Cole tipped his hat. “You’ve been a great help, Mrs. Young. I shall return later this evening.”
The older woman waved him off and Cole turned toward the doors of the hotel. There were times that confirmation of someone’s story was almost as good as a lead. This was one of those times. He left the hotel and hailed a cab. The next stop in his investigation was the Denver Police Department.
Then he would find whoever murdered Edwin Gilbert.
Six
“I was born among the hills, but I’ve always wanted to get up higher. I climbed all the highest hills but wanted to go still higher, to touch the clouds, to get above them.”
~Earl Douglass
FRIDAY, APRIL19, 1889•OUTSIDEDENVER
Chiseling around the hoped-for fibula fossil, Jacob wrestled with what to do. He’d made a commitment to this dig and signed a contract. But he also wanted to report what he’d overheard so the other team didn’t get hurt—mainly Martha.
And then ... he really needed this job. Needed the money. What if he wouldn’t get another opportunity like this?
Shaking his head at his own thoughts, he couldn’t believe he’d even consider keeping the job for the money and experience. What was wrong with him?
The last couple days at the dig had been miserable. As much as Jacob tried to keep his head down, he overheardmore and more chatter about the other team. Joe even seemed to encourage it since it bonded the men together, but Jacob despised every second of it. Every time someone said something blasting the other team, all he could picture was Martha Jankowski’s face.
Three different times a discussion had erupted around him, and he’d spoken up about being respectable and abiding by the rules. How it was disgraceful for the men to be speaking of a woman in that way.
In response, he’d received stares, words of contempt, and a lot of derision.
For now, the foreman kept them working such long hours that no one had a chance to get away from the site. How long would it last?
Long hours in the sun today had drained him. That and the fact that he hadn’t slept well last night. Between worrying about how to handle the situation here and concern for Miss Jankowski and her father, he’d kept himself awake until he went to the Lord in prayer about everything.
He’d tossed and turned for a few hours in fitful sleep after that.
The growing urgency to warn his new friend threatened to overwhelm him. And the nudge in his heart about his current job wouldn’t leave him alone.
How could he stay on when the other men were being so dishonorable? His dream of participating in a dinosaur dig had come true—but at what cost?
At this rate, would he even be named in anything? He doubted it. Doubted that there would be any credit to anyone other than the man who owned the quarry.
So why was he here?
He could argue that it was for the experience and the education for his field. But it didn’t hold much weight when measured against everything else. Reverend Moody’s words to hisparents were that Jacob was being a light. More than anything, that was what he wanted. But was he actually being that light? Was anyone listening?
Setting his tools down with one hand, he swiped at the sweat on his neck with the other. Time to refill his canteen. This dusty, dry work wreaked havoc on his throat.
Jacob stood up and went to fetch some water. He rounded a bend in the uphill trail and spotted Joe ahead of him, speaking with three new men he’d hired that morning.
“I need you to find the location of the other dig. Don’t touch anything. Don’t let anyone see ya. But once we know where it is, we can keep tabs on ’em. Got it?” The foreman’s words were low, but their voices carried thanks to the echo and funneling effect.
Their words made the sweat on Jacob’s neck run cold. Stopping in the middle of the trail wasn’t an option—they’d know for sure that he’d overheard—so he continued on as if nothing had happened.
“We could always cause a disruption.”
He couldn’t help it. He stared at them.
The tallest of the three elbowed his buddies. “Ya know, to ensure we stay ahead.”
“Not yet.” Joe shook his head. “We’ve got to plan things so no one finds out it was us. Can’t have the boss lose because we didn’t follow the guidelines.” The foreman turned to Jacob and their eyes locked.
“Afternoon.” He nodded his head at the men as he reached them and walked on past.
