Chapter Twenty

Excerpt from Ch Nineteen:

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.

Heath and Jeremiah sat on chairs that were in front of the sheriff's desk while Nick leaned against the wall, next to the door. All three men had been surprised-and concerned-when they'd found Adam Pierce in the law office as well.

"Only two of the four men Barrett said were here are still here." Adam said and then corrected himself, "Guess I should say one since Mr. Madison made the mistake of drawing on Nick."

"Who's still here, and where did other two go?" Jeremiah spoke up, seeing no reason to play the part of a mute at that moment. "And do you know if he has other men now?"

"The sheriff can answer the first two questions, and then we can discuss the last one." Adam pulled the only other chair in the office away from the south wall and sat down. All eyes turned to the lawman.

"First off," Sherriff Lawson-who was just as honest and good as Fred Madden was, "I was shocked when your friend told me our blacksmith, Thomas Hyde, had been named as one of the men working for Alderson. That man served in my unit during the war. The way he always talked, no one would ever think he had any sympathy for the South…and he's a bit 'squirly' if you ask me. I mean, he's the nervous type. Can't figure Alderson-or anyone else-hiring him for any job this serious. The second man listed is technically still in town." The Sheriff pointed towards a door to his left, one that led to the jail cells. "He is in there. I just put him in there an hour ago. I doubt anyone but the store clerk knows he's here yet. He hasn't sent for anyone." He went on to say the man had been caught trying to steal from the store. "The third man rode out of here two weeks ago. He was causing problems, and I told him to leave before he was arrested. When it comes to the fourth man," Sheriff shook his head and looked at Nick. "He never should have drawn on you?"

"No, he shouldn't have." Nick agreed, disgust could be heard in his voice. "Sanders is one of the new men, isn't he?"

Sheriff Lawson looked at the men and shrugged. "After what Mr. Pierce has told me, I suspect so. I mean, Mr. Madison has been hanging around him, and I have seen him a number of times at the blacksmith's place."

The wheels in Jeremiah's head had been rolling from the moment Sheriff Lawson had started talking. Now, he broke his silence and shocked Adam, along with Heath and Nick when he said, "I bet you if I go visit this Thomas Hyde I could get him to talk. After he talks, the sheriff can put him in one of those cells on some charge that would at least keep him under wraps for a few hours. That would give us only Anderson and Sanders to deal with. I mean, I doubt he's had time to recruit more men. If he has, I'm sure Mr. Hyde can tell us that too."

'Whether you simply have Barkley blood in you or whether you're my older brother is beside the point at the moment,' Nick thought as he put his hands on hips. 'I'm keeping my eye on you.' Out loud, he said, "You mean we can go talk to him." He nodded towards Heath, who readily agreed. Adam objected, saying he thought it pretty risky for Nick to be seen talking to Hyde-especially after having to kill Madison.

The conversation might have continued only a dark haired gentleman rushed into the law office. Nick, Heath and the sheriff were shocked when the stranger tackled Adam Pierce to the floor. However, when they moved towards the two men, the stranger snapped, "My name's Macklin! I'm a Unites States Federal Agent!" He wrestled Adam Pierce to his feet and handcuffed him. "I…" he stopped as he stared at the clean shaven Jeremiah, and then shook his head. "Jeremiah Shaw! I never thought I'd see the day you'd get rid of all that extra hair and shave that beard!"

Jeremiah, who had quickly recognized Macklin, demanded to know what was up. "Why are you here, and why are you handcuffing him?"

"I've pushed my horse as fast as I could to get here. He's," he said tapping Adam on the shoulder, "a double agent. He's been working for Alderson all along!"

Astonishment shown on all their faces. "That doesn't make sense!" Jeremiah snapped. "He was the one who urged me to shave my beard and cut my hair! Pointed out that Sanders wouldn't recognize me if I did!"

It didn't take Macklin but a split second to figure it out. And, just as he did-Jeremiah did as well. "You didn't want Sanders or Alderson to know you've been working with me!" Jeremiah shot fire towards Adam Pierce.

Adam growled but said nothing as Macklin asked the sheriff if he minded another prisoner in his cell. "I'd take him outside, but then Mr. Hyde or Sanders might see us, or someone else if Alderson has hired other men."

"Just who's working with you?" Jeremiah glared at Adam as he stepped up to the prisoner, almost to the point of being in his face. "Have you already warned Alderson?"

"Answer him!" Macklin pulled the man's arms back just enough to make him more uncomfortable than he was.

"No!" Adam snapped angrily. "Every time I went to a telegraph office to send him a wire, one thing after another would stop me!" He then muttered he should have taken it as a sign to pull away from the job.

"Where is he?" Jeremiah growled angrily.

"You find him and tell me!" Adam glared back. "He never gave me his exact address!" When Macklin started pulling on his arms again, Adam swore. "I said I don't know! All I know is I'd send him wires and there was money in my bank account afterwards, just like he said there would be! And don't ask me about other men; I haven't had time to find out!" Everyone knew that meant that he hadn't had a chance to slip away without being seen.

"Go put him in a cell! Don't let anyone know he's in here, especially since I know a couple of our men wouldn't believe he's guilty. Who knows what they'd try to do to help him." Jeremiah turned away and headed for the door. "I have a blacksmith to talk to."

"You mean we," Nick and Heath said as they followed Jeremiah out the door.