Chapter 3
A poker game started up in the back of the Empire as Nick and Heath were finishing their beers. Carl Wheeler came in, gave Nick a happy, "Hello, Nick – Heath," and headed for the table. Without consulting Heath, Nick headed straight over and invited himself into the game.
Carl was sitting down as Nick did. Two other local cattlemen – Parker and Stanton – were already ordering beer from a saloon girl named Connie, someone Nick had danced with occasionally on Saturday nights but otherwise had no interest in. "Connie, can you bring me another beer too?"
She nodded. Heath came up as Carl started shuffling cards, but he didn't sit down. "Nick, I need to go on over to the saddlery and you're gonna be here for a while."
"Unless we clean him out fast," Carl put in.
Heath wondered. That coin wasn't bringing Nick a lot of luck. "Well, I'll check back in ten minutes or so," Heath smiled, said and went out as Carl chuckled.
Heath left as another fellow he didn't know was coming in. Heath wondered if he was there to join the poker game, but he didn't wonder for long. A wagon coming down the street made him stop and snap to attention to mind the traffic. The saddlery was across the street, and Heath was careful in crossing to get there.
Mr. Oswald ran the shop, and he was alone there today – and had his hands full. He was helping a customer looking at a new saddle that had come in and it looked like it was going to take a while. Another customer was hanging around, looking like he was waiting. Mr. Oswald was beginning to look harried.
Heath knew him well and was just about to give a wave that would say he'd come back later, but Mr. Oswald perked up when he saw him. "Heath! Excuse me just a moment, Mr. Coss. Heath, would you do something for me?"
Mr. Oswald hurried to the back of the counter as Heath said, "Sure. I can come back later. What do you need now?"
Mr. Oswald pulled a letter out from under the counter and handed it over. "I'm not gonna make it to the post office anytime soon and I'm trying to get this in today's mail to Sacramento. Will you run it over for me?"
"Sure," Heath said and took the letter. "And I'll just come back after Nick loses all his money at poker."
Mr. Oswald said, "I'll probably need more than half an hour."
Heath laughed, and so did the other two men in the store. "I'll give it at least an hour," Heath said and headed out the door.
He was a bit on the glad side to be running the errand to the post office for Mr. Oswald. He had liked seeing Marie smile that little while ago. He could stand to see it again. There were no customers in the post office, and Marie wasn't behind the counter when Heath went in, but the little bell over the door went off and she appeared from the back room.
Marie broke into that smile that Heath found attractive. "Well, Mr. Barkley! Tomorrow has come early!"
She was on his side of the counter. She was very small – maybe petite was a better word, since she was French. Heath handed her Mr. Oswald's letter. "Mr. Oswald at the saddlery wants to get this in today's mail to Sacramento but he was too busy to run it over here, so I came for him," Heath said.
"I was just getting the sack ready for the train," Marie said.
"Where's your help today? Isn't Mr. Pace around?"
"He's just out getting himself some lunch," Marie said. "I had mine earlier. I trust you'll still be by tomorrow?"
Heath had to smile. "I'll be here, probably around lunchtime. What time do you take a break? Maybe I could buy you lunch at the Stockton House."
Marie looked a little surprised, then she almost blushed, saying, "I would like that, Mr. Barkley. Thank you."
"Please call me Heath," Heath said.
"Heath," she said.
Heath tipped his hat. "I'll see you tomorrow, Marie."
She smiled that pretty smile of hers. That Nick, he thought. He just doesn't know what he's missing when he narrows that view of his.
XXXXXXX
Back at his office, Jarrod was diving into some contracts when Esther, he secretary, came into his inner office. "Mr. Barkley – the sheriff's deputy is here. He'd like to see you."
"Henry?" Jarrod asked.
Esther nodded.
"Send him in."
Henry came in fairly quickly. Jarrod looked up but did not get up. "What can I do for you, Henry? I hope it's fast."
"I don't know if it will be or not," Henry said. "I was just over at the Cattlemen's. There's been some trouble."
Now Jarrod got up. "What's happened?"
"The waitress over there – Antoinette her name is – fella came in and gave her trouble, claims she robbed him. Took his money for the check and didn't give it over to the boss."
That sounded odd. "What does the boss say?"
"It's what Antoinette says," Henry said. "She says the fella never paid her. The fella's from out of town. He insists on charging her and she's pretty upset."
"Did you take her in?"
"Not yet. The sheriff's over talking to her but he can tell she needs help and wondered if you can come."
Jarrod fetched his hat from the hat tree behind his desk. "Who does Fred believe? Antoinette or this fellow – what's his name?"
"Cotter," Henry said as he followed Jarrod out the door.
They crossed the street together and were soon going into Cattlemen's. Sheriff Madden was still there, but he was looking particularly anxious. "Glad you're here, Jarrod. Talk to Antoinette and see if you can represent her. This guy over there – Cotter – he insists he paid her and she took the money but didn't pay the bill. I have to go."
"What's happening?" Jarrod asked.
"Something at the Empire, fight of some sort," the sheriff said and was out the door.
Jarrod spotted Antoinette sitting at a table, the fellow named Cotter across the room standing alone. The boss of the restaurant, a man named Paul, was by himself, sort of between the two. Henry kept back out of the way.
Jarrod talked to Paul first. "What's going on?"
Paul spoke in a low voice. "This Cotter fellow swears he gave Antoinette money and she kept it rather than giving it over to pay his bill."
"What do you think?"
Paul shook his head. "She emptied her pockets for me and she didn't have anything. Antoinette's never done such a thing before, and why on earth would she when she'd get caught so easily? I don't know this guy Cotter, but he's got her frantic and frankly, I think he had a drink or two before he came in here. Talk to her about representing her, and I'm hoping this Cotter will back off if he sees she has a lawyer."
Jarrod nodded and went over to Antoinette and sat down in the chair next to hers. She had been crying. She could hardly look at him. "Antoinette," he said softly. "I understand this man over there is accusing you of theft. You need a lawyer. I'd like to represent you."
"I can't afford to pay you anything, Mr. Barkley!" she said, loudly enough that everyone else, including Cotter, could hear her.
Jarrod decided to raise his voice too. He wanted Cotter to hear him. "That's not a problem, Antoinette. I'm sure if we talk about this, we can straighten it out very quickly. Just say that for right now, I am your lawyer and I can ask some questions." Then Jarrod looked up at Cotter.
Cotter – a man about the same height and build as Jarrod but a bit younger – shifted his footing a bit, but then raised his chin.
Jarrod understood the body language. "Am I your lawyer, Miss O'Hanlon?"
"Yes," she said.
Jarrod got up and approached Cotter. He stood right up to him and said, "I am defending Miss O'Hanlon against your charge of theft. Why don't you tell me and the deputy over here what happened?"
Jarrod had his doubt and his ire up, and it was right there in his eyes for Cotter to see. Even Paul and Henry slumped away from it a bit. You didn't mess with Jarrod Barkley, or heaven forbid lie to him, when he had his doubt and ire up.
