The Whippoorwill Trilogy - Sharon Sala Page 0,200

to cause trouble for none of you,” he said. “We’re just lookin’ for a back-stabbin’ claim jumper by the name of Art Masters. He jumped a claim, and shot the man it belonged to. That man was our friend and he lived long enough to tell us who did him in.”

Mrs. Cocker frowned. There was no law in this part of the country, and for the most part, there was also no justice. But claim-jumping was serious business, and if that was the case, she had no desire to shelter a back-shooting thief such as that.

“You sure you know who you’re looking for?” she asked.

Hodges nodded. “Ask any of these men. We was all present when our friend said the name, and we was all present when he died. So… is he here, or ain’t he?”

“I told you the truth when I said I didn’t know anyone by the name of Art Masters, but I also don’t know the name of any of my guests. However, I won’t be accused of sheltering a killer.” She turned to the men who’d come to her aid. “Gentlemen, I thank you for coming to my assistance. However, I am going to let these men into the sleeping area. Please stand aside.”

Eulis stepped back, but he didn’t stand aside. Instead, he went back into the room and headed for Letty. If something happened, he intended to be between her and the shooting.

Mrs. Cocker followed him, carrying a lit lamp into the room.

“Gentlemen, I’m sorry for the inconvenience, but I must ask you to light the other lamps. There is a killer on the loose and these men are looking for him.”

There was a loud grumbling until she mentioned the fact that the killer was also a claim-jumper. At that point, a candle and two lamps were quickly lit. In the gold fields, a claim-jumper was the worst sort of a criminal, and one not to be tolerated.

“So, Mr. Hodges… do you see your man?”

The big man took the lamp from the woman’s hand and began moving up and down the rows of beds, holding the lamp close to each face as he passed.

Eulis stood between Hodges and the lamp with his gun drawn. Thinking that Eulis must have something to hide, Hodges headed that way first.

“The man you’re lookin’ for ain’t over here, so back off,” Eulis said.

“I reckon I’ll see for myself,” Hodges muttered, and started to shove Eulis aside.

Fearing Eulis would get himself hurt trying to protect her, she quickly crawled out of bed and stood beside him, meeting the big man’s surprised gaze.

“Like he said, Mister. We aren’t hiding anything. Look somewhere else for your killer.”

There was noise on the other side of the room, as if someone was trying to make a break. Everyone turned to look just as a young, stocky man made a run for the door.

“Grab him!” Hodges shouted.

Suddenly, the man was on the floor and begging for his life.

“Let me go! Let me go!” he begged, then began to cry, bawling in earnest as he realized what his fate would be. “I didn’t do anything. I swear, I didn’t do anything. You’ve got the wrong man.”

Hodges thrust the lamp near his face and then snarled.

“By God, it’s you, Art Masters, it’s you. You shot Henry Cummings in the back.”

“I didn’t. I swear, I didn’t. You got the wrong man.”

“He said your name before he died. He said you took his poke and then left him to die.”

Subconsciously, the man’s hand moved to his waist.

Hodges yanked it back then ripped open his shirt. A small leather pouch fell out onto the floor. Hodges picked it up.

“Look here! All of you look! This leather pouch has Henry’s initials. H.C. Why would a man named Art Masters be carryin’ a pouch belongin’ to a dead man, unless he’s the one who stole it off him?”

Realizing he was caught, Masters started to beg. “Take it! Here! Take it and be done with it. It was an accident anyway. Just let me go. I’ll leave and never come back. You can have Cumming’s claim. No one will know. No one will care.”

“I’ll know,” Hodges said, and then pointed to everyone who was staring at the man in disbelief. “And they’ll know. All of them. You shot a man in the back, which makes you the dirtiest sort of a killer. You’re a coward, man, and you’re gonna die.”

Masters started begging and pleading, but to no avail.

Letty watched, stunned into silence by