“You mean you ain’t killed all those men they say you killed?” Jubal sounded betrayed.
“Jubal,” Sam said, “grow up.”
Jubal looked at Evan.
“What’s he mean by that?”
“He means you shouldn’t always believe what you hear, or what you read.”
“What are you supposed to believe, then?”
“You believe what you see, Jube,” Sam said. “That’s the best rule to follow.”
Jubal was thinking that over when they reached the Miller house.
“He’s kept it up well,” Sam said, as they opened the gate and entered the yard.
They mounted the steps and knocked on the door. After a moment Jubal reached to knock again.
“Easy,” Evan said, intercepting his hand. “Give them a chance to answer.”
They waited a few minutes and then the door swung inward. The woman who was standing there was so much more than just pretty that they were all struck momentarily dumb.
“Yes?” she said, and then suddenly recognition dawned in her eyes. It wasn’t so much that she recognized them as that she
“I knew you’d come.”
Sam was the first to speak.
“Tell me, ma’am, how you knew that?”
“I just knew,” she said. “I felt it. You’re Sam, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“And Evan? And, of course, Jubal. I recognize you now. You’ve grown.”
Jubal looked annoyed at the comment, but said nothing.
“Well, come in,” she said, stepping back from the door. “Did you only just arrive?”
“Yes,” Sam said, “only a couple of hours ago.”
She closed the door and turned to face them. They had all removed their hats and were holding them in their hands.
“Do you want to take off your coats?”
“We’ll keep them if you don’t mind, ma’am,” Sam said.
“Oh God, don’t call me that,” Serena said. “You boys know my name.”
“I reckon we do, Serena,” Sam said.
“Who have you spoken to so far?”
“The Swede,” Jubal said, “the sheriff and Doc Leader.”
“So you’ve heard the verdict, then.”
“It’s all lies,” Jubal said.
“That’s what we think, too.”
Jubal gave his brothers a triumphant look.
“We heard about your father,” Sam said. “How is he?”
“Sore, but he wants to get out of bed.”
“Can we see him?”
“Of course,” she said. “I’ll take you to him.”
They followed Serena Miller through the living room and up the stairs to the second floor.
“Let me see if he’s awake.”
“I’m awake,” her father’s voice called. “How could I not be with so many people traipsing through the hall? Is that you, Sam McCall?”
“It’s me, Dude,” Sam said.
“Go on in,” she said, stepping aside. “I’ll get you some coffee.”
“Thanks,” Evan said.
They stepped into the room and Sam was shocked when he saw Dude Miller. The man had aged so. His hair was white, the bones of his face looked as if they were trying to push out through his flesh. Sam wondered…if his father were still alive, would he look like this as well?
“Dude.”
“Sam,” Miller said. “Boys, how are you?”
“We’re fine, Mr. Miller.”
“Jubal, is that you?” Miller said, peering at Jubal.
“You’ve—”
“Yeah, I know, I’ve grown.”
“I wish I could get up and greet you proper but Doc insists I stay in bed. Got some cracked ribs.”
“Do you know who it was did this to you, Dude?” Sam asked.
“Didn’t see anyone’s face, if that’s what you mean,” Miller said. “Can’t describe anyone to the sheriff, not that it would matter.”
“What do you mean?”
“He means we know who did it,” Serena said frombehind them. “We can’t prove it, but even if we could, the sheriff wouldn’t do anything about it.”
She entered the room carrying a tray with three steaming cups of coffee on it. Sam knew from the smell it would be better coffee than the sheriff’s.
“Thank you,” he said, taking one. “You want to explain that to me a little better?”
“They had to be Lincoln Burkett’s men,” Miller said from the bed.
“Burkett,” Sam said. “I don’t know the name.”
“I do,” Evan said.
They all looked at him.
“I was in the Dakotas when he had a spread up there. That was several years ago. What’s he doing down here?”
“Who knows?” Miller said. “All we know is that he arrived with a lot of money, and a lot of men, and started taking over the county, and the town. He owns a big spread, some businesses here, he’s got the town council buffaloed, and the sheriff is his.”
“That’s an awful lot for one man to bite off,” Sam said.
“Well, he’s bitten it off, chewed it, and swallowed it, and he’s still hungry.”
“Why would he send men to beat up on you?”
“Because I’m opposed to him,” Miller said. “He’s got most of the people hereabouts thinking that he’s good for the town, but the only thing he’s good for is Lincoln Burkett.”
“Sounds like you’ve got your work cut out for you, opposin’ him,” Sam said.
“Us?” Serena asked. “What about you?”
Sam looked at her.
“Well, ma’am—Serena, what Burkett does ain’t none of our business. We just came to find out what happened to our Ma and Pa.”
“They were killed, that’s what happened.”
“Well, we know that, but by who and why? That’s our business.”
“Then your business and our business is the same,” she said.
“Serena—”
“Papa, come on. You know that Burkett killed their parents.”
Sam gave Miller a sharp look.
“What about that, Dude?”
“That’s something else we can’t prove,” Miller said.
“But do you believe it?”
“I…suspect it.”
“Why? Did the death of our parents benefit Lincoln Burkett?”
“Actually, if you look at it that way, no.”
“He owns your father’s spread!” Serena said.
“What?” Evan said.
