Chapter Eight
Previously:
"As far as how long it will take," Heath gave her a crooked smile. "None of us can explain it only we all feel strongly this won't be one of the long drawn out ordeals we usually deal with." It was the truth, and they all hoped they were right. It would be a welcome change of pace from what they were used to life throwing at them.
"Well, we best get going." Nick and Heath turned to leave, but not before Heath surprised John and Abigail by welcoming John to the family. A few minutes later, Abigail watched Jarrod and John leave as well. She could only pray they were right. She'd been ready for this ordeal to be over with from the moment it had begun.
Nick and Heath left Brighton without incident and traveled the dusty trail that they'd all agree the two should take. Now, they sat around an empty firepit. Both hoped like crazy that the others had left town with the hoped for results. The two brothers talked quietly. Slowly Heath turned the subject to their brother and John, along with the fact that Nick had stood rather rigid the whole time they'd been in the same room as John and his girlfriend. "You're still not accepting him as our nephew, are you?"
Nick sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "I never said that. If Jarrod claims him, so do I."
"Then what is it?" Heath asked, though he dared to say he had a pretty good idea already.
"It's just…." Nick sighed again. "I was so upset with father for cheating on Mother only I never stopped to think about my own actions. I mean, I can't be unfaithful to someone when I'm not even married only…back in the war…." He shook his head as his voice drifted off.
Heath took a deep breath. "You can't hold on to 'what ifs'. I've been with a lot of women myself, but never WITH them…no matter what some might say. Always saw my mama strugglin' to raise me. You and Jarrod never saw that side of life, and then all the ugliness of war was thrown at you. No, it might not make things right only it does-to a degree- explain it. I wouldn't worry about it. All we can do is take day at a time."
While Nick and Heath continued to talk, Jarrod and John had taken refuge behind some boulders close enough to see Jarrod's brothers, but far enough away not to be noticed by anyone. "I want to thank you." John glanced at Jarrod, though he kept his eyes on Jarrod's brothers. "I'll have to thank them too, even if the one you call Nick doesn't care for me. Abby means the world to me. I'd do anything to protect her, even if she says I'm a tad bit too stubborn for my own good."
Jarrod couldn't help but chuckle. "We're all known to have that trait, and don't worry about Nick. He's just adjusting to the idea is all.." They might have continued talking only they saw Abigail approaching Nick and Heath. Naturally, from where they were, they could not hear what the two were saying. After a few minutes, she headed back to the Lawson's cabin….taking another route to it.
"Think Eric followed her before your friend, McColl, and that son of his?" John asked while he and Jarrod waited for either McColl and his son, or just Curtis. After all, they knew if Eric had followed Abigail before McColl and Curtis, McColl was to follow the man long enough to witness him actually start to talk with the Millers and then ride for the sheriff while Curtis hurried to join Nick and Heath the moment Eric headed for the Miller's place.
"All we can do is hope," Jarrod replied. The two fell silent until they saw Curtis riding hard towards Nick and Heath.
"It WAS Eric!" John jumped to his feet, as did Jarrod-though the famous Barkley attorney was quick to remind John that they needed to keep their wits about them.
"Of course, we do! What kind of statement is that?" John sent him an annoyed looked, yet there was also understanding in his eyes. Soon they had joined Nick, Heath and Curtis-who had reached Nick and Heath a minute before John and Jarrod. Curtis nodded his head when asked about Eric.
"The man was out of the store so fast it would make your head spin. I don't think he looked back once. 'Course, even if he had, I doubt Father or I would have worried him. I mean, as far back as we were." He went to say the moment Mr. Bradley turned his horse towards the Miller place, McColl had followed him while he, Curtis, headed to the Barkleys. "I dare say these two," Curtis pointed towards Nick and Heath, "will have visitors by tonight."
"Good!" Jarrod smiled. "Let's just hope McColl, the sheriff and the other men get here and hidden before they arrive. That is, if they show up."
Eric was so intent on getting to the Millers' that he never even suspected that he was being followed. That being the case, when he arrived at the Millers', knocked on the front door and-once the Millers had answered it-McColl turned his horse around and rode like the wind back to Brighton.
"Are you sure?" Mr. Miller didn't want to take any chances if Eric wasn't a hundred percent positive.
"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't!" Erick snapped. "Those men have too far to go. They'll stay at that camp they've made until morning. You can attack them tonight, take something small and plant it on Miss Thomas again….only, after this, stop these stunts until after she's gone to prison! And then…change your methods or they'll catch on to the fact she's been framed!"
An evil grin spread across all the Millers' faces. "I should thank you for helping us get rid of her. No one turns down a Miller and gets away with it!"
"Just make sure I get my cut of the money you get from selling what you take! I plan on relocating after this is over." Eric remounted his horse and rode away convinced he was going to continue living the lifestyle he'd grown accustomed to having. As it was, he was oblivious that his next place of residence was not going to be of his choosing.