Blowing in the Wind Chapter Twenty
Previously:Steve and Jarrod looked at each other as John turned his head to talk to the waitress who had come to see if they wanted their drinks refilled. While the two exchanged no words, a silent message was sent…one where Jarrod told Steve that, after hearing John's statement, Jarrod was going to tell his brother the truth. However, just as the waitress walked way-having been told by John that the three men needed no more drinks-Jarrod was dismayed to realize Kyle Jensen had stood up and was walking their way.
~oOo~
"Well, hello, I didn't expect to see both of you in Nevada." Kyle smiled wide as he looked from Steve to John, and then back to Steve. However, his grin was contrived and not good. John and Steve, along with Jarrod, could easily recognize a forced smile when they saw one. They stiffened ever so slightly; the last thing they wanted was trouble the moment they stepped into town. John and Steve might have felt differently, but neither man wanted to put Jarrod in the middle of a fight.
"What does it matter?" For the sake of his company, John did his best to hide his irritation. However, his feelings still slipped out to a small degree.
"It doesn't." Kyle continued to plaster his face with a smile, though it now took on more of a menacing look. "Though, it just might come in handy." He then walked towards the front door, leaving the three gentlemen alone.
"Just might come in handy?" Steve looked at Jarrod and John. "Is it just me, or do you think he just give John and I a veiled threat?"
John and Jarrod both nodded. "Probably blames both of us for lost jobs," John said as he stood up. "We best keep an eye for him. Though, that doesn't mean we can't show Jarrod around." He headed for the door; Jarrod and Steve followed. Soon they were standing across from the saloon, in front of the assayer's office.
"I'm a bit hungry. How about we go eat at the café before we do anything else?" John looked at Steve and Jarrod.
"Sounds…" Jarrod started to answer only to have shock waves go through him as he caught a glimpse of the sun reflecting off the barrel of what looked to be a pistol. The gun was sticking out between a number of crates which were stacked side by side in the alley next to the saloon; there were enough crates that they could have been mistaken for partial wall. While he thought there was a high chance that Kyle Jensen was behind the barrels, Jarrod didn't stop to elaborate on the subject. Before John and Steve knew what was happening, Jarrod was pushing John to the ground while yelling for Steve to duck. Before either man could ask what was going on, Jarrod was lying unconscious on the ground. Steve, who had whipped out his pistol and whirled around instead of doing as Jarrod had told him to, looked around. Seeing no one, he hurried across the steet, but it was to no avail. The shooter was no where in sight. 'Where on earth had the shooter gone and how had he disappeared so fast' were two questions Steve asked himself as he turned around and hurried back to John and Jarrod.
"Who was it? Kyle Jensen?" John barked. He, like Steve, had not actually seen the shooter.
"Probably," John answered as he continued to press his bandanna down on Jarrod's wound. By this time the sheriff, along with a number of other people had gathered. Knowing the town's visitor needed medical attention, and not wanting to have an audience, Sheriff McCain ordered everyone to go on their business. "Let's get your friend to the doctor's office." The lawman said as he looked at John. "We can talk later."
"Fine with me," John said, as he and Steve laid Jarrod on a stretcher that one of the bystanders had hurried and brought to them. 'But I'm going after Kyle later. He's behind this; I just know he is!' John added to himself, though the whole time he couldn't help but wonder why Jarrod had put himself in a position to take a bullet apparently meant for Steve or him. Once inside the doctor's office Steve and John lay Jarrod on a long white table in the back room; the doctor's nurse then chased them out into the waiting room.
John looked at Steve, who was leaning against the wall gazing towards the back room door. Without thinking, John asked, "What kind of man pushes a total stranger out of the line of fire when his friend could just as easily be a target?"
Steve, who could hear a small bit of condemnation in his friend's voice, turned on John. He wouldn't have John start thinking badly of Jarrod. Within the short amount of time, Steve had known the Barkleys, he had learned just what good people they were. Not taking time to choose his words, Steve snapped back just as hard, if not harder, "You're not a total stranger! You're his…" he caught himself and stopped, but it was too late.
John felt the same shock waves that went through him when he shook Jarrod's hand go through him once more. He stiffened and growled low-though the tone of his voice was extremely loud. "I'm his what?"
'When it comes to not waiting a whole month, guess you get your way after all, Jarrod' Steve thought as he shook his head and told John to sit down. Of course, John started arguing with him only to get told once more, and in a more demanding tone, to just sit down and listen.
"Sit down, and let me start from the beginning." Steve said.
John hesitated and then did as Steve asked. When his friend did not immediately start talking, John hissed, "I sat down, now finish what you started!"
Steve would have laughed at the look on John's face, but he couldn't do that; well, no if he wanted the man to listen to him. Slowly, Steve began telling John just what Adam Brighton had told him on the man's deathbed and continued on until Steve and Jarrod had left Stockton. "Jarrod wanted to meet you, but he thought-and I agreed, that it would be best if I traveled out here with him." Steve quit speaking and fell into silence. For the first time in his life, John was completely speechless. He stood up and turned away from Steve.
Steve watched, as John started walking away. For a minute, Steve Brighton was sure John was going to walk out the door. However, instead of walking out, John stopped in front of the window next to the door and gazed out. Placing his hands on the window seal he leaned slightly forward. For as long as he could remember he'd tried to recall something, anything, which would give him a clue to who he really was. However, as hard as he'd tried, all he could ever remember was that he'd been with a group of people in the mountains for a little while. Then, later, he remembered being with another child only the child had also disappeared. Finally, he stepped away from the window and started for the back room.
"Doctor's still working." Steve spoke up. "He won't let you in."
John didn't know what to think of the revelation Steve had just handed him, didn't know whether or not he was right. However, one thing was for sure…Jarrod Barkley had taken a bullet meant for him because he believed Steve's story to be true. He turned on Steve and sent a fiery glare toward his friend. "If you're right in your thinking, who's going to stop me? Now, don't worry about me. If I were you, I'd send a telegram and let the Barkleys know he's been hurt." John then turned and headed for the back room once more.