by Unknown
Warren did as Adam suggested, but he still was not convinced. "I-I agree that it looks that way," he reluctantly admitted. "But there was no reason for Coy to leave."
Obviously concerned, Adam glanced at Blair. "Sweetheart, did he say anything at all that might indicate he was thinking about slipping away?"
"No," she whispered, her face ashen. "Except . . . now that I recall, he did seem awfully eager for me to talk with you."
Adam rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Just how badly hurt is he?"
"Not as bad as I first thought," she conceded. "After the effects of the whiskey wore off, and after he took a few doses of my medicine, he seemed much better except for being stiff, sore and badly bruised."
"Could he have managed to leave on his own?"
"Probably . . . I’m not sure. But, Adam, please don't try to ease my conscience by putting the blame on him. If there is a chance someone abducted him. ..."
"I'm merely trying to learn the facts, sweetheart." He hurried over to the dresser and picked up a lamp. "Warren, get that lamp on the table and I'll take this one. We'll go out the back way and around to the window to see if there are any footprints."
Kneeling outside the window, Adam and Warren studied the ground for signs. Both raised their eyes almost at the same time and stared at each other.
"Well . . . what do you see?" Blair anxiously demanded to know.
"There is only one set of prints here," Warren said slowly. "If Coy didn't sneak out, that leaves only one alternative. Someone had to have obtained a key to the room, because there was no sign of forced entry, come in through the back, and carried him off that way. Jake was on guard all night and he would have heard something . . . so that ‘one other alternative' holds about as much water as a sieve. I’ll have to agree with you, Adam, Coy must have left on his own accord."
"Fire! Fire!" a man shouted as he ran down the street frantically waving his hands in the air. "My store's on fire! Get the water tank down here! Form a bucket brigade!"
Immediately the entire town seemed to burst into life as men poured out of the buildings, and in a matter of minutes, they came running from their homes a block or so away. Some came with galluses hanging about their waists, some with one boot off, one on, and some even wearing nothing but their longjohns. They all knew if a fire went unchecked, it could rapidly spread from one building to another until the entire town lay in smoldering ruins.
Adam and Warren silently looked at each other. They had recognized the man’s voice. It was Radigan. Regardless of how the fire had started, they both knew the Townsends would be blamed by all of the people who had sided with Radigan, and it was sure to even raise doubts in some of those who had not sided with him.
Adam sighed heavily. He tried to ignore the question that badgered his mind. Had Coy deliberately waited until he could slip away and start the fire for revenge?
"I have to see if I can help. Warren, perhaps it would be best if you and Blair went to your hotel room and stayed. It might be safer there."
"We’ve nothing to hide," he stated adamantly, glancing at Blair. "I'll help put out the fire . . . not for Radigan, but for the town. Regardless of what has been said or done to us, this is our home, too."
The next few minutes were nothing but sheer bedlam until the men became organized. Some men had been through fires before and it was to them that the others turned. Horses were quickly hitched to the water wagon and it was driven as close to the fire as possible without terrifying the horses, then bucket brigades were formed. Hot embers fell on some of the men, but none were seriously injured. It did not take long for them to realize the store could not be saved, so they devoted their efforts to saving the buildings standing alongside it Finally Radigan's store caved in and the fire quickly burned itself out.
Radigan slumped into the middle of the street, dropped his head into his hands and cried deep, rasping sobs. "All I've worked for is gone! My entire life's savings went up in smoke ... in less than an hour's time!" he sobbed miserably. Gazing dully around him, his eyes fastened on Warren's soot-streaked face. He scrambled to his feet and lunged at him. "You did it! You started the fire that wiped me out! I'll kill you, you Indian-loving son of a bitch!"
He hit Warren, knocking him to the ground, but Warren immediately came charging after him. His fist connected with Radigan's chin, but Warren held him by his shirt front to keep him from falling down.
Hearing the shouts, Adam whirled about and saw what was happening. He dropped the bucket and ran toward Warren and Radigan, acutely aware that many eyes were riveted on him, watching his reaction and wondering how he would handle the confrontation. He quickly stepped between the two men and pushed them apart. "Break it up! That's enough out of both of you!"
Warren threw another punch at Radigan but Adam prevented it from connecting by catching his hand and holding it. "He jumped me and I was just defending myself. If I had known this was his way of saying ‘thanks' for trying to help save his store, I would have stood by and watched it burn!"
"Why watch it burn, you son of a bitch? You set the damned fire in the first place!"
"You had better. . . ."
Adam shouted, "Shut up, both of you! Or you'll be cooling your heels in my jail!" He glanced at Matthew, who had joined in the fire-fighting effort. "Will you go get the handcuffs? I’m not about to listen to this bickering crap."
"If you think it's necessary, I will."
Adam's expression was furious as he glared at first one man then the other. "If he has to go after the cuffs, I'm locking you both up, but if you'll behave like reasonable men for a few minutes, we might be able to get to the bottom of this."
Realizing from their silence that he finally had their attention, he asked Radigan, "Now, what makes you think Warren Townsend set the fire?"
"Because of what happened the other night-hell, any fool could figure that out."
Even though Radigan's statement was a slur against him too, Adam decided to let it pass. "I realize a man's watching his livelihood burn to the ground might make him say things he shouldn't, but I don't think you should make any accusations you can't prove."
Radigan's face twisted into an unpleasant scowl as he said bitterly, "Hell, if I brought you two eyewitnesses who saw him strike the match, you wouldn't consider it as proof—not with you being close friends!"
Adam moved toward him threateningly. "Listen . . . and you had better listen good because I’m not saying it twice," he muttered through clenched teeth, "the badge I wear stands for justice and I will arrest the first man I find breaking the law whether he is my personal friend or not. But I refuse to arrest any man on mere speculation or suspicion. Now, if you will shut your yap for five minutes, I’ll question Warren Townsend and see if there is any reason why he should be suspected. But, I will not be swayed by your bigoted hatred or your jealousy of him and his family any more than I would by our friendship."
He turned to Warren. "Do you have any objections to answering a few questions in front of these men?"
Warren stood with his arms crossed and his legs splayed slightly in a haughty stance. "No objections whatsoever."
"Where were you tonight when the fire started?"
Warren eyed him warily, not sure in which direction Adam was going, and if anything would be mentioned about Blair. Then, immediately realizing Adam would never do anything to hurt her name or reputation, he decided to simply tell the truth. "About fifteen minutes before the fire started I was with you and Blair."
"What did I tell you? Radigan shouted to the crowd in an attempt to incite them. "They've already hatched a story so the deputy can give him an alibi!"
"Where were you prior to that?" Adam asked, ignoring Radigan’s ranting.
"Instead of dallying with all of these questions and answers, I’ll tell everybody what I did tonight and let them be the judge whether I’m telling the truth or not. Late this afternoon, I needed to ch
ange horses so I rode out to the ranch, ate supper, got my fastest horse, came back into town and stabled my mount at the livery stable. I personally took care of the horse myself, but Zeke was there and we talked about the run tomorrow. Then I went directly to the hotel. I stopped in the lobby and spoke to my foreman for a few minutes—he was playing cards with the desk clerk. Then I walked back to the room we rented for my kid brother the night so many people stood by and watched him get the hell beat out of him." He glared at the crowd with that remark. "If you ask me for exact times, I can't give them, but like I said, I was in the hotel about fifteen minutes before Radigan started running down the street yelling about a fire."
Adam looked at the men clustered about. "Can anyone prove he is telling the truth?"
Radigan was obviously perplexed when Zeke and the desk clerk stepped forward and sustained Warren's story.
"What about Warren's men?" An unidentified voice asked from the crowd. "Maybe some of them could have done it."
Adam shook his head disgustedly. What did these people want? A pound of flesh?
He asked coldly, "Has anyone seen any of the Townsend hands in town today ... or the other two brothers? If you have, don't be afraid to speak up, I will personally protect you if you ask for it." Considering Warren had bitter enemies in the crowd, Adam decided to add, "But let me also caution any man who is tempted to lie. I’ll find out, and I will personally see to it that he serves hard time for trying to frame a man."
Adam looked expectantly at Radigan when no one stepped forward or said anything.
Radigan was so enraged by his hatred and personal loss, he seemed to lose all sense of reasoning. "One of 'em had to do it!" When he spied Blair standing with other women across the street from them, lunacy gleamed from his eyes and spittle flew from his mouth as he shouted, "There's the culprit, right there! That little bitch set the fire!"
Warren started for Radigan, but Adam pushed him out of the way and reached him first. Grabbing the very top portion of Radigan's shirt, he twisted it until the man was almost choking. "You will never know how close you came to dying for that stupid-ass remark," he muttered caustically.
Knowing the ugly mood of many in the crowd, Adam searched his mind for a way to provide Blair with an alibi and still keep her reputation intact. Then one occurred to him. It was risky and it could explode in his face almost at any moment. But to protect Blair, it was a chance he would have to take.
In a louder tone, he said, "It so happens, the lady was with me tonight. And we were playing dominos with Coy until Warren arrived. And if anyone wants to call me a liar, you're welcome to try! Radigan, I've heard enough of your accusations for one night. First thing in the morning though, I'll look around and if there are any signs that the fire was deliberately set, I will investigate further. But, if not, it will go on my report as an act of God." He turned to the crowd. "Now, except for you men who plan to stand watch to make sure the fire doesn't start up again, I suggest that the rest of you go on home."
Later, after the crowd disbursed, Adam called Matthew aside and quietly explained that Coy had disappeared, and why he had said what he did.
Matthew thought about it for a moment, then he said, "I can't really blame you. Even though they were fairly tame tonight, I saw how bloodthirsty the townspeople were. Many were wanting that store owner to be right. Since you were her alibi, and didn't want your future wife's name sullied, you really had no choice . . . except you now have your neck stretched about ten feet over the chopping block."
"Yeah, I know, and there are several people standing around holding sharp axes. But still, the fact remains: Coy is in bad shape. I can't see him skulking around starting a fire when he knows his family would be suspected first. It doesn't sound reasonable, and Coy might be hot-headed but he isn't stupid. If the fire was deliberately set, I'll bet my bottom dollar that it was done to frame them. I have a plan that should get her safely out of town without raising questions. But, I'll warn you now, you'll be involved and if anything goes wrong, your neck will be right alongside of mine on that chopping block. If we manage to pull this off, I want you to find Seth later and let him know what's going on."
Matthew smiled. "I'm with you, Adam. If I remember right, your hunches have not been wrong yet."
"Let's hope this is not the first time they are."
Lowering his voice even further, he told Matthew what he wanted him to do.
Adam walked over toward Warren and Blair who were standing on the sidewalk waiting for him to finish. As he approached, Blair started toward him but stopped when he gave a curt shake of his head.
Not knowing who might be listening, he spoke in his normal tone of voice, "Warren, I think Blair and Coy would be safer out at the ranch where there will be more men to stand guard. Maybe I’m being too cautious, but if that fire was deliberately set, it looks like someone is trying to frame one of you . . . it's my guess they'll try again. The way sentiments are running, if someone suggested having a necktie party with a Townsend the guest of honor, there might not be anybody around to stop it. Since you want to take part in the run tomorrow, you're welcome to catch a few hours sleep in my jail—you can sleep easy there. Matthew will be on duty and he will stop any trouble if anyone tries to start it. So, if you'll go get a buckboard and make it as comfortable as you can for Coy to ride in, I'll personally escort Blair and your foreman to the ranch. Oh, and Warren, get a board so that we can handle him easier when we carry him to the wagon. Blair, while he's doing that, I'll walk you to the hotel so that you can be getting your brother ready for the trip home."
Completely confused by much of what Adam just said, Blair asked hesitantly, "A-are you sure you want to go to so much trouble?"
"Do as he says, Blair," Warren stated abruptly. "He's right. You and Coy need to be home where it's safe." He wasn't sure what Adam planned to do, or how he intended to produce Coy, but he certainly wasn't going to waste time arguing.
Blair glanced up at Adam when he took her by the arm and started walking quickly toward the hotel. "What . . . ?"
"Hush, Blair," he muttered, trying not to move his lips any more than possible. "I'll explain everything when we get to your room."
Adam cautiously opened the door and looked about. When he saw that it was safe, he stepped aside so Blair could enter, then he shut the door which left them in total darkness.
A strange, yet vaguely familiar voice said, "I've already pulled the shades so if you want to light a lamp, feel free to, just keep the wick turned down low . . . and your voices too."
"Adam, who . . . ?"
"Just light the lamp, Blair. The less said, the better."
"But the lamps are outside," she whispered.
"No, I brought them in," the voice said.
Feeling along the dresser top for a lamp and the tin of matches, Blair carefully removed the globe and struck a match, then she lit the lamp. Although curious to see who the mysterious voice belonged to, she adjusted the wick before turning around.
Matthew Cahill sat in the big chair that had been positioned so that he could see from the hall lamps who was entering the room. He held a double-barreled shotgun in his hands for protection. When Blair turned to face him, he politely nodded his head. "I doubt if Adam has had a chance to tell you yet, so I guess I should introduce myself. Until we get out of town, I am your brother, Coy Townsend."
Suddenly, Blair was filled with such intense dis appointment, tears flooded her eyes. She slumped onto the side of the bed and sadly shook her head. "Adam, from the way you talked, I actually thought you had found Coy."
Adam sat down beside Blair and gently urged her to rest her head against the crook of his arm. "I’m sorry for misleading you, sweetheart, but I didn't think it would be wise to let anybody know he had disappeared. And I couldn't tell you differently until now, because I didn't know who might be listening. Matthew will pose as Coy until we get outside of town, then he will slip back
to the jail. Naturally, his face will have to be disguised." He handed a rolled bandage to her. "In case anyone gets curious, it needs to look professional, so you should do it."
"But, Adam . . . what if Coy is seen? They'll know you were telling a lie."
Adam tried to make light of it. "If that happens, let's hope my horse can outrun theirs."
Her eyes probed his worriedly. "There are so many things that can go wrong . . . you're taking a terrible chance for Coy."
"Don't put stars in my crown for nothing, sweetheart. It's not for Coy; I'm mad as hell at him for running out on you like he did. I did it for you . .. for us. Even though your family had friends in that crowd outside, they could have leaned either way if they heard something they didn't like. They wanted to know your whereabouts and I was the only person who could give you an alibi."
The tenderness in his expression would have amazed her if I she had seen it before tonight. "Believe me Adam, I understand your reasoning, but it's bad enough that you are laying your reputation on the line. You shouldn't have involved Matthew in this scheme, though."
Matthew spoke up, "Ma'am . . . Blair, he didn't involve me, I involved myself because I wanted to help." He shrugged and grinned —the gesture resembled Adam so much —"Just look at it this way: once we get out of town I’ll take the bandages off and slip back into town. No one will ever be able to prove a thing."
Adam interrupted, "All of this talk will be for nothing if we don't get a move on it. We need to leave the moment Warren arrives with the wagon." Adam watched carefully while Blair wrapped the bandages around Matthew's face. He tried not to think that his career as a lawman could be over before this night ended, but it was something he could not quite push from his mind.