Their smiles evidenced their approval. Sara set about lighting a fire in the stove and preparing the batter. It seemed that the previous day had worn on everyone, as Janie didn’t enter the kitchen until after the boys had finished with their breakfast.
Logan didn’t cross the yard for another ten minutes afterward. He groggily pushed through the front door in hopes of finding coffee. Sara did not disappoint, pouring a cup as he neared the kitchen.
“How did you know?” he asked with a slight chuckle.
“It was a good guess, and I’m in as much need of it as you are,” she smiled. “Were you able to speak with Hodges about this morning?”
“Yes, ma’am, he said he’d be happy to take you to town.”
“Good, in that case he will need a decent breakfast as well.” Sara turned back to the stove, mixing another batch of batter.
Logan watched as Sara worked, noticing the unusual vigor with which she tended to her tasks. “You seem nervous,” he commented. “Are you still alright with our plan?”
“Yes, I’m alright,” she nodded, turning to face him. “I’m just tired, I suppose. Do you think we’re likely to run into Levi? I don’t like the idea of facing him now that we have a plan in mind.”
“I doubt it,” he said, sipping on his coffee. “Even though he knows Sheriff Graves won’t lift a hand against him, he has no desire to hang around his office. You should be able to slip in and out of town unnoticed. Has Janie written a note for you to give to the sheriff yet?”
“I’m finishing that now,” she called, returning to the kitchen from her bedroom. “Does that sound innocent enough?”
Logan took the note which Janie held out to him. Glancing over it, he gave his approval. “We’re not accusing him of anything…merely seeking his cooperation. I think things will go smoothly. Sara, when you give him the invitation, don’t let him know I’m in town. I want to see what he’s willing to share with the two of you before I step in.”
“I understand,” she nodded, taking the note from him and handing him a plate of pancakes.
“If all goes as well as I expect it to, you’ll be back before lunch.”
Charley soon approached Logan. “Mr. Hodges said I can ride my horse anytime you are ready to watch me!” he boasted. “Will you come now?”
Logan smiled at the boy. “Yes, you have been very patient with me. Come along, and I’ll help you get her saddled.”
Charley flashed him a grin before rushing off to get dressed. He soon came swooshing back through the room, already in his boots. “Let’s go!”
“Alright, alright,” Logan laughed. He followed his nephew out to the barn where he gave him a quick lesson on how to fit a saddle. Before long, Logan helped Charley up onto the mare and led him toward the corral.
“I can do it,” Charley insisted, once inside the enclosure.
Logan gave him a nod. “I believe you. Go ahead and show me.” He stepped back and watched as Charley gave the mare a tiny kick. The horse obediently began walking around the pen as Charley beamed. “I can’t believe how grown-up you’ve become!” Logan praised. Though he was genuinely proud of the boy, his heart sank a little at the thought that Tom was missing this. There would be many more firsts for the boys in the next five years, and Logan was determined to ensure that their father would share them with his sons.
As soon as Mr. Hodges had been given a chance to eat, he and Sara set out for the barn.
“You’re doing beautifully!” Sara called to Charley, whose young heart soared still higher.
Once Mr. Hodges had hitched the team, they set off for town. Having not had much time to get to know one another, their ride together remained rather quiet. A dark sky loomed to the west of them, suggesting that they should complete their errand as quickly as possible. Mr. Hodges urged the horses to pick up the pace and pulled his hat down a bit to keep the wind from claiming it. Arriving in town, he drove the wagon directly to the sheriff’s office.
“Do you want me to accompany you in, ma’am?” he asked, giving her a hand and lowering her to the ground.
“Thank you, but I’ll be alright. That sky says we had best make this as quick as possible.” A stiff wind blew, pulling Sara’s skirt tight against her legs. As she pushed through the door to the office, Sheriff Graves nearly tore the door out of her hand.
“Oh! I’m sorry, Miss!” he exclaimed, startled to have nearly run into her. “I was just on my way out to lunch. Is there something I can do for you?”
“Yes, sir, though I’m sorry to interrupt you. I only wanted to give you this note. I am Sara Bailey, Janie Bailey’s sister-in-law.”
At this news, the older man sank a bit in his stance. “I see. In that case, I suppose condolences are in order.”
“Thank you,” she sighed, eyeing the man much older than herself. Despite the role he had played in Tom’s arrest, his sympathy seemed genuine. “As I’m sure you can understand, all of this has come as a shock to our family. Janie hasn’t been able to speak with Tom since his arrest, and she’s had several questions weighing heavily on her mind in the wake of the trial. She really hasn’t got anyone else here to seek answers from. For her peace of mind, we were wondering if you would be willing to come to the ranch and speak with her.”
Sheriff Graves hesitated, but gave in to Sara’s concerned look. “I suppose I can manage that if it will give her some peace.”
“Thank you, sir,” Sara nodded. “I’m heading back that way now. You’re welcome to come with me if you wish, but I know you said you were hoping for lunch.”
“Yes, I think I’ll go ahead and get my lunch, and I will ride out there this afternoon. Will that be alright?”
“It will be fine, thank you. I’ll let Janie know to be expecting you.” Sara opened the door to the office once more, stepping out before the sheriff turned to lock up. “I’ll see you this afternoon, then.”
Sheriff Graves nodded and started across the street to the restaurant. Mr. Hodges waited until he was out of earshot before asking any questions. Sara explained as the two of them rode out of town, hopeful of making it to the house before the storm set in.
The first drops of rain were splashing off the wagon bed as they rolled into the yard. Mr. Hodges stopped next to the veranda, letting Sara out to go on into the house before he pulled into the barn. The front door swung open before Sara had a chance to touch it. Logan was standing on the other side.
“He’s not with you. Did he suspect something?”
“No, he said he’d be following after lunch,” she assured him. “He seemed uneasy when he learned who I was, though. He was clearly too distracted at the trial to notice me.”
“That’s alright, it probably just surprised him to meet another of Tom’s relatives. I think he’ll be cooperative enough. Once he arrives, I’ll be tucked away in Janie’s room where I can hear the conversation. Just try to keep things casual,” he instructed. “I’ve already spoken to Janie about a few key questions…things that might catch him up if he lied about anything at the trial.”
The sound of a horse riding into the yard cut their conversation short. Sheriff Graves had clearly not taken his time over lunch and had nearly caught up with Sara and Hodges.
Mr. Hodges stepped out of the barn, inviting the sheriff to take his horse in out of the weather. Logan quickly disappeared into Janie’s room. Not wanting to appear as though they’d been watching for him, Sara waited until the sheriff knocked on the door before opening it.
“Hello again, Miss,” he nodded, removing his hat.
Sara smiled. “Hello, sir. Please, come in.” She opened the door further, inviting him into the sitting room.
Janie soon appeared from the kitchen bearing tea. “Good afternoon, Sheriff,” she greeted, setting her tray down. “I appreciate you coming out to see us.”
“Yes, ma’am, Miss Bailey explained that you had a few questions about the trial. I’ll do what I can to put your mind at ease,” he said, never really sitting back in his cha
ir. He nervously tapped his heel on the floor while remaining perched on the edge of the couch.
“Here you are,” Janie smiled, presenting him with a cup of tea.
Just then the skies let loose, pouring down the rain that they held. Sara smiled slightly, knowing that the weather would now afford them more time to speak with the sheriff without him trying to slip away.
“Thank you for the tea. Shall we get to the things that have been concerning you?”
“Certainly,” Janie agreed. She took a seat across from the sheriff, allowing Sara to join him on the couch. “As I’m sure you’ll remember, Sara and I were at the trial, but it was all a bit confusing for me. I haven’t been able to visit Tom, so I was not sure what I should expect anyway. You told the judge that you responded to a fight, is that right?”
“Yes,” Sheriff Graves nodded. “There was a rather loud commotion coming from the saloon, and I walked in to find out what was going on. By the time I got in there Mr. Warren had a hold on Tom’s arm, but all of the men showed signs of being involved in a scuffle.”
“I see,” Janie sighed. “And they claimed there was a knife involved.”
“Yes, ma’am. There was a knife that had been dropped on the floor near the men. Mr. Warren and Mr. Williams claimed that Tom had pulled it on them during the fight.”
“But Tom insisted that it did not belong to him,” Sara spoke up. “Were there no witnesses to verify either claim?”
The man rested his gaze on the bottom of his teacup, swirling the liquid around. “I asked for any witnesses to speak up, and no one responded. They all claimed to have missed how things happened.”
“Then why did you believe Mr. Warren and Mr. Williams over Tom?” Janie asked.
“Well, it was the word of two men against that of one, ma’am.”
“But you and I both know what sort of reputation those men have,” Janie insisted.
Sheriff Graves held up a hand, stopping her before she continued. “I cannot take into account any reputations that have nothing to do with the situation at hand. I’m sorry, but I must view the scene with an unbiased eye. Their reputation is not enough for me to condemn them.”
“But apparently Tom’s is,” Sara retorted, catching herself and struggling to remove the bite from her tone. “He has never had a brush with the law. Does that hold no bearing either?”
“Every criminal committed their first crime at some point,” he argued.
“Alright,” Janie cut back in, soothing the tone. “So you found the three of them with a knife on the ground. If none of the men were injured, I don’t understand how such a strict verdict was reached. Five years seems steep to me.”
“Now, I don’t have any say over the sentence given,” he shook his head. “That authority is above me.”
“I understand that, but does it not seem harsh to you?” Sara asked.
Logan listened attentively from a mere few feet away. His answer to this might give some much-needed insight.
“My opinion on the matter is irrelevant, ladies. Surely you can understand that.”
Logan sighed and rubbed his face. It was not like the sheriff to choose his words so precisely. Logan had fully expected to have a lead by now.
“If you have other questions about the trial itself, I might be able to help you. But my personal thoughts about the incident have no bearing,” Sheriff Graves insisted, finishing his tea.
Sensing that Janie and Sara were not going to get anywhere with the man, Logan stepped into the sitting room. Catching sight of him, the sheriff quickly rose to his feet.
“Logan…I, um, I didn’t know you were back in the area,” the sheriff stammered.
Logan confidently stared at the man, remaining quiet. He had always had an imposing presence…one of the few that could affect the lawman. He knew that making the sheriff aware of his return was risky.
The only real advantage they had over Moran was him not knowing Logan was back. And they couldn’t very well keep the sheriff quiet about it. But Sheriff Graves’ suddenly stiffened demeanor told Logan he was on the right track.
Sheriff Graves lowered his head and sighed. His eyes grew troubled, and his tension was palpable. It was clear that he was deeply troubled by something. Sara gently reached out and took his hand in her own. Her gentle touch had a visible effect.
“Sheriff Graves, we know that my brother is innocent,” she began, urging him to retake his seat. “If there is anything you can tell us to help, we would be extremely grateful to you.”
The older man hung his head, struggling with his conscience.
“I understand that you must find yourself in many difficult situations,” she continued. “And it must be hard to always know if you have judged a scenario accurately and fairly. Please know that our questions are not aimed at you. We simply need information.”
Logan’s heart began to pound at the sight of Sara soothing the man’s nerves. She was so graceful in her words, bringing the sheriff into her confidence. With each smooth assurance Sheriff Graves relaxed a bit more, slowly sinking back on the couch. Her touch was clearly gentle, and her smile kind. Logan struggled to steady his thoughts.
He could not understand what was happening to him. He’d never met a woman that could so easily lay claim to his thoughts and yearnings. He studied her face, gently framed with her strawberry-blonde hair. It floated softly over her forehead, dipping back behind her ear where she kept it tucked. There was no denying that his captivation was merited.
Sara was a beautiful woman, with a warmth about her that welcomed everyone she cared about. She would undoubtedly make a fine wife. But he knew that this was no time to be having such thoughts. With the sheriff’s attention held firmly by the woman, Logan rubbed his face, struggling to regain focus on the matter at hand. He forced himself to remember that their efforts needed to be concentrated on getting Tom released from prison.
“Alright,” Sheriff Graves sighed, “I can’t stand it any longer. I was never convinced that Tom was guilty.” He shook his head, thinking back on his shock over the judge’s verdict. “I never thought that the charges against him would stick, but I am required to approach every incidence with a level of impartiality. I certainly did not believe that the knife was Tom’s, but I had to let the law run its course.”
Sara nodded, still holding onto his hand.
“After the trial I sat down in the town hall, dumbfounded that such an experienced judge had passed sentencing on a case with so many holes in it. I’ve known that judge for years, and though we’ve never been close, he’s always been quick to see an inconsistency with a person’s character. After a few minutes, Levi came up to me chuckling and boasting of how he had bribed the judge to find Tom guilty and sentence him to serve five years in prison.”
Janie gasped, and her hand immediately clamped over her mouth. She looked to Logan, who stepped forward and placed an assuring hand on her shoulder.
“I knew it,” Logan muttered. “I knew Moran was behind this.”
“I am so ashamed of myself!” the sheriff groaned. “I don’t know what it is about Levi Moran that intimidates me so severely. But now, because of my own cowardice, an innocent man is behind bars. I don’t know what to do.”
“For years, that man has kept the townsfolk of Oakmede living in fear,” Logan growled. “He has swindled them and intimidated them, threatening them and robbing them blind! But those days are coming to an end. Sheriff, it is time for us to set things right. If you agree to testify against Moran, you will have my full support. And to prove that to you, I’ll take the deputy sheriff position. Moran is the reason why no one has been willing to take it, and we are about to change that.”
Partners in Justice and Love: A Historical Western Romance Book Page 12
