Behind them, there was a closed door that probably led to the land sales office where he’d done business.On the left side of the lobby, a set of double doors stood open, displaying the insides of a courtroom.The judge’s bench lorded over everything else, in front of a picture of Rutherford B.Hayes, flanked by Washington and Lincoln.
As he started toward the wide stairs at the far end of the lobby, Caleb chewed over the arrival of Sheila Burnett in Elkhorn.Doc hadn’t said anything to make him think the daughter was thinking of making the long trip to Colorado.
From what Caleb gathered from conversations with Doc, there wasn’t much to the relationship between the father and daughter.He’d left New York when she was very young, and his letters didn’t do much to tighten the bond.It wasn’t that he didn’t love her—Doc had said one night over a game of chess—he just didn’t know her well enough.
Caleb couldn’t blame Doc for leaving her back East with her mother’s kin.The West was no place for raising a girl without a mother.He paused at a turn in the stairs and looked back at the front door.He only hoped she’d be smart enough to stay safe in Doc’s house until her father returned and shipped her home.
Though for reasons he didn’t care to think about too closely, the idea of her leaving Elkhorn suddenly bothered him more than it should have.
At the landing at the top, a black-suited guard about the size of an ox stood by a closed door that had to be the judge’s office.He had his thumbs tucked into his waistcoat pocket, displaying a brace of short-barreled Colts in cross-draw holsters.He had an unexpectedly squeaky voice, the blotchy white face of a sick pig, and the sorriest excuse for whiskers Caleb had seen on any man over the age of twenty.
And he was talking to the sheriff.The hackles on Caleb’s neck immediately rose.
“Sleep well, Marlowe?”Horner smirked at the mountain standing next to him.“We’ve had a problem with rats over there in my office lately.”
“The kind with four legs or two?”Caleb replied.
Horner bristled, and his smirk disappeared.
“Cuz I got a good idea which.”
The sheriff’s eyes narrowed, and his hand drifted to the iron at his hip.“Keep it up, slick.”
“We both know you ain’t above shooting an unarmed man.”Caleb opened his jacket.“Here’s another chance for you, killer.”
About ten feet separated them, but Caleb knew he could cut that distance in half or better before Horner cleared leather.If the sheriff hesitated a split second, Caleb would drive his shoulder into the burly bastard.Once they hit the door behind him, it’d be every man for himself.
But deep down, he knew he was tired of settling everything with blood and broken bones.He wasn’t going to make the first move.
The air was as still as death.
Then, Pig Face let go a stream of tobacco juice into the spittoon next to the door, breaking the tension.Horner made an effort to laugh off the taunt, but the sound that came out was more like a strangled bark.
Caleb turned his gaze to the big man.“The judge is expecting me.”
“He’s right inside,” Horner answered.He wiped his moustache with the back of his hand, and the smirk returned.“Oh, you just missed the prettiest piece of calico, Marlowe.Doc’s daughter was here, looking for her father.”
“Saw her outside.What of it?”
“I’m thinking of paying her a call.”
Caleb felt his temperature rising.
“I reckon your friend would be mighty appreciative of an officer of the law keeping an eye on her till he gets back to town.What do you think?”
“I think you should do just that, Horner.”
“Do you?”
“Cuz I’m sure Doc will cut out the heart of any man who looks twice at his daughter.And I’d pay money to see that.”
The truth was, the idea of Horner anywhere near Sheila Burnett made Caleb’s blood run cold.Ice cold.
The sheriff stiffened again as the hulking presence beside him snorted.Still fighting the desire to plant a fist in Horner’s face, Caleb looked up at the guard.The man had to be half a head taller than him.
“You gonna announce me, Virgil?Or do I just waltz in there on my own?”
The man’s black button eyes went dead as he tried to decide if Caleb was mocking him or not.Without a word, he turned and knocked once.A voice within answered, and Pig Face opened the door.
