in. Wondering if this was the last time he’d ever be this close to her. There’d be no marriage this week—or ever. No making room for her things in his house. No good-natured ribbing from his brother about finding a new place to hang his hat.
He’d swing for this, for sure.
The bad blood between him and West likely meant there wouldn’t be a trial. A circuit judge would hear Mrs. Agnes’s claim that she’d seen him shoot Zeke, and that’d be that.
Even if it wasn’t true.
But he’d go to hell himself before he told anyone the truth about who’d fired the gun.
Maybe it made him the most unfeeling bastard in the world, but he wasn’t sorry Zeke West was dead. If the man would’ve been less inclined to blow hot air, Silas’s body would be cooling outside right now. Maybe Dinah’s too. Or worse, he might’ve taken her and done unspeakable things to her.
“I’m sorry, darlin’. I screwed this up nine ways to Sunday. Maybe Zeke was off his nut, but I could’ve been the bigger man. The better man. Now it’s too late. I should’ve listened to my brother when he said my actions will be the death of me. But I will do everything I can to make sure my actions won’t be the death of you too.”
Silas had no idea how long he remained in that position. He just knew he was reluctant to move even when his damn neck hurt, and his leg had fallen asleep.
The lock clicked and the door creaked open.
“Is she okay?” Jonas asked behind him.
“Still in shock.”
He harrumphed. Then his hand landed on Silas’s shoulder. “I’ve gotta take you in.”
“I know.” He cleared his throat. “I need to have a word with Doc.”
“I’m right here, boy.”
After gifting Dinah with a kiss on the forehead, then the mouth, and a whispered, “I love you,” he straightened and faced Doc. “Zeke stabbed her yesterday so she’s got a puncture wound on the lower right side of her back. He also wrenched her arm—just like he’d done to mine—and she’s been in a lot of pain from that. Plus he left other bruises on her arm. I’m askin’ you to keep her comfortable for however long it takes for her not to be in pain as she heals.”
“Of course I’ll see to her.”
“Thank you.” He brought Dinah’s hand to his mouth and kissed the finger that should’ve been bearing his ring. “And if I am to hang, I don’t want her there. I don’t care if you gotta lock her in this room, that ain’t something she needs to watch, no matter what she says.”
“Again, McKay, I think of her as a daughter, so I’ll make sure she’s protected.”
“I appreciate it.”
Behind him, he heard Jonas say, “The oxen are in the paddock. I’ll be by tomorrow sometime to return them to the ranch.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
After one last look at his beloved, he turned and walked out.
Chapter Twenty
Twilight had passed to full-on dark when Jonas escorted his brother down the dusty road from Doc’s place to the deputy’s office.
He hadn’t bothered to restrain him; Silas was resigned to his fate.
Word hadn’t spread yet about the shooting, so the raucous noise drifting out from Sackett’s was the mix of piano music, laughter and rattling glassware, same as any other Monday night. No rubbernecking townsfolk stood on the boardwalk, watching the McKay boys take their last stroll together.
Their last one until Jonas accompanied Silas to the hangin’ tree.
Neither of them would pretend that wasn’t in Silas’s future, even when it wasn’t fair.
Jonas knew that Silas wasn’t the one who’d pulled the trigger—regardless of what Mrs. Agnes claimed. He’d seen enough deaths, examined enough bodies shot up every way that a man could meet a bullet, to know there was a pattern to blood when it was violently forced out of a body. The blood on Silas indicated he’d been standing off to the side of Zeke when the bullets had been fired.
But that wouldn’t matter.
Silas had threatened Zeke yesterday in front of dozens of people and today Zeke was dead.
Mrs. Agnes seeing Silas holding the gun near to where the gun had been fired was the first—and last—nail in the coffin of his condemnation.
The Wyoming District One court judge wouldn’t waste time with a trial. He’d be here on Wednesday morning and Silas would be convicted that same day. When they fit him for the hangman’s noose was up to the sheriff’s department.