Chapter 11

Nick and Heath went to the bank first, and while Heath withdrew some cash, Nick stood at the window, trying to look casual while looking at the people passing outside. He didn't see anyone whose boots looked uneven, and he shook his head as Heath came away from the teller's window and toward him. They went outside.

They played it the same at the mercantile, Nick looking out the window and at the men who came in while Heath found himself a couple pairs of socks and paid for them. Again, Nick saw nothing. They left together and stopped just outside the door, looking around.

"You know, I had a bad thought," Nick said.

"What?" Heath asked.

"What if this guy knew Davison saw him and left town?"

"That's possible, I guess, but if he knew Davison saw him, he'd have shot him a second time and made sure he was dead, wouldn't he?"

Nick grunted. "I suppose, unless the guy's the nervous type and runs as soon as he takes one shot. That's what he did with the others."

Heath heaved a sigh. "Well, let's just stick to the plan. You want to go over to Big Annie's first or down to the waterfront?"

"Big Annie's. After that, I'll want a beer. Sometimes I get a bad taste in my mouth after I've been to Big Annie's and I need a beer."

"You could always just stop going to Big Annie's."

"I could."

XXXXX

The three Barkley brothers rode into the stable yard at their home at about five-thirty and were soon going into the house. Victoria and Audra were in the living room, talking – and so was Phil Archer, who was on the settee beside Victoria.

"Well, look who's up and around," Jarrod said, putting his briefcase down, leaving his hat on the table in the foyer and coming into the living room. "Feeling better, Phil?"

"Better than I was, but I'd be better still if I could go home," Archer said.

"We might be able to work that out over the next few days," Nick said. He hit Jarrod slightly on the arm to get his attention, then held his hand out for Jarrod's holster. Jarrod took it off and handed it to him. Nick took Jarrod's and his own holster into the hall to hang them up.

"You've found out something?" Archer asked.

Jarrod nodded and headed for the scotch. "Some leads, but he shot Sam Davison today," Jarrod said.

"Sam?" Archer said, shocked. "Is he all right?"

"He will be, but your best plan to stay right here until we catch this guy."

"And you're not ready to be on your own yet anyway," Audra said to Archer.

"Audra's right," Victoria said. "You need a few more days with some help."

Jarrod had come to the fireplace with his scotch, while Nick and Heath fetched their own whiskey. Nick said. "I'll ride back to town with you in the morning, Jarrod. See if I can help the sheriff any."

"Sam had me give your cases to Mark Schenk while I take over his workload until he's back on his feet," Jarrod said to Archer.

"Some vacation," Audra said.

"We better get this guy soon," Archer said. "We're running out of lawyers."

"I just don't want to see another one die," Jarrod said. "And I wish I knew why this guy has already shot so many."

"We'll find that out, too," Heath said.

Nick looked at his younger brother. "You wanna go back into town after dinner?"

"I wouldn't advise that," Jarrod said before Heath could answer, and Nick gave him a hard look. "You're not lawyers, but you're a lawyer's brothers. He's already tried for me and missed. He could try for you instead. Stay out of town when it's dark, unless the sheriff wants you there."

"I doubt the shooter will be trying for us," Nick said and sipped his whiskey.

"Listen, if you don't want me to be taking chances, then I don't want you to take any, either," Jarrod said. "Come to town with me in the morning and talk to the sheriff. If he wants you to stick around after dark, all right. But if you intend to go back in after dinner tonight, then I'm going with you."

"Hey – " Nick started.

"End of discussion, Nick!" Jarrod said.

"Indeed, it is," Victoria said. "Jarrod is right, Nick. Let the sheriff do his job tonight and see what he wants you to do in the morning."

"All right," Nick agreed.

"I'll go with you tomorrow," Heath said. "We don't need you wandering around alone even in the daylight, Nick. We don't need to give this guy another target."

"It's decided then," Victoria said. "Let's take this topic off the table for tonight."

Everyone was silent for a moment, then Archer said out of the blue, "You have a very interesting family dynamic."

Nobody knew how to respond to that.

XXXXXXXX

The three Barkley brothers rode into town at about eight the next morning. Nick and Heath were heading for the sheriff's office, and Jarrod decided he ought to stop there before going to Davison's office. They all left their horses at the livery – and Nick and Heath noticed Jarrod giving a quick look at the loft as they went out. In a few minutes, they walked into the sheriff's office, and found him there rubbing his forehead.

"Morning, Fred," Nick said.

Sheriff Madden looked up. "Somebody took a shot at Mark Schenk last night."

Jarrod looked devastated – then enraged.

"He's all right," the sheriff said quickly. "The shooter missed, but he was gone before Mark could get a look. All he saw was a dark blob running away out of the street light."

"All right, this has gone too far," Jarrod said. "Fred, you have to start asking everybody on the street about anybody with an uneven shoe."

"Already have," Sheriff Madden said, "but you'd be amazed at how many people never look at anybody else's feet."

"They'll look now," Heath said.

"That's what I'm hoping," Sheriff Madden said. "Jarrod, you best go on to the office. Mark was pretty shaken up, and he'll be in late if he comes in at all. That leaves you alone with all that workload."

Jarrod left and headed fast for the courthouse. The street wasn't very crowded yet, but some people were moving around. Jarrod scanned constantly, looking at feet, wishing he somehow would see the uneven shoe, but he never did. Somebody called his name.

Jarrod looked and saw Turner Powers climbing down from a wagon near the dry goods store. Turner came toward him, smiling. How can anybody be smiling? Jarrod wondered and felt very irritated, but then he remembered the kind of man Turner was – fun loving, a bit immature, often a bit inappropriate. "Hi, Turner," Jarrod said.

"Did Heath come in with you today?" Turner asked.

"Yeah, he and Nick are helping the sheriff try to find the guy who's killing my colleagues."

Jarrod started away, but Turner said, "Wait a minute, Jarrod. Somebody just told me the sheriff was looking for somebody with a thick sole on his left shoe."

Jarrod stopped. "Yes. Do you know somebody like that?"

"Yeah, and I saw him, right around the time Mr. Main was shot – "

Suddenly, Jarrod heard a shot and Turner was knocked flat on his face into the dirt. Jarrod pulled his gun out, looking around frantically in the direction the shot had come from. The handful of people in the street began to blurt out screams and run for cover, but Jarrod was glued to the middle of the road, and then he knelt to see how bad Turner was hurt. The poor man wasn't moving at all. There was blood oozing from a hole in the back of his shirt.

"Oh, Turner," Jarrod moaned.