Chapter 5

"What?!" Jarrod blurted out from behind his desk.

"She fired me," Williams said. "No explanation. Just fired me."

"Oh, Jordan, that's crazy," Jarrod said. "It's got to be the pregnancy working on her brain."

"Probably," Williams said, "but since she's fired me, there's not a thing I can do with her unless it's get her declared incompetent and that's not going to happen."

"You don't think she's going to do anything drastic, do you?" Jarrod asked.

"No, but a pregnant woman can be pretty unpredictable, and she's a pregnant woman with one boatload of problems in her life. Mostly her own fault, but she may not be ready to believe that."

"Is she getting another lawyer?"

"Not that I know of."

Jarrod sighed. "Then I'm free to go see her. It looks like I'm going to have to if I'm going to find out what she wants to do with my client."

"Good luck," Williams said.

"Do you want me to try to talk her into hiring you back?"

"Not necessarily me, but you might try to talk her into hiring some lawyer. She really needs a level head around her right now."

"She doesn't have any extended family, does she?"

"No, just Jack and those kids."

"Does Sheriff Madden know you've been fired?"

"No."

"I better see him first and tell him. Somebody needs to keep an eye on that family, even if it's just from a distance, and with Jack laid up the way he is I can't even move to get those kids away from Frances."

"Tell you what," Williams said. "You talk to the sheriff. I'll talk to Doc Merar right now and get him to go check up on her."

Jarrod nodded. "All right. Maybe we can rescue this sinking boat one way or another."

Jarrod left and headed straight for the sheriff's office but the sheriff was not in. Out on rounds, the deputy said. He could be anywhere but he was somewhere in town. Frustrated, Jarrod took a minute outside the jail on the street to think about what to do next. There was only one thing.

In a few minutes, he was knocking at the door of the Main house. He didn't know if Frances had hired any help, but apparently not, because it was Frances who answered the door. She saw Jarrod, and her face fell into complete disapproval, but she swept her arm and the door open to him.

Jarrod took his hat off and went in. There was no sign of the boys around. "Are the boys here?" he asked.

"They're over at their friend Willy Stark's house," Frances said. "Lilian Stark is letting them stay there today so I could rest, but I guess now I won't be resting."

"I won't stay long," Jarrod said. "I talked to Jordan Williams. He said he's no longer your attorney and you don't have a new one. Is that correct?"

"That's right," Frances said, came in, and sat down uncomfortably into a chair by the fireplace.

Jarrod took a seat in the sofa facing her. "That's not a good idea, Frances. You need somebody to help you right now."

"Are you volunteering, because I don't have enough money to pay a lawyer," Frances said.

"I can't volunteer," Jarrod said. "I'm Jack's lawyer, but there are lawyers in town who will take you pro bono, without charging you much or anything at all. Even Jordan might take you back once he understands your reasoning."

Frances rubbed her forehead uncomfortably. "Is that what you came to tell me?"

"Mostly," Jarrod said. "I talked to Jordan, and he's sending Dr. Merar over to make sure you're okay. He should be here any time. Of course, I also wanted you to know how Jack is doing, and to find out what your plans are."

"As long as Jack's with you, I'm sure he's doing fine," Frances said.

"As fine as he can," Jarrod interrupted. "But he can't talk. He can't move his left side except to raise his arm. He won't be pursuing a divorce right now because he's not capable of it. That begs the question – do you want a divorce?"

"I don't know what I want."

"Which is all the more reason you need to get an attorney. Let me go talk to Jordan and get him back over here."

"No," Frances said flatly.

"Then let me talk to someone else," Jarrod said. "Frances, this is an awful time for you in every way. You're going to have a baby. You have two sons who need you. Your husband is laid up, perhaps permanently." Jarrod hesitated, but he said, "And the man you've been involved with his left you."

Frances flashed an ugly pair of angry eyes his way.

Jarrod quickly said, "Yes, Frances, everyone knows because Bridger spouted it out at the saloon. I don't know who the father of your baby really is and frankly I don't care. I just want to make sure my client is taken care of, and that necessarily involves seeing that you and your children are taken care of."

"Then go away and leave us alone," Frances said.

"I can't," Jarrod said. "You're Jack's wife and at this point the decisions about his care are still yours to make. You have legal options, but I'm not your lawyer and I can't discuss them with you. Get Jordan back, or get another lawyer as soon as possible. Then you won't be so alone."

Something about saying she was alone hit her right between those angry eyes. The anger faded. Frances slumped a little.

There came a knock at the door. Jarrod said, "That's probably Dr. Merar. Talk to him, Frances. Let him help you – for your sake, for your baby's sake, for your sons' sakes."

Frances nodded a little. Jarrod got up and went to the door. It was Dr. Merar, looking worn. "How is she?" he asked quietly.

Jarrod opened the door to him and said loud enough for Frances to hear, "I'll leave you to talk to her and have a look at her, Doctor," Jarrod said. "I hope you can convince her she needs a lawyer as well as a doctor. Will you be out to see Jack tomorrow?"

Dr. Merar said, "In the morning."

"Talk to her about Jack, too," Jarrod said, also loud enough for Frances to hear. "She should know."

Dr. Merar nodded, and Jarrod left.