the side rail, his hat pulled down covering his eyes, the sun behind him casting his face in shadows. “I…I…” Justin sputtered. Chasez looked Justin up and down. He lifted a hand, removing his hat, looking at Justin with calm blue eyes. “Nice boots.”