“I understand. Nothing lower than that. Nothing. But you’ll hang if you take the law into your own hands.”
He knew her well. Fury made her want to hunt Matt down and treat him to a few well-placed bullets of her own. “Even if you do have solid evidence, Garrett’s a Colored man. The courts aren’t going to care.”
“I’ll do everything in my power to make sure they do. I promise you. If you hang it’ll break Regan’s heart,” he said solemnly.
“Thanks for that,” she countered coldly.
“It’s all I have, Spring. I know you! Don’t take this on yourself. Let me do my job.”
He turned to Ben. “Where exactly did you find him?”
Ben explained, adding, “I tied a bandanna to one of the trees to mark the spot. I figured you’d want to take a look around.”
“I do. Maybe I can find something that might narrow down who did the shooting. Spring, you’re welcome to come along and help me look. Two pairs of eyes are better than one.”
She agreed.
A pounding on the door heralded Odell’s arrival. The curious crowd remained out front. Whit let him in.
Upon seeing Spring, his first words were, “Oh good. You’re here.”
“Where’d you think I’d be?”
“Already out gunning for Ketchum. The way you and Cheyenne took off, I was worried.”
The concern in his eyes mirrored Ben’s, so she said to him, “Whit says he’ll handle things.”
Odell replied, “And if he doesn’t, I will. Shooting a man in the back justifies an eye for an eye.”
Whit snarled, “Odell, you’re not helping.”
Ben warned, “Then you better find whoever did it and make sure he’s brought to trial.” His deadly tone made the hairs rise on the back of Spring’s neck. Ben held her eyes for a long moment before declaring, “We live by mountain law. Justice will be served one way or another.”
For the next hour it took Spring everything she had to sit and wait and not pace like a caged cat. The more she silently willed her brother to appear with news about Garrett’s condition, the longer time passed with no word. Finally, Colt came out of the surgery. There was weariness in his face and blood staining the blueleather bib apron over his shirt and trousers. “I’ve done all I can for now, but he’s strong. I’m confident he’ll pull through.”
Emotion clogged Spring’s throat, and her shoulders slumped in relief.
“He had three bullets in the back and two in his right shoulder. I’ll give them to you, Whit, soon as I clean them off.”
“When do you think he’ll be able to answer questions about what happened?”
“Maybe tomorrow or the day after. Not today though. He’s full of laudanum.”
“Okay. I need to send a bulletin on the shooting to the US Marshal in Cheyenne. Spring, stop by my office when you’re ready to help me survey where McCray was ambushed.”
“I will.” The number of bullets caused Spring to wonder if Ketchum had enlisted help. Would Jarvis have assisted him? She didn’t know enough about the man to speculate, but that Matt may have had accomplices was something to consider.
Whit asked Colt, “Can I let the folks outside know you think he’s going to be okay?”
“Yes, if that will make them go home.”
After the sheriff’s exit, Spring asked, “May I see him?”
Her brother hesitated.
“Please.” Spring rarely pleaded, and that must have made an impression.
“Come, but just for a minute.”