Chapter Thirty-Six

“Good news, McCutcheon,” Jack Jones said, sticking his head into the cell area of the sheriff’s office. “Just got word by courier ol’ Judge Wesley retired and is in the process of moving to Y Knot. Might even be there now. Denver circuit gave him dispensation to rule over cases when needed, if he wants. That’s pretty handy, I’d say. I’ve sent word to Y Knot to send him this way. He could arrive any time.”

Jack beamed as if that was the first right thing he’d ever done in his life. Probably was. Was Jack looking for approval? What a joke. He’d never get that from Luke… but Luke would play along. See what he could find out. At least Jack was trying. Clark, his deputy, was another story. He sat up. “By courier, huh?”

Jack nodded.

“About time we made some progress,” Luke mumbled from his place on the cot. He ran a hand down the front of the rumpled shirt Faith brought him. After an early visit this morning, she’d yet to come back. Roady either, or any of the men. He wondered where everyone was and felt a mite put out. “Should we throw a party when he arrives?” he said, not hiding his cynicism.

Jack’s hopeful expression hardened. He hooked one thumb in his waistband while he held a cup of coffee in the other. A heavy silver Colt rested in his holster, and a star was pinned to his chest.

Galling, to say the least.

“I thought you’d be pleased. But I can see that you’re as disparaging as ever.”

Luke scratched his scalp, thinking how greasy his hair felt. He hadn’t shaved in days. “What was your first clue?”

“That ugly frown on your face.”

Luke studied Jack from his sitting position. The days had blurred. He was damn ready to get out of his cell. Harrison Wesley was a good friend. How would the lawman deal with the fact Blanche would swear on a Bible Luke had murdered her husband right before her eyes? An eyewitness carried a lot of weight. Could the judge be swayed by her words? Could be too the judge might have good friends in Priest’s Crossing like he did in Y Knot. Would that hold any merit? Nothing in this peculiar case would surprise him.

“Don’t be so touchy, Luke,” Jack said. “I’m doing my best. We’re taking fine care of you. Making sure you have plenty of good food and coffee. Didn’t I bring you a glass of whiskey the other night? What more could you want? The law’s the law! I was obliged to lock you up.”

Jack’s stupidity was amazing. And his whiny voice made Luke want to holler. “What’ll you do when Harrison sets me free, Jack? Scramble around and start your investigation then? The real killer will be long gone. Or maybe not. Could be he’s right here in town under your nose, watching the show. You better hope no more innocent people get killed. That wouldn’t look good on your record. You’re not cut out to be a lawman, Jack. You should have learned your lesson in Y Knot and tried your hand at something else.”

Jack lifted his coffee cup to his lips, took a drink, and then studied him for several long minutes. “I don’t know nothin’ else, Luke. Being deputy for Brandon was my first full-time job. I did the best I could. I didn’t hear anyone complainin’.”

Luke grasped a bar in frustration. “That’s hogwash! You weren’t listening to the right people.”

Deputy Clark stepped into the room. “Stop spilling your guts to the prisoner.” He narrowed his eyes at Jones. “He’s the one locked up, not you. Did I hear something about a judge being on his way here?”

Luke didn’t miss his disrespectful tone and the way he glared at Jack.

“You heard right. Possibility we’ll get Wesley. He’s supposed to be in Y Knot.”

That news seemed to go in one ear and out the other.

Clark smirked as he made a deliberate search around the room. “Your pretty wife getting tired of sitting in here day after day, holding your hand, half-breed? Can’t say as I blame her any. She’s way too good for you.”

People might talk behind his back about his breeding, but this was the first time in years anyone besmirched him straight to his face and smiled in the process. Clark wouldn’t dare if these bars weren’t keeping him safe. Took some getting used to. He wondered what was being said out there on the street. He didn’t like dragging the McCutcheon name through the mud, just like when he was a kid, but here he was, repeating history.

Jack glared at his deputy, which did little to wipe the smirk off his face. “Ain’t no call to talk like that, Hoss. He’s a prisoner and no need to rile him up.”

“I got every right!” He pointed at Luke. “What kind of a man are you? Sometimes I wonder.”

Jack looked like he was about to take the deputy on, but at the last minute, he didn’t.

“Getting back to Mrs. McCutcheon,” Clark said, “I like her. She’s gonna need a new man once you hang. She’s always smiling at me when you’re not looking. I wonder if that means anything?”

Luke slowly lifted himself off his cot, wishing like hell he were free. “You better hope I never get out of this cell, Clark.” The long, intense glare he gave the deputy made the man take a step back. “Because I don’t forget. You’ll regret you mentioned my wife. I can guarantee you that.” His tone had gone deadly. Clark was strongly built, with powerful arms and legs. Jack would be powerless against him. But Clark didn’t scare Luke. Not for a second.

Jack glanced back and forth between them.

Faith stepped through the door with Smokey and Colton. She stopped and scrutinized him and then turned to Jack and Clark. “What?”

Luke never took his narrowed gaze off Clark. Would the man dare touch his wife in any way? The thought made his fingertips tingle. Even worse, would he do something to harm her? Was he the killer? He needed to warn Smokey to be all the more alert. Could he find a way to get her home? “Nothin’ important, sweetheart. Just jailhouse talk.”

“Luke?”

Smokey looked tense himself. He’d worked for Luke long enough to know when to be concerned.

Jack’s Adam’s apple bobbed once. “I was just telling Luke he may be in luck. Got word about a judge. Harrison Wesley is on his way to Y Knot and might be there already.”

Faith gasped. She turned back and smiled at Luke. “Harrison! Really? That’s wonderful news, isn’t it, Luke?”

Clark hadn’t looked at Faith once, but his nostrils flared at her reaction. Luke wished she’d thought to keep their friendship to herself.

With his arms crossed over his chest, the deputy stared back.

Luke could just imagine what he was thinking.