shouted the man Slocum took to be the leader. “Boys, get ready to shoot. He don’t look like he’s the surrendering kind.” A quick glance left and right confirmed Slocum’s worst fears. He was already caught in a cross fire. The deputies on either flank had a clean shot at him. He might take out one, but the other would ventilate him in the span of a heartbeat. And that didn’t even take into account the two gunmen flanking the leader. One held a rifle like he knew how to use it, and the other’s grip was steady on his six-shooter. “Don’t get itchy trigger fingers,” Slocum said, holding up his hands. He felt exposed and about ready to die. All it would take was a single deputy to get a tic, and lead would fly. “Come on over here, and keep your hands up in the clouds. I swear, we’ll shoot if you don’t!” As Slocum got closer to the lawman, he saw a sheriff’s badge. “Look, Sheriff, I—” “Shut your face,” the lawman snapped. He snared Slocum’s six-gun and tossed it to the nearest deputy.
