Chapter 10

Nick and Heath hustled over to Marshall Mullins's office as soon as they got off the train in Sonora. It was going on 4 pm and they didn't want to waste any time, but the marshal wasn't in. A deputy told them he was out at a local ranch but was expected back soon.

"We gotta find him," Nick said. "Where's this ranch at?"

"Down toward Lonesome Camp," the deputy said.

"Perfect!" Nick yelled. "That's where we need to take the marshal. Give us directions to this ranch."

"Are you the Barkley brothers?" the deputy asked.

"Yeah," Nick said.

"Our brother Jarrod said he wired ahead," Heath said.

The deputy nodded. "He did and the marshal got the wire, but your brother didn't say anything about Lonesome Camp, just that you'd be here about a wanted man."

"Give us directions to where the marshal is," Nick repeated. "We'll hire horses and meet him down that way and explain everything to him."

The deputy complied and also directed Nick and Heath to the livery stable. In a few minutes, the Barkley brothers had horses for themselves, and an extra one for O'Doul, and were on their way.

Luckily, they ran into the marshal on the road only a couple miles out of town. The marshal was alone, but stopped right away when he saw Nick and Heath. "Are you Jarrod Barkley's brothers?"

"We are," Nick said.

Heath had the wanted poster and handed it over to the marshal. "We're after this man in Lonesome Camp. Jarrod wanted us to get you along."

The marshal nodded. "We'll go bring him in."

"His name really isn't Heath Thompson," Heath said. "It's Dion O'Doul."

"We'll sort all that out after I haul him in."

"Marshal, we might get a little resistance in Lonesome Camp," Heath said. "O'Doul is there trying to organize the miners into a union."

Marshal Mullins pocketed the wanted poster. "Well, we'll see what happens. Do either of you know this fella?"

"I do," said Heath. "I'm the real Heath Thompson and I've known O'Doul for a few years."

"Thompson? Not Barkley?"

"Barkley now," Nick intervened. "We better get moving, Marshal, get this guy arrested and in your jail then get him off to Ely."

"Let's go," the marshal said, and they headed toward Lonesome.

It didn't take very long to get there. The sun was low but it was still light out. The marshal asked where they thought they'd find O'Doul, but Heath didn't really know where he was staying here. Murphy's hotel, he thought, but he wasn't sure. He talked the marshal and Nick into staying outside while he went into the saloon. "Let me try to get Dion out and down here. I'd rather not raise any trouble in the saloon."

It was not as active as when Heath first went into the place, because the mine workers had not gotten off work yet, but the old man and the man on crutches were there, and so was Bridie. Her eyes brightened at the sight of Heath coming in.

But Murphy interrupted whatever it was she was going to say. "Back already, are ya?" Murphy asked.

"I'm looking for O'Doul," Heath said. "Have you seen him?"

Murphy jabbed his thumb in the air. "Upstairs. No. 6."

"Will ya be stayin' over tonight?" Bridie asked, sidling up.

Heath gave her a slight smile and a dollar coin. "For the privilege of looking at you again, Bridie," he said.

Heath went upstairs to No. 6 then, and knocked on the door. O'Doul opened it – and looked surprised to see him. "Well, now, back already, Mr. Heath Barkley? I told ya' you'd be joinin' me on the line."

"I didn't come for that, Dion," Heath said. "I do want to talk to you, though."

"Come on in," O'Doul said and started to step aside.

"How about outside, Dion," Heath said. "There's something I need you to see, too – something on the way to the mine."

O'Doul looked suspicious. "What is it?"

"Something you need to see," Heath said.

O'Doul was still uneasy, but he came out as Heath turned and started away, and he followed.

Heath led him down the stairs and right out, still drawing the attention of the few people in the saloon, especially Bridie. When Heath and O'Doul walked outside, she went to the window to watch.

O'Doul stopped dead when he saw Nick and the marshal standing in the street beside their horses – especially the marshal. Heath stopped in front of them and turned toward O'Doul. "This is my brother Nick Barkley, and this is Marshal Mullins from Sonora."

"Marshal?" O'Doul said. "I haven't even been to Sonora. What would you be wantin' to see me about, Marshal?"

Marshal Mullins took the wanted poster out of his pocket. "This poster – it doesn't have your name, but it has your face."

"And my name," Heath said.

O'Doul bolted, but Nick was on top of him before he got five steps away. He tackled the Irishman in the street and punched him in the face.

By now, Murphy and the other two men in the saloon were at the windows watching with Bridie. Heath could hear Murphy say, "Ah, I figured he might be comin' to an end like this." But no one came out of the saloon.

Nick pulled O'Doul to his feet. It was Heath O'Doul gave the ugly look to. Heath said, "You should have chosen somebody else's name in Ely, Dion."

O'Doul said, "It is what it is, isn't it?"

"Get up on that horse," Nick said, shoving him to the spare mount.

"You're under arrest," the marshal said.

"Aye," O'Doul said with half a groan.

Heath said, "Go on. I need a minute here and I'll catch up with you after I see Murdoch about this proxy."

Nick and the marshal mounted up and started out of town with O'Doul. Heath went back into the saloon, stopping inside the door. Murphy and Bridie were at the window to his right, the old man and the man on crutches to his left. No one said anything.

"O'Doul is wanted in Nevada for assault and inciting to riot," Heath said. "He has to answer for that. He'd have started something like that here too, but my brother Jarrod is working hard to see Lonesome gets what it's entitled to without people getting hurt."

"You told him what we told you?" Murphy asked.

Heath nodded. "Like I promised. I can't promise Jarrod can change things, but if he can't – well, we'll cross that bridge if we come to it, but I don't think we'll be coming to it."

"I think we'll all be hopin' you're right on that," Murphy said.

Heath started to leave but Bridie said, "Maybe we'll be seein' ya again, then?"

Heath stopped for a moment, smiled her way, and said, "You never know."