by Alison Bruce
"How 'bout Locke? And, yes, I will be asking him the same questions."
"Don't!"
The man's outburst wasn't temper; it was an order.
Birke rubbed the back of his neck. "Ask him about me, by all means. Locke is on his second―maybe third―chance. He grew up on the streets of Boston, ran with a gang. I know that much. He got away, but his reputation followed him."
Again, silence sat between them.
"I like Locke," Birke admitted. "Mr. Baker trusts him. The younger hands look up to him. One more thing I'll tell you so you know why I suggest you use care with your questions. He doesn't start fights, but he won't run away from one either. Trouble with the law, on the other hand, will make him rabbit. He doesn't stick around to explain himself."
"So he never had any trouble with Marshal Strothers."
Birke shook his head. "None at all."
Jase helped the men sink and tamp the next post. When Birke went ahead to the next post and Locke took the opportunity to light a cigar, Jase opened with a friendly query.
"Your accent is familiar, but I can't seem to place it."
"Boston," Locke said.
"Big city. Nice place?"
"Very nice if you got money to enjoy it."
"Is that why you came west, Mr. Locke? Lack of money?"
"Mostly."
Jase shrugged as if the question was idle. "Birke tells me you came to the Bar-B about a year ago."
"That's right."
"In that time, have you known Birke to be in trouble with the law?"
"No."
"Was he in town the day Strothers was killed?"
"No. We were working."
"Together?"
"No. Payday. Those who work are pretty stretched out."
"Fair enough. What kind of man is Birke?"
"The good kind."
Jase had that impression too.
"How about Jed McKinley?"
"Okay kid. Green."
Jase sighed. "You gentlemen aren't exactly bendin' over backward to be helpful, are you?"
A hint of a smile broke up Locke's usually passive expression.
"Does McKinley work for Baker often?" Jase asked, exasperated.
"Not often. Not much of a cowboy. Just a wanna-be. Mr. Baker throws him some work now and then. Mr. Egan too. Jed works at The Haven when Duke needs him, often enough to have a bed in the back. Used to get stable work before your boy came along."
"Did he ever get in trouble with Marshal Strothers?"
"Nope. Strothers didn't take Jed seriously."
"Interesting."
Jase looked over Locke's shoulder.
Riders were approaching.
"Looks like the Cleary boys are here. I'll take the opportunity to ask them a few questions and then get out of your way."
Chapter 11
Marly was beginning to miss stable mucking. It was hard, dirty work, but time passed quickly and there was extra money to be made in tips. In comparison, being a deputy was a relatively clean, easy job that could drag on forever. And nobody tipped.
She checked out the bank and passed a few minutes talking to Mick Riley. After patrolling the town, she stopped in at the hotel and chatted with Nellie, not wanting coffee bad enough to drink the watery stuff the woman served. Midday, though there was still leftover pie in the office, she made a point of stopping for sandwiches and coffee at The Haven.
She wasn't exactly welcomed.
The one friendly remark she got was from Duke, who told her Hank was out back if she'd care to join him. Unsure whether to thank him for the suggestion or be offended because Duke didn't want her in his saloon, she nodded and moved out to the back porch.
Hank and Mr. Sloane were slouched in their chairs, sipping beer and working their way through a large stack of sandwiches. Hank straightened as soon as he saw Marly and waved her over.
Sloane touched his forelock in a mock salute. "How do, Deputy Landers?" He chuckled. "Liking the new job?"
"Not as interesting as I'd hoped," she admitted. "I suppose that's a good thing though."
Duke came out with a mug of coffee and a very thin sandwich.
Sloane rolled his eyes. "That won't feed a growing boy, Duke. Bring us out another stack. We'll share with Landers. Bring us some of your pickled eggs too." He turned to Marly. "Hank and I are on our own for a few days. My sister Kathy usually packs us lunch, but she's taken the girls to visit their Grandpa."
"Miss Sloane is a good cook and kind enough to include me at meal time," Hank added.
"And why not?" Sloane slapped Hank on the arm and rocked him in his chair. "Hank is practically part of the family. Heck, I'd adopt him, except Dolly would be heartbroken. She wants to marry Hank when she grows up."
"How old is Dolly?" Marly asked.
"Eleven last month. I told her she can't marry until she's at least fifteen."
"By the time she's that old, she'll have so many beaus, she won't want me," Hank said.
"Dolly and Sally are the cutest girls you could hope to meet," Sloane said, beaming with pride. "Clever too. Both know how to read and write, though they haven't had a regular teacher in over a year."
"Miss Mary ran off with a cowboy," Hank interjected.
Sloane snorted. "Who can blame her? She spends all day teaching a bunch of brats, then goes home to take care of another bunch. Big family, the Livingstones."
"As in Nelly Livingstone?" Marly asked.
Sloane nodded. "Mary's sister. Mary was the oldest and expected to be second mother to the younger ones. Nelly escaped that by living and working at the hotel. I think she had hopes of marrying Pete Chalmers someday, until Marshal Strothers got in the way."
"Mr. Chalmers was a lot older than Nelly, wasn't he?"
"No harm in that. He was a good man, able to take care of her, and they had an affection for each other. That's all that's important. You keep that in mind, Hank, when Dolly's old enough to lay her hooks in you."
After lunch, Marly poked her head in at The Oasis.
"Looking for work, Master Landers?" Fred asked.
"I wish. I'm not sure I can accept it, since Jase is out of town."
"I don't think Master Jason would mind, so long as it didn't interfere with your work. There's no question of you working out front, of course."
"Of course."
That meant kitchen work, which was harder than helping Arnie out, but more rewarding in perks like produce and baked goods.
"I should complete my patrol first." She shifted her gun belt on her hip. "Better drop by the office too."
"You can put your weapons in my office, Deputy Landers. That way, if you are called to duty, they will be handy."
Searching Fred's expression for any hint of mockery and finding none, she thanked him. "I'll be back as soon as possible."
This turned out to be later than she expected. Concluding her rounds with a visit to the bank, she bumped into Egan.
"Good afternoon, Deputy Landers."
"Good afternoon, sir."
"I thought you might be out our way with Marshal Strachan."
"No, sir. I'm on duty here in town."
"Can you stop for a cup of coffee?"
Marly hesitated. She was expected at The Oasis, but the opportunity to interview one of the prime suspects was irresistible. Trusting that Fred would understand, she followed Egan to the hotel.
Nelly gave her a wink as she brought them coffee. She recommended the sweet rolls, but Marly declined.
"None for me, Nelly," Egan said, grinning. "Got to watch the waistline. Lately, I've been spending too much time at a desk and not enough out in the fresh air."
If he were fishing for a compliment, he used the right bait.
"You're looking fit as ever," Nelly said. "A fine figure of a man."
Marly stifled a smile.
She was beginning to see that Nelly's comments were not so much directed at charming a prospective mate as eliciting a generous tip. In that, she was as successful
as Egan in setting her bait. He dropped a fifty-cent piece for two cups of five-cent coffee and Nelly pocketed the coin, then wandered off.
"Tell me about yourself, Deputy Landers," Egan said, his tone commanding without being rude.
"What do you want to know, sir?"
"Frankly, I want to know if you are worthy of my sister's attentions."
"Probably not," Marly said, hiding a grin.
Now she was in trouble. She didn't want to lead the Egans on, but her plan to take Strothers' place as an object of jealous or protective wrath meant she couldn't be honest about her intentions.
"I'm an orphan. I have no money or prospects other than the work I do for Marshal Strachan. On the other hand, Miss Amabelle seems to like me as much as most of her suitors and better than some."
"And do you like Amabelle?"
"Well, of course. She's beautiful, smart and rich. What's not to like?"
When he gave her a stern look, then grinned, she realized she couldn't pull off roguishness. She probably came across as precocious, maybe even cute.
She sighed and tried a different tack.
"I like your sister too well to see her imposed upon by the likes of Mr. Baker."
Egan set his coffee cup down hard, spilling some of the weak brown liquid. "Be careful, Mr. Landers. Gabe Baker is a good friend of mine."
"No doubt with good reason. But he is no friend of Miss Amabelle's―also with good reason. As far as I am able, I intend to be a friend to your sister, whether or not you approve. And in the face of Mr. Baker's disapproval." She pushed aside her coffee and stood. "If you'll excuse me, Mr. Egan, I better get back to work. Thank you for the coffee."
She had almost made it to the door before Egan reacted.
"Deputy Landers," he called, "I'm bringing my sister into town tomorrow for a church council meeting. I thought I'd bring Amabelle with me and take her out to lunch at The Oasis. Will you join us?"
Marly stopped in the doorway. "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."
As soon as she was outside―and out of sight―she leaned against the hotel wall and let out a slow breath.
The next morning, after Jase left to continue his interviews, Marly spent a portion of her hard-earned cash on a fine white shirt with blue pinstripes. Before putting it on, she took Fred up on his offer and had a proper bath.
"Master Landers has a sweetheart," Fred's apprentice, Henry, ribbed while filling the tub.
Fortunately, Fred appeared and waved Henry off. With professional discretion, he left Marly a bar of sandalwood soap and a bottle of hair tonic.
A half hour later, Marly greeted Matt Egan and Amabelle outside The Oasis, she was cleaner, neater and sweeter smelling than she'd ever been and both were duly impressed.
As they stepped inside, Arnie left the bar to greet them. He showed them to a window table, forestalling both Egan and Marly by holding Amabelle's chair.
"Would you like something to drink?" Arnie asked.
Egan smiled at Marly. "Deputy, care for a beer?"
She refused with a shake of her head.
"Coffee for you, Deputy Landers?" Arnie asked. "I know you don't like anything else when you're on duty."
"Thanks."
Fred arrived to take their orders. He served their meals personally, splitting his attention between their table and Jezebel's.
At first, Marly thought this was all for Egan's benefit. He was, after all, the richest man in Fortuna. It was the wink that Henry gave her as he cleared away the dishes that clued her in. They were doing this for her. They were trying to help her impress the Egans.
If they only knew, she thought, feeling guilty.
After the meal, Egan stood up abruptly. "I have business to attend to. Perhaps, Deputy Landers, you could entertain my sister until our aunt is ready to go home."
"Miss Amabelle might like to see the rose garden," Arnie suggested as he cleared the table.
Even Fred, who was hovering nearby, agreed.
Marly was outnumbered.
"Miss Amabelle." She offered the young lady her arm and escorted her out into the garden.
Oddly, Señora de Vegas also decided to go to the rose garden. She didn't join Marly and Amabelle. Instead, she admired the blooms, always staying in sight.
Marly almost laughed out loud at the thought that she and Amabelle were being chaperoned.
"Deputy Landers," Amabelle said in a hesitant voice. "Did you say anything to my brother about Gabe?"
"I might have let it drop that Baker's attentions were not welcome. Why? What did your brother say?"
"He told me that I shouldn't let Gabe bother me. Our parents thought Gabe and I would make a match, but that was when I was little more than a baby. Even Papa acknowledged that Gabe isn't the right man for me. If Gabe was under another impression, Papa would have dropped a hint to the contrary. Since Papa's not around, Matt said he'll talk to Gabe."
"That's good."
"Yes," she agreed. "Even though you were sticking your nose into my business without talking to me first, thank you."
Marly bit her tongue.
It was mid-afternoon and Marly had to make her rounds.
"I'll join you," Amabelle said.
Marly would have preferred to have the Señora present as chaperone, but as it turned out, it wasn't necessary. Kate O'Brian was in town buying ribbon for her dress. Since she had nowhere in particular to go until her mother was finished her business, she fell in with them.
After her patrol was completed without incident, Marly took the ladies to The Oasis for cold drinks. Kate wasn't allowed to go in, so Arnie served them lemonade on the veranda. This allowed Amabelle to flirt with any admirer who passed through town, while she showed Marly a measure of indifference.
That indifference disappeared when Gabe Baker showed up.
Suddenly, Amabelle only had eyes for Marly, who was steadfast, attentive and protective as a guard dog.
"Amabelle," Baker chided, "this is not a proper place for you to be."
"My brother brought me here."
"It's not like we went inside," Kate added in defense.
Marly moved between them. "The ladies are under my protection. If that isn't proper, I'm sure their families will tell me."
"Your protection?" Baker lifted a derisive brow. "Fine words, bantam."
"I think you should move along, Mr. Baker. Go in and buy yourself a drink. I think there's something in the town ordinances about loitering outside places of business."
"You are going too far, whelp."
"No, I'm almost certain there is such an ordinance. Shall we go across the road and check? I'm sure the ladies will excuse us."
Baker towered above Marly, but she held her ground, though he didn't hide his disdain or his shock. If anyone had stood up to Baker in the past, it was someone like Egan or Winters. It wasn't a scrap of a boy, which was all she was to Baker.
"It's late," he said, scowling. "Your aunt will be looking for you, Amabelle."
"In that case, ladies," Marly said, "I'll escort you to the general store. I believe your aunt is there, Miss Amabelle, probably with Mrs. O'Brian."
"That will not be necessary," Baker stated.
"I think it is." Marly shifted her gun belt to a more comfortable position before offering the young ladies an arm each. "If I've kept Miss June waiting, I ought to apologize, don't you think?"
Not waiting for a reply, she gave Baker a nod and led the ladies off. Baker followed, only to be further humiliated by Miss June, whose smile faded when she noticed the hovering man.
"Thank you, Deputy Landers," Miss June said, smiling, "for taking such good care of the girls." She turned to Baker. "Now stop being such a fuss-budget.
"You know," Marly told Jase that evening after giving him an account of her day, "I don't think it was Egan that put Locke up to killing Strothers."
"You just wanna get your future brother-in-law off the hook." He grinned, unable to resist goading her. "But I agree. For one thing, murderers do
n't tend to want the law to marry into their families."
She shook her head. "The reason I don't think Egan is involved is because he isn't the type."
"Uh-huh."
"I'm not saying he wouldn't kill. I just got the impression that it's a family trait to handle things personally. If he wanted Strothers dead, he'd do it himself. He'd provoke a fight or something straightforward like that. I know Strothers was a fast draw, but Egan is a dead shot."
"So I've heard. Take it he told you that."
"Of course not. I asked Mick Riley. Seems Baker is a marksman too. Or was. He's more the gentleman rancher now. Not the type to get his hands dirty."
Jase frowned. "Still, it seems you're spendin' a lot of time with the girl. If I didn't know better, I'd say you were playin' fast and loose."
"Well, you do know better," she snapped. "And I'm not. I've got my reasons for hanging around Miss Amabelle."
"I can just guess."
"I hope you can 'cause part of the reason is for her protection. I might be wrong about Baker being the one who ordered Strothers' death, but I know he used his position to put pressure on Amabelle and I don't think that's right."
"You seem to be speakin' from experience," he said. "Did Meese put pressure on you?"
"Not so crudely, but yes. He was sweet to me, but he made it clear to my aunt and others that I should marry him―that I had to marry him. Funny thing was, I probably would have if he hadn't tried to force the issue."
"Didn't you tell your aunt you weren't interested in him?"
"Aunt Adele impressed upon me that I would have to marry someone someday. Might as well be Charlie. But I didn't like the game he was playing."
Jase gripped his cup a little tighter, but otherwise kept his feelings on this matter to himself.
"There was no one else?" he asked.
Marly smiled enigmatically. "Well, I was awful sweet on Sheriff Langtree, but I was just a kid to him. No, there was no one else. And according to Aunt Adele, there never would be in Cherryville once Charlie had ruined me, which she was sure he had, thanks to him."
Jase made a conscious effort to unclench his hands. "He hadn't?"
