Free Sathow's Sinners by Marcus Galloway

ourselves.”
    â€œI take it these things are connected somehow,” Pete said.
    Nate nodded. “You got that right. One of the few men to make it out of that bloody jailbreak is the same one who tore through a good portion of the rest of the county to kill those poor souls that were written about in the papers. Casey Pescaterro.”
    Any bit of remaining frivolity around the campfire dried up and blew away with the mention of that name.
    â€œCasey Pescaterro,” Pete said. “The same Casey Pescaterro who rode with the Youngers?”
    â€œYep. Rode with them for a short while, anyhow.”
    â€œRight. He was booted out of that gang when Cole Younger said he made things too difficult for the rest of ’em. When Cole Younger says somethin’ like that about a man . . . let’s just say that’s no man you wanna meet.”
    While Pete had been talking, Deaugrey tapped his head in an ever-quickening rhythm. The force with which his finger met his forehead grew until it became loud enough for all of the other men to hear. When it stopped, Deaugrey said, “Wait a second! Casey Pescaterro?”
    â€œThat’s right,” Nate replied with a half grin that showed he knew all of what was going through Deaugrey’s mind.
    â€œAs in, Casey ‘
Dog Ear
’
Pescaterro?”
    â€œThe very same.”
    â€œDog Ear?” Frank asked.
    â€œI’ve heard of that one,” Deaugrey said.
    Nate helped himself to some more coffee. “Thought that you might.”
    Since Frank so rarely lost his patience, it caught everyone’s attention when he snapped, “Is someone going to tell me what the ‘Dog Ear’ is about?”
    â€œI’ve heard a few different tellings of the story,” Deaugrey replied. “All of them start off with him robbing just about any old place he could find. Dressmakers, feed stores, even a schoolhouse.”
    â€œWhat’s there to rob at a schoolhouse?”
    â€œHell if I know!” Deaugrey said with a smile. “Isn’t it just perfectly random? One of those stories goes on to say that he was fed up with not being recognized for his crimes like the men who robbed banks and such, so he started marking each of his jobs. Or rather, he started marking the folks he met while on those jobs. Bit some of their ears off. Must’ve gotten a taste for it because he kept doing it everywhere he went. Left those poor bastards looking like raggedy stray dogs. That’s my favorite story.”
    â€œI heard another one,” Nate said. “Something about him losing his mind while on a stagecoach to Cheyenne. Don’t know what set him off, but he tore into everyone in there with him . . . tooth and nail. When he was done, he set the coach on fire from the inside and stayed there until he was through with the last passenger. The only thing that wasn’t covered in blood or burnt to ash by the time he managed to get the door open was a dog-eared copy of the Bible.”
    â€œPerhaps even a man like him holds favor with the Lord above,” Frank offered.
    â€œYou ask me,” Nate said, “that don’t say much about the Lord’s choice of friends. Casey’s been locked up a couple of times and every time he escapes, he runs off like a wild dog. Even howls at the moon along the way.”
    â€œThat could also explain the Dog Ear name,” Pete said.
    Deaugrey shook his head. “I like my story better.”
    â€œMe too, actually.”
    â€œI’ve also heard that he was raised by wolves.”
    â€œIs that a fact?” Pete asked.
    â€œMaybe, maybe not,” Deaugrey admitted. “It’s just one of those things I heard somewhere.”
    Pete was about to continue with the conversation until he saw Nate glaring at him. “You were saying?”
    â€œThanks, Pete,” Nate replied. To everyone, he said, “Pescaterro needs to be brought in and