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Harriet’s eyes lit like whatever concoction Teddy put in the stove. “Well, you should tell us and let us be the judge.”

Sadie tried to reel in her reaction . Harriet would love to be judge and executioner, then talk about it the rest of her life. But maybe, just maybe if she were on their side…

“I’d be happy to, Harriet.” Sadie sat again, gaze locked on the woman across from her.

“There are certain things we are not at liberty—” Wally began, but Sadie spoke over him.

“We don’t have a choice but to tell the truth.”

“Well wouldn’t that be a change,” Amos grumbled.

“Excuse me?” Sadie slammed a hand on the table, causing all the glasses to wobble.

“Let me guess,” Caroline said in a soft voice that caused a hush to fall over the room. “He told you he was from the future? That he could prove it by showing you some magic tricks? Don’t judge dear Sadie here, I don’t. I fell for it too. He crafts a fine story, this one.”

Sadie’s mouth snapped shut as the others broke into whispers that buzzed in her ears like horse flies. She could prove it, but not without taking them all to the TCR, and she knew Wally didn’t want that. He’d explained how the timeline might be precarious, and obviously, Caroline knew this limitation. Knowing Wally, he wouldn’t even fight the accusation. Anything to prevent it becoming public knowledge or, worse yet, letting technology fall into the wrong hands.

Harriet took her silence as acknowledgement before she could figure out what to say.

“He must be a good liar if such smart women fell for such nonsense,” she said, leaning forward like she could soak it all up inside her. “But I’m guessing he hunts for women like Sadie here, desperate for a husband.”

“I am not, nor was I ever, desperate,” Sadie said, tears burning as they forced their way out in frustration. “She is a liar. I can’t believe you are listening to a stranger over me.”

“No offense, Sadie,” Amos said, standing. “But we already know you lie when you’re anxious. How long dead was James before you admitted it?”

Sadie stopped talking. She searched each of their faces for some sort of support but found only pity or judgement. Backing away from the table to get away from these horrible people, she bumped right into Harriet’s sideboard, disturbing the fancy gelatin mold ready for desert and forgotten.

“You might still be lying if this snake oil salesman hadn’t shown up.” Harriet tsked softly as she shook her head. “Where would dear Teddy be then? Why he’d die out there without a man to tend the ranch.”

“Sadie does a damn fine job tending the ranch without any man,” Wally said, finally finding his own voice. He stood, tossing his napkin down on the half-eaten plate before him.

“Thank you, Wally.” Sadie reached for his hand.

“Perhaps Miss Caroline here is the swindler,” he said. “A woman scorned and all that. Surely you understand, Harriet. You’re too smart to fall for such a story.”

Damn. Wally is a good confidence man. Sadie squeezed his hand.

Caroline broke into hysterical sobs, collapsing over the table and causing Eleanor to rush to her side to comfort her.

“To hell with that,” Sadie said, jumping up from her seat.

She reached across the table, causing her fork to clatter against a plate, and yanked off Caroline’s bonnet.

Everyone gasped, Sadie included, because glossy black hair fell loose around her shoulders. It wasn’t purple. Sadie froze, bonnet in hand as Caroline’s eyes widened and then she burst into more sobs.

“That’s it. I’ll be the one to get this all sorted,” Amos said, face red beneath his muttonchops. “I’m going to have to ask you to come with me peaceably, Mr. Doyle.”

“Where are you taking him?” Sadie asked, snapping out of her state of shock as Amos pulled his jacket away to reveal his six-shooter at his side. She paid it no mind.

“Jail. At least for overnight, ‘til we get this under control.”

“Jail!” Sadie poked Amos in the chest. “Why would you take Wally to jail when I’ve told you it’s her? It’s two against one, Amos.”

“That’s sheriff to you, and any reasonable person can see that he poses far more of a risk than this young lady.” Amos gestured toward the still sobbing woman.

“Oh really? Is that so? And why is that?” Sadie poked him again.

Amos shoved her hand away and leaned into her face. “He’s a man. And a big one, at that. Now step aside before I take you in also.”

Amos shoved by her and pulled his gun. “Walter Doyle, You’re under arrest.”

“For what?” Wally asked. “Even if I told a false story, which I didn’t, what’s the crime, sheriff?”

Amos grinned in response. “I’m arresting you on suspicion of the murder of Elias Wheeler.”