'His Uncle Clarence is determined to nail my hide to the wall over his nephew's death.'
'Clarence Huntington was extremely upset when you had him jailed.'
'He was out in four hours.'
'No matter. His honor had been besmirched. Huntington has some very high-placed friends in Wyoming, and he'll attempt to use them against you, Deputy.'
'Who are these friends?'
'Well, one of them happens to be the district circuit judge. Another is no less than the governor.'
Longarm scowled. 'I've always had a way of getting on the wrong side of powerful people, but I don't see how I could have acted differently. Milly is evidence that Blake Huntington was not what he appeared.'
'It was probably not a wise idea to have Clarence jailed,' the doctor said, trying hard to be diplomatic.
'Probably not,' Longarm agreed. 'But he attempted to shoot me. And his nephew was part of the same gang that derailed that train at Laramie Pass.'
The doctor frowned. 'You've gone on record as stating that, but where is your evidence?'
Longarm had the newspaper page he'd found in the wastebasket but knew that it was insufficient to use in any court of law. 'I'd rather not reveal it right now. But something I found tells me Blake was part of that gang.'
The doctor walked over to the window and stared down at the street where the angry crowd was milling. 'Deputy, I'm afraid that we've got quite a problem. I'll do whatever I can to calm them down.'
'That would be appreciated,' Longarm said.
Wilson turned away from the window and it was clear that something was bothering him.
'Speak up,' Longarm said. 'I can tell that you have something on your mind.'
'All right,' the doctor said, 'You know the law better than I do. So you understand that if it hadn't been for Milly getting so badly beaten, you'd be charged with murder and very likely facing prison, maybe worse.'
'Blake Huntington helped to derail that train.'
'So you keep saying' the doctor replied, 'but he and his rich uncle were also quite popular here. They had plans to invest in Laramie and people looked up to them both. Now you come along, and all of a sudden Blake is dead, and some of the people below see a chance for some big investments flying out the window just like Blake.'
'Blake had no money,' Longarm said. 'I'm sure of that.'
'Maybe not, but his uncle did and they were a team.' Wilson raised his eyebrows. 'I think that our sheriff was very much indebted to them both.'
'What are you trying to say?'
'I wouldn't trust Ike Cotton with my back,' the doctor said bluntly. 'That's what I'm trying to tell you.'
'Thanks for the warning.' Longarm had already reached the same troubling conclusion.
'Also,' the doctor added, 'I should warn you that Clarence Huntington has made it public that he is doing everything possible to have you arrested and tried for murder.'
'He is?'
'That's right.' Doctor Wilson gave Milly some powders for the pain in her head. 'You stay in bed, young lady.'
'I will,' Milly promised, winking at Longarm.
'By yourself!' the doctor ordered sternly.
Milly tried to giggle, but it was too painful. It hurt Longarm to see Milly in pain. He should have acted quicker.
'What's wrong?' she asked.
'The bald truth of the matter is that I've completely messed things up. First I lost Eli Wheat; then I shot one of the gang instead of arresting him and getting a handle on the others; then finally, I couldn't climb out from under a bed fast enough to save you from a beating.'
'No one could have known that they were going to derail a train to free Eli Wheat and rob the mail car,' Milly argued. 'And you saved a lot of people that otherwise would have died on that su-'
'Maybe so,' Longarm said, knowing it was the truth.
'There is no maybe about that,' Dr. Wilson said. 'I heard what you did after the train wreck. That's why I know that you would not have thrown Blake Huntington through that window to his death on purpose.'
'Thanks,' Longarm said.
Doctor Wilson smiled. 'Milly, I'll return tomorrow to see how you are feeling.'
When they were alone again, Longarm moved back to the window. He did not open the shade, but lifted it slightly and peered down at the angry crowd. He saw the doctor emerge and then begin to try to argue with the crowd, only to be met with a good deal of anger and resistance. Some of it was coming from none other than Sheriff Ike Cotton.
Reaching a decision, Longarm turned back to the room and said, 'Milly, you haven't been just kidding me in the past about having money, have you?'
Milly was clearly taken aback by the abrupt question. 'I wouldn't kid about that. So why do you ask? Are you thinking about marrying me or something?'
