Chapter Six
Eric had ridden out to the Miller farm the first chance he'd gotten. That is, after cornering Samuel and demanding some answers-which had proved rather fruitless. The lad's lack of information was the main reason Eric had ridden out to the Miller Farm, and he said as much to Jack, who had been like a brother to him for years.
"Have you all gone and lost it! I didn't argue with framing Miss Thomas, but only because you all swore you had everything you needed and would stop these robberies! Now, with our scapegoat behind bars and you choosing to pull this stunt and leaving a witness behind to boot, the law will be taking a second look into the matter!" Smoke was rolling out his ears while fire was shooting out his eyes by the time he was finished speaking.
Jack bristled and tried to calm Eric down. "We were wrong about what we needed. We're human. As far as the witness goes, we had our faces covered. He won't be able to identify any of us!" He wasn't about to admit they'd had no intention of leaving any witness alive, but were thwarted in those plans when the man's unseen ally stepped in. That would have made it so Eric was spitting bullets instead of the nails Jack felt coming at him.
"It won't matter. While I never met Jarrod Barkley before today, I have heard his name and his reputation. He's not going to rest until he finds out who attempted to rob him. Who knows, with his being an attorney, he might even get it into his head to try and clear Miss Thomas's name!"
"He's one man, by himself!" Jack hissed. "On his own, what can he do? Even with the sheriff on his side, Mr. Barkley can't do a thing. Sheriff's too busy in town. He won't be poking his nose around here. He has no reason too. It's not like we're suspects! That is," he lowered his voice and a menacing look appeared in his eyes, "Unless, you're going to turn on us."
Eric stiffened and self-righteous anger came out in his reply. "And mar my good name in the eyes of the people who live in Brighton? Not on your life!" He paused and then hissed in the same threatening tone he'd 'heard' in Jack's eyes. "Just don't you go turning on me, or I'll be the one settling the score!" He mounted his horse and rode off before any of the Millers could make any sort of reply.
Unbeknownst to Eric Bradley and the Millers, Jarrod and John-who rode out to the farm after they had visited with the Widow Timmons – who had freely admitted she didn't like the Millers, nor did she approve of her brother's association with them, along with telling them some of the activities she knew about- were sitting on their horses on top of a hill, one that was three hundred yards from the Miller home. They were able to keep from being discovered due to the fact they'd hidden themselves and their horses behind a group of trees. Actually, the only good thing about the Miller's place was that it was surrounded by hills and trees.
"Wish we could hear what they're saying." John leaned forward in his saddle.
"Doesn't matter at the moment. What's important is what little I could see of the men who tried to rob me, probably kill me as well, fits all three of those men down there. Which means, there's a high chance it's them…especially with the questionable activities the Widow Timmons admitted to knowing about." Jarrod turned and looked at John. Thinking on the conversation they'd had while hurrying to get to a point where they could see the Miller farm, he asked, "Did you say the Bradleys' were related to the Millers?"
"Yeah, only don't ask the widow to claim them as any kin. As you found out, she doesn't like them at all. When it comes to but Eric Bradley? Depends on his mood; that is, his mood dictates whether or not he's publicly claiming them as family. He's…well, he's got just as many, if not more, faces that Samuel does." While he was talking the wheels in his mind could be seen turning in his eyes. "You know, if the sheriff moved Abigail to another place and if, by chance, we could get his wife to consent to let people think she's dropped the charges against Abigail…" His voice trailed off as he looked at Jarrod, as if to ask Jarrod if he was catching onto what John was thinking.
Jarrod, who had waited until the Millers all disappeared into their house before he turned his horse around, nodded. "I had a similar thought." Then, when John was riding along side him, Jarrod began tell John the other thoughts that had started going through his mind. The more Jarrod talked… the more excited John became.
"It just might work, if the sheriff will go along with it. Only, who can we get to help us? The majority of people believe Eric Bradley to be the salt of the earth." John looked as if he might choke on the last few words he spoke. "We need someone willing to take a chance as well. With most of the folks liking Eric, they're not going to want to help set anyone up."
"They won't have to." Jarrod assured John before falling into silence.
With his mind on Abigail, John quit speaking as well. He just hoped the sheriff and his wife would go along with the idea that he and Jarrod had put together. As John thought on the sheriff he was shocked to have the thought flash through his mind, 'They might, especially since most of the details are coming from my father'. For the first time since he'd heard the name Jarrod Barkley, John didn't care if he knew for sure whether the lawyer was his biological father or not. If Jarrod was claiming him, John was going to claim Jarrod as well.