Chapter Sixteen

Excerpt from Ch 15

"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.

Relief could literally be seen on Fred's face as he sat in his office listening as Leon Gilbert and Nick talked with him. "If it's necessary," Leon, who was standing near the office window, glanced towards the street then back at Fred. "You can get statements from the other passengers. For a change, the majority of the passengers live right here in Stockton."

"No need to." Fred was smiling wide as he turned to Nick. "I have more than enough witnesses who have said the fellow in the cell- whoever he is-went into the office just moments before the shot rang out. I looked for someone, anyone, who was in a position to see the back door of the telegraph office. I've found only one so far, and that man admitted he didn't have his eyes in the direction of the back door all the time. That part has frustrated me because I wanted to be able to prove that, since no one saw Nick go in the front door, no one saw him exit the back door either. Now, I won't have to. Our guest back there," he gestured in the direction of the cells and continued speaking, "was the only other person in the office at the time."

"I best get going." Leon bade everyone goodbye and left to finish the rest of his business.

Nick's eyes, whose had filled with fury the second Leon closed the front door, growled loudly, "I'm going to…" he started for the door that led to the cells only to have Fred stop him.

"While I do need to know if he is Paul Lee or this Roger Lane using an alias, I don't need you to do anything stupid." He looked at Jarrod. "Why don't you go get Miss Hamilton and take her back to the cell? She can identify him one way or the other while Nick stays here with me."

"Alright." Jarrod left the office; it didn't take him long to return with Chelsie and Heath both, though Heath stayed with the sheriff and Nick while Jarrod and Chelsie headed for the cells.

The moment Chelsie and Jarrod stepped through the doorway-and Fred's prisoner turned around-she exploded. "How dare you try to pin a murder you committed on Nick!" She went on to state a number of things she hoped Roger was facing-one of which, naturally, was a 'new necktie'. "And don't try to tell me it was Nick...you should have double checked the trains before you tried blaming him!" She turned around and stormed back into the office.

"She's wrong. I…" Roger took a step towards the bars only to have Jarrod turn away.

"You are talking to the wrong man." Jarrod quickly left the cell area, having no desire or reason to stay. Soon, the three Barkley brothers and Chelsie were heading towards the ranch-hoping to be able to enjoy a few quiet days before Thomas Lane, or whoever else he had pulled into the mess-tried anything else.

While Nick and the others had been talking to Fred, Mr. Crown had also received a visitor…his sister, Harold's stepmother.

"NO, MARY!" Crown glared hard at his brown-haired sister who had come to talk to him. She had just asked him to consider becoming more involved when it came to getting 'that land'- as 'she didn't want Harold to have died for nothing'. "As I told Frank Judson, Harold was the only help I was giving anyone! It's not my fault he failed! Don't tell me you can get help somewhere else either. Your louse of a husband got himself killed last year because he took risks he didn't have to, and none of his 'friends' are still associating with you." 'Why should they when you have no money to give them?' was a thought he kept to himself. "Now Harold is dead because he was stupid enough to think he could successfully take away what belongs to a Barkley." He flashed an irritated glance towards his sister and continued talking, "When I said Harold could try to get the girl, no one told me she was Nick Barkley's wife! Now, I told you before, I will keep you in the lifestyle to which you've grown accustomed IF you back off. If not, go find work until you can find another husband!"

While Mary was still greatly upset, she also knew her brother well enough to know he was serious. She had no choice but to turn around and leave, since she was unwilling to risk being left out in the cold.

Once she left Frank took a chance and spoke up. "May I ask you something?"

Crown gave his hired bodyguard a smirk. "I suppose."

"I know what you said before, and you have a point. Only that's a lot of land. Wouldn't it be worth the risk? And what about getting even with the Barkleys?" Fred's tone was polite, and his curiosity sincere.

"When it comes to the land, sure-if the railroad NEEDED it, only we don't. If we did, I would have thought of a way to get it long before now. When it comes to the Barkleys, it's Mr. Lane that-somehow-thinks I have an axe to grind with the family. I don't, only he doesn't need to know that. Now, get out of here. I want no more talk about Mr. Lane around this house."

Only when he was all alone did Crown lean back in his chair. While he had not lied when he talked to Frank about bullets having names on them, it hadn't really been the reason he wasn't helping more. He let his mind turn back to the past – back to the main reason he wasn't getting more involved in this scheme of Thomas Lane's, except when he consented to let his step-nephew make an attempt.

"You saved my life. How can I repay you?" Crown stood on the outside of a fence that stood between him and the large field where one, very disagreeable, bull could be seen.

"I only saved your hide because I don't want blood on my hands. I don't care for you and less for the people you work for. However, if you do indeed have an ounce of gratitude in you – don't ever make a serious attempt to get this property for any reason. I am giving it to my step-granddaughter. I don't want her bothered."

Crown growled silently. He had been so close to being killed that day, and Hezekiah Allen hadtaken a huge risk to save him. So, he'd given the old man his word and – for all his faults- Crown didn't break his word. 'I may have promised not to make an attempt myself only I never promised not to allow someone who approached me first to try.'He then promised himself that, if Mr. Lane failed, Crown would make sure the man paid for it.