Chapter 8

Jarrod led Archer into the living room. "What can I do for you, Phil? Sam told me he was taking over the Peale case."

"Yes, he is," Archer said, still eyeing Daisy but giving it up as he and Jarrod entered the parlor. "That's not exactly why I'm here."

"What can I do for you?"

Archer finally looked at Jarrod and sighed. "I think I need a lawyer."

Jarrod was surprised. "Is this about the Peale case, Phil?"

Archer nodded.

"Phil, you know I'm representing Nat Springer in that case, and I'm planning to depose you tomorrow," Jarrod said.

Now Archer looked surprised. He knew Jarrod was representing Springer, but he did not know about the planned deposition. Archer froze up almost completely, not knowing what to do now.

Jarrod went on. "Phil, why don't you go back to town and talk to Sam? Maybe that's the best thing for you to do right now."

Archer shook his head. "Sam is prosecuting. I need a lawyer to defend me."

"You think you're in trouble?"

Archer leveled a gaze at Jarrod. "You know I am. I know you've been asking around and you're focusing on me, not Nat, but you're all wrong."

"I go where the evidence leads me, Phil," Jarrod said. "But you and I don't need to be talking about this. Why don't you go see Steven Chandler? He's a capable attorney. Talk things over with him, see what he says about representing you."

Archer hesitated, his mouth open as if he wanted to say something but couldn't decide whether to do it or not.

Daisy raised her head and growled again.

Jarrod repeated, "Go see Steven Chandler, Phil."

"Jarrod – " Archer started.

Jarrod held a hand up to stop him. "No more, Phil. I can't talk to you about this."

Archer turned and went out the front door. Daisy watched him all the way, but as soon as the door closed, she turned her attention to Jarrod. He walked over and bent beside her. When he scratched her ear, she laid her head back down.

"I believe I should have listened to you about Archer from the beginning, Daisy," Jarrod said. "It just never occurred to me that he could possibly have been involved in this."

Daisy gave a little satisfied groan.

Jarrod had to laugh. It sounded like she was saying it took you long enough to listen to me.

XXXXXXX

Jarrod was in town when Nick, Heath and Springer came back in at the end of the day. As soon as Nick spotted Daisy, he smiled, and Daisy lifted her head and wagged her tail. Nick laughed and scratched her ear. When Daisy sat up and scratched his leg, Nick said, "You know what, Daisy? I think I'll take a little walk with you," and they both went out through the front door.

Audra was coming in from the library and smiled. "For a little while today, I thought Daisy might be trading Nick in for Jarrod."

"Why's that?" Heath asked as he and Springer took off their gunbelts.

"Mr. Archer was here," Audra said, looking at Springer.

Springer looked surprised. "Here? Why?"

"I don't really know," Audra said, "but Jarrod was thanking Daisy all over the place for something after Mr. Archer left."

Heath shrugged at Springer and took their gunbelts to the hall. "Is Jarrod here?" Springer asked.

"He went into town and he's not back yet," Audra said. "He said he might be very late again."

"He's deposing Archer tomorrow," Springer said as Heath came back in. "He's probably going to be working on that." Springer began to look very anxious.

"Are you worried?" Audra asked.

"Audra, we best leave Nat's legal concerns to Jarrod," Heath said.

Springer shook his head. "No, it's nothing substantive. I just wish it were me conducting that deposition instead of Jarrod."

Heath remembered how Springer conducted his case when he was charged with murdering the man responsible for Charlie Whitehorse's killing. Springer liked to be in charge. "Don't give it a worry," Heath said. "I think you know by now that my brother can be counted on to come through for you."

Springer smiled. "Oh, of course, I know that. That's why I hired him. I just – well, you know how I am."

Heath chuckled. "I do."

Surprisingly, Jarrod came in the front door. Audra said, "Jarrod, we didn't expect you until later."

Jarrod took his gunbelt and hat off and took them to the hall, saying, "I want to spend a little time with Nat about this deposition tomorrow. Nat, I got to thinking you would be anxious to help. You never did like not being in charge."

"No more than you every liked it," Springer said. "But thanks."

"Get cleaned up," Jarrod said. "We'll have at it after dinner."

Heath and Springer both headed upstairs. As soon as they were out of earshot, Audra said, "I can't believe you're deposing Mr. Archer in this."

"Neither can I," Jarrod said. "But these things go the way they go."

"Do you really think you can get Mr. Springer off?"

Jarrod nodded. "I do. I'm hoping I can do it before we get to a trial."

"You don't think Mr. Archer killed that woman, do you?"

"I don't know, Audra," Jarrod said. "And I don't want to talk about it right now. Right now, I want a drink. How about you? Sherry?"

"Yes, please," Audra said as Jarrod headed for the refreshment table. She followed him, saying, "I do hope you can get Mr. Springer off. I'm beginning to like him."

Jarrod chuckled. "I think Nick and even Heath are beginning to as well. Working and living close to someone can make you see a man's better side." Jarrod poured her a sherry and handed it to her.

"Is that why I love you so much?" she asked with a smile.

Jarrod smiled and kissed her forehead.

XXXXXXXX

After dinner, Jarrod and Springer went back into the library to talk about Archer, his deposition, and the way things were beginning to turn in Jarrod's investigation. Jarrod explained the questions he planned to ask Archer, and then asked a surprise question of Springer. "After you left Mandy, on your way back to the hotel, did you see Archer anywhere?"

Springer looked surprised, and he thought about it. "No. No, I didn't. But then I wasn't really looking at anybody anyway. I just wanted to get back to my room and – well, clean up."

Jarrod nodded. "Did you see anyone upstairs at Big Annie's when you left?"

Springer shook his head. "Only Big Annie and the men waiting downstairs, but Jarrod, I didn't know who any of those men were."

"Don't worry, I do. They don't know you either. It would have helped if someone had seen Mandy after you left, but so far I haven't found anyone who did."

"Except maybe Archer."

Jarrod nodded. "Except maybe Archer. Of course I'll ask him tomorrow, but he'll lie."

"If anyone admitted they saw her after I left, that would put them directly in my place as the chief suspect," Springer completed the thought.

Jarrod nodded.

Springer looked Jarrod straight in the eye. "I'd like to be at that deposition with you tomorrow."

Jarrod quickly shook his head. "No. That's a bad idea."

"Why?"

"Because having you there will make Phil clam up completely. We won't get anywhere at all. You stay out here on the ranch. If I need you, I'll send somebody to the chuck wagon."

Springer groaned. "I'll never take my wife for granted again, now that I've been the cook and bottle washer."

"Nat," Jarrod said, "you are going to have to tell her about this. Any minute now, somebody from the San Francisco press is going to catch on and it'll be in the papers there."

"I know," Springer said. "After we see how this deposition goes tomorrow, if it doesn't go well for me, I'll send for her."

"Of course, we'll put her up here at the ranch so the press can't get at her," Jarrod said. "But tomorrow if I'm lucky – if we're lucky – I'll be able to send you home and you can iron out things with your wife privately."

"Let's get to the deposition, then. Tell me about what you're planning to ask him."