Chapter Seventeen

A/N According to my research, there is a place in Australia named Townsville. However, to the best of my knowledge, no town in the United States has that name. I'm just giving the town in this chapter the name.

It was almost five o'clock in the evening before Jeremiah, Nick and Heath rode into Townsville. After discussing it with the other men, it had been decided that Adam Pierce would go to the nearest church and talk to the clergy there while the rest of the group would separate into two small groups and go into town, mingle among the people and see if they could confirm everything that Barrett had said. When the saloon came into their view. Jeremiah suggested going in for a drink; that is, after they took their horses to the livery stable. "But, don't even think about coming right out and asking about the general. If he does indeed live nearby, word would get back to him before any of us could bat an eye."

It didn't pass by Nick or Heath that Jeremiah was glancing more at Nick than Heath when he'd spoken the words. Nick wasn't sure whether or not he liked it that Jeremiah had learned to 'read' him so well or not. Still, he chuckled. Remembering Jeremiah's mock salute when he'd used the gentleman's behavior towards Heath as a cover to relay Heath's thanks, Nick returned the favor and saluted him. It made Heath and Jeremiah laugh. They wasted no time when it came to the livery stable and the horses. As soon as they had their animals taken care of, they headed towards the saloon.

"I hope we can find out what we need to without raising any suspicion. I'd hate to think that breaking into smaller groups did no good." Nick managed to keep his normally loud voice low enough that only Jeremiah and Heath had cause to listen.

"As far as anyone goes, we're just friends passing through town. As long as we keep our eyes and ears wide open, and our mouths shut-as it were-we just might learn something." Jeremiah replied, adding the most important thing was making sure they had each other's backs. Even as he spoke, Jeremiah found himself wishing his brothers knew who he was. Growing up as an only child often left him wishing for brothers. Though, once again, with nothing more than Mrs. Shaw's confession and a journal that spoke of how Matthew Shaw saved him, Jeremiah couldn't see them believing him. After all, many people had lost their lives in house fires caused by their enemies.

"You okay?" Both Nick and Heath, who had noticed the faraway look that appeared in Jeremiah's eyes, asked at the same time. That-both brothers speaking at the same time- made Jeremiah chuckle.

"Yeah, just," he shrugged his shoulders and answered once he'd stopped laughing. "Grew up without siblings and the Shaws been gone quite some time, it's been quite a while since I felt like anyone really had my back is all."

Nick and Heath exchanged knowing glances. After all, it wasn't until Victoria had bumped into Heath, recognized him as Tom's son and persuaded him to give the family a try that Nick had grown to know how it felt to have a brother watching out for him…and vice versa. However, it puzzled them both that Jeremiah had referred to his parents as 'the Shaws' instead of Mother and Father. It made Heath wonder if he was right when he thought on the story Silas had told him about the Indians and young Jarrod. On the other hand, Nick's impulsive nature wanted to start asking Jeremiah more about his family as he found himself thinking about the familiarity he felt around Jeremiah. However, the side that said to stay focused on why they came to Townsville-the side of him people rarely saw-won out. It might not have only he knew how important this mission was to Jeremiah, and he respected that. Heath was thinking along the same lines and said nothing.

"Let's get that drink." Nick slapped Jeremiah's back and headed for the saloon's swinging doors.

Any temptation he or Heath had to toss their decision to ask personal questions was quickly overshadowed when Jeremiah shocked them by whirling around and quickly exiting the building. Wasting no time, Nick and Heath turned and followed him. By the time they caught up with him he had up one block and turned into an alley.

"WHAT is going on?" Nick demanded-forcing himself to ask the question as quietly as he could-not easy when everything in him was telling him to raise his voice.

"There's a man in there that knows me, knows exactly what I do for a living." Jeremiah hissed back-even as he kept an eye towards the front of the alley. "I don't think he saw me-he was looking towards the back of the saloon when we entered." He went on to say he'd never thought he'd see the man in a place like Townsville. "He says cities are the only place to live." Jeremiah's dislike of the man could be seen in the disgusted look in his eyes, and heard in the tone of his voice.

"Which man?" Heath asked very much concerned. The same question was in Nick's eyes-only they were yelling the question.

"Neils Sanders," Jeremiah went on to describe the one man who had looked out of place in the building-a tall, red haired man who was dressed in a three piece business suit. "He would never been seen in a saloon before. For that matter," Jeremiah scoffed, "He would never drink beer or whiskey…drinks his wine and scotch, tells everyone he thinks he's better than them. I don't understand him being here."

"Barrett never mentioned his name." Nick said slowly-as he thought on the past and had more memories from the war come back to him. "Alderson was always meeting with men like that-always had a believable reason for doing so. Ten to one Alderson's holding something over his head, has to be for Sanders to be here."

"I think we best head to the church and catch Adam Pierce if we can." Heath spoke up.

"Yes," Jeremiah didn't ask why Heath brought Adam Pierce up. "With Sanders in town, I think it changes everything." He turned and hurried down the alley and then turned to his left. Nick and Heath wasted no time when it came to following Jeremiah.