They were purchasing,” Theo’s voice dropped to an almost whisper, “dynamite.”
Doc and I looked at each other, then my eye caught that of the Reverend, who was still sort of moping.
After checking the dead body, Bart Feakes according to Theo, I stood up and went to the preacher. Molly was there now with Edith consoling Betty, but it was time to get the preacher thinking straight. Doc said that his shoulder would be fine, so I grabbed Parson Chapman by his jaw and turned his head where he could see his wife. “There is your priority, not that man on the floor! You did right!”
He pulled away from my hands. I could see he tried to smile at his wife, but then he turned his eyes towards me. “But I didn’t have to kill him.”
“No, he could have killed you, but worse, he would have made you watch while they took your wife,” I barked, then stooped to look him in the eye as he had dropped his head. “Could you live with that? Could she?”
It was at that time that Betty stood up going over to her husband. She knelt before him and they embraced, both breaking out in tears.
Doc tugged at my arm and we stepped away from the two consoling each other. “Miles, if Dale is right, then that man is going to be needing a doctor. If he was shot in the hip he’ll need more than someone just taking the bullet out. There’s a chance his pelvis or hip could be broken, plus he would have lost a lot of blood. Let me head on back to my office and see if he shows up.”
“Good idea, I’ll walk along with you,” came my quick reply.
“No, no, let me get settled, and say, oh, maybe thirty minutes you can start to monitor the area. They may be watching and if you’re with me, they might not show their faces,” urged Doc who then went over to Edith.
I stood by as Doc talked to Edith and Molly who both agreed to stay with the Chapman’s as long as needed. Doc nodded at me when he left, Edith was up and going to the kitchen to make some tea. As Doc went out the door, Mateo entered.
Theo was still standing there, so I thought I’d get him busy. “Theo, tell those folk out there to go on home or go about their business. I pulled Mateo aside to tell him the situation and what Doc and I had planned. He said he would leave ten minutes after I did and take the long way around to Doc’s and come in from the back. That way no one could enter or leave the office without being seen. We wanted one of those men alive.
Mateo said he recognized Bart Feakes and would Lester if he saw him, but he didn’t really know them. They worked the mines from time to time, ran freight and did other odd jobs. He didn’t know where they were staying, but would work on that.
Edith was bringing the tea when I went over to the Chapmans. “Pastor, this most likely won’t help, but I’ve struggled with what you’re thinkin’ in the past. Sometimes we have to do unsavory things to save those we love.”
He looked at me nodding, then took the cup from Edith whispering a thank you to her. I went over to Molly to explain what Mateo and I were going to do. She nodded, then embraced me. “I’ll stay here as long as they need me,” she said, then looked at the body on the floor. “It might be a help to all of us, if someone would cart that carcass out of the room.”
“Parker should be here anytime,” I said, but got that look. “Theo, help me move the body out of the house.”
It was time for me to head out. I glanced one more time around at those in the room. I’d find the men who did this, and they would pay to the full extent of the law. As I walked down the street, a thought struck me, “But whose law…”