Page 59 of In Honor’s Defense

Grimes, however, just wrinkled his brow. “What in tarnation are you talkin’ about, boy?”

“You killed my father.” Tears formed in Nathaniel’s eyes as he spat the angry words at the man he’d hated for months. “You wanted his land, and he wouldn’t sell it to you, so you killed him.”

“Is that what you think?” Grimes wagged his head. “I did no such thing. Yes, I wanted your land, but not so bad that I would kill someone over it.” Some of the anger drained from Grimes’s features. “Look, son, I might not’ve liked your daddy all that much, but I respected him. He stuck to his guns and didn’t let me or anyone else push him around. It’s a right shame what happened to him, but I had no hand in it.”

Nathaniel’s shoulders hunched. He looked so lost and adrift. Yet Sheriff Conley remained unmoved. If anything, his grip on Nathaniel’s reins tightened.

“My nephew will admit to the vandalism,” Damaris said. She had to do something to stop this farce from continuing. “And he will make whatever restitution the law requires. But he is not involved in the rustling. You have Mr. Davenport’s testimony. I demand you release Nathaniel at once.”

“Ain’t gonna happen, ma’am.” The sheriff took the reins completely out of Nathaniel’s hands and began edging the horses back toward town. “Facts are facts. The boy admits to trespassin’ on Triple G land, being in the vicinity of the rustlers on the night Mr. Davenport was attacked, and the stolen cattle were found on his property and therefore in his possession.” Conley’s eyes turned granite-hard. “The arrest stands. I’m takin’ him in.”

CHAPTER

TWENTY-SEVEN

Damaris had never felt more helpless in her entire life than on that horrible ride to town. The anger she’d come to expect from Nathaniel had vanished, leaving a desolate hopelessness in its wake that broke her heart. He wouldn’t look at her. Wouldn’t talk to her. Just stared straight ahead as Sheriff Conley led him to the jailhouse.

When the lawman escorted him to a cell and closed the barred door behind him, the metallic click of the lock echoed like a gunshot in the quiet room. One that sent a bullet straight through Damaris’s heart.

A tear threatened to roll down her cheek, but she blinked it away. This was no time for hand-wringing and despair. This was a time for bold faith. For unshakable hope.

She marched up to the cell and wrapped her hands around the bars. “We’ll figure this out, Nathaniel.” Not a shred of doubt colored her tone. “The truth will set you free. You’ll see.”

She reached through the bars and clasped his hand. He clung to her for a moment. His eyes met hers, his gaze brimming with fear and regret. Then he pulled away. His shoulders folded inward, and he turned his back, shuffled over to the cot on the far wall, and sat down. He stared at the floor, practically willing her to leave.

But she wouldn’t. She’d stay here all night if she had to. He would not be left to face this alone.

A pair of hands gently fit themselves to her upper arms and urged her away from the cell. “This ain’t no place for you, ma’am,” the sheriff said. “Come away now.”

She tightened her grip on the bars. “I will not,” she gritted out softly between clenched teeth. “My nephew needs me, and I will stay here until this tragic miscarriage of justice is made right. Nathaniel is no rustler. He’s just a boy.”

“It ain’t my job to determine guilt, Miss Baxter. The circuit judge’ll take care of that. All I do is collect evidence and arrest folks who possess motive, means, and opportunity to commit a crime. Your nephew has all three.”

She turned to glare at the unfeeling man. “But there is evidence against others as well. Evidence you are conveniently ignoring. Four other men trespassed on Triple G land. Mr. Davenport caught these same men in the very act of rustling. They attacked Mr. Davenport and left him for dead. Those are the men guilty of this crime, not Nathaniel.”

“So you’ve said. Repeatedly.” The sheriff blew out a breath and worked his jaw as if he was physically trying to keep his temper in check. “You’ll have a chance to explain your side to the judge, but I’ve made my call, and your yakkin’ ain’t gonna change my mind.” He took hold of her arm and put a little more strength behind his tug, dragging her a few steps away from the cell. “Now, if you want to help your boy, I suggest you find him a lawyer.”

A lawyer. Of course! Why hadn’t she thought of that before?

“Nathaniel?” She leveraged herself back toward the cell. “I’m going to hire Mr. Mullins. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Sheriff Conley must have realized she would soon be out of his hair, for he released his hold on her and gave her a modicum of privacy with her nephew, retreating toward his desk.

Her nephew, on the other hand, just sat on the cot, head in his hands, making no effort to connect with her at all.

“Nathaniel, please,” she murmured. “Look at me.”

She waited. And waited.

Finally, his head lifted. Tears glistened in his reddened eyes, and moisture immediately pooled in her own as her chest clenched. Punching down the pity swelling inside her, Damaris hardened her heart. Luke had been teaching Nathaniel to fight and defend himself. It was time to apply those lessons to a new arena.

“Hold your head up,” she challenged, lifting her own chin in example. “You are no criminal. You’re the son of Douglas Baxter. And Baxters don’t retreat when things get hard. Neither do Horsemen, and you have two of us on your side. I’m going to fight for you, Nathaniel. Luke will, too. And God, the mightiest warrior of all, will fight for you. You are not alone in this. Do you hear me? You are not alone.”

He gave a tiny nod. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.

“Good. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, but I will be back.” Hopefully with Luke.

Heavens, how she wished he were here right now. He dealt with criminals and lawmen all the time. He’d know exactly how to handle this situation. But he wasn’t here. Which meant Nathaniel’s well-being rested solely on her shoulders.