Silver Creek - G.L. Snodgrass Page 0,29

for both the shooting of Reed, and for the beating of my miner last night.”

“We got a circuit judge coming through in a week or so,” Strumph said. “If you can get him alive. You keep him stashed until then. Of course, if he don’t come easy. Then you do what you got to do. Like we said. We’ll back you.”

He couldn’t stop himself from asking, “You lot going to stand next to me when I brace him?”

He watched as the color drained from their faces. He could see it in their eyes. These men had families, businesses. Stepping in front of a bullet wasn’t on their agenda.

“Never mind,” he said. “Too many people would just make it confusing. I’ll handle this on my own.

The look of relief behind their eyes was palpable. These were good people, he reminded himself. But they weren’t built for this type of thing. Was any man?

Luke felt his stomach clench up tight. What had he walked into?

.o0o.

Rebecca listened again to Pap tell the story of how Sheriff Reed had confronted Mark Felton. Something about the beating of a miner the night before. And how, when confronted, Felton had drawn his gun and shot the sheriff.

Helen’s friend, Chester Polk, with his familiar sawed-off shotgun in his hand, came in shaking his head to inform them that the sheriff still lived and had been moved to McAdam’s.

“What about Luke?” she demanded.

Chester shrugged then shot Helen a quick smile.

Rebecca tried to take it all in. She thought back to the insane look in Felton’s eyes when he had held her wrist. The look of a man who didn’t believe in consequences. Going after him would be like going into a dark room to hunt a snake.

Her heart ached when she thought of Luke, he’d rushed out of here, directly into danger. Why did he have to be so foolish? This wasn’t his fight. She had wanted to run after him but Helen insisted that she stay here and out of his way.

Rebecca poured Chester a coffee then grumbled under her breath as each minute passed without Luke returning. Her heart hurt thinking of him. What if he died without knowing how she felt? Was that right? Then the thought of a world without Luke Parker crushed her soul.

The tension continued to build until she could stand it no more. Gritting her teeth, she plopped the coffee pot on the brazier. Her fingers fumbled as she untied her apron. “I’ll be back in a minute,” she called to Helen as she dropped her apron next to the dirty dishes.

Her friend pushed through the batwing doors and frowned at her as she shook her head. “Don’t you be getting in his way.”

Rebecca paused. “This isn’t Luke’s fight.”

Helen laughed, “Honey, I never known a man more drawn to a fight. You won’t be keeping him out of this one.”

A sudden sickness filled her as she realized Helen was right. Time couldn’t be wasted. Maybe if he knew how she felt. Maybe then he would stop from rushing into something that was not his responsibility. Maybe if he understood that she should be his responsibility.

She darted from the restaurant and hurried down the street. In the far distance, she saw Luke stepping into the sheriff’s office with several other men. Her heart hitched as she lifted the hem of her dress and rushed towards the jail. Without knocking, she threw the door open to find Luke with his right hand raised and a gold star on his chest.

“No!” she gasped.

Mayor Jamison finished, shook Luke’s hand, then turned and smiled at her. “Miss Johnson.”

Rebecca ignored him as she glared at Luke. He had the good graces to look slightly chagrined. He obviously knew she didn’t approve. But had that stopped him? No. Nothing she thought ever seemed to have any impact on him.

Jack Strumph slapped Luke on the back then led the other men out. Each of them acknowledging her as they passed.

“Why?” she demanded when they were alone. “Why must you always rush to jump into other people’s problems? You were that way on the trail. After that twister, my uncle was hurt, and you stepped forward to take care of his stock. Leading his wagon down the trail. The country goes to war and you leave a good home in a state not involved to go fight for a union you didn’t even think on before it started. A little girl was alone on the Oregon trail and you took