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"Yes." Charlie didn't add Willa and Elan, but he didn't want any trouble today, he wanted to take care of business and go home. Like Clay he didn't have much affection for this town after the fire.
"Getting married, well, this is something to celebrate."
"Not having a big ceremony, gonna marry at her place. You must have heard my place burned down." Charlie waited for his answer, watching his expression all the time.
"Uh, yeah, I did hear something about it, what happened out there?"
Charlie eyed him, he hadn't even said he knew about it, but then Jim was that way. Not usually a nosey man, Charlie remembered.
"I don't know, but it's gone. Me and Clay been movin' our hay and animals all week over to Cora's."
"Well, you're gonna invite me to your wedding, aren't you?" Jim chuckled.
"No, like I said, it's gonna be done at her house and just my family will be there."
"Well, that don't seem very friendly Charlie, we've known each other a long time." Jim told him with a frown.
"Don’t mean it to be unfriendly Jim, but somebody burnt my place down, and I don't feel real friendly right now. Especially with this town. I don't know who did it, but someone did. And I figure someday it will all come out. Guilt has a way of doing that to people."
"Somebody did burn you out then, you say?"
"Well, it wasn't me or Clay."
"Laura said some Indians have been botherin' you out there." Jim added with another frown.
"Did she. Well, I guess she'll have told everyone in town it was Indians."
Jim turned a bright red.
"You don't think it was?" Jim asked leaning forward to hear his answer as he was a might hard of hearing.
Charlie took that information in with a grim look. So, had she started a rumor that the Indians did it? If she did, it could cause more trouble. Naturally, she'd blame them. But Charlie knew better.
"Could be, but I doubt it. There was only one horse track that wasn't ours, and it was shod. Indians don't shoe their horses, Jim."
"No, I suppose they don't. You got any idea who might have done it, then?" Jim, a big man with nearly white hair, and bushy brows studied that for a moment.
"Nope. Ain't gonna worry myself about it. But the wedding will be private, as I have no idea who I can trust anymore. All I can say is that it's a good damn thing Clay wasn't in it when it happened."
"Well, you don't think I… "
"No, I don't." Charlie shook his head. "But I think you might have some suspicions about who did. And you obviously ain't talkin' about it."
"Well Charlie, even if I did have a suspicion, I couldn't prove a thing. And as you know I try to mind my own business and stay out of others, if I can help it."
"I can't prove anything either. Now, would you be so kind to run the ad in the paper for me, I'll pay for it myself. And any inquiries you have about it, tell them there will be one stipulation."
"Oh, what's that, Charlie?" Jim moved in his chair a bit restlessly.
"The water rights must be shared with the community. Otherwise, no sale."
"Well, I think that's a very good idea myself. A lot of people would be upset if you sold to someone that didn't share the water rights with the surrounding community."
"That's how I figure it too, Jim. Ed, my neighbor has been after my property for some time, but he doesn't want to share the water rights, that's why I'm insisting it be put in the contract. I'd appreciate it if you could have that written up for me. But the way things are, well, I gotta get back, we got lots of work to do yet." Charlie told him.
"Of course, I'll take care of everything. Don't you worry, and I'm sure we'll get it sold in no time. Gotta a price in mind?"
Charlie pulled out a slip of paper from his pocket. Jim looked at it and nodded. "That seems fair too. And Charlie," he looked up at Charlie as he was about to leave. "I'm sorry, truly I am."
