Chapter 12

Linda went first to the sheriff's office and explained when Jarrod and Victoria had told her about the note. "Do you know anyone around here named Jack Follet?"

The sheriff shook his head. "No, nobody."

"He may be a ranch hand nearby."

"Then I wouldn't know him unless I arrested him for some reason, and I haven't. I can ask around and see if anybody knows the name."

"I'll go talk to people at the railroad station. They're the only ones who'd know Jarrod was in town, them and people at the hotel."

"I'll talk to the hotel people some more," the sheriff said. "Why don't you meet me back here in an hour or so?"

Linda agreed and hurried back to the railroad station. The station manager was surprised to see her again so soon, but she explained who she was looking for and why. She described the man who had left the note, and who they were assuming was Jack Follet.

But the station manager just shook his head. "I don't know any Jack Follet."

"He seems to be a ranch hand," Linda said. "Maybe someone who happened to be here for his boss when our train came in and he saw us."

The station manager shook his head again. "You just described most of the ranch hands around here who aren't Negroes or Mexicans. I'm sorry, Mrs. Desmond. I'm afraid I can't help you."

Linda hurried back to the sheriff's office, to find out that he hadn't learned anything at the hotel. "I need to get back to my house and talk to the Barkleys," she said. "I'll check in with you again later."

"This guy Barkley is important to you, isn't he?"

"He defended me at my trial and saved my life," Linda said. "He's thinking about making me a partner in his law firm. I want to pay him back, and I want to show him that I'd be a good partner to have."

The sheriff said, "Adam would like that."

Linda smiled. "You're right. I think he would."

XXXXXX

When Linda got back to her house, Victoria was cleaning up the kitchen and was surprised to see her. "I didn't think you'd be back so soon," Victoria said right away. "Have you learned something about Follet?"

"No, not yet," Linda said, "and I still need to go by the doctor's office and get him over here."

"Please," Victoria said. "Like my other sons, Jarrod doesn't not take kindly to bed rest even when he needs it, even if the work he does is work he can still do when he's laid up."

"He's still doing legal work, isn't he?"

"Probably, unless he's dozed off."

"I'll check on him before I got out to see the doctor."

"Linda, don't work yourself into exhaustion," Victoria said. "You're doing a lot you didn't plan on doing when we came here."

"We all are, aren't we?" Linda said. "But I'm used to it, and I'm used to doing it in this town. And the last thing I want is for Jarrod to get hurt again – or for you to get hurt."

"Just don't you get hurt. You need to watch out. If this is Jack Follet, he can be real trouble, and if he finds out you're looking for him, there's no telling what he'll do if he thinks you're finding him."

"Jarrod thinks he's probably already gotten away. I took that to mean he's the type who doesn't really like to do his own dirty work. If he did attack Jarrod, maybe it was out of impulse and he won't be doing it again."

"Maybe," Victoria said. "But watch out. Don't take any chances."

"I have the sheriff on my side, and I'm not a stranger to dangerous people," Linda said. "And the two of you are my guests here. I want to be sure you're all right."

"We will be," Victoria said.

Linda gave Victoria a reassuring smile before she went to check on Jarrod. As she expected, he was still sitting up in bed with a legal pad in his lap and a book open beside him. When he saw Linda, he said, "I hope you don't mind. I had Mother fetch one of the statute books from your office."

"You're supposed to be resting," Linda said, "and you shouldn't make an accomplice of your mother."

"Well, she had to get it or I was going to try to get up and get it," Jarrod said sheepishly.

Linda couldn't help chuckling, even though that wasn't really funny. "Have you looked over that list I gave you?"

"Yes, but only two names were ones I recognized, politicians I've met in Sacramento. I know them only in passing. There's no reason they'd be after me." Jarrod gave Linda their names.

"I've heard of them. I'll keep them in mind, just in case." She turned to leave the room. "I'm about to go fetch the doctor. His name is Ronald Dorsey. If you really want to consider me your partner, you'll do what he says."

"That's blackmail," Jarrod said.

"I'm not kidding," Linda said.

"All right, all right, you win," Jarrod said. "But I am going to make my case for using crutches, so I hope you'll let him bring a pair over."

"I'll ask him to bring a pair, but if he tells you to wait until tomorrow to use them, I expect you to do it."

Jarrod gave Linda an appraising eye. "You've spent too much time around my mother."

"I'm afraid it's more like I'm a lot like your mother," Linda said. Then she grew serious. "You saved me, Jarrod. Please let me save you."

"I can't exactly say no to that, can I?" Jarrod said.

"You're keeping your gun handy?"

"It's right here beside me under the blanket, and Mother still has the sheriff's gun. She knows full well how to use it. We'll be all right."

Linda said, "After I send the doctor over, I'm going to check with a few of my contacts and see if I can track down anything about Jack Follet."

"Will you at least let the sheriff know where you're going? I'm not too keen on the idea that you might meet the wrong person and disappear."

"I can't let the sheriff know everything – you have your own contacts who don't like the law, I know."

Jarrod started to object.

Linda cut him off. "I will be talking to people I know I can trust, Jarrod. People I've been around before."

"And how are you going to know if you run into Jack Follet himself?"

"Obviously, I won't, but that's a chance I'll have to take. Please – if I am going to be your partner, you have to put your worries aside about me being a woman."

Jarrod eyed her again, and softened. "When we get to San Francisco, there are quite a few contacts I'll be introducing you to."

Linda smiled. He said when, not if. "When we get to San Francisco, I'll be more than interested in meeting them."

XXXXX

Everyone was agreed, that it was Jack Follet they were looking for but having no success finding. It didn't occur to Jarrod why they were having no luck until after the doctor came. The doctor told him he was doing well and he could use the crutches but only to get to the wc, at least until he got used to them.

"Thank you, Dr. Dorsey," Jarrod said. "Bedpans and I are not friends."

The doctor smiled. "I don't blame you. And it's O'Dorsey, by the way."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Jarrod said. "I could have sworn Linda said it was Dorsey."

"People are always dropping the O," the doctor said. "I've gotten so used to it, I'm thinking about changing it legally. I'll check in with you again tomorrow, Mr. Barkley."

"Thank you," Jarrod said, and the moment the doctor left the house, it dawned on Jarrod.

Linda wasn't finding Jack Follet because he had changed his name.

"Mother?!" Jarrod called.

Victoria had seen the doctor to the door and came into the bedroom, saying, "Jarrod, you're sounding just like Nick."

"Thanks, but no thanks, listen," Jarrod said. "They're not finding Jack Follet because I'll bet he's changed his name."

Victoria perked up. "I suppose that's possible."

"It's a rational explanation," Jarrod said. "When Linda comes in, or if the sheriff comes by, we need to tell them that right away, that Follet has probably changed his name."

"But what did he change it to?" Victoria asked. "If we don't know that, we're not better off."

"People who change their names often change them to something with the same initials, just in case they have something with their initials on it, like a belt buckle or a wallet," Jarrod said. "Linda and the sheriff should be looking for anyone whose initials are JF. It's a real possibility, Mother."

"I think you're right," Victoria said. "But if you're also right that Jack Follet, whoever he is now, has left town, this might not be a lot of help."

"But if he hasn't left town, it will be, and whether he has or not, if we can find his new name, we might be able to track him or put a wanted out on him."

"Should I go see the sheriff right away?"

"No, it must be getting later. Linda should be back soon. She can go over." He thought about Linda, and he smiled. "She's a lawyer, Mother. She's going to take a solid lead and run with it."

"You lawyers are a family of your own," Victoria said.