Desert Moon Read online

  “I got a rope in my wagon,” said one of the ranchers.

  “Did his sister try to help him escape?” came from another quarter—Adam was surprised that a woman said it.

  He held up his hands. “Hold it, folks. Just calm down and hear me out.”

  The faces were stony hard, grotesque in their rage. If he had to, he’d lock the Newmans up overnight for safety. Sam would help him, but how many other people in this town were interested in finding out the truth? Most of them seemed to want vengeance, and they weren’t too picky about justice.

  “It’s true I went after Oliver Newman, and I found him. I’ve heard his story, and I’ve compared it to the evidence I have. And frankly, I don’t think he’s our man. Now, I’m going inside to tend to business. If anybody’s got any new evidence since I left town on Tuesday, you can come around and talk to me. But I’m not charging anyone with the crimes that took place on Monday until I’ve had a chance to sort through everything. Is that clear?”

  The replies were mostly disgruntled mutterings. A few more men yelled comments.

  “You know he’s guilty, Sheriff.”

  “Why are you protecting him? He killed Bub Hilliard.” He recognized that speaker—Lucas Morley, the mercantile’s owner.

  “Now, Lucas, you can’t know that. If you’ve got some evidence, like I said, bring it to me. But Oliver Newman has not been proven guilty of any crime. So quit that talk.”

  “Are you holding him for the judge?”

  “If the evidence calls for it, I will hold him. But if it doesn’t, then he’ll go free. And I expect him to be able to walk these streets safely.”

  Adam dismounted, secured Socks to the hitching rail, and checked the others’ horses. A few people shuffled away, and he hoped they would all go about their business. Maybe if he wasn’t there for them to heckle, the rest would leave.

  “You all right to stand here a few more minutes, Sam?” he asked the livery owner.

  Sam nodded. “Take your time, Sheriff. I’ll yell if I need ya.”

  Adam went inside and shut the door.

  Julia waited impatiently with Oliver and Clew. She hadn’t seen the inside of the jail for two years. When Adam first took the job, she’d been over here a couple of times. During her absence, he hadn’t added a thing to his office, unless it was an extra stool and new wanted posters. His desk and chair, with a small woodstove and a couple of shelves, completed the spartan furnishings. A doorway opened on the back room, where Adam lived now, according to Oliver’s letters. He used to live with his uncle after his father’s death, but apparently he wanted to stay closer to his work now. The cell held two narrow cots with straw ticks, quilts, and pillows. A washstand with a metal basin, pitcher, and cup stood near the far wall, with a galvanized bucket beside it.

  She turned her back to the cell door, determined to forget where she was. Adam had better take care of this mess, and fast.

  The door opened, and he walked in scowling. She could still hear people talking outside, and through the one small window, horses and pedestrians were visible, milling about.

  “Why don’t they just go home?” she asked.

  “They’re not satisfied.” Adam took his hat off. He walked over to his desk and tossed the hat on it. With a weary sigh, he sank into his chair. “They think there’s still a killer running around loose.”

  “Isn’t there?”

  “They think I’m it,” Oliver said, and Adam didn’t deny it.

  “Them people are plumb crazy,” Clew said.

  “Maybe so, but I think you ought to stay here tonight,” Adam said, eyeing Julia warily.

  “Is that necessary?” Oliver asked.

  “If you go home, I’d have to place a guard around your house.”

  “Well, in that case,” Clew said, “I’m going to go get me some grub, and then I’m going home. I suggest you folks sleep on it, and mebbe tomorrow you’ll think of something else, Sheriff.” He stepped toward the door.

  Adam sat straighter in his chair. “Don’t you go far, Clew. I may need to talk to you again.”

  The old man looked back at him. “Sure thing. You know where my cabin is?”

  “I do.”

  Clew nodded. “Reckon I’ll stop at the Red Bear for some supper, and after that I’ll be at home.” He opened the door. “Howdy, Sam.”

  Dennis said something, and more voices could be heard, raised in comments that Julia couldn’t distinguish. Clew backed into the room and shut the door.

  “Sheriff, it don’t look too good out there.”

  Adam got up and went to the window. “You’re right. If anything, there’s more people out there now than there were when I came in.” He turned and eyed Julia and Oliver thoughtfully. “I’m sorry, but I think it would be best if I lock the two of you up for tonight—for your own safety. And that way, folks might settle down, knowing I had someone behind bars.”

  Julia caught her breath. “You said you believed us.”

  Adam hesitated then said, “I do. But I don’t want folks bothering you in the night, and I don’t want to see this crowd moving over to your house. Could you sleep with them outside, yelling that Oliver should be lynched?”

  Julia gulped. “No.”

  Oliver said, “Guess not. But are you going to charge me with the robbery and shooting Bub?”

  “No,” Adam said firmly. “Unless more evidence is found, I’m not arresting you again. That was…Well, all right, I admit it. I made a big mistake out there, and I’m sorry. You’ll have to trust me, Oliver. As a friend.”

  Julia could tell from the strained expression on Adam’s face that he was struggling. He was right, they did have to trust him. And right now, she had more faith in him than she did in the fickle people of Ardell.

  A shout from outside pierced the walls. “Sheriff, we want to talk to you.”

  Adam looked toward the door. “Sounds like I’ll have to go out there again.”

  The door opened a foot, and Sam Dennis stuck his head in. “Adam, things are getting a little dicey out here, but Bob Tanner’s come to help out.”

  “Good. I’ll be out in a minute. Tell the people to hold on.” When Sam shut the door, Adam turned back to Oliver. “I’m sorry it’s this way, but I think you’re better off in the cell.”

  “Bob Tanner,” Julia said. “Isn’t he the barber?”

  “Yes. He rode with me the day of the robbery. He’s a good fellow.”

  She nodded. “Will he and Sam be enough to help you keep the peace?”

  “I don’t know, Julia. I wish I did, but I can’t predict what will happen.”

  What they did was up to her. Gazing at Adam, she made her decision. She walked over to the cell, and the door swung open at her touch. “Come on, Oliver. Adam is right. We’re safer in here.” She stepped inside and faced her brother.

  Slowly, Oliver walked over and entered the cell.

  “I promise you, I will do everything humanly possible to keep you safe,” Adam said.

  Oliver nodded, but his teeth were clenched and his face pale.

  Julia put her arm around him. “It’s going to be all right.”

  “Well, I’m not going in there,” Clew said. “Nobody’s mad at me.”

  “You don’t have to,” Adam said. “You can probably get through the crowd with no problem.”

  “All right, then.” Clew paused. “Do you want me to come back and help you hold this place down, Sheriff?”

  “Only if you want to, Clew. Go get something to eat.”

  Clew glanced at Julia and Oliver. “Good night, kids.”

  “‘Bye, Clew,” Julia said, “and thank you.”

  When he’d slipped out the door, Adam came over and closed the cell door. “If you need anything, just say so. I’ll stay here all night. If Bob and Sam want to stay, I’ll be happy to have their company. But right now, I’ve got to go out there and convince the good people of this town to go home and stay there.” He put the key in the lock.

 
“Hold it,” Oliver said. “What if we need to get out?”

  “You mean, like a trip to the outhouse?” Adam asked.

  Oliver winced. “I was thinking more of someone touching a match to this place.”

  Julia caught her breath. She hadn’t considered anything like that happening. They’d be trapped if it did.

  “Don’t worry,” Adam said. “I’ve got two stout men now. We’ll keep a good watch on the building.”

  “Adam,” Julia said, before he could turn away.

  “Yeah?”

  “I’ll be praying.”

  Adam looked deep into her eyes, and Julia felt the same flutter in her stomach that she’d felt last night when he held her outside the cave. Did he really love her? She wanted to believe that. And that he had Oliver’s best interest at heart.

  “Thanks,” he said. “I’ll pray, too.” He turned the key in the lock of the cell door and nodded at them. “Just to keep out anyone who gets past me.”

  Julia walked over to one of the cots and sat down. Oliver hovered near the door, until she said, “Come over here. Let’s pray together.”

  He slowly walked to her bed and sat gingerly on the edge. “Think this thing will hold both of us?”

  “Oh, I imagine Adam gets some pretty husky prisoners in here. Rowdy ones, too. He needs sturdy furnishings.”

  “Guess you’re right.” Oliver swallowed hard and rubbed his hands on his knees. “Are you scared, Jules?”

  “Yes, in a way. If some of those men get liquored up, we may have some fireworks tonight.”

  “I wish we’d stayed at the Diné village.”

  “Well, it’s too late to think about that.” She patted his arm. “It’s going to be all right.”

  “I hope so.”

  “Where’s your gun?”

  Oliver grimaced. “Adam’s got it, I guess.”

  “Didn’t he give it back when he untied you last night?”

  “Nope. I didn’t think of it. He’s probably got it in his saddlebags.”

  “I saw your rifle in your room at home, but that won’t do us any good.”

  “Yeah. Wish I’d taken it to the mine that day. I don’t always take my revolver, but it was payroll day, so I had it along.”

  “That was a good thing,” Julia said, “though I guess you didn’t need it.”

  Oliver smiled. “I shot a snake on the way to Canyon Diablo. But I didn’t figure I’d need a rifle on Diné land, and if I ran into trouble on the way—well, I don’t know what I thought. Just that it would be too dangerous to go home and get it.”

  Julia nodded. “That’s understandable. My gun’s right here.” She pulled her small pistol from the pocket of her wool jacket. “Adam didn’t search me or ask for it. You can take it, if it’ll make you feel better.”

  “Do you really trust Adam?” He reached for the gun.

  Julia bit her bottom lip and nodded. “I do. I think he’s on our side now. But I don’t trust the other people out there.”

  “What about Sam Dennis and Bob Tanner?” Oliver asked.

  “I think they’ve picked sides, and they’ll stand by Adam. But you know them better than I do.”

  Oliver went to his cot and stuck the pistol under his pillow. “I hope they’ll stay loyal to him. Maybe we should do that praying.” He sat down beside her.

  Julia bowed her head. A moment later, Oliver’s hand touched hers. She turned her hand over and clasped his fingers.

  “Dear Lord,” Oliver said, “thank You for bringing Julia home. Now please, if it’s not too much trouble, could You get us out of this mess?”

  Outside, the clamor of voices rose again, and Julia could barely hear her brother’s quiet petitions.

  Chapter 14

  Listen to me,” Adam yelled, but the men standing in the street continued to shout at him and each other.

  “Lemme try,” Sam Dennis said.

  Before Adam quite understood his intent, Sam fired off a round from his revolver. A woman screamed, and then silence ruled the street.

  “That’s more like it,” Sam said, returning his gun to his holster.

  “People, please calm down,” Adam said, before they could start up again. “I told you, I’m investigating every avenue I can on the robbery and the murder of Bub Hilliard.”

  “You wasn’t even here for his funeral, Scott,” Lucas Morley called.

  “That’s because I was tracking down a suspect.” Adam’s patience had worn thin, and he’d had about enough, but he couldn’t go inside again and leave them seething out here.

  “You’ve got him now, so let’s get on with it,” called one of the miners.

  Adam realized with a start that the crowd had swelled as the mining crews finished their work for the day. A couple dozen men appeared to have come into town for some refreshment and found a near riot instead. If they went to the saloons and then came back to the jail, he was in trouble.

  “Folks, I want to make it clear that while Oliver Newman is in my custody, he is not under arrest. I have no evidence to charge him with these crimes. So I’d appreciate it if you’d—”

  “How come you’ve got him in the jail if he’s innocent?” rancher Gib Weston yelled.

  “Yeah,” several others chorused.

  Adam put his hands on his hips and surveyed them with mingled disgust and rage. “You have to ask me that? Look at you! I don’t dare let Oliver go while you’re all so worked up. I don’t want another murder on my hands, you hear me? Let me do my job and find the man who shot Bub Hilliard. Go on home, now.”

  Bob Tanner stepped up beside him, holding his rifle up where all could see it. “The sheriff’s right. You all are taking on like a bunch of five-year-olds. Now get out of here.”

  The people in the crowd lingered, eyeing them uncertainly.

  Sam Dennis came up on Adam’s other side. “Look, we don’t know if Oliver Newman and his sister are guilty or not, but Bob and I are going to help the sheriff protect the prisoners.”

  “They’re not prisoners,” Adam said with an apprehensive glance Sam’s way. “Folks, go home. Please. Let us handle this.”

  A man at the front of the crowd turned to his friend. “Come on, Chub, let’s get over to the Red Bear. This ain’t going nowhere.”

  “Thank you,” Adam called after them.

  “And don’t come back,” Tanner yelled.

  The crowd began to thin, and Adam let out a deep sigh. “Thank you, fellas. You’ve got to understand, I locked the Newmans in the jail only for their safety. They are not under arrest, and no charges have been brought against them.”

  “Got it, Sheriff,” Bob said.

  “You want me to have Peewee take your horses up to the stable?” Sam asked.

  Adam smiled. “Peewee” was Sam’s son, and he was half again as big as Sam. “That would be a big help. Thanks. But my bay can go out back in my corral.”

  “We’ll take care of it,” Sam said.

  “Now what do you want the two of us to do?” Bob asked.

  “Well, if you don’t mind, I’d like you to stay right here for at least a half hour, until we’re sure those people aren’t going to come back and work mischief. If all’s quiet then, you could take turns going to get some supper, and maybe bring something back for Oliver and Miss Julia.”

  “What about you, Adam?” Sam asked.

  “I’ll get something eventually. Right now I’m going to take a turn around the building, and then I want to talk to the other passengers again. Ike Hinze and Joe Chesley, and that mining fella who came in on the stage to see Mr. Gerry. Then, if everything’s quiet, I’ll try to get some sleep.”

  “I saw Ike a few minutes ago,” Tanner said. “He’d probably come help us if you wanted, though he’s got a family out at the ranch to think of.”

  “Thanks,” Adam said. “I’d like to catch up to him before he leaves town.”

  “Try the Gold Strike.”

  “Will do.” The Gold Strike was another of Ardell’s flourishing
saloons, and the ranchers seemed to prefer that one, while a lot of the miners favored the Red Bear. Adam supposed it was time he let his presence be felt in all the saloons—he’d let the town alone for several nights in a row. He wasn’t too keen on facing the erstwhile lynch mob, though.

  He recalled the story about Canyon Diablo in its heyday. The first lawman there, when Hell Street was home to numerous saloons, gambling dens, and dance pavilions, had served a short time. He’d been sworn in at three in the afternoon and laid out for burial at eight o’clock. Ardell had never been as wild as Canyon Diablo had been in the 1880s, but even so, Adam paused at the bottom of the steps to the Gold Strike.

  If You want me to find the killer, Lord, You’re going to have to make sure I live through this night.

  He squared his shoulders and walked in.

  “Are you awake?”

  Oliver’s voice was quiet in the darkness. Julia turned her head toward his cot on the other side of the cell.

  “Yes. I haven’t been to sleep.”

  “Me either. I’m sorry, Jules.”

  “For what? You didn’t do anything.” She rolled up on her side, but her brother was still just a dark lump under the blanket over there. The pale square of the window, striped by bars, didn’t help much.

  “I shouldn’t have run off like that. Clew got me all scared, and I couldn’t see how it would look if I hid. I just thought I needed to keep my head down.”

  “I know, and it’s all right.”

  “But Adam lost three whole days looking for me, when he should have been investigating here in town. By now the robber is probably in Mexico.”

  “More likely in some saloon in Flagstaff,” Julia said. “I’m the one who messed things up. I should have been nicer to Adam, but he made me furious.”

  “He went by what he saw. I guess I did look suspicious. I acted like a guilty man.” Oliver stirred. “It’s quiet outside now. Maybe we can go home in the morning.”

  “I hope so.”

  “Jules?”

  “Yeah?”

  “You don’t hate Adam, do you?”

  She rolled over on her side and squinted, but she still couldn’t see him.

  “I don’t hate him.”