ECLIPSE

CHAPTER FIVE

"Be seated. The court is now in session, the honorable Judge Ames presiding," Bailiff DuPont broadcasted from the top of the stairs next to the judge's table. The crowd complied apart from the attorneys at their tables.

"Good morning, everyone," the judge stated as he adjusted his glasses looking at the prosecution table. "Mr. Banks, are you ready to begin?"

"Yes, your honor."

"Mr. Jakes?" The judge noted the shackles remained in place on the defendants as they sat at their table. Given the size of the crowd, Ames saw no reason to question the decision of the sheriff. Slate, the elder Meek brother had a smug smile as he watched the proceedings. Harrison tapped his heel nervously.

"The defense is ready, your honor."

"Where were we Bailiff?" Ames asked for the benefit of the crowd.

"You ordered Mr. John Lancer to resume his testimony, Judge," Richard DuPont kept his attention on the gallery.

"Where's your brother?" Murdoch hissed in Scott's ear voicing the same question the bailiff seemed to be asking as his eyes roamed the full seats.

"He said he needed some time to himself to get ready, sir. You know this is going to be a rough day for him," Scott replied as he glanced over his shoulder wishing he had waited at the hotel to walk over with his brother in support—and to keep him on schedule.

"Let's proceed then." The judge leaned back in his chair while both Banks and Jakes began to look at the crowded room.

"Calling Mr. John Lancer to the stand," the bailiff announced. The room began to buzz as curiosity mounted. "Mr. John Lancer to the stand."

"Scott, go find him," Murdoch gave a gentle shove against his elder son's shoulder who moved to slide out of the pew as all eyes turned to face the back of the room.

Scott dropped back to his seat with a shake of his head. "I think everyone in town just found him, Murdoch. And I think he also found himself."

The ching-ching-ching of spurs proceeded the dark hat with leather headband trimmed with silver conchos coming into view of the church steps. The overflow crowd parted giving a wide berth as he came up the exterior stairs. No one needed to ask who strolled through the vestibule taking two steps inside the nave before stopping and raking his eyes from one side of the room to the other.

"Sheriff," a low drawl filled the silence of the room, "will you mind this for me?" Val moved next to the man and accepted his hat. Fingers moved deftly over the low-hung holster and removed the Colt it held. The sheriff took that as well doing a quick check of the loaded cylinder before snapping it back into place. The leather belt slipped off with smooth fingers releasing the buckle. Val checked it before sliding the six-gun into the empty holster. "I'm gonna want those back," he added with a grin.

"I'll have 'em, for ya," Val assured him with a smile of his own.

Moving with catlike grace, the man continued up the center aisle. His dark hair waved onto his forehead, but he kept his eyes straight ahead. He wore a dark bolero jacket with silver embroidery running along the collar and lapels ending at his trim waist. Tight leather pants accented with concho buttons down the outside of each leg revealed muscular movement as he traveled the length of the large room, the spurs ringing his approach. A bright red shirt with intricate black embroidery and elongated wood buttons announced his arrival more loudly than the continued silence of all other voices in the room.

"Judge," Johnny nodded a greeting as he mounted the steps before casting his eyes about the room. Almost as if the sun had burned through the fog, he could see everything but the periphery in his field of vision. He settled on his brother first. Scott's smile spread wide as the beautiful blue sky, one hidden far too often, and Johnny knew it was meant for him. One side of his own lips tugged up and he gave his brother a nod. With some trepidation, his eyes slid to look at his father. The rest of his smile filled his face when he saw Murdoch give him a nod of understanding, and even more important, acceptance. They all recognized what game Jakes was dealing, and his family knew Johnny needed to fight back with a strong hand.

Even more satisfying was the shock on the defense attorney's face, the anger of Slate Meek and the fear of Harrison.

"I hear you was looking for me," Johnny drawled, staring at the three.

"Mr. Lancer. I see you have joined us. Please sit," Judge Ames waved at the witness chair. "You are still under oath."

"I know. I always tell the truth anyway," Johnny told him as he nodded at DuPont and flowed into the chair. "See no reason to do any different now, Judge."

"Mr. Jakes, your witness," Judge Ames reminded the court.

Yancy Jakes squared his shoulders and moved toward the witness seat. He wanted to project confidence; however, his stutter step on the stairs under Johnny's glare elicited a few chuckles throughout the nave.

"Mr. Madrid…."

"The name's Lancer, Mr. Jakes," Johnny interrupted. "I shouldn't have to remind you after yesterday's fracas that we're supposed to be actin' respectable for Judge Ames."

"Mr. Lancer," Jakes nodded toward the raised gavel of the judge who set it down before pounding it against the table. "Isn't it true that you also use the alias Johnny Madrid?" The lawyer tossed his hand toward Johnny's clothing.

"Nope."

Jakes's head shot up with a surprised look, rubbing his hand across his mouth before attempting to look the witness in the eye but failed under the burning look he was given in return. "You are under oath Mr. Lancer. In fact, I think many people know that you are the man known as Johnny Madrid. You yourself testified just yesterday that you are also known as Johnny Madrid."

"I did an' I am. But it ain't no alias. That word means I'm pretending to be someone I'm not. I know exactly who I am, Mr. Jakes." Just needed a kick in the head from Mattie to remind me, Johnny thought to himself. The stare aimed at the attorney was hard and unflinching. "It's best you remember who I am, too."

Jakes cleared his throat. "Mr. Lancer, yesterday you described how you came to Lem Cable's cabin and followed three riders. Understanding it was dark when you arrived, were you able to positively identify these riders?"

"Yep."

"What?" Jakes tongue touched the corner of his mouth, unable to hide his reaction.

"Since ya seemed to have forgot what ya just asked, ya wanted to know if I could identify the riders, an' I said yes, but I should tell ya it was only one."

"One? One what?" Jakes licked his lips as his mind sought to recover the reasonable doubt he had planned to present.

"Rider. I was able to positively identify one rider."

"Who? How?" Yancy continued to stumble.

"Harrison Meek. His horse."

"You saw my client… on his horse… in the dark?"

"I saw 'im but only thought it might be him at first and then I knew for sure."

Jakes took a deep breath. The nervous panic that had nearly floored him from the moment Johnny Madrid—and Yancy had no doubts who he was facing—entered the room began to settle as he saw a way back to his set agenda.

"And now you are swearing under oath that you saw Harrison Meek ride away from Lem Cable's cabin?

"I am."

"And why did you think it was Harrison Meek?"

"The Meek brothers worked at Lancer for about two months. They brought their own horses with 'em. Harrison had a nice little seal brown bay with a white diamond blaze. Clint's mare matched Harrison's 'cept with a spit of diamond by her forelock and had a red mane and tail to Harrison's mare who had black. Now, Slate rode a pretty appaloosa that stood out like a torch in a moonless night. The horses that rode away from Lem's place looked just like that."

"So based on the horses you saw riding away from you in the dark, you claim it was the Meek brothers."

"Nope." Johnny leaned back in the chair lifting the front legs off the floor until Ames made a noise of his disapproval and swung two fingers forward. Johnny lowered the legs as he tilted his head enjoying the red tint creeping up Jakes's neck to his ears.

"Mr. Lancer, what is the basis for your claim that you saw Harrison Meek ride away that night?"

"As I said, the horses all matched, and the riders were all the right sizes for those boys, but I was only thinking it might them at first. Lem was so worried about me going to his cabin, I felt a duty to go inside first. The place had been wrecked. After I went inside and didn't see anythin' more I could do there, I came back out and I followed 'em. Based on how hard they was pushin' those horses, they knew I was on their tail and weren't stopping to hide their trail. When it got light, I was able to take a good look at the tracks and knew it was Harrison's horse and from what I saw of the man that took off on that horse, I knew it was Harrison."

Jakes sighed loudly and lifted his arms from his sides as he looked to the jury but only seemed to have the sympathy of a few of those men. "You can't walk down the street of Green River without seeing horse tracks. What about those tracks made you so sure it was Harrison's horse?"

"A little while after the Meeks started at Lancer, I was checking the line shacks. There was too much missing outta one of the cabins. Not knowing who had been scrounging around, I looked for sign and saw three horses had been there. One shoe, left back, had an imperfection. Didn't quite sit flat all the way around. Left a crease like this," Johnny angled his finger as he spoke, "where one side went a little deeper in the dirt and was crooked, like this." His finger drew a mark in the air. "After that I went looking. I found the mare in our corral and saw who rode her. Harrison Meek."

"And you confronted him?"

"Nah. I've been in hard luck too many times to make a man miserable over a few cans of beans. Figured he and his brothers needed it more than I did."

"Other than you, who knew about this "imperfection?""

"Don't know but anyone with an eye for trackin' sign can see it. All three horses belongin' to them boys are in the livery. I imagine even you can see it if you care to look, Mr. Jakes."

"But Mr. Lancer, even if we conceded that the horseshoe you describe is on the horse owned by Harrison Meek, we've only got your word that the sign you followed that day matched that horse. Isn't that right?"

"Yeah, only my word. Just like ya only got theirs that they didn't kill Lem."

"Objection!" Jakes shouted.

Ames rolled his eyes before he turned toward the men in the choir loft. "I'm reminding the jury that the defendants have not been charged in the death of Lem Cable. Continue, Mr. Jakes."

"Yesterday you testified that after you were injured…."

"Bushwhacked," Johnny interrupted.

"…at the river where you were assisted by Mattie Cable."

"Would'a died without her helpin' me."

"Judge, will you please remind the witness to wait until he is asked a question!"

Vernon Ames made brief eye contact with his bailiff who shrugged. He made a deliberate turn of his head to look at Johnny before stating, "Mr. Lancer, please let Mr. Jakes ask a question before you answer."

"I just ain't accustomed to movin' as slow as him, your honor," Johnny explained. Many in the court chuckled, Murdoch ducking his head to hide his bemused smile.

"It is the process, Mr. Lancer."

"I'll do my best for ya, judge."

"He'll do his best, Mr. Jakes. Continue."

Yancy Jakes chewed at this inside of his lower lip and did a silent count to three to settle the churning in his stomach. Banks holding a piece of paper over his face to hide his amusement wasn't helping. Jakes turned back to his table and made a show of looking at his notes before resuming his questions.

"Mr. Lancer, you testified that Miss Cable assisted you to the doctor where you were treated. After leaving Hard Luck Notch, why did you go back to the Cables' cabin? Why didn't you go back to the comfort of your ranch? The largest in the valley? Why go to the Cables' cabin instead of Lancer?"

The hair prickled on Johnny's neck. He knew this asshole was up to something, but he hadn't figured it out yet. He knew to keep his answers brief but didn't want the jury having too many thoughts by themselves either. But he also knew he liked keeping Jakes riled.

"Are ya ready for me now, Mr. Jakes? Didn't wanna upset the judge by answering ya too soon again."

Jakes's hands knotted into fists against the titters he heard throughout the courtroom. "I am waiting for you to answer now, Mr. Lancer. Why did you go to the Cables' cabin instead of Lancer?"

"I passed out by the time Mattie got me to the livery and in the wagon. We didn't discuss where to go seeing how we were just stayin' a step ahead of the Meek brothers tryin' to kill me." Jakes lifted his arms in complaint but didn't sound off about it. Johnny talked through him anyway. "I figured she decided to take me someplace close. Someplace she knew. She took me to her home. I woke up there."

"Just the two of you?"

"Lem was beaten to death, so yeah, just the two of us."

Yancy kept the smile off his face, but he knew he was prodding Lancer in some tender spots and ignored the jibe about Cable's murder. That charge was off the table so there was no reason to remind the jury that it no longer mattered. Getting Madrid to surface, that mattered. He poked a little harder. "When you woke up at Lem Cable's cabin, did you ask her to take you to Lancer?"

"No. I had other things to think about."

"About being alone with the girl?"

"That question doesn't deserve an answer," Johnny scowled.

"You were fond of the girl?" pressed Jakes.

"Objection. Relevance," Banks tossed his pen to the table.

"A girl. Alone. Without chaperone. A girl willing to be alone with a man. For an entire night. It all speaks to the…shall we say quality of the girl. Any man might simply accept the invitation that was offered," Jakes went on without pausing for the judge to respond.

"Objection!" Banks leapt to his feet. "Mr. Jakes seems to have a difficult time remembering who is on trial here!"

"Sustained," Ames pounded the gavel several times. "Mr. Jakes, I will not allow this attack on a good woman's character."

"If you say so, your honor," the defense attorney took deliberate steps toward the jury box.

Johnny ground his teeth with building anger. He saw the faces of the male jury react with disapproval, knowing leers, and sympathetic understanding—none of it in Mattie's favor given the glances at Harrison who had dropped his head and Slate who wisely covered his smile with his hand. Johnny now knew exactly what Jakes had planned. Jakes had painted the woman he loved—still loved—as a fallen flower. Soiled dove. A girl Harrison Meek was allowed to rape because she asked for it. Wasn't his fault at all. Johnny's right hand dropped to his hip as his eyes grew cold.

Young Lancer's gesture toward his absent gun was noted by the defense counsel with a quick flick of a satisfied grin. Another few jabs and the dangerous Johnny Madrid should erupt for all to see.

The former gunfighter missed the tell from the attorney that he had been looking for, but it wouldn't have changed anything. He already wanted to shoot Yancy Jakes. Johnny tilted his head and slowly blinked his eyes as he studied the man. He was strutting about as if he knew all about the kind of man Johnny was—Madrid was, no doubt. He figured most of the town thought the same thing, thinking that he could be pushed into a fight, gun smoking with no thought about the consequences. They thought him a violent man, a dangerous one. They were wrong.

He wasn't violent.

And Johnny never walked into a fight blind, even when he couldn't see.

With slow, steady breaths, he brought his anger into a controlled fury. Jakes, the Meeks, hell the whole damn town thought they could bait him into something foolish. They could fire up his outrage, no doubt about that, but not a soul in this world could force his hand, not anymore. In that moment, sitting in a church full of Green River's fine and upstanding citizens who decided to judge him instead of the murderous Meek brothers, Johnny decided he didn't care anymore what the jury might say. If they wanted the Meeks to walk free knowing what they did, they deserved whatever the Meeks did next. But they would stay away from his family. Then they would see Johnny Madrid. And just how dangerous he could be.

Jakes, head down, projecting a man in deep contemplation, held his hands behind his back as he walked back to stand in front of the witness as he planned his next move to further agitate the man.

Johnny was thinking, too, but preferred to keep his blank face. People assuming he was a dumb gunhawk typically worked to his advantage.

"Mr. Lancer, you have testified that you thought you were following Harrison Meek and two other riders when you saw them at Lem Cable's cabin. Did you assume it was Slate and Clint with him?"

"Yep."

"Did the riders know it was you who followed them?"

"I wouldn't know."

"What horse were you riding that night?"

"Mine."

"You are part owner of the largest ranch in the valley. You own many horses. Which one were you riding the night you followed the three riders away from the cabin?"

"Barranca."

"Would you say that Barranca is recognized as your horse?"

"He knows it. Did ya have anyone else in mind?" The response drew laughter from the crowd. Many people had seen Johnny call his horse by a whistle and several had made the mistake of getting too close to the feisty horse without Johnny letting the animal know he approved. Everyone who knew Johnny knew his horse.

Jakes flicked his tongue in the corner of his mouth making Johnny draw in a satisfied breath. Another tell from Jakes confirming that the man didn't like hearing answers he hadn't planned on.

"What kind of horse is Barranca?"

"Mustang." The tongue pushed out on the left side of the brown-haired attorney.

"Isn't there a more descriptive term for his breed?"

"Nope. Just a wild mustang," Johnny shook his head. "He's not a pure bred. We have that in common," he added with a smirk, causing an uneasy chuckle in the room.

"Isn't there something distinctive about Barranca that makes him stand out?" Jakes's voice raised a notch in frustration.

"Sure. He's my horse."

"Your honor, please instruct Mr. Lancer to answer the question."

Judge Ames looked at the defense attorney with a raised eyebrow. Johnny glanced at the first pew and was pleased to see the upturned grin and dancing slate blue eyes of his brother. Murdoch sat with his arms crossed and a pleased look in his eyes.

"Mr. Jakes, I have heard an answer to each of your questions," the judge commented. "Perhaps you would like to rephrase?"

"Fine. Mr. Lancer, isn't your horse's breed a palomino?"

"Nope."

"You are under oath, Mr. Lancer!" Jakes revealed his temper before Johnny did. "It is well known that you ride a palomino horse!"

"I know I'm under oath, Mr. Jakes, without your remindin' me as if you've forgotten. The color of my horse is palomino. Maybe that's the question you wanted to ask." Johnny enjoyed seeing the red flush of the man and the head shakes of some in the jury box at the man's blunder.

"You and your palomino-colored horse followed three men away from Lem Cable's cabin. When did you identify the irregular shoe print that made you suspect it was Harrison Meek you were trailing?"

"No suspicion. I know who I was following. As I already said, I confirmed it when dawn gave me enough light to make sure."

"You examined the actual trail at dawn, not from the time you left the cabin?"

"I didn't backtrack on the trial. There was no need. They were just runnin'. They weren't tryin' to cover up their trail or leave a false one. Like I already told ya."

"Hmmm, so is it possible that as you rode your distinctively colored horse through the night that you may have lost the trail of the three riders who left Lem Cable's cabin and picked up the Meeks' trail by mistake?"

"No." Johnny's ice-cold tone chilled the room. Jakes's tongue darted on both sides of his mouth.

"Earlier when chatting with my esteemed colleague, Mr. Banks, you stated it was Harrison Meek who attacked Mattie Cable in her cabin; however, Dr. Jenkins has testified that the injury you sustained caused temporary blindness. Am I remembering that correctly, Mr. Lancer?"

"Yes," Johnny leaned forward with a sarcastic retort forming until he caught the quick shake of his father's head. Sitting taller than anyone else in the room made it easy for the younger son to see his father although the foggy film was beginning to spread along with the headache behind his eyes. He leaned back and waited.

"Were you blinded at the time of the incident of Miss Cable's attack?"

"Yes."

"Since you couldn't see, how did you know it was Harrison Meek?

"I heard him."

"Normally at this time, I would ask the witness to point to the person they are identifying, but since you could not see Mr. Meek at the time, I hardly think that would tell us anything useful since you testified that the man is not a stranger to you. If I could ask the indulgence of the court, I would like to verify that Mr. Lancer can identify Harrison Meek based on his hearing."

"You honor," Uriah Banks took to his feet, "once again Mr. Jakes wants to insult the word of the witness. He has testified under oath that Harrison Meek assaulted Mattie Cable. No further validation should be necessary."

"Under these circumstances, I will allow it; however, I will warn defense counsel that he has a short rope."

"Thank you, your honor." Jakes reached inside of his jacket and pulled out a square piece of white fabric and dropped it so that only one corner dangled from his grip. "Now Mr. Lancer, I need to tie this to cover your face…."

"OBJECTION!" Banks took several steps toward the judge's table. Both Murdoch and Scott started to jump to their feet although Johnny snorted knowing full well the outlaw image Yancy Jakes wanted to plant in the jury's mind.

"Mr. Jakes, you have stretched that rope I warned you about," Ames scowled at the defense attorney.

"How 'bout I close my eyes?" Johnny offered, his drawl calm and unhurried. "Since they don't have any guns in their hands, I'll even turn my back to give Slate and Harrison and Mr. Jakes some peace of mind." Ames cleared his throat loudly with a look at Johnny but didn't admonish the remark.

"Mr. DuPont, relieve Mr. Jakes of that…prop. Mr. Lancer, your willing cooperation is noted. Please stand and turn to face the back of the court." All instructions were followed as the commotion in the nave increased, forcing the gavel to fall. "Quiet! Or I will empty this room of the lot of you!"

"No offense intended, your honor," Jakes intoned apologetically toward the jury box with outstretched hands giving the cloth to the bailiff. The man bounced down the steps to stand in front of the defense table.

"Mr. Lancer, are you ready?"

"I'm always ready Mr. Jakes."

Jakes nodded toward the jury, then the gallery and finally stated, "Please state our current location." He pointed directly at Slate Meek.

"We're in the church in Green River, Californ-i-a," the elder Meek stated with a smile. Jakes held up his hand toward the nave effectively silencing the observers but given the shocked impression, most were silent to begin with.

"Mr. Lancer, is that the man you heard in the cabin?"

"Yep."

The gasps that followed caused both Jakes and Johnny smug looks.

With a gratified grin aimed at the jury, Jakes asked, "So, it is your sworn testimony that this is the voice of Harrison Meek which you heard?"

"Oh no," Johnny remained relaxed making no attempt to turn around or open his eyes although only Ames saw that concession. Somehow his half-smile carried into his voice. "That there is Slate. You asked if he was the man I heard in the cabin. I did. The first time I heard him, he came busting in the place, thinkin' I was there, and said he was leaving to go gunnin' for me. Took Clint with him and left Harrison behind to keep Mattie their prisoner. The second time was when he came back, and he tried to get me to come outside. We'd left the cellar open just enough to try to draw him in, but he had other ideas. He dumped the oil from the lamp saying it must feel like a coffin as threw a lit match down intending to burn me alive by settin' fire to the place. Didn't seem to care that he was gonna kill Mattie and his brother, too. He didn't seem to care much who all he took out."

Louder and extended gasps sounded as Jakes shouted, "Objection!"

"Overruled," the judge announced without waiting for an explanation. "You asked the question, Mr. Jakes. You can hardly object to the answer when it is not the one what you attempted to get."

"I have no further questions, your honor, "Jakes dropped into his seat with disgust but quickly stood again, "but I reserve the right to recall the witness." Johnny moved cautiously into the witness chair. His head was protesting, and he stared down at his lap, willing the pain back.

"Mr. Banks, do you wish to cross examine?"

"Indeed I do." the prosecutor tugged at his vest when he stood.

"Mr. Lancer, please remain seated in the witness chair."

Johnny nodded at the judge before he turned back to face the nave. He looked at his family fighting the instinct to rub at his burning eyes and throbbing head. He was having trouble seeing their faces clearly, but he was able to tell that both had moved to the front of their seats, hands wrapped around the crest of the half-wall divider that was positioned before the front pew. He sensed their concern and was grateful for it. He only wished this was over and he could sit next to his brother. He welcomed the feel of his firm hand on his knee about now.

"Your honor, I will need Mr. Lancer to stand and turn around again to resume this identification that Mr. Banks failed to complete."

"Objection," Jakes snarled. "I stated that I had no further questions and do not require Mr. Banks's assistance for further examination on this point."

"Overruled. You opened the door, Mr. Jakes. The prosecutor has the right to close it. Mr. Lancer, please stand and turn around."

Johnny rose gracefully from the chair but quickly rubbed his left eye with one knuckle as soon as his back was turned. He tucked his hands into his waistband, palm side flat against his stomach.

""Please state our current location." Uriah pointed to a tow-headed man seated on the second row behind the defense table.

The shocked man moved his mouth like a water-starved fish before finally croaking out, "Like he said," gesturing toward Slate, "we're in the Pres-be-tarian church in Green River."

"Do you recognize that voice, Mr. Lancer?"

"Yep. It's Emmitt Pritchard. Right good farrier. In fact, Pritch, I wouldn't mind if ya could make time to see Barranca while he's at the livery. He's gettin' a little too big for his britches and gave Jelly a good kickin' the last time he tried to trim 'im up."

"Oh, sure thing, Johnny. But ya know he allus tries to bite me."

The crowd laughed with the exception of the defense table and the reverend's wife who remained directly behind them. She twitched her nose until Elijah, her husband, covered his mouth and coughed to cease his chuckles.

"Order," Judge Ames warned the gallery with a stern look.

Banks walked directly in front of the defense table and pointed at the younger of the Meek brothers.

Harrison swallowed hard, leaning forward to look past Slate to Yancy Jakes. His brother glared at him, but their attorney gave him a crisp nod. He spoke in a lower decibel than natural as he obliged. "The church here in Green River."

Johnny face shifted to a glower. "That would be Harrison Meek. That would be Harrison Meek talking with a deep voice like it's gonna make a difference. Like I testified before, I heard him tell Mattie, "Ain't you a pretty" the second he walked in the cabin. His brothers barely shut the door on their way out before that son of…," Johnny caught himself and took a long breath, "…before he told Mattie since they were gonna be alone for a little while, they needed to get friendly, and he laid his hands on her. I could hear Mattie fighting him and he kept telling her to take it easy before he dragged her into her bedroom. She was fighting and he was laughing. Mattie was struggling hard enough that he didn't see me come out of the hidden cellar. I held the scattergun on him and told him to hold it. He sounded surprised when he said my name and admitted the doc told 'em I was blind. Then he tried to jump me. He didn't much care that I couldn't see 'im. Mattie gave me the knife he planned to gut me with after we tied him up."

"Thank you, Mr. Lancer," Banks started back toward his seat but stopped suddenly and touched his temple. "One more question…. You can turn around and open your eyes for this one."

Johnny moved slower than before to take his seat; his hands clenched at the arms of the chair. He fought to keep his eyes open against the brightness of the room after keeping them closed for so long. God, he needed to be done this!

"In your testimony, you stated that you were confident that you followed the trail, the only trail, of three riders from Lem Cable's cabin. Can you explain how you know this?"

"I'm a good tracker, Mr. Banks. Night or day makes no difference when there's a little light. The moon was three-quarters full and there were no clouds givin' me all the starlight in the sky as well. I could see the trail the riders left. They were movin' fast leavin' deep cuts in the dirt and grass. It was plain to see all the way to the river. No other riders crossed it. I followed Harrison Meek and two other riders on horses that looked like the ones owned by Slate and Clint. I know who I followed."

"No other questions, your honor. The prosecution rests."

"Mr. Lancer, you may step down, but you are hereby advised to make yourself available as needed." Judge Ames waved his hand at Bailiff DuPont's open watch. "The morning is gone, and we find ourselves in early afternoon. Mr. Lancer, well all of the Mr. Lancers, you may leave now. The rest of you will be dismissed by row like before. We will resume at 2 P.M. sharp with the first witness for the defense. Court is adjourned."

Johnny made his way down the steps to the center aisle but avoided the hand his father offered to his elbow and led the trio out the door. He knew he could show no weakness to anyone, and he needed to exit alone. He welcomed the thought of sitting next to his father when they sat down to eat, and he hoped that his brother's reassuring hand would find his knee under the table.