he needed here.
“Thank you,” he told the man as his mind searched for any other sources. Only one, he thought, and it was unlikely but it wouldn’t hurt to check.
Ben Tuthill was behind his desk when Luke stepped into the bank.
“Sheriff,” the banker said as he stood up from behind his desk to come around and shake Luke’s hand. “Yesterday. Most remarkable.”
Luke ignored his statement, the last thing he wanted was to be thanked for killing a man.
“Mr. Tuthill,” he began, “I know this is unlikely, but do you know of anyone claiming the land across the creek from Tom Johnson’s.”
The man frowned.
“I thought,” Luke continued, “maybe someone got a mortgage or a loan to build a home. Or if someone was looking to buy Johnson’s place. Maybe they claimed the land on the other side of the creek.”
Tuthill continued to frown then shook his head. “If it was a homesteader. They can’t sell for five years. And I would never give a mortgage under those circumstances. If they don’t prove out, the place reverts to the government. I’d be out of business in no time.”
Luke sighed, he had feared as much.
Tuthill studied him for a minute then said, “I heard you were taking Felton to the penitentiary today and that when you got back, you and Miss Johnson were leaving for Oregon.”
Rocking back in surprise, Luke raised an eyebrow. “I know some Army intelligence officers who would have wished access to sources like yours.”
The banker smiled weakly and shrugged, “I am a businessman. A banker, but at heart a businessman. And wealth is created in two ways. Doing something new, valuable. Or knowing something new, and valuable. I make it a point to learn what I can.”
Luke nodded. He could see it, this man would have his tentacles in a dozen different holes. “I suppose it’s convenient that I am headed to Carson City anyway. I’ll just have to track it down there. I had hoped to clear this up before I left. But …”
Tuthill frowned. “You know, Sheriff. You have done more than enough for this town. You will never be repaid what we owe you…”
Luke glanced down at the floor. He hated compliments, it made him feel like he owed people even more.
The banker frowned, “Why don’t you let someone else take Felton to Jail. You and Miss Johnson should put this behind you. Start your life. Somewhere fresh, new. I can tell you if Miss Johnson was to be my bride, I wouldn’t be wasting a moment worrying about Mark Felton.”
Shrugging his shoulders, Luke said, “I ain’t ever been able to leave a job half done. My brother-in-law, Zion would frown at me. And ain’t nothing worse than disappointing Zion Campbell. I guess the habit just took.”
The banker shook his head. “You young people. You will never know what is important until it is too late.”
Luke laughed. “Thank you, Mr. Tuthill. I’ll leave you for now.”
The banker nodded. Luke was struck by the obvious concern in the man’s eyes. He really thought it would be better to walk away from this search and leave it behind them. Was he right? If the town hired someone else to take Felton to Carson City, he and Rebecca could be married immediately and on the road by tomorrow.
The thought of his wedding night jumped to the front of his mind and refused to be pushed aside. He was making a mistake, his gut told him. Leaving Becky behind to search for something that would probably lead nowhere.
No. He couldn’t walk away. He owed Tom Johnson too much. The man had raised Becky all by his lonesome. Many men would have shipped her off to some distant relative. How many would have drowned themselves in drink after losing his wife? But he hadn’t. He’d fought against the land and carved out a home. A home valuable enough to be sold and set Becky up with safety and security.
He had taken care of Becky when Luke hadn’t been there to do it. Only to be cut down and robbed. No, he owed the man too much.
“Jake,” he called when he stepped into the jail. “Saddle my horse and one for Felton.”
“My Dun and my saddle are at the Livery,” Felton called from the back. “If’n I’m riding to jail. I want to do it on my own horse.”
Jake’s eyebrows rose as he stepped out from the back cell. “Do not tell me you’re leaving without telling Becky goodbye. She’d skin me