“Yes,” Longarm said, “because it’s lower and farther south.”
Diana touched her heels to the flanks of her mare. “Then let’s hurry up,” she said, “because I am beginning to feel like a big icicle!”
Longarm pushed his horse into an easy gallop and he turned his thoughts to Prescott. It had been several years since he’d seen that mining town, and he supposed that it had grown like most settlements in the Arizona Territory.
Chapter 16
When Longarm and Diana reached the old Arizona mining town of Prescott, the first stop they made was at the marshal’s office. Unfortunately, there was a sign on his door saying that he had gone elk hunting for a few days and that if there was any trouble, to contact Mayor Jesse Taylor three doors down on the right.
“We’re not going to wait for the marshal to return from hunting,” Longarm said, “and we’re not going to trouble the mayor about the federal government’s missing property and this counterfeiting business.”
“Then how will we find Nathan and the rest?” Diana asked.
“We’ll ask a few questions,” Longarm said, looking up and down the street. “The livery is a good place to start, as well as the general store, because they’d most likely be out of provisions, same as us.”
“What about that doctor’s office?” Diana asked, pointing just up the street.
“I think that would also be an excellent place to start,” Longarm agreed. “Let’s go.”
Dr. Barry was not the most cooperative man Longarm had ever interviewed, even after the physician had examined his badge.
“Mr. Cox has been in twice since my initial examination,” Dr. Barry finally revealed. “His prognosis is guarded, but we’re quite optimistic that he will regain most of his mental functions and about sixty percent of his memory. But that’s just a guess and you should know that it’s quite impossible to say with any real degree of accuracy.”
“Where is Cox right now?”
Barry hesitated. “Why are you seeking this man?”
“It’s a federal matter.”
“Is he a criminal?” Barry asked.
Longarm had no intention of telling the doctor anything. “We need to speak with Cox as well as his friends. Now, Dr. Barry, will you help, or do I have to start asking questions and raising eyebrows all over Prescott?”
Barry removed his thick glasses. “Marshal Long, if you really are that determined, I probably ought to cooperate.”
“Excellent idea. Where can we find them?”
Dr. Barry quickly told Longarm and Diana about how Rolf Swensen and the two women had bought the old Cox ranch. “I hear they paid nine thousand dollars for it—cash! But even that was a good buy according to people who know the cattle market and the property itself, which, I understand, has enormous potential not only for ranching, but also for its timber and mineral rights.”
Diana smiled. “I’ll bet they paid for it in hundred-dollar bills.”
“Beg your pardon?”
“Never mind.”
“How do we get to the Cox ranch?” Longarm asked.
Dr. Barry gave them directions and ended by saying, “You can’t miss the place when you come to that big pile of boulders west of town.”
“Thanks,” Longarm said. “What kind of shape was Nathan Cox in the last time you saw him?”
“That was just yesterday,” Barry said, “and he was showing a tremendous amount of improvement. He was walking and eating well, his eyes were in focus, and he seemed much more alert.”
Diana pushed forward. “Does he remember anything about the past?”
“No,” Barry said, “and his wife told me-“
“Wife?” Diana asked with surprise.
“Yes,” Dr. Barry said, “her name is Carole. She is very devoted to Nathan and is, I think, largely responsible for his excellent care and dramatic improvement.”
“Humph!”
“Do you … do you know the woman?” Dr. Barry asked.
“No,” Diana said.
Barry replaced his glasses on his beak and eyed Longarm suspiciously. “I trust that you’re not going to arrest any of those fine people, are you, Marshal?”
Longarm took Diana’s arm and pointed her toward the door. “Thank you very much for your help, Dr. Barry.”
The physician herded them out his door. “I would be lying if I said that you were welcome, Marshal Long.”
“He knows that this isn’t a social call we’re about to make,” Diana said as they headed for their horses.
“Diana, I really would prefer you to stay here in town while I-“
“Not on your life! Do you think that I have come this far and endured so much to be shut out now?”
