The Heart's Pursuit (21 page)
“Possibly. Several years back, the husband of one of Carlton’s victims in Texas told me he’d pay handsomely if I brought his wife’s killer to justice. But I’ve been out of touch with Mr. Harrison a long time now. He may not even live in Texas any longer. There’s no guarantee of collecting a bounty.”
“But there’s a chance.”
Jared nodded. “A chance. Why?”
“I’m going to help you find and bring him in.”
He immediately stiffened. “No.”
“You wouldn’t know who he is if it wasn’t for me.
I’m
the reason you were tracking Bob Cassidy, and
Bob
is the reason you know about Matt Carlton. I deserve some of that reward.”
Jared scowled. “It’s too dangerous. Weren’t you listening? Didn’t I explain well enough what Carlton did to those women?”
“It’s no more dangerous now than when we didn’t know who he was. We were still tracking him, even if you didn’t know it.”
“Maybe it isn’t more dangerous, but it feels like it.”
“I won’t be sent back, Jared. I have to continue on. I have to, for my father’s sake.”
He stared at her in silence for a long time before saying, “We’d better get some sleep. We can talk about this more after we see the sheriff in Elko.”
Silver moved toward her bedroll without further argument. He wouldn’t change her mind, no matter what he said. She would stay with Jared. She would help bring in Matt Carlton. She would collect part of the reward, if there was one, and if not, at least she might recover some of the money and jewelry.
Jared hadn’t known anyone who could frustrate and confuse him the way Silver Matlock could. He would have to be crazy to let her continue on with him. It wasn’t good for anybody, letting her get to him the way she did. He needed to focus on finding and capturing Matt Carlton. That needed to be his only concern.
“You’re goin’ after the man who killed my ma and pa, aren’t ya?”
Jared swiveled on the heel of his boot.
Dean Forest stood a few feet away. “I heard you talkin’ to the lady. You know who done it, and you’re goin’ after him.”
He decided the boy deserved the truth every bit as much as Silver had. “I’ve been on his trail for a long time. He’s killed before.”
“You the law?”
“No.”
“Bounty hunter?”
Jared nodded.
“I’m goin’ with ya.”
“Sorry, son. I’ve got my hands full as it is.”
“I ain’t your son.” Dean stepped forward, his hands balled into fists at his sides. “And I ain’t stayin’ in Elko. You leave me there, I’ll come after you on my own. I gotta right t’ see him swing for what he done.”
It was a little like seeing himself. He hadn’t been as young as Dean when he’d found his family murdered, but he recognized the emotions in the boy’s dark eyes. He recognized the desire for revenge, the need for justice. He’d felt it all before. He’d been living with it for years.
“Maybe you do have that right,” he replied, “but you’re not going along.”
The boy shot him one more angry look, then turned away. “You just try’n stop me.”
S
ilver held on to Dean’s hand as Jared talked to the Elko sheriff.
The man, with grizzled jaw and stringy hair, leaned back in his chair. “I reckon Lucas Feldt would take the boy in. He’s got himself a mighty big ranch and can always use a hand with the chores. His missus is kinda sickly and not much help around the place no more. Don’t know how long he’d be willing to keep him, though.” He rubbed the dayold whiskers on his chin. “How’d you say you come by him, Mr. Newman?”
“His folks died,” Jared answered. “We found him all alone on their small farm.”
“Where you say you’re headed?”
“I didn’t.”
The sheriff eyed the double holsters. “Don’t wanna tell me, huh? You got any reason for that?”
“Don’t mind telling you. We’re headed for Virginia City.”
The sheriff’s gaze shifted to Silver, then to Dean. “Mighty hot crossin’ on horseback. Most folks take the train these days. You and the missus oughta think about takin’ the next train through.” He leaned forward, placing his elbows on his desk. “How’d your folks die, boy?”
Dean shook his head.
“Can’t you talk?” When Dean didn’t reply, the sheriff looked at Jared again. “Not gonna be easy finding anyone to take in a dumb mute. Even Lucas Feldt’s not likely t’ want him if’n he can’t talk.”
Silver bristled. She’d like to give the man a piece of her mind.
“Why don’t you folks take yourselves over to Maddie’s across the street. She sets out a right good meal. I’ll check around an’ see what I can come up with for the boy. He don’t look too strong. Kinda thin, if you ask me. And if he don’t talk . . .” He shook his head.
Silver clasped Dean’s hand all the harder as she pulled him with her outside. Another second in there, and she would have given in to her temper.
As soon as Jared joined them on the boardwalk, she turned on him. “You can’t mean to leave Dean with that horrid man or anyone he could find. They’d just be looking for a spare field hand. Hasn’t he been through enough?”
Squinting, Jared looked up at the noon sun. He rocked back on his heels, then rolled forward again. Finally, he glanced down at Dean. “You still mean to try to follow us if we leave here without you?”
The boy nodded.
“Then I suppose we’re wasting time talking to the sheriff. You can stay with us for now. Just remember, it’s temporary.”
Silver sensed the decision hadn’t been easy for Jared. But his heart was tender enough for him to agree with her, and it made her want to hug him. She resisted the urge.
“Let’s get something to eat and be on our way,” Jared said. “The sooner we get to Virginia City, the sooner this will be over.”
I must be out of my mind.
It wasn’t the first time Jared had thought he was a fool, and it probably wouldn’t be the last. Especially now. Not only had he been traveling with a woman while trailing a cold-blooded killer, but now he’d taken on a scrawny, frightened kid.
They ate a quick and inexpensive meal at the restaurant, then rode their horses, Dean back on the packhorse, to the train station.
Jared stepped up to the ticket window. “I’m looking for
a man who might’ve caught a train west in the last day or two. He’s not from around here. Just passing through. Tall, dark blond hair, blue eyes. Have you seen him? It’s important that I find him.” He glanced through the open station doors where Silver and Dean waited on horseback, hoping the clerk would assume it was a family matter.
“Sorry. No strangers out of here this past week. Just local folks.”
Jared tugged at his hat brim. “Thanks.”
He didn’t know if he was glad or not that Matt Carlton hadn’t taken the train out of Elko. It could mean they were right behind him and had a chance to catch up with him. Or it might mean Virginia City was no longer his destination. If Carlton had taken off in another direction, they wouldn’t know it, and the advantage would be lost.
But he was out of options. They would have to press on toward Virginia City and hope Carlton was headed there.
That night, while Silver and Dean slept on the opposite side of the campfire, Jared lay awake, staring up at the stars.
He was close. Closer than he’d ever been to finding the man who’d killed his parents and sister. God willing, he would find Matt Carlton in Virginia City. He would haul him back to Colorado where he could stand trial. It would be easier to prove his guilt there than anywhere. He could
write to Owen Harrison in Fort Worth. Another person who could attest to Carlton’s atrocities.
And then what? What would he do when he was no longer looking for the man with the crescent-shaped scar? Would he go on, just as before? Would he still be a bounty hunter? And if not, then what?
Utter weariness washed over him. He was bone tired. Soul tired. Tired of the endless miles. Tired of the dirt and the hunger and the heat. Tired of carrying a gun and always being ready to use it. Tired of the hate that ate at his soul. Tired of what he had become.
He used to dream of going back to Fair Acres, but that was impossible. Kentucky was a part of his past, a part he couldn’t return to. His fingers touched the cool metal of his Colt revolver. Violence. That’s what he knew. That was all he knew anymore. He’d become accustomed to it.
He looked across the campfire at Silver, and a longing stirred within him that had nothing to do with physical desire. He allowed it to linger only a moment before he drove it away.
Silver Matlock was too good for the likes of him. He would only end up hurting her by association.