Sathow's Sinners Read Online Free Page A

another one of his dogs.”
    â€œDogs?” Frank scoffed. “Is that what you think of the men who work with Nate?”
    â€œNot all of them, but there are plenty.”
    â€œI can agree with that,” Frank said. “Partially, at least. But you’ve known me for a while as well. You must know that I’ll always want to know what causes a man to sin or what demons may be whispering into his ear.”
    Deaugrey smiled wide and said, “When those demons talk to me, padre, they sure as fuck don’t whisper.”
    Frank wasn’t about to flinch at the claim or react in the slightest to the turn of phrase that was so obviously meant to jab at his sensibilities. Instead, he turned to look down the street intersecting with the one where Nate was waiting. “There’ll be a posse coming for you eventually. That could be them right now.”
    When he saw the small group of men gathering at the other end of the block, Deaugrey shrugged. “It usually takes a bit longer for the assholes running those sanitariums to give up on their search and ask for help from the outside. I’d say we’ve got another hour or two at least.”
    â€œThen do you have a place to recommend where we might get a bite to eat?”
    â€œCome now, holy man. There was a guiding hand that allowed us to take our leave from McKeag’s house of horrors. I’d call it luck, but you may call it by a more fanciful name. Whatever name you prefer, I think we’d both agree it’s best not to test its limits.”
    â€œIf you think any sort of divine presence had a hand in what happened at that sanitarium, then you are more confounded than I’d imagined. It was undeniably luck,” Frank sighed. “And it’s best not to push it when it comes your way.”
    â€œOn that,” Deaugrey said, “we can agree. There’s nothing for us in this town anyway. Shall we take our leave?”
    Frank threw an easy wave at the group of men who were now looking in his direction. “Sounds like a good idea,” he said quietly. “And if you could resist the urge to raise your voice until we’re gone, I’d be very appreciative.”
    â€œI suppose I can do that.”
    Both men strolled toward Nate at a brisk pace without appearing to be in a rush. “Since you’re feeling so agreeable,” Frank said, “perhaps you could answer a question for me.”
    â€œDepends on what the question is.”
    â€œWhere were you keeping all of that silverware?”
    Deaugrey looked over at Frank with a vaguely surprised grin on his face. Draping an arm over the other man’s shoulders, he said, “There are some questions with obvious answers and some with answers you truly don’t want to know. That question, my friend, is both.”
    Frank accepted that with a slow nod, which quickly built into heartfelt laughter. By the time they’d reached the spot where Nate was standing, Deaugrey had joined in the merriment as well. Nate took one last pull from his cigarette, flicked it on the ground and stomped it out beneath his foot. “I see you two are getting along better than usual,” he said.
    â€œAt least he’s good for a bit of conversation,” Deaugrey said. “You’ve barely said two words to me since I agreed to come along.”
    â€œâ€˜Agreed’?” Nate grunted. “I suppose you’d rather be rotting in that sanitarium.”
    â€œNot hardly.” Stepping up to the tired gray mare standing next to Nate’s gelding, Deaugrey patted the animal’s flank and said, “She’s not much to look at, but I suppose she’ll do. I like the color.”
    â€œThanks,” Frank said. “Hopefully you like that one’s color as well.”
    Glancing in one direction and then the other as if he didn’t even see the mule, Deaugrey asked, “Which now?”
    Frank pointed at the mule, but