Chapter Fifteen

Previously:

Nick took his hand off hers and rested it around her shoulders. "Don't worry; I'm still in your corner. Only," he couldn't help but grin. "We've got to avoid those puddles...water or mud doesn't matter."

Maybe it was the way Nick made the statement or the look that came upon his face as he spoke – maybe a combination of both- only when Heath, who opened the train car door seconds after Nick had spoken, he found the dark haired rancher and Chelsie practically rolling with laughter.

"Well," Heath shook his head, "Guess laughter is better than gunshots."

His words only made Nick and Chelsie laugh even more.

By the time the train rolled into Stockton, it was almost evening. Nick, Heath, and Chelsie wasted no time in getting off the train and heading for the animal car.

"Do you believe the train breaking down after they supposedly fixed the problem! We should have been back on the ranch hours ago." Nick growled as they reached the train car that held their horses, along with a couple other animals.

"Complaining about it isn't going to change it." Heath said as a dark-haired railroad worker opened the door. Moments later all the horses that had been transported were back with their owners.

"You want to take the horses to the livery stable and grab a bite to eat at the cafe?" Nick looked at Chelsie- whose stomach had just embarrassed her by growling very loudly.

"I'd just as soon ride out to your ranch." Chelsie looked around, making sure there wasn't anyone she either recognized or strangers that appeared to be watching them.

Before either Nick or Heath could say anything, they saw Jarrod hurrying towards them. "This can't be good." Nick, who had now held Coco's reins in his hands, gestured toward the eldest Barkley.

Naturally, the first thing both brothers thought was that something bad had happened in the family. It made them both stiffen. "What's going on?" Nick asked once Jarrod reached them.

"Did the train just get in?" Jarrod looked at his brothers and the woman he presumed to be the one calling herself Nick's wife.

"Yes, and you can blame a couple of break downs for hours of delay-and I mean hours!" Nick grumbled, adding he sometimes wished it was possible for men to fly.

"At the moment, be glad that is not possible." Jarrod told him, the immense relief the Stockton attorney felt could be seen his is eyes, voice, and the way he relaxed.

Nick didn't like it, simply because it sent the message something was dreadfully wrong. "Why? What's happened?"

Jarrod shocked his brothers when he told them that the telegraph operator, Lyle Richardson, had been murdered a mere hour ago. "One Paul Lee said he walked into the office just in time to hear Paul yelling at Nick. He said Nick and Lyle were struggling with Lyle's gun, said Nick got Lyle's gun away from him and shot the telegraph worker before realizing he and Paul weren't alone."

"WHAT!" Nick's bellow rang through the train station yard. "HOW am I supposed to be in two places at once? Where is the Lee fellow now?"

Jarrod didn't have to ask why his brother wanted to know that. Though, he quickly told Nick to calm down. "He got into a bit of a brawl in the saloon; he's sitting in a jail cell at the moment. It will be easy enough to gather plenty of witnesses, along with the conductor's statement that you were on the train at the time of the killing. Only question is, why would this Paul Lee blame you?"

Nick looked at Chelsie then back at Jarrod. "What does this Paul Lee look like?"

His brother's actions made him wonder even more was going on when it came to Nick and his 'wife'. Still…. "I'd say he's just under six feet…" Jarrod describing Nick's accuser. By the time he was through Nick's, Heath's and Chelsie's eyes were wide open-their shock could be clearly seen.

"HOW would he have gotten here before us?" Chelsie looked at Nick.

"Well, if he caught another train – one that didn't break down-and then pushed his horse hard… He'd have to have switched to his horse. There wasn't another train actually coming into Stockton until tomorrow." Nick shook his head in disbelief. "He must not know about the delays we had, must think we were back on time."

"WHO are you talking about?" Jarrod demanded to know.

"You just described a man by the name of Roger Lane." Nick started walking away from the train station, keeping the reins to his horse in his hand. Chelsie also led their horses. He started from the beginning and told Jarrod everything.

"Ten to one those two were arguing about the situation, and he's the guilty party. He's just trying to blame me-hoping to get me out of the picture." By the time Nick was finished talking, they were standing in front of the livery stable at the end of town.

"We need to go talk to Fred now, and then I can get the needed statements. I mean, about you being on the delayed train. I just hope Mr. Lane – if that is indeed who this Paul Lee really is- is still sitting in the cell by the time I'm through."

Jarrod, his brothers, and Chelsie were shocked when they heard a voice behind them. "Maybe I can save you some time."

"What are you doing here? Not that we're not glad to see you," Jarrod turned to face Leon Gilbert-the train's engineer.

"I had some business to take care of before I head home. If you need to prove to Fred that Nick was on the train, why don't I just go with you? His office was on my list of places to stop anyway." Leon shrugged his shoulders. "I was going to stop by his office after all my other business was taken care of only I can bump it to the top of the list."

"Thanks," Nick turned to Heath. "No reason for the two of you to go with us. How about getting Chelsie something to eat." He pulled some money out of his pocket and handed it to Heath. "And, you, don't argue. Please."

"Oh, alright." Chelsie gave in and left with Heath while Nick, Leon Gilbert and Jarrod hurried to the sheriff's office.