"If that don't beat all—only one lawyer in this whole dang town," Hoss said as they headed to the Rigby place.
Adam shook his head. "Well, like the sheriff said, other than the women being killed recently, not much happens. But I can't help wondering, since the circuit judge only comes by every two months, if the sheriff and his deputy don't dole out most justice themselves."
"You mean take 'em out back and shoot any wrongdoers?"
"Not drunks or some petty criminal but if Sheriff Murphy felt Joe needed to be hanged immediately, if he feared Joe might get off for some reason, well, all he'd have to do is release Joe—say there's not enough evidence to hold him and Joe would be dead within the hour—strung up somewhere—and the sheriff's hands are clean. Pull in a few people who of course know nothing about the situation and that's it—end of investigation—'Must've just been a stranger passing through who strung him up'."
"Yeah. I see what you mean. So I guess in a way, the sheriff done us a favor and kept Joe alive."
"For a time, yes. But I don't think, after meeting Amos Spencer, Esquire that Joe's going to get much help from him. Granted, Joe's not being charged with the two previous killings but Spenser could at least arrive at a defense stating that Joe wouldn't head back to town carrying his own victim. That makes no sense. Even, as Spencer said, the sheriff postulates that it was to throw suspicion off himself, it still makes no sense—at least to me. And what about the similarities between the murders—all three of them? How would Joe know about them? He can prove he was either on the trail or at Rancho Verde when they occurred. Of course, a good prosecutor would say that Joe had heard of the previous killings and just copied their manner to throw suspicion off himself but…I may have to defend Joe myself."
Hoss chuckled. "Well then you can call yourself esquire. What's that mean anyway?"
"Nothing in particular. Lawyers took the title upon themselves—makes them feel as if they're respected even when they're not. But then, we need them. When Shakespeare had a minor character say, 'The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers,' it had people laughing but having no lawyers would lead to chaos; people need someone to defend them when they can't defend themselves. The problem is that I don't think Spencer is capable of doing it. He seems almost afraid to."
"What about Pa?" Hoss asked. "Shouldn't we wire him and tell 'im about Joe?"
"I've been thinking about that but if Pa knows Joe's in trouble, he'll have Miles saddle up his horse and take off, broken collar bone and all. I won't chance his getting worse. I'll just wire him that we found Joe, he's okay and we'll be home in a while. That'll keep him from worrying until he has to."
The rode along in silence. It was dinnertime and Hoss' stomach was rumbling. "I hope we reach the Rigby place soon and it don't take too long. I'm starved. Why we ain't eat since this mornin'."
"We should be there soon besides, you're not gonna starve—you can live off your fat reserves for a month." Adam looked about. "Spencer said the Rigby place was just a ways north of town off the main road. We'll eat after I talk to Rigby. The hotel smelled like it had a good kitchen." Adam thought back to the small hotel, the only hotel in Mules' Pass. It wasn't fancy but it was clean and the mattresses on the two narrow beds weren't too lumpy. The only complaint that Hoss had was that the bed looked too small for him.
"Hell, I'll be hanging over the sides and my feet will hang off the end. Looks like I'm gonna have ta curl up on my side."
"Good—you do that. Then you won't snore all night and I'll get some sleep," Adam had replied.
Adam and Hoss finally reached the Rigby house about two miles outside of town. A white picket fence surrounded it and struggling rose bushes grew in the shade of the house. When Adam dismounted he noticed that weeds were beginning to sprout anew, as if someone had once assiduously tended the roses but hadn't lately. He also observed, as he and Hoss walked up the three steps that led to the front wooden porch, that the house needed fresh paint. Adam didn't like disrepair or neglect; it always nagged at his sense of order.
There was a wreath of dyed black flowers swathed in black ribbon hanging on the front door, Adam paused but then used the brass door knocker in the shape of a gargoyle head, the symbol for protection from evil. Obviously, Adam thought, it didn't work. He had to knock twice before a young woman of about 20 years with dark blonde hair answered the door and stood looking curiously the two brothers.
"Yes? May I help you?" She wore black taffeta and her blonde hair was pulled into a knot on top of her head but a fringe of curly bangs covered her forehead and small tendrils were at her temples. Her dark blue eyes drew Adam in; she was lovely and Adam then understood that if Melora Rigby was any relation to this woman, why Joe fell so quickly in love. In other circumstances, Adam felt that he too would be inclined to want more of this woman's attention if for no other reason than to look at her.
With their hats in their hands, Hoss waited while Adam spoke. "Yes—I hope so. Forgive our intrusion but…." Adam looked over to Hoss and then decided to start again. "I'm Adam Cartwright…" He saw her expression change. She wasn't afraid, just cautious. "This is my brother, Hoss Cartwright. Joe is our youngest brother…"
"Yeah," Hoss said. "He's the 'baby' of the family and afore we wire our pa and tell him that Joe's in jail for murder, we want to find out, well, we—that is, Adam here and me—we want to hear everything."
She stood in the doorway, her hand still on the door knob, considering.
"Who is it, Evangeline? Who's here at dinner time?"
She turned her head and spoke to the person in the depths of the house. "The brothers of Joe Cartwright are here, Papa. They would like to talk to us about…." She looked back at Adam. "About Melora."
An older man, an angry older man came to the door and abruptly pulled Evangeline away. She slightly resisted but he succeeded. He waved a rifle at Adam and Hoss who held their hands at shoulder height to show they weren't reaching for their weapons. Adam wondered how many more times he'd have a rifle pointed at him that day.
"Get out of here," he said. "I want you off my property. Now!"
"Papa, don't be foolish." Evangeline came back and opened the door wider. "I think we should let them in. I told you that I don't believe Joe Cartwright would hurt Melora."
"I just have a few questions, Mr. Rigby," Adam said in a calm, low tone, "and we'll be glad to let you hold that rifle on us the whole time. We'll even hand our side arms to you daughter, if you like. But we would like to hear your side of the events. Please. Our brother's life is on the line."
"My daughter's life was taken and she was only 16. Only 16." His voice caught in his throat.
"I'm sorry for your loss but don't damn Joe so quickly. He's young too and may have done some stupid things in his time but he wouldn't do something like this."
"Let them in, father." Mr. Rigby backed away from the door but he never put down his rifle. He sat down in an upholstered chair but still held his rifle across his knees, his finger on the trigger. Adam began to gingerly remove his gun but Evangeline told him not to bother. If they had wanted to kill her or her father, they could have easily done so already. She invited them to sit and offered them coffee which both declined.
"Can't I offer you something?" Evangeline asked. "We were about to eat dinner and I'd be pleased if you'd accept a bite of food."
"Evangeline, we're under no obligation to feed the brothers of your sister's murderer."
"Father-please. These men are guests in our home and you know as well as I that I was taught to be hospitable to guests. Now," she turned to Adam and Hoss, "may I offer you a plate of food? It's simple fare but filling and not to be guilty of the sin of vanity, but tasty as well. We've had so much food from neighbors that this is the first time I've cooked in over a week but the antelope was given to us just yesterday."
"No thank you," Adam said but Hoss looked at Adam beseechingly. "But my brother might be hungry."
Hoss beamed. "Yes'm, I'd be pleased to accept a little something, that is, if it's not too much trouble."
"No trouble at all. Biscuits?" Hoss grinned wider and nodded his head. Evangeline left the room.
"Let me make this fast," Mr. Rigby said, "and then you and your brother get out of my house and don't come back. "My daughter—according to what Evangeline later told me and the sheriff—Melora was meeting your brother that night. They were going to run off and be married and since Melora was of age, well, there'd be nothing I could do about it. My Melora was a sweet, innocent girl but your brother, well, she was won over by him. He came for dinner twice. The first time, I gave him a chance. He said, probably to impress me, that he had a wealthy family and seems like I've heard of some Cartwrights up north from here who owned a ranch but if I know about the family, well, everyone probably knows who travels around some. Even though he had money to spend on Melora, bringing her little gifts and such, He could've been lying about who he was and who knows how he came by money. And the boy was nice enough, respectful enough but the second time he was here, well, Melora couldn't stop touching him. I knew then he was bad news, that they might already have a physical relationship. I had to lock Melora in her room to keep them from each other but that night, the night she was killed, well, she snuck out of the window to meet your brother. A pretty boy with pretty words—good for nothing else."
Hoss and Adam exchanged looks and just as Adam was about to speak, Evangeline came back with a tray holding a large bowl, two bicuits, a napkin, and a large spoon for Hoss.
"I hope you like antelope stew," she said handing everything to Hoss.
"Oh, yes, ma'am. I love any kind of stew—even squirrel stew only spooning up a small rat-like skull can take away a man's appetite real quick."
Evangeline lightly laughed and sat down on the sofa beside Adam after wishing Hoss a good appetite. Adam's head was filled with the wafting scent of rose water. He noticed her small white hands held politely in her lap and he had an urge to reach for her and take up one small hand and press it to his lips.
"My brother here was born with a good appetite," Adam said and Evangeline lightly laughed while Hoss ate; he would have replied but his father's admonitions not to talk with a full mouth came to the forefront.
"Evangeline," Mr. Rigby said sharply, "how can you laugh in this house with your sister's passing so recent. Have you no decorum, no proper respect?"
"I'm sorry father—you're right, of course." Evangeline looked under her lowered lashes at Adam and he was intrigued. Was she conveying interest in him? Adam didn't know if he hoped so or not. After all, if things went well, if he could show Joe's innocence, they would soon be on their way home and Evangeline with her angelic looks would be left behind. But if Melora looked anything like her older sister than Adam could well understand Joe's enchantment with her.