Dark Heart Wolf - Haley Weir Page 0,44

Miss Pearl. A gang set fire to the blacksmith’s shop and the brothel. The ladies are describing a man that looks just like Sam." The young sheriff pulled something from behind his back. "This...this was at the bank."

"And?"

"And reliable witnesses say that Sam wore the scarf during raids from back in the day," he explained.

"You don't understand. Sam was with me all week! He could not have done it." Mary Ann wanted to scream and shout, to pound on Sam's chest and force him to defend himself. "Besides, why would a man who's has been traumatized by fire after losin' his family set two businesses aflame?" The sheriff ignored Mary Ann and forced Sam up against the wall. "Sam, tell them where you've been. Tell them that we were on the mountain!"

Sam simply shook his head, causing Mary Ann to stir in her confusion as he was shackled and dragged down to the jailhouse. Mary Ann wasn't the sort to give up that easily. She gripped the reins and led the horse back out of the small stable. Her arms trembled slightly as she used the saddle horn to lift herself. Mary Ann rode hard towards Silver Fox Ranch.

"Boone!" she shouted above the pounding of hooves. The eldest Cassady brother came barreling out of the front door a moment later. "Sam has been arrested. We just got back to town, but the sheriff refuses to believe that he's innocent. Sam didn't do it, Boone."

Boone hesitated for a moment but grabbed his horse and followed Mary Ann back to town. Jesse and Wesley caught up along the way and the four of them kicked up dirt and rode as if there were a demon on their heels. Boone headed to the sheriff's office. Jesse and Wesley went to the jailhouse. Mary Ann stopped at the public corral and made sure the horse was getting the best care.

Once arrangements were set in place, she walked down to the bank that had been robbed. Mary Ann strolled inside and walked past the guards. She slipped inside of the vault to search for clues as to what had really happened. A throat cleared from over her shoulder and Mary Ann grumbled in response. The banker stood in the doorway of the vault.

"Miss Pearl, what in heavens are you doing here?"

"Proving to the town that Sam is innocent."

He turned his nose up in a disapproving look and grabbed her arm. Mary Ann knew better than to fight back when the banker pulled her from the vault. She stumbled a bit but kept her footing for the most part. Mary Ann stormed away with a huff. Right around the corner was the saloon, anyway. She threw open the swinging doors with a confident swagger in her step. Heads turned and lecherous stares regarded her as she made her way over to the bar.

"What's a lovely lady like yourself doin' in my establishment, Miss Pearl?"

"I need to know who really did the job at the bank, Merle. It ain't fair that Sam has to be the one to take the blame."

Merle smirked and leaned against the bar. "It's a sin what you and him been doin', you know? Livin' together and you gettin' pregnant. It's a downright shame. There were plenty of good men here in this town. Why'd you have to run off with Sam Cassady?"

Mary Ann shook her head with an irritable scoff. "There ain't a man here that can measure up to Sam."

Merle's smile twisted into a tight frown. "You're worse than them whores down at the brothel. I would not even take you on as one of my soiled doves unless you let me feel up them pretty skirts to see if you'd even be worth the trouble."

Mary Ann picked up the glass of liquor on the bar and tossed the drink into Merle’s face. "Go to hell!" She spun on her heels to storm away, but three other men stood behind her. Mary Ann reached for her rifle, but it barely brushed the tips of her fingers as they backed her up against the bar.

The doors swung open and Gabriel grabbed her by the hand, watching her back as they left the saloon. "It was foolish going in there on your own."

"I need to help save Sam."

"No, you don't." Gabriel hurried her over to a dark corner and dropped his voice. "There's going to be a jailbreak tonight. Boone thinks the sheriff might be in the Wendigo Spirit's back pocket. They'll make