He laughed throatily as he broke away from his men and rode out into the clearing. He galloped off, leaving his gang hidden among the shadows of yellow-leafed birch trees.
He knew it was best that he go alone. A lone rider wouldn’t seem suspicious to the townsfolk.
Anyway, he hoped not.
If Nicole was there, hiding, would they be able to keep this truth from Sam?
Only time would tell, and he would soon have his answers, because a man was riding toward him even now, a rifle in his right hand, his horse’s reins in the other.
The man’s face had a suspicious look as he gave Sam the quick once-over, stopping his horse a few feet from him.
“You are riding toward Hope,” the man said guardedly as he glared at Sam. He sat stiffly in the saddle in his black suit, and his face displayed a very neatly shaped red beard.
“Nice to make your acquaintance,” the man then said, yet did not offer a handshake.
“My name’s Aaron,” he went on. “Aaron Smith. What’s yours, and do you have a reason to be headed in the direction of Hope?”
Sam didn’t have a chance to answer before another black-suited man rode up and positioned himself beside Aaron.
“What’s he got to say about being headed toward Hope like he has business there?” the second man asked as he glanced over at Aaron, and then back at Sam.
“He hasn’t said, Jeremiah,” Aaron replied.
“Now it’s your turn to talk,” Jeremiah said smoothly as he gazed intently at Sam. “Where you headed? Where you coming from?”
Jeremiah looked past Sam, searching for the possibility of other riders who might be this man’s traveling companions.
“Yep, I was headed for your fine town, and for a reason,” Sam said tightly. He looked past both men at the women, men, and children who had congregated at the edge of town. They were anxiously watching what was happening.
“What is that reason?” Jeremiah prodded.
“I’m looking for a woman who was supposed to arrive in Tyler City to join her ma and pa,” Sam said, trying to look innocent. “You see, I’m a friend of her pa’s. I was gone when the tragedy struck. If you don’t know ‘bout it, let me explain. Someone came while I was away from town and killed off everyone. I am the lone survivor. Well, I was a close friend to Walter Tyler and his wife, and I knew that Nicole was supposed to arrive there any day. I did not find her among the dead. I thought she might have come to you for help and you might’ve offered to take her in.”
Sam frowned at Jeremiah. “Did it happen that way?” he asked thickly. “Did my friend’s daughter show up here, frightened to death, and all?”
Jeremiah was a very astute man and knew a liar when he saw one. He could tell by the way a person’s eyes moved as he told the lie.
This man’s eyes had shifted nervously from Jeremiah over to Aaron and back to Jeremiah. He was ner vous about what he was saying, too nervous for it to be the truth.
And there was a hint of evil in his gray eyes.
Then it occurred to Jeremiah that this man might be one of those who’d killed everyone in Tyler City. And if this was one of those murdering men, perhaps the others were hiding somewhere close and waiting for him to come to them with answers.
Jeremiah knew that the lives of all of the people of Hope might depend on him being able to keep calm in the face of danger. He had to say all of the right things to make this man ride away, and leave him and the others in peace.
“I don’t know of anyone named Nicole,” he said tightly, knowing that sometimes lies were necessary. This was one of those times. “But I hope you find her. It is terrible that so many people died in such a way. It would be sad if this girl is lost now, too.”
“And so you haven’t seen her, or heard of her?” Sam persisted. Jeremiah shook his head.
“Well, then, gents, I’ll be on my way,” Sam said. He gave both men a half salute. “Thanks for your time and trouble.”
“Don’t mention it,” Jeremiah said, breathing more easily now that the stranger had wheeled his horse around and headed back in the direction whence he had come.
Aaron wiped beads of sweat from his brow, and Jeremiah did the same. “That was a close one,” he said, hi
s voice crackling with the fear that still had him in its grip.
“Way, way too close,” Jeremiah agreed. He turned back toward Hope, and set out with Aaron riding beside him. “Aaron, that man was lying through his teeth. We must post more sentries around our town. We can’t take chances.”