Chapter 11 – Speculation

'I hafta go back up there with you.'

"As the sheriff or as Harper's father?" I had to know. Was Hugh going back to Shankstown to arrest an outlaw, or to kill the man who'd kidnapped his daughter?

Parish didn't answer right away, and I was more impressed by the fact that he had to think about it logically rather than just snapping off an answer. "I'm the law in these parts. The man's a thief and a murderer. It's my job to bring him back for trial."

"What about Harper?" Danny finally broke his silence.

"She's . . . my . . . daughter. I won't risk her life to catch him."

"What about the money?" It was my turn again.

The sheriff actually looked relieved to be asked about something other than Harper. "Leave that up to me."

We sat at the table in Bonnie's for a few more minutes – Parish and me drinkin' coffee, Danny looking miserable. Finally the boy spoke up. "Sheriff." Hugh turned his attention to Mills. "I'll do anything you say. Long as you get her back."

For the first time since I'd met him, there was a softening in the sheriff's eyes, and he actually attempted a smile. "We won't come back without her."

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I'd gotten a room at the hotel; Danny slept on the floor. We were both awake at daybreak and ready to go a few minutes later. We were set to meet Hugh Parish at eight o'clock, so we grabbed a quick breakfast in the hotel's dining room and left for the livery. The sheriff was waiting for us when we got there.

"You get the money?" I asked him as I finished saddling the sorrel.

"Some of it."

"How much?" was my next question.

He ducked his head. "Almost seven hundred dollars."

I checked the girth on the saddle and told him quietly, "I've got the rest." He looked at me like I'd just lost my mind.

"Why would you . . . "

I wasn't sure I could give him an answer that would satisfy him. I wasn't sure I had an answer that would satisfy him. "We've wasted enough time. Let's go."

It was mid-morning before anyone spoke. Parish dropped back to ride next to me and asked, "Where were they?"

"At the jail."

"You're sure she was alright?"

"She was locked in a cell, but she was alright."

"Do you think he'd hurt her?"

I shook my head. "No, I don't. It's not Harper he wants, it's you. That was his whole purpose in doin' this, ya know."

"He's waited a long time. I thought she was safe, after Danny got sent to prison, and everybody was lookin' for him."

"You shoulda told her."

He looked at me sharply. "I know that." Then, after a few minutes, "She gonna marry that boy?"

"You'll have to ask her that. Probably, if you try to push her away from him."

"No, I'm done with that. Wouldn't do no good, anyway. He's not such a bad kid, just got pulled into somethin' he shouldn't have."

"He knows that, now."

We rode on for a few more minutes before Parish broke the silence again. "You don't have to go back with us. You ain't got a horse in this race."

I smiled just a little, then. "I got paid to do a job. It ain't over yet."

He nodded in understanding, then drifted back up front to ride with Danny. That's the way we stayed until we stopped to camp for the night.

Something seemed to have changed between the sheriff and the reformed criminal since last night. They seemed more at ease with each other, more respectful. Danny knew that Hugh had a reason for the things he'd done, and Parish appeared to accept the fact that his daughter cared a lot about the boy. Spending time with the two of them was easier, and a lot less tension-filled, than it had been the night before. As the sun went down we found a spot and made camp, ate and turned in quickly. Each one of us, in his own way, was on edge about the confrontation looming in front of us tomorrow. And the thought kept crossing my mind – just how many of us would make the ride back to Wilsons Corners?