The scent of hay and horses brought back every moment of yesterday morning. She
shivered and hugged her arms across her tingling breasts. Jim must be working at the mill
today, but she hoped he d appear from the tack room at any moment.
Instead, Mr. Rasmussen came in from the side door leading to the paddock. His
glasses glinted in the dim light as he crossed the floor toward her. Miss Johnson. How
can I help you?
Jim s not here?
No. Not today.
It was what she d expected, but disappointment shot through her. I wondered if Ned
Hildebrandt might have been here earlier.
He pushed his glasses up his nose as if to see her more clearly. As a matter of fact,
he came by early this morning for King and rented a buggy too.
Was & anyone with him?
No. The old man frowned. But it did seem odd to me, him taking a buggy out on
a Monday morning. I asked where he was going and he said he had to run an errand to
Hastings. Now, why take a buggy, I thought. If he was picking up supplies for the
hardware, why wouldn t he have taken a wagon?
Catherine s lips tightened as she nodded. Thank you, Mr. Rasmussen.
Is something wrong?
No. Probably not. Ned wasn t at school today, and I wondered where he might be.
Seems Ned isn t the only one playing hooky. I haven t seen Jim since early
yesterday morning. I don t think he slept here last night. Guess now he s working full
time for Karak, he s found someplace else to stay. Funny though, all his things are here.
He stared hard at Catherine as though she might have an explanation.
Oh? Apprehension on top of her anxiety over Jennie and Ned made her feel
queasy. What did his absence mean? Was Jim in trouble or had he simply found new
accommodations? But it wasn t like him to neglect the horses or leave without telling Mr.
Rasmussen. Something was wrong.
Guess he ll come back for his stuff when he gets a chance.
Before Catherine could reply, Nathan Scott s voice came from behind her. Miss
Johnson?
She turned toward him. Deputy Scott.
His usually open expression was unreadable, his face an expressionless mask. I saw
you walking and wondered if I might talk to you about the attack the other night. Can you
come with me to the sheriff s office?
Yes, of course. She thanked Rasmussen for the information about Ned, then
followed Nathan from the livery.
As she walked beside him, hurrying to keep up with his long strides, she wondered if
she should tell him about the missing children. Hastings was the nearest large city and the
place Ned would have taken Jennie if they planned to elope. Or maybe she should keep
this family business confidential, go to the Albrights right now and tell them what she
knew.
I have nothing to add to what I told you on Saturday, she said, breathlessly as she
quick-stepped alongside the deputy. I went outdoors for a breath of air and ran into that
Sanborn fellow and his mates.
Nathan shook his head, interrupting her, and he stopped walking. It s not that.
Something s happened, and I need your help.
What? The fluttery feeling in her stomach grew worse. She realized Nathan
actually looked frightened. Her worries about Jennie and Ned evaporated under a greater
fear. What happened?
Those men we arrested were shot yesterday morning in their cells. I wasn t on duty
yet, and Tate had gone out, leaving the sheriff s office empty. Someone came in and
killed them both. No one knows about this yet. I moved the bodies to the icehouse. I want
to figure this thing out before rumors spread. Sheriff Tate agrees.
Catherine felt as though all the air had been sucked out of her lungs. She caught her
breath. You don t suspect Jim!
He shook his head. No. Not really. But he was the man with the strongest motive so
I brought him to the jail to show him the bodies and see how he d react.
Jim would never do something like that, Catherine protested. Never!
Nathan s level gaze said more than his words. A man will do most anything to
protect the woman he loves, but you re right. I don t see Jim shooting anyone in cold
blood. Doubt he even owns a gun. Removing his hat, he pushed a hand through his hair.
But he knows something. I can see it in his eyes.
You believe he knows who did it?
I think I know, but I need someone to corroborate. Who else, besides Jim, would
want those men dead? Whose business might they know too much about? He raised his
eyebrows.
Her heart somersaulted. She put a hand to her chest as if to hold it steady. Grant
Karak.
He couldn t bail them out again after they assaulted you. The community would be
in an uproar. Nathan paused as Polly Flint passed by on the sidewalk, casting a curious
glance at them. When she was gone, he continued. I believe he d kill them rather than
take a chance on them talking. So the question is what does he have to hide?
Everyone knew Karak had swept into town and bought everything so he had a [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]