Relic (19 page)

Had he seen me in his room or not? His cold gaze betrayed nothing.

I scraped for a semblance of calm. “I was tired.”

Mr. Bolger frowned. “Indeed.” His eyes appraised me, and he snorted again. “You have no idea who you’re tangling with.”

“I’m not tangling with anyone. Señor Castilla and I have worked out a business arrangement, where—”

“A
business arrangement
? That makes it even worse. Trust me, my dear, you don’t want to be doing business with the likes of Álvar Castilla.”

“You’re a fine one to talk.”

He snorted. “I’m here to buy him out. And at the price I’m askin’, it’s a damn right act of charity.”

I narrowed my eyes. Was this what he had been talking about with Connelly?

Mr. Bolger smirked. “Doubtless you’ve been wooed and won by the fine gifts and lavish parties. Maybe you’re as foolish as you look.” One of his dark, thick brows rose. “Álvar Castilla is
deep
in debt, Miss. Consuming, irreparable debt.”

I was silent, and his eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “It’s all a big cover-up. A cover-up by him and his pampered Hacienda snobs. See, not only has he squandered his father’s entire treasury, but he’s buried himself so deeply in credit and bad investments that the entire town of Burning Mesa belongs to others in distant counties. It’s all tied up in a mess of collateral and liens and back payments.” He laughed. “If he has any sense at all, he’ll do business with me, on my terms.”

I stared at Mr. Bolger, trying to piece it all together in a way that made sense. “So you’ve come to either buy him out or ruin him?”

Mr. Bolger’s mouth twitched with a smile. “You catch on quick.”

I took a step back, my pulse racing. What kind of villain was standing before me? “And how will you ruin him? What kind of retaliation are you capable of?”

He seemed to sense the suggestion buried deep in my words. His thick brow knitted, shadowing his eyes. “If I were you, I’d watch out for your own hide and not poke around in matters that don’t concern you.”

I said nothing, and Mr. Bolger grimaced. “I have work to do.”

“Yes. I should go back to my room, anyway.”

“Good. I suggest you stay there. Bad things can happen when little girls start snooping around.”

Chapter Twenty-five

By dawn the next morning, I was on one of the stallions from the Hacienda’s stables, galloping at full speed toward Burning Mesa, the letter I’d written still sitting on my desk. The situation had become much more pressing. New suspects had entered the picture. I needed to speak with Sheriff Leander myself.

As I rode, I noticed a strange color to the sky, an off scent in the breeze. I couldn’t put my finger on what it could be, but my mind was too occupied to dwell on it much. In town, the streets were mostly empty. The smithy’s fire was just starting to cough up smoke; a farmer woman arranged fresh vegetables on her cart for the day’s business.

And yet I could sense the change the moment I got into town. It was
too
empty. I pulled on my horse’s reins to halt him. Perking up my ears, I listened. And then I heard it.

Raised voices. Chanting. It was the same sound the lynching mob had made when they gathered outside the sheriff’s office.

Yahn.

I jabbed my heels into the horse’s side, and he took off down the street. The buildings and storefronts blurred past me; all I could think was,
Please don’t let me be too late. Please, please, don’t let them hang him.

Like before, the mob of men seethed outside the sheriff’s office, raising their torches and weapons. At least the rangers lined along the deck sidewalk in front were preventing any kind of violence. But that could change at any moment.

After tying my horse, I pushed right into the center of the mob. I wasn’t afraid of these men with their tight fists and loud, angry words. I elbowed through them, ignoring their irritation. Jake, one of the rangers on the deck outside the sheriff’s office, recognized me. He was among Adelaide’s many admirers as well as a regular I’d served at The Desert Rose. He knew me well enough to know the sheriff and I were on friendly terms.

“Maggie,” he called, leaning forward to hold out a hand. I grabbed it, and he lifted me up onto the walkway. “You shouldn’t be here,” he said, shouting over the roar of the mob. “It’s not safe.”

“What’s happening? Is it the judge from Durango again?”

Jake looked hesitant to speak.

“What is it?” I asked. “Please.”

“Another town was burned last night, twenty miles from here. There were no survivors.”

All at once, I realized that it was smoke I smelled on the wind this morning. Smoke that colored the sky. The scent of it filled my nostrils now, choking me like poison. Unbidden, the flames that consumed my home burned in my eyes, and I could hear Dusty whinny in terror. I could see Jeb watching me as the smoke engulfed him. “Another town.”

Jake set his hand on my arm. “You should go.”

I blinked hard. I couldn’t just walk away.
Because
the flames still burned in my eyes, I couldn’t walk away.

“No. I have to talk with Sheriff Leander.”

“You know I can’t let you do that. He has a prisoner in there for questioning.”

“Please. It’s very important. It’s about the razings.”

Jake pursed his lips. “I can’t.”

“
Please
, Jake.” I set a hand on his arm.

He exhaled and nudged his head to the door. “Make it quick, Maggie.”

“Thank you.”

I slipped through the door, shutting out the anger of the mob behind me.

The sight that met me inside made my heart stop. Yahn sat in a chair in the center of the office, chains pinning his wrists behind his back, and a ball and chain had been strapped around his left ankle. Sheriff Leander leaned against the edge of his desk, rubbing his eyes wearily. When I stepped into the room, they both looked up with a start.

Sheriff Leander stood. “How did you get in here?”

I couldn’t take my eyes off Yahn. The sight of him bound like that tore at me. He looked so tired, so worn down, with dark circles under his eyes and his black hair limp. It pained me to think of him sitting in that barren cell, waiting for his possible death. Wondering if his people would be attacked.

I felt an unexpected longing to throw my arms around his neck, to hold him and tell him I would do anything to help.

“Maggie, are you listening to me?”

I looked up and forced myself to remember why I’d come. “The Apaches aren’t responsible for the razings.”

“What?”

“It wasn’t them. There’s plenty of proof it was someone else. I tried to tell you before. I explained it to one of your rangers.” I pulled out the newspaper clipping and practically shoved it into the sheriff’s hands. “Look at this for starters. Ever thought about it being the Chimera Gang? It all makes sense, Sheriff. Their leader was hanged, and they want revenge. Everyone knows they use fire relics, that they’re capable of terrible violence. And revenge seems right up their alley—”

“Maggie.”

“No, listen. The judge who passed the death sentence on Petey McCoy was from Haydenville. And then Haydenville burns! How can that be a coincidence?”

“Maggie—”

“But that’s not all. One of the jurors on the case was from Buena. Buena’s gone. And—”

Sheriff Leander gripped my shoulders. “Maggie, listen to me.”

My heart was beating fast from finally being able to talk to him. “What?”

“The Chimera Gang isn’t responsible.”

“They are. I’m sure of it.”

He sighed. “It’s a good theory. It really is. But it can’t be true.”

“What are you talking about? Look at this article!”

“The Chimera Gang was captured in the California Territories three months ago. Didn’t you hear about it?”

I stared at him, struck silent. He released his grip on me and went to slump wearily in the chair behind his desk. “I’m sorry to disappoint you. I wish you were right. I wish it were that simple.”

“No,” I said softly. “No. It can’t be true. Maybe they busted out of prison or…or…”

“I’m afraid we’re going to have to face the facts that are staring us in the face, Maggie. I don’t want to. I know
you
don’t want to. But it’s getting hard to dispute.”

“What are you talking about?”

Sheriff Leander sighed, but his trailing glance to Yahn revealed everything.

I shook my head. “You can’t honestly think—”

“There’s no one else it could be. The evidence is right there. Motive and a proven tendency to violence. Come on now. Be reasonable.”

I looked to Yahn, my heart breaking. His gaze was fixed on the floor.

“No!” I cried. “He saved my life. I know he didn’t do this!”

“Maybe not him,” Sheriff Leander said. “I’m willing to believe his personal innocence. But the Apaches in general
are
responsible. There’s no other way around it.”

“You’re wrong!”

Sheriff Leander pounded his desk with a fist. “If you care so much about this Injun here, then why don’t you convince him to talk? I can lessen his sentence if he tells us where to find the Apache camp.”

“Never,” I said fiercely.

He rubbed his brow. “Then we have nothing further to discuss, Miss Davis. I’d appreciate if you’d leave the way you came.”

“No, wait! I have more. What about Emerson Bolger? He’s a shady type if I ever saw one. He has powerful relics, and I just
know
he’s up to something, Sheriff. I—”

“We’re not discussing this, Maggie.”

“But you have to at least
listen
—”

“I said leave!”

The ferocity of his tone stunned me into silence.

The sheriff let out a frustrated sigh. “Dammit, Maggie. I told you not to get involved in this. It’s dangerous and far too complicated for a young girl such as yourself. You leave this to the professionals. I’m sorry, but if I see you prodding into this matter again, I’ll have to cite you for interference with the law. And that means jail time if you can’t pay the hefty fine. Understand?”

I could barely breathe with the frustration in my chest. “Sheriff.”

“
Good-bye
, Miss Davis.”

Stung, I turned to the door. I passed a final glance over my shoulder at Yahn, knowing he wouldn’t look up. Then, without a word, I left the sheriff’s office.

I stumbled away from the angry mob and down the streets of Burning Mesa. Out of habit, I found myself at The Desert Rose. Maybe I wanted to smell the familiar tingle of whiskey and cigarettes, to hear Eddie’s music jingling on the old piano. I fully expected to get a tongue lashing from Mr. Connelly when I came through the swinging doors, but he wasn’t there. It struck me as strange—not that I was crying any tears about it.

A small crowd of men sat at the bar, talking with intense, nervous tones. Most of the girls were mulling around the saloon as well, wearing their robes and frightened looks. When I spotted Adelaide’s familiar face, the weight of my troubles rushed down on me all at once. My throat swelled. Tears burned in my eyes. Adelaide rushed over and linked her arm in mine.

“Land’s sake, Maggie. It feels like the world’s gone crazy.”

She pulled me aside to an empty corner of the saloon and sat me down at a table. I pressed a fist against the wood surface, breathing hard, wishing I could smash a hole through it.

Adelaide considered me for a moment, and then waved at Eddie. “A scotch,” she said, pointing at me.

“I don’t want it.”

“Want and need are two separate things.” She sat down beside me, setting her hand on mine. “I’m real sorry, Maggie,” she said. “Those razers have gotta be out there somewhere. Someone’s bound to find them sooner or later.”

“Maybe.” I shrugged. “But it will be too late for the Apaches.”

Eddie came back with three shot glasses and a bottle. “I thought we could all use one.”

“Amen to that.” Adelaide poured a drink, but it stayed untouched on the table in front of me. For a long moment, we were all silent.

Then Eddie spoke. “Adelaide here has told me what you’re trying to do. And I believe you.”

I met his warm gaze. “About the Apaches?”

He nodded. “Doesn’t seem right that they’re doing it. I think someone’s hiding something.”

“Darn right about that.”

“But who?” Adelaide said, pouring herself another shot. “And why?”

I had mulled this question over so many times. Why wasn’t it any clearer? The dark thought needled in me that the real culprits might be far away, impossible to find, impossible to track down. But I cast that idea away. I wasn’t about to give up—not yet. Not when there were solid suspects afoot.

“We need to look into Emerson Bolger,” I said, casting a glance around to make sure no listening ears were close. Adelaide and Eddie leaned in conspiratorially.

“He’s up to something,” I whispered. “I overheard him talking about Álvar last night. Nothing to directly incriminate him, mind you, but it made me mighty suspicious.”

Eddie tapped his lips. “He
does
want Mr. Castilla’s mining territory. Everyone knows that.”

“But why burn the other towns?” Adelaide asked.

“Maybe they were other competitors. Maybe that’s what he does when they don’t give him what he wants.”

Adelaide twisted her glass on the table in front of her. “Seems hard to believe they’d be so evil.”

I shook my head. “Men murder for relics all the time. Imagine what a powerful man like Bolger would do for an entire mining area.”

I set my hand on the table. “I’m going to the miner’s camp to ask around. Maybe they’ve heard something about Mr. Bolger or his methods.”

“The mining camp?” Adelaide snorted. “Are you crazy?”

“Why not?”

“You’ve never been there, have you?”

“It’s awful dangerous, Miss Maggie,” Eddie agreed. “No place for a nice girl like you. Besides, I’ve heard there’s some strange stuff goin’ on over there.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Not sure, to be honest. But I hear things. All I know is the miners from Burning Mesa have been on edge for months.”

I pondered this for a moment. “All the more reason I need to check it out.”

Eddie shook his head. “I don’t know…”

I gave an imploring look to Adelaide, and she sighed. “Well, if you got your mind made up, I guess I have to go with you.”

“Thanks. I’ll owe you one.”

Eddie ran a hand through his hair, and then shrugged. “I still say don’t go, but if you have to, talk to a man named Gibbs. He’s the most decent of any of the miners I’ve met.”

“Thanks, Eddie.”

“Thank me when you’re back here safe.”

I smiled a little. “We’ll be careful.”