accident, and she intended to find out exactly why he’d come to town. She followed him when he left the café, keeping to the shadows as he crossed the street and headed down one alley after another. He stopped in front of a saloon. Livy melded with the shadows as he looked to the left and to the right, then limped into a narrow alley between the saloon and a saddle shop. Livy darted down an adjacent garbage-strewn alley. At the other end, she spotted the glow of a cigarette and heard low voices. She eased forward and crouched between two crates, careful not to make a sound.
Sharp stood with two men, his sparse frame small compared to their hulking stances. Livy shivered. Sharp’s lean build had led many in Chicago to underestimate him. And most hadn’t lived to tell about their lapse in judgment.
“What do you want us to do with all them young’uns? Just leave ’em in the mine?”
Fear mixed with thankfulness clutched Livy. At least the children were still alive. For how long was anybody’s guess.
“Blow up the mine.” Sharp’s unemotional voice came out colder than an Illinois winter. “As far as most folks know, it’s closed because of that explosion a couple of years ago.”
“And then what?”
“Get out of town. As soon as I spring Gibbons, we’ll cut our losses here. Chestnut’s too small to do business without drawing attention to ourselves. I told Victor that, but he wouldn’t listen.”
The men separated, Sharp heading back the way he’d come, the two men going in the opposite direction. Livy waited a full five minutes before leaving her hiding place. She followed the path the goons took, choosing the lesser of two evils, in her rush to get back to Main Street.
Livy burst into the jail, winded from running the entire distance from shantytown. Jake jumped to his feet, the pained look on his face clearly showing he’d moved too fast for his bruised and battered body. She didn’t see Sheriff Carter.
“What’s wrong?”
“Jimmy Sharp’s in town.”
“The lawyer? He came by here earlier today.” He gestured toward the cells. “Spent some time with Gibbons.”
Livy snorted. “He may be a lawyer, but he’s a crook and a murderer first. I overheard him telling Gibbons’s men to blow up a mine.” Tears filled her eyes. “And those kids are in the mine. They’re going to shut them up for good and then get out of town.”
He grabbed her arms. “Which mine?”
“He said something about an explosion a couple of years ago. How many mine accidents has Chestnut had?”
“Only one.” Jake’s jaw hardened. “The Black Gold mine. The mine was so unstable after the explosion that we boarded up the entrance.”
“We’ve got to stop them.”
* * *
Jake eyed Livy as he tried to decide on the best course of action. Making a snap decision, he propelled her toward the door. “Go to the boardinghouse, and tell Harvey and Smitty to meet me at the mine. Harvey knows the way. Oh, and tell Miss Nellie to send Sam here to the jail. If Sharp’s as dangerous as you say, I don’t want to leave Sheriff Carter alone.”
“Be careful.” Livy’s hand rested against his shirt, the heat of her palm branding his heart.
He hauled her into his arms and hugged her tight, ignoring the pain in his ribs. “You too. Now go.”
As she hurried to the door, he called out, “You stay with Miss Nellie, you hear?” He thought she nodded but couldn’t be sure. As soon as she’d gone, he went to the cot where Sheriff Carter dozed. “Sheriff, something’s come up. I’ve got to go.”
“What is it?” Sheriff Carter struggled to a sitting position, pulled on his boots, and followed Jake into the office.
Jake shut the door to the cells and outlined Sharp’s plans as quickly as possible.
The sheriff reached for his gun belt. “I’ll go. You’ve already tangled with these fellers once.”
“It’s a tough trek out to that mine.” Jake caught and held the sheriff’s gaze.
Sheriff Carter’s eyes blazed. “I know it, but you need my help if we’re going to save those kids.”
“Smitty’s meeting me at the mine. And I’ve sent for McIver to come here to the jail.”
“Good. McIver can take care of Gibbons.” The sheriff grabbed a shotgun and filled his pockets with shells. “Saddle a couple of horses. We’ll ride part of the way.”
* * *
Jake crouched in the shadows near the Black Gold mine, his entire body aching. He ignored the pain. A bunch of kids’