Chapter 3

Finally Bo and Daisy are sleeping: I look at them sleeping and hugging as if a hug could protect them from a nightmare, and I hope so.

I sigh, then I walk to the kitchen, where uncle Jesse and Doc Appleby are still talking.

When I enter the kitchen Doc Appleby looks at me, sad, "I'm sorry Luke. I didn't want to upset Daisy with my words".

I shake my head, "It's not your fault, Doc. You saved Enos's life, and it's the most important thing".

I sit at the table.

"Luke, go to sleep, you're tired", uncle Jesse says with his usual wisdom, but I can't sleep.

In that moment someone knocks at the door; it's night, but I know who's out there.

I open the door, "Hi Rosco. Did you find out something?", I hope Rosco looked for Enos's patrol car after uncle Jesse's call.

Rosco doesn't answer my question, "Where's Enos? How's…?"

I stop him, "He's sleeping in the guestroom. Doc Appleby gave him some sedatives and he treated his wounds".

He nods, "I want to see him".

I head to Enos's room and Rosco follows me.

In the room Rosco sits on a chair near Enos's bed, looking at his injured deputy, silently.

I have no more patience.

"Rosco, did you find something out there?"

Rosco sighs, "I found his patrol car at the junkyard. It was dark out there. I saw blood on its door, nothing else".

"The junkyard isn't so far from here. So, Enos managed to arrive here even if he was injured".

I hear uncle Jesse's voice behind me; I didn't even notice him and Doc Appleby entering the room.

"Junkyard, uh?", Doc Appleby is thoughtful, "Sheet metal… Yeah, now I know why that kind of cuts. Something sharp but not a knife".

I fold my arms, "Well, now we know WHERE it happened. Someone beat him and maybe he fell on sheet metals and that's why he's those cuts. But: WHO? And WHY?"

Rosco gives a deep breath, "I think…", then he stops.

"What. Do you know something? TELL US WHAT YOU'RE THINKING!", I almost shout, and Enos leaps up.

Uncle Jesse puts a hand on my shoulder, "Luke, be calm. Go on talking in the kitchen and let Enos sleep".

We are again sitting at the kitchen's table, all our eyes are on Rosco.

Finally he decides to tell us his suspicion.

"Well, last week….. I don't know if it's important, but… Last week Enos arrested John McGuire because of a fight at the Boar's Nest. Then John's father came at the Court House, he talked to Boss and Boss let John go. Boss and Mr McGuire were very angry with Enos because he arrested John. Mr McGuire asked Enos to apologize, but Enos said he was only doing his duty when he arrested John".

I'd like to smash every tooth in John's head. McGuire family: in every town there's a family like that. They're rich (almost rich as Boss) and they think they can do whatever they want because of their money. John McGuire is high and mighty since he was a child; he and his gang (5 guys younger that John) are used to drink alcohol and bother people.

I try to stay calm and I control my voice, "A fight at the Boar's Nest? What's happened, exactly?".

Rosco keeps on talking, "Enos told me that John and his gang were annoying Daisy. Enos told them to stop, and John gave him a punch, so he arrested him".

I grit my teeth, "What did John say when Boss let him go?", but I know the answer 'cause I know John.

Rosco sighs again, "He told Enos that he would've paid for it".

I stand up, ready to go to John's house and to ….. I don't know…. Kill him?

Rosco stands up and grabs my arm, "Luke, we don't know if John's really the culprit".

I'm angry, so I snap, "And who's the culprit, Rosco? I think we have to talk to John".

Uncle Jesse puts his hand on my shoulder, "Tomorrow we're going to talk to John and to look for something more at the junkyard, but not now".

Uncle Jesse is right.

I nod and I sit down.

Suddenly a shadow in the living room catches my eye, but when I arrive in the living room there's nobody.

I go to Daisy's room; my cousins are still sleeping, they are no more hugging, but they're sleeping peacefully.

I think I should sleep, like them.