"C'mon, Fred!" Nick hotly slapped his hat down on the sheriff's desk. "There's lots of men who wanted Matt Bentell dead and you know it!"

Sheriff Madden looked at the other dark-haired man who was leaning quietly against the wall of the office. He didn't know him well, but everything he'd seen of the young lawyer since he came to Stockton just didn't fit with the image of a cold-blooded killer. Fred sighed and looked back at the irate rancher and then to the calmer blond. These were men he did know, and knew well. The Barkley sons could be a couple of hotheads who wouldn't back down from a fight, but they weren't murderers and in spite of the accusations, he couldn't believe that Tom's other son was, either. He hung his hat on a hook and went over to the small stove. "Coffee?" he offered as he poured himself a cup.

"Fred, so help me…"

Heath put out a hand to restrain his older brother and warned, "Nick."

Fred took a sip of the burnt coffee and made a face before setting it on the desk. "You're right," he agreed. "A lot of folks did want Bentell dead. But only Jarrod here was heard making threats."

"Threatening a man doesn't generally lead to charges," Jarrod finally spoke up. "It's circumstantial at best."

Fred shook his head. "I know, Jarrod, but there's more…" He was cut off as the door to the office swung open and a portly man bustled in.

"Good work, Sheriff," he puffed as he wiped a handkerchief across his florid face. "But why isn't this murderer behind bars?"

"Walker, what the devil are you doing here?" Nick exploded.

If the situation hadn't been so serious, Fred would've chuckled when he noticed Hal Walker nervously keep the desk between himself and the angry man. There was no love lost between Walker and the Barkleys and the sheriff wished Clem Greene hadn't taken leave to visit his ailing sister. "Nick, Mr. Walker is acting District Attorney." He braced himself.

"What?" came the expected roar. "Are you trying to tell me that this pompous windbag…"

Jarrod pushed away from the wall and went over to his brothers. "Nick, I don't think insulting the man is going to help," he said.

"Walker, you can't throw my brother in jail for something he said in the heat of the moment," Heath stated calmly.

"Oh, yes, I can." Walker puffed up like a strutting partridge. "I can on account of the eyewitness who saw him knife Bentell." He looked smugly at the Barkleys' shocked faces. "The dead man's wife saw the whole thing. Her description fits like a glove."

Nick and Heath glanced at each other before looking to Jarrod.

"It wasn't me," he told them quietly. "I didn't kill him."

Heath gripped his arm firmly. "We know, Jarrod."

Fred picked up the keys to the cellblock. "Sorry, son, but I'm going to have to place you under arrest." Jarrod nodded and let himself be directed to the door before he turned back.

"Nick," he called, "find me a good lawyer, okay?"

"The best, big brother," Nick affirmed as Jarrod was led to the cells. He glared at the district attorney. "Walker, if this is some sort of vendetta against my family, I'll…"

"You'll what, Barkley?" Walker scoffed. "Set that mongrel pup after me next?"

"Why you…" Nick lunged at Walker and the other man's face paled as Heath held his furious brother back.

"I'd be careful what you say, Mr. Walker," the blond warned.

Fred shut the door to the cellblock behind him. "Nick, you need to cool down. You boys go home or grab yourselves something to eat. And find your brother that lawyer. There's a chance the judge could set an indictment hearing sometime this afternoon."

Nick snatched up his hat and slammed it on his head. "This ain't over, Walker," he growled as he stalked out the door. Heath didn't say a word, but his cold glare said everything for him.

The two cowboys stood outside the sheriff's office in the bright California sunshine.

"What now, Nick?" Heath wondered.

"Reckon we find Jarrod that lawyer." Nick huffed in exasperation. "How can I get the best when the best's locked up in a cell?"

Heath grinned and clapped Nick on the back. "I'm sure Jarrod'll understand. Why don't we wire Porter Hammond in San Francisco? He did all right when we had that contract dispute with the peaches last year and I hear he's good in front of a jury. Might not make it in time for the hearing if it's this afternoon, but I'm sure Jarrod can manage that if he has to."

"That is a fact, Heath." Nick fixed his hat more firmly on his head. "All right, let's go."

.

.

"How is he?"

Nick poured himself a drink before he turned back to his mother. "He's holding up, Mother. At least the judge delayed the hearing until Hammond can make it to represent Jarrod."

"Jarrod seemed glad," Heath added as he sat beside Victoria on the settee. "Said a man who acts as his own lawyer has a fool for a client."

The thought of Jarrod languishing in jail for even a few more days didn't sit right with Victoria. "Couldn't the judge at least have held a bail hearing?"

Walking over to lean on the mantel, Nick shook his head. "It's a murder charge, Mother. No way he'll be granted bail, not for any amount of money."

Victoria recalled the comment Jarrod had made in this same room, that there wasn't a jury in the state that would hang him for killing Matt Bentell. She prayed they wouldn't have to test the truth of that statement and wondered if the sheriff would let her visit.

"Walker won't even let us see him," Nick complained, as if reading his mother's thoughts. "Says he shouldn't get any special treatment even if his name's Barkley. Only his lawyer can talk to him and Hammond won't be here until next week."

Heath noticed the concern on Victoria's face. He sat beside her and put an arm around her shoulders. "It'll be all right, Mother," he said as he kissed her cheek. "I'll match Jarrod against that smug jaybird Walker any day, even if he's not acting as his own lawyer. As soon as Hammond gets here, I'm sure the two of them'll put their heads together and we'll see Jarrod back here for dinner right after."

Nick finished his drink and set down the empty glass. "Well, just sitting around here ain't gonna help anyone. We've got a working ranch to run, Heath. We'd better get at it."

He came over and gave Victoria a kiss as Heath rose to his feet. "Don't worry, Mother. He'll be home before you know it."

Victoria remained seated as her two sons strode out of the room. She remembered the look on Jarrod's face when he came back with Nick. He'd tried to mask it, but she had easily recognized the sadness and pain she knew she was responsible for. Victoria knew she had to try to see Jarrod, even though his brothers said he wasn't allowed any visitors. She needed to tell him how wrong she was, how sorry she was, and hoped Jarrod would be able to accept her apology.