Jarrod could not sleep although he was exhausted. He replayed the conversation he had with Mary earlier over and over again. He didn't think she would turn him in but if there was a reward he knew money talked. He had thought about offering her a substantial amount of money but did not; now he wished he had.

Jarrod watched her leave through the window and was relieved when she did not go to the sheriff's office. But what's to say she wouldn't change her mind after sleeping on it. The damn rain had put him so far behind the only way he could make it on time was by train. It wasn't that he hadn't planned on travelling by train but he planned on being much further away from San Francisco when he did. And now his back was against the wall and he was relying on a stranger to help him. He prayed Mary would not turn him in.

XXXXXXXXXX

After Mary left the hotel she went to her small one room apartment. As she walked home she noticed Jarrod was watching her and knew he was worried she would go straight to the sheriff. But Mary had no intentions of going to the sheriff; she was going to do whatever she could to help Jarrod and most importantly Abby.

She knew she could buy the tickets with no questions since she had only been here a few weeks herself. She knew a few people from working at the restaurant but Mary stayed to herself most of the time. Her original plan was to only stay in Lincoln for a few days and now she had been here almost a month. She had ran short of money and needed a job and luckily for her the restaurant was hiring. They didn't pay much but it kept a roof over her head.

Mary got up and started pacing nervously. She knew the Barkley name quite well and had actually read a few articles regarding Jarrod Barkley and a particular case he had won. She knew by the newspaper's account he was a good man and believed in equal rights for all people regardless of race and/or color.

The ride to Medford Oregon would take almost three days with a lot of stops in between which worried Mary. What if someone recognized Jarrod and turned him in? The authorities could be waiting for him at the next stop. Although his beard did alter his appearance his blue eyes would give him away. And she knew how odd it was for a man and child to be travelling together so they would definitely stick out.

Mary made a decision and sat at the small desk in her room and started making a list.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Nick was frustrated and he was starting to get on everyone's nerves. Heath sighed at his brother and said, "Will you please sit down before you wear a hole in Jarrod's floor?"

Nick glared at Heath and spat, "No, besides it will teach him to leave us without a trace."

Heath had to hand it to Jarrod; he left no trace. The family had hired The Pinkerton's and they had come up empty as well. "Nick if The Pinkerton's can't find Jarrod then there's no way Wells can find him."

Nick whirled and spat, "Hmph. Wells has too many contacts on both sides of the law and very deep pockets."

Heath had to agree with that statement. "But he has come up empty too."

Nick finally sat down and said, "I'm worried Heath. The longer he's gone the more I'm worried."

"I am too but Jarrod knows how to take care of himself."

"I'm worried about mother as well," Nick admitted.

"She's a tough lady Nick, mother will be fine."

"She's not sleeping."

Heath motioned around the room, "Well neither are we considering it's two in the morning."

"Mother tried to tell me something was wrong when Jarrod asked for Jingo but I shrugged it off. I should have listened to her."

"Do you think it would have changed anything? Jarrod's been planning this for a while. Whether you were here or not I believe he would have left with Abby."

"Maybe."

Nick and Heath sat in silence.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Are you sure?" Wells questioned.

"Yes sir."

Wells laughed as he spoke, "Finally we have something to go on. Go make arrangements for my private rail car to be hooked up. We are leaving on the next train out of here."

"But what about the sheriff and Sister Catherine?"

Wells cut his eyes at his new lawyer and spat, "That's what I hired you for. Besides she hasn't pressed charges against me yet so I am still a free man, correct?"

"Yes you are."

"Good. Now go make the arrangements."

Wells watched his new attorney leave and shook his head. He wasn't as good as James but he would do in a pinch and he did as Danny told him without questioning him.