Chapter 11

At about the time Jarrod was pressing Dr. Lane to make up his mind, Daniel Wright was making up his mind, too. He had sat down in his study and thought about it ever since his rider told him Jarrod had headed for Done In. He thought about what that Barkley might do. He thought about whether the other Barkleys had really gone back to Stockton, or were they shadowing the one going to Done In. He weighed the risks of trying to stop the man who went to Done In, versus doing nothing.

He had asked for coffee, and Mrs. Locklater brought it in to him. He did not thank her. He did not say a word to her. She went back out to where Mrs. Henry was getting the dining room ready for dinner. They looked at each other, then looked around to see if anyone was listening in. Comfortable no one was eavesdropping, Mrs. Linklater said, "What do you think? Did they understand?"

"I don't know," Mrs. Henry said. "They were suspicious, but I just don't know."

Mrs. Linklater sighed. "We may never get another chance."

"Why don't you talk to Walt about it? He was the sheriff. He'll know what to do."

"I will, tonight, if I'm sure they kids aren't overhearing."

Mrs. Henry nodded.

In the study, Wright had made up his mind. He was going to let Jarrod go, at least until there seemed to be more of a threat to his operation. As it stood, the sheriff of Millertown was accepting what Wright fed him. The man was always like that – he wanted no trouble to have to deal with. Wright figured if something happened to this stray Barkley now, it would bring the others roaring back, and maybe this time the law would be with them.

No, he decided. He had played the visit perfectly. For now, he was just fine. He wouldn't do anything. He'd just let everything stay where it was, but he would keep a sharp eye out, and if anybody else wanted to "visit" his property, he would be ready to refuse them, and let the chips fall where they may.

XXXXXXX

Try as he might, Jarrod could not get Dr. Lane to go with him to Merced. The man was just too scared, or too worried Wright would find him gone and take it out on the people he had working for him. Jarrod wasn't sure which, but he didn't have time to care. He headed for Merced alone.

He got there just as the DA, a man named Kenneth Dawson, was getting ready to leave his office for the day. "Can I have a few minutes with you, Ken?" Jarrod asked right away. "It's very important."

Dawson, a man just a hair younger than Jarrod who had been his adversary in a couple of cases, said, "Sure, Jarrod. Let's go over to Sundowner's and have a drink."

They walked across the street together to the saloon that the court personnel seemed to favor. Jarrod spotted a free table at the back. "Let's go over here. I really don't want anybody to listen in on us."

Dawson followed along, and soon the two of them were sitting with some good scotch in front of them. "So, what's up?" Dawson asked.

Jarrod sighed. "You may think this is unbelievable, but bear with me. I've checked it out. I think it's for real."

XXXXX

As Jarrod and Dawson were beginning to talk, Nick, Heath and the other men from the ranch were arriving home. Ciego took charge of the horses and Nick and Heath went into the house. Tired and dry, they headed for the refreshment table and were downing their first whiskey when Audra came down from upstairs.

"What happened?" she asked quickly.

"Nothing," Nick said, exasperated.

"Jarrod's gone to Merced," Heath said. "How is Mother?"

"In a lot less pain, but worried," Audra said.

"We should get a wire from Jarrod tonight," Nick said. "He expected to be home by tomorrow, or he'd wire again."

"Why don't we go tell Mother we're home?" Heath suggested. "We can put her mind at ease."

"I'll tell Silas you're back and have him get dinner ready," Audra said.

Nick and Heath put their drinks down and headed upstairs. When they knocked on Victoria's door, she told them to come in, and she looked immensely relieved when she saw who it was.

They both smiled at her. "Home safe and sound," Nick said. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I can get up and walk," Victoria said.

"Don't you dare," Nick said quickly.

"Is Jarrod with you?" Victoria asked.

"No, he's gone to Merced," Heath said. "We're expecting a wire from him anytime."

"So you didn't get anywhere at the man's ranch."

Nick shook his head. "Wright played it straight and we couldn't catch him at anything, even though it looked awful fishy. Jarrod's gonna talk to the DA in Merced, but if he won't start an investigation, I'm not sure what we're gonna do."

Victoria sighed. "You're absolutely sure he's holding people against their will."

"Jarrod is. That's enough for me."

"And me," Heath said. "I guess we're just gonna have to keep thinking if the DA in Merced won't help."

"Well, I'm relieved you're home," Victoria said. "I'm sorry you didn't get anywhere."

"Jarrod should be home tomorrow," Heath said. "He said he'd wire if he wasn't going to make it."

Victoria thought about it, and she shook her head. "How on God's earth can this man – this Wright fellow – get away with keeping people against their will?"

"He's shrewd," Heath said. "He's slick."

"Like a lizard," Nick said.

XXXXXXX

Dawson listened to what Jarrod had to say about Done In, about Dr. Lane, and about Daniel Wright, but when he was finished, Jarrod didn't like the look on Dawson's face. "So," Dawson said, "you really don't have anything concrete to go on other than this Dr. Lane's say-so, and he refused to come with you here."

"I have moldy food left at the sheriff's place," Jarrod said. "I have people at Wright's who are silent and looked every bit of scared to death. I got a man who's got his whole place locked down tight by armed men."

Dawson shook his head. "Jarrod, there's nothing there that would warrant me starting an investigation."

"What would warrant it?" Jarrod asked.

"A witness who's been held there and got away! A worker who's willing to testify that he's worked with people who aren't free to come and go as they please! An armed compound, people who look scared, moldy food and a doctor who refuses to back you up here with me – Jarrod, you know that's not enough."

Jarrod sighed. "I was afraid you'd see it that way, but Ken – I know Dr. Lane is telling the truth."

"Then you'd better find some way to turn what you believe into solid evidence. You just don't have enough for me to start an investigation over. I'm sorry."

Frustrated, Jarrod banged the table once and kept thinking. He had some preposterous ideas – find someone to get taken by Wright – get taken himself – sneak in there and get somebody out on his own – bribe somebody. He knew none of that would work and might very well get him hurt or killed. "Ken, I just have to find a way to get those people free."

"Look, Jarrod," Dawson said, leaning toward him and speaking softly. "I know you, and I know you wouldn't bring this to me if you didn't really believe it. But think of me as a judge with you trying to get a search warrant out of me. You know I could never grant it on what you've given me." Dawson leaned back again. "If I were you, I'd go home and sleep on it for a while. Maybe something will happen, or something will come to you. Or maybe you'll just have to forget it and let someone else get to the bottom of it someday. I don't know. But I can't help you."

They parted company with Jarrod feeling alone and angry. There just had to be something to do about this, but he didn't know how to find it. He checked his watch and decided it was too late to try to make it back to the ranch. He sent the telegram home, saying he'd be there tomorrow. Then he got himself something to eat and checked in at the hotel.

XXXXXXX

It wasn't until they crawled into bed that Sheriff Linklater's wife felt they were alone enough for her to tell her husband about the Barkleys' visit that day. Linklater listened carefully, and he was especially attentive after he heard the name Barkley. "That's the Stockton Barkleys," he said after she'd finished.

"I suppose," his wife said.

"One of them's a lawyer. He might be the one who asked you the questions."

"Maybe. Walt, it's the first inkling of a chance we've had since they took me. Can't we do something with it?"

Linklater spoke very quietly. "I can't think of what right now. The Barkleys are important people. We'd have to find some way to get through to them, make them see what's really happening out here. They're obviously part of the way there, but Wright is smooth. Right now I don't know how to get around him."

"I don't want you to try to get away. He'd kill you. But maybe if I tried – "

"No, Hattie, absolutely not," Linklater said quickly and kissed her. "I'm not letting you risk your life."

"And I can't let you risk yours. What else can we do? Get one of the others to try?"

"The only ones of us who don't have families don't have gumption either. That's why Wright's been able to keep us so far. We sure can't count on one of those old drunks to help us, even if they have sobered up."

They quieted down together, holding each other. Mrs. Linklater said, "I don't want our children living like this anymore. The thought of them spending their lives trapped like this tears me apart."

"I know, darling. I feel the same way. But right now I just don't know how to get by Wright. I just don't know."

On the other side of the door to their little bedroom, their oldest son Jason was listening. He heard every word, but he moved away from the door, all the way to the other side of the room, before he started to really think about what he'd heard.

"Aren't you gonna come to bed?"

Thirteen-year-old Jason looked over to his younger brother Joe, who shared a bed with him. He walked over there and said, "Not right now. I'm going outside."

"Outside? They'll shoot you!"

"No, they won't. I ain't going far. They won't even see me."

"What are you gonna do outside?"

"Think."

Jason got up and quietly went out the front door.