Chapter Nineteen

The wind howled and pounded on the front door of the one level, three bedroom home General Alderson was using. None of the rooms held very much of anything. The kitchen had the standard cooking stove, cabinets, counter tops and sink…along with a small brown table and two chairs. The living room that was connected to the kitchen held a couch, coffee table and two chairs. Two of the bedrooms had beds and dressers in them…the third was almost completely empty-all it held a desk and chair. Definitely a far cry from what the general's living quarters had been in the past. However, since the home stood five miles out of Townsville and was surrounded by trees, he was putting up the 'normally unacceptable home'. He was sure that if he lived there long enough anyone looking for him would give up. When the time did come for him to rejoin society, he'd simply change his name and start over. At least, that's what he was telling himself when he heard someone actually knocking at his door.

Rising from the couch, General Alderson put the book he'd been reading down, walked over to the window, peeked out and frowned. Thomas Hyde, Townsville's blacksmith, was standing on the porch. No one in the area knew the 'good' man was one of the four men Barrett had mentioned when he'd started listing names. What are you doing out here?" General Alderson demanded once he'd opened the door and let the blacksmith in. "Is something wrong?"

"You said you wanted to know if strangers came to town, and I've seen a few men today-never seen them before." Mr. Hyde told him-even as he kept his eyes moving.

Out of the four men he had working for him, General Alderson was starting to question whether or not it had been wise to hire this man in the first place. "Have any of them been asking questions? Have they done anything out of the ordinary?" He gave Thomas Hyde a look that said 'Please, tell me that is the case.'

It was not to be, as the blacksmith shook his head. "No, but I've never seen them before, and there's nothing in town that would entice anyone to come here."

"Imbecile!" The general exclaimed only to himself. "Then why risk coming out here?" He raised his voice just enough to let the man know how displeased he was with him. "Get back to your work, and keep your eyes and ears open! I don't want to see you again unless you have something worth reporting!"

"Yes, sir." Thomas Hyde scurried off the porch, mounted his horse and sped off towards town.

"Might have to do something about him," General Alderson muttered as he shut the door and went back to reading.

While Mr. Hyde had been riding towards Alderson's secret home, Nick, Heath and Jeremiah had joined two other men in a game of cards. Due to the information Barrett had given them, Nick, Heath and Jeremiah recognized the younger of the two-a red headed twenty-one year old young man named Jeff Madison, which meant he-most likely- still worked for the general. The older one was none other than Niels Sanders. Nick, Heath and Jeremiah had all been relieved when Mr. Sanders showed no sign of recognizing Jeremiah and had accepted Nick and Heath's word that their friend was a mute. Actually, their exact words had been, "We're sorry. Our friend can't talk."

"Don't suppose you know of anyone looking for help?" Heath asked as he tossed a card back onto the table and took another one from Mr. Madison.

"Permanent or temporary?" Sanders replied. The fact that the man shot the red-headed dealer a lightning fast glance wasn't missed by Heath, Nick or Jeremiah. It only cemented in the fact that Sanders was tied in with Alderson.

"Temporary," Heath said as he folded and bowed out of the game. "My friends and I aren't planning on staying around long."

Sanders looked as if he was trying to decide whether to answer Heath or not. However, before he could decide he was shocked when Jeff Madison was accusing Nick of cheating.

"I don't cheat!" Nick barked as he glared at the young man. His loud voice killed any noise in the saloon, and every head turned in their direction. "Your friend there can look in my sleeves if he wants to and," he held up his cards, "these belong to your friend." He turned the cards towards Jeremiah and asked, "Are these cards marked?" Jeremiah shook his head while Mr. Sanders was glaring at Mr. Madison harder than Nick was. However, before anything more was said the accuser moved his arm slightly, and Nick caught sight of a card up the man's sleeve.

Nick cursed, leaned over the table, grabbed the man's arm and pulled out the card…and did it so fast that it made everyone's head spin. "YOU'RE the cheat NOT me!"

Embarrassed at being caught, Jeffery went for his gun only to find Nick was faster. Jeffery Madison was dead before he hit the floor. Seconds later, the sheriff-a wiry fellow with a black mustache- who had been passing the saloon came running in.

"He was cheating and pulled his gun on me first." Nick looked at the lawman.

"He's telling the truth, Sheriff Lawson." Mr. Sanders looked at his dead companion in disgust. He'd never wanted to work with the man in the first place only General Alderson paid too much just to walk away.

The lawman looked around and saw more than one head nod in agreement. "Get him out of here, and then come to my office. I'll need your written statement." He looked at all the men at the table.

All but Jeremiah replied with a simple 'Yes, Sir." When it came to Jeremiah, he nodded his head. The sheriff turned and walked out of the saloon.

"We'll help you with your friend." Nick started to offer only to have Mr. Sanders stop him.

"He's not my friend, just a man I worked with - one I got stuck babysitting. You go take care of things at the sheriff's." Mr. Sanders said as he scribbled a short note on small piece of paper he'd pulled out of his vest. "I'll take of him." He nodded towards the fallen man.

Nick took the note-which turned out to be Mr. Sanders' written statement- and then watched with the others as Mr. Sanders threw the dead man over his shoulder and walked out of the building.

"They're two of Alderson's men, guess I should say the younger man was and Mr. Sanders is." Nick, who had leaned over and picked up another piece of paper-one that had fallen out of the dead man's pocket and not seen by Sanders, said after reading the paper and handing it to Jeremiah. It was a list of supplies the general needed. Due the fact there was no name on it, Jeremiah looked at him-his eyes full of confusion.

"I know the general's handwriting." Nick said bluntly as he headed for the door. "Let's get to the sheriff's office and get this over with."

Neither Heath or Jeremiah argued with him as they followed Nick out of the saloon.