Another Dawn (24 page)

      
"I got to."
 
The child's adamance made even Mrs. Fleming fall silent. "My brother went back in the cabin, and Papa hit him. He hit him so hard Shane fell down and didn't get up."

      
Several moments of silence stretched between them as they all waited for the child to finish her morbid tale. Sofie wanted to tell Jenny not to torment herself this way, but by the same token, she had to know what happened. Every sordid detail.

      
"I thought maybe he never would get up again. Maybe Papa'd killed him."
 
Jenny sniffled and reached up to hold Mrs. Fleming's hand at her shoulder. "But he finally did. I seen him through the window. There was blood all over his face, just like mama's."

 
      
She sniffled and hiccupped. No one said a word.

      
"Papa hit him again, and Shane fell again."
 
She looked down for a moment, then aimed her gaze directly at Marshal Weathers. "Then I heard a horse."
 

      
"A horse?" Mrs. Fleming stepped around Jenny and turned the child to face her. "I don't remember you telling this before, Jenny."

      
"I was afraid," she whispered, her hand trembling as tears slipped unheeded down her cheeks. "Still a...afraid."

      
"What did you see, Jenny?" Marshal Weathers had a voice like raw silk–rough and smooth at the same time.

      
"I hid behind a bush."

      
"Who did you see?" Father Salazar's voice was gentle.

      
"Bad man."

      
"The same bad man who made you come hide here?" the Marshal asked.

      
"I can't tell you. He'll hurt me, too."

      
Luke shuddered. He was supposed to be a priest, dammit. Surely, he could come up with something comforting enough to convince Jenny to tell them everything.

      
He remembered Shane's expression when the boy had asked Luke to tell Jenny he couldn't take care of her like he'd promised their mother. Luke's gut clenched and he gripped the back of the chair again so tightly he thought it would break.

      
His gaze drifted around the table, studying the faces as they all waited for Jenny to stop crying and finish her story. Could she clear her brother and prevent him from being hanged?

      
Luke wouldn't–couldn't–let Shane hang. Or Zeke either for that matter. He'd been thrown back in time and had his ass saved for a reason. Here it was right in front of him.

      
Two condemned men, neither who deserved their fate.

      
He had to stop their executions.
This
was his mission. His purpose. How could he deny it? Swallowing hard, he touched the crucifix, drawing strength from its smooth surface. What would the real Father Salazar have said to these people? To Jenny Latimer in particular?

      
"I..."
 
Luke's voice caught and he cleared his throat. "I won't let anyone hurt you, Jenny," he vowed, praying he knew what the hell he was doing. "Tell Marshal Weathers everything you saw. You have to do it for Shane."

      
Jenny turned her hopeful gaze on him and his heart broke. Luke drew a deep breath, renewing his vow to protect this child and to save two men from injustice.

      
"Tell me, Jenny," Marshal Weathers urged quietly. "Puttin' bad men in jail is my job."

      
And sometimes not-so-bad men, like Zeke.

      
A tear trickled down Jenny's cheek and Luke stepped around the table and reached for her hand. "Tell us, Jenny," he coaxed. "Tell us everything so we can help your brother."

      
Her lower lip trembled and more tears followed.

      
"Jenny," Sofie said softly, standing to take the girl's other hand. "Do it for your Mama. She'd want you to help your brother."

      
The big guns.
Do it for your Mama
. Luke closed his eyes for a moment, then reopened them to meet Sofie's gaze. Her large blue eyes glistened with unshed tears and sincerity.

      
Jenny Latimer and Sofie were looking to him for support. He wouldn't fail them like he'd failed his grandparents. No way. And he wouldn't fail Shane and Zeke either, even if he had to break them out of jail himself.

      
So now you're Superman, Nolan?

      
Weeping quietly, Mrs. Fleming slumped into the chair vacated by Sofie. Dora reached for her hand, and Ab held Dora's.

      
This was a regular crying orgy.

      
"Tell us, Jenny," Luke urged. "No one will hurt you."
 
Please, help me make it so.

      
"I saw the bad man shoot Papa."
 
Jenny's voice fell to a whisper. "Papa fell and he shot again. Shane was still on the floor, and I thought the second shot..."

      
Tears burst from Jenny's eyes like someone had turned on a faucet, and Sofie dropped to her knees to cradle the girl against her shoulder. "There, there, Jenny," Sofie cooed. "It'll be all right. Father Salazar promised."

      
Sofie tilted her head just enough to meet Luke's gaze, and he held his breath. She intended to hold him to his promise.
Oh, shit.

      
Of course, he fully intended to keep his promise, as well. To Shane, to Jenny, to Zeke...

      
And to himself.

      
"Who's the law around here?" Marshal Weathers asked, jerking Luke's attention away from Sofie and Jenny.

      
"Sheriff Yates died in the epidemic," Dora said. "Early on."

      
The marshal rubbed his whiskered chin. "I see. And when's the circuit judge due back?"

      
"Don't rightly know," Ab said, shooting a side glance in Zeke's direction. "Ain't seen him since Shane's sentencing, 'cuz of the quarantine."

      
"Well, then."
 
Marshal Weathers twirled his hat in a circle on the table, then looked up to meet Luke's gaze. "I reckon it's up to you and me then."

      
Uh-oh
. Luke swallowed hard. "What is?"

      
"Justice, Father," the marshal said matter-of-factly. "Justice."

      
What incredible irony. Luke almost laughed. Hell, he should laugh, after all he'd been through.

      
"Until Miss Jenny's ready to tell us the killer's name," Weathers continued, "we gotta protect her from harm. It's our duty."

      
"She's going home with us," Mrs. Fleming said, looking anxiously at the little girl. "Aren't you, dear?"

      
Jenny only blinked.

      
"We don't know who we're dealin' with here," Zeke said thoughtfully. "Beg pardon, ma'am, but if I was lookin' for Miss Jenny in this here town, I reckon your house'd be the first place I'd look."

      
"You have a point."
 
Mrs. Fleming folded her hands and met the marshal's gaze. "But one thing is perfectly clear from what Jenny's told us. Her brother is innocent."

      
"Yep, that's the way I see it, too."
 
The marshal looked at Luke again. "Father, you new to these parts?"

      
Luke squeezed Jenny's hand and flashed Sofie what he hoped was a reassuring look before he faced the marshal. "Oh, yeah, real new."
 

      
"The
Padre
and Miss Sofie come durin' the quarantine," Zeke offered.

      
"Right."
 
Luke felt Sofie's questioning gaze on him.

      
"And we didn't waste any time putting you to work, I'm afraid," Mrs. Fleming said, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. "I'm convinced God sent Father Salazar and Sofie to us. She's a doctor, you know, and it's clear she has a way with children, too."

      
"That's a fact. Miss Jenny trusts her, and I trust Miss Jenny."
 
The marshal shot Sofie a curious look. "I only come across a lady doctor once before, and that was down in Indian Territory. Cherokee, she was."

      
"Indian Territory?" Sofie whispered, renewing Luke's resolve to avoid looking at her right now.

      
Zeke shook his head. "Well, I'll be."

      
Marshal Weathers stood and walked toward the window. He stared outside for several moments, then turned to face them again. A strange light glittered in his eyes. "I got a plan."

      
Luke had a strange feeling he'd live to regret this. "Whatever it takes, Marshal."

      
A calculating grin split the lawman's face. "I'm glad to hear you say that, Father. Mighty glad."

      
Oh, boy
. "Just what do you have in mind?" Luke could've kicked himself. Still, he meant every word. He would do whatever it took to prevent Shane's hanging, then he'd worry about Zeke.

      
"Where you stayin', Father?"

      
"Father Salazar is staying in the parsonage," Dora Fleming said. "Sadly, Reverend Bodine and his wife both perished in the epidemic, too."

      
Marshal Weathers was silent for several moments, then he returned to the table. "You folks have had more'n your share of grief. That's a fact."

      
Mrs. Fleming nodded and sniffled. "Yes, it's been hard to lose so many friends and neighbors, Marshal."

      
Though the man seemed completely sincere, Luke also recognized a slyness to Marshal Weathers that just might manage to save Shane Latimer's hide. The marshal wasn't old by any means–thirtyish–but he had the cunning of a seasoned professional. Yes, he might save the day, but at what cost?

      
The marshal looked directly at Jenny Latimer, who still whimpered quietly in Sofie's arms. "Miss Jenny, I gotta ask you one more thing now."

      
Jenny sniffled and looked up at the marshal. "All..all right."

      
"Is the bad man who made you come hide the same one who killed your pa?"

      
Holy cow, this guy could've been a prototype for the Lone Ranger, Matt Dillon, and Rooster Cogburn
. Luke could almost see the tension in the room as every gaze turned toward Jenny.

      
Finally, the little girl gave Marshal Weathers the most trusting look Luke had ever seen.

      
And nodded.

      
"Do you know the man's name?"

      
Another nod.

      
The marshal leaned on the back of the chair and maintained his sincere expression, his gaze never wavering. "Are you ready to tell me the fella's name, so I can put him in jail?"

      
Jenny's lower lip trembled, and she shook her head so violently, her pigtails swung back and forth.

      
To his credit, Marshal Weathers didn't even blink, though he must've felt the same level of disappointment as Luke.
What's his game?

      
"I understand, Miss Jenny."
 
The lawman straightened and released a long sigh. "We gotta protect you, then, until you're ready to tell."

      
If there was any possibility the killer knew there'd been a witness to his crime, then Jenny was in grave danger. Unless...

      
Too bad the killer hadn't been a smallpox victim. There really was no justice in this world.

      
"Miss Jenny, 'til you're ready to tell us everythin', I got no choice but to keep your brother in jail."
 
The marshal looked down at his hand as if checking his nails for cleanliness. "I'll tell him we know he's innocent, but he's gotta stay put until two things happen."