Chapter Four
Miller and his three hired guns got into town and checked into the Cattleman's Hotel. He took a room on another floor. They ate a steak dinner then headed over to Harry's. The men listened carefully for any gossip about the troublemakers for the casino.
It took an hour but someone eventually brought up that "holier than thou preacher" and his flock picketing city hall every morning.
"Morning?"
"Yep them do-gooders wouldn't last a minute after dark. Lots of us are sick and tired of them telling us how to live."
"I can imagine." Miller smirked.
The men headed over to Big Annie's for the night as Miller made plans to visit the protesters the next morning.
—-&—
Miller dressed for the day in his trademark pinstripe suit, bowler hat and colorful vest. He chose a gray and blue paisley for today's business. He put some bay oil in his hands and smoothed his long locks back into a proper style.
Miller woke his men up and sauntered over to City Hall. The protesters were already there. Today's group was mainly women, young and old. Several small children played in the dirt as their mothers held up signs against the casino. Brother Jehu marched around with them chanting.
The men returned with kerchiefs and hoods around their neck and attempted to drag Brother Jehu into the alley. The women fought back; they scratched and kicked.
"No ladies, let me go. These men know not what they do. The Lord will protect me."
Reluctantly the ladies backed off and one ran for the sheriff.
He called upon "Angels to protect me from the possessed men."
His ranting unnerved them but they began to punch the preacher.
"Now boy, you take them ladies back to your church and no more protesting, it will be worse next time."
"The Lord will protect me," so they slapped him around a few more times. Blood poured from his nose and mouth.
A lady's voice was heard, "Sheriff, come quick. They are in the alley. The strangers have the preacher."
Fred bounded into the alley and one of Miller's men shot him. He went down in a crumble.
The preacher began to wail and pray over him. The men ran out of the alley at the opposite end ditching their overcoats, hoods and kerchiefs. The widow Jones came down the alley and tried to stop them. They pushed her to the ground. A loud crack was heard as her head rebounded off the rock.
"You killed her."
"Was an accident." as they stuffed their disguises in a bin.
Adolf came upon them as they were taking off their hoods.
They shoved the old man down and hit him with the butt of a gun.
"Don't kill him, he only saw the hoods. We didn't have them off when he came around the corner."
They straightened their western suits in the livery and wiped the preacher's blood off their boots. They came back around and headed to the hotel, nodding and greeting townsfolk as if nothing happened..
Miller walked over to the commotion as they brought the wounded Sheriff Madden, the bloodied preacher, the unconscious Adolf and the deceased widow out of the alley.
"Broke her neck," one of the deputies announced.
Jarrod joined the crowd from his office and made his way to Fred, "Who did this?."
"Happened too fast. Three or four of them. Hoods, bandanas, winter overcoats, brown oilcloth. Beating up the preacher."
"Stay still. Let Doc Merar get the bullet out of your shoulder. I will ride out with a posse."
"They was on foot."
Miller heard the exchange and backed up to the crowd. Slowly walked toward the hotel.
"Get on the drover car. It leaves in a few minutes." as he hurried the men out, "Get back to Modesto and lay low."
Miller returned to the crowd and found a deputy, "I think I ate dinner with these men last night; played poker with them too. Got back to hotel in a fury. Had horses ready out back and headed east."
"You sure?"
"As sure as I can be. How's the sheriff?"
"Getting the bullet out as we speak. Should make it barring infection."
"I am staying at the Cattleman's if you need me. I am a contractor for the new hotel."
The deputy narrowed his eyes at Miller, "Will have some more questions. Don't leave."
"I won't. I found you, remember."
The deputy yelled for Jarrod, "They had horses at the hotel. Headed East."
"Will meet you with men at the pass. Nick and Heath and some hands."
"Good deal. Can't go far in that dirt without tracks."
—&—
The Barkleys and their hands searched for a day and a half for the men.
"Not even one track."
"It's like they disappeared into thin air."
"How legitimate was the witness?"
"It was the contractor for the hotel. He came to the deputy. Had no reason to testify if it wasn't the truth. Cause that damnable casino is the cause of all this."
"Checked with Shep. They didn't leave on the train. Would have remembered three or four men together. Has the manifest."
Jarrod frowned, "I want to talk to this Miller, the witness."
"Yes sir. He's at the Cattleman's."
Nick added " If your words don't get answers, my fists will. Truth gonna come out one way or another."
—&—-
Jarrod stopped by his office to clean up. He noticed a note from Davina on his desk.
My dear Jarrod,
You are in my thoughts and prayers as you ride to find the evildoers. Thankful that you and your friends are protecting us from the murderers, gamblers and drunkards descending on our town. May the Lord protect you.
Fondly, Davina
He appreciated the note and her consideration for him. One word, drunkards stuck out. He still had not had the conversation about alcohol with her. He had searched his mind since that Sunday sermon and realized he had never had a scotch around her. Socials, a ranch barbecue, Sunday lunches, dinner at her parents, aunt's and in San Francisco. Lunches at the cafe and meals at the Cattleman's—
He pushed it out of his mind, "Will talk to her soon." as he headed over to the hotel.
Jarrod asked the clerk for the witness, named Miller.
"He's over at Harry's playing poker. Left his whereabouts yesterday and today in case someone had questions. Real helpful man."
Jarrod nodded and turned around.
"Heard Sheriff is sitting up barking orders."
"Good news."
—&—
Miller was playing poker with some locals when Jarrod and Nick entered Harry's.
"Jarrod! Did you catch them murderers? Nick? What's the news?"
They simply shook his head, "Double."
Jarrod downed the scotch and Davina crossed his mind. He exhaled.
Nick closed his eyes and inhaled the scent before drinking it down in one gulp.
"Looking for the contractor, Miller?" Jarrod asked.
"Right behind ya. Made lots of friends in town over here. Not so much of the church folk as you would assume. Once folks found out he was a casino man."
Jarrod pushed his glass back to Harry, "Half one."
"Shore. Jarrod you look beat."
"I am headed back to the ranch to get some shuteye once I talk to Miller."
He sensed that a man had sat close beside him on the bar stool.
"Here I am."
"Let's go to my office where it is quiet."
Nick stood foreboding behind him, giving him no choice but to agree.