Sara had paused her supper preparation after Jake left the kitchen. She was curious who was at the door and watched from the end of the hallway as Jake and the sheriff talked. She heard much of their conversation and returned to the cookstove before Jake had closed the door.
So, when he reached the kitchen, she was well prepared for what he was about to ask.
Jake sat down and said, “That was Sheriff Zendt.”
“I know. What did Dave Forrest do that was so horrible?”
Jake should have expected that Sara had listened, but he didn’t mind. In fact, if he’d known it was the sheriff at the door, he would have brought her along.
“I guess the sheriff in Helena found out that Dave was there. But Dave must have gotten wind of it and managed to get out of town before the sheriff could get a posse together. The sheriff and two of his deputies followed Dave past Silver City for a good twenty miles or so and Dave ambushed them on the road. He killed the two deputies and shot the sheriff’s horse from under him.”
“My God! I heard that Dave was headed this way, but you don’t think he’s coming to the Elk.”
“No, I don’t. I’ll tell the men in a little while, but I can’t imagine that he’d return to the one place where everyone can recognize him. But that road doesn’t intersect with any other roads until it’s close to Fort Shaw. He could loop around, but I don’t believe he will. He’d be heading back toward Helena and that would be almost as bad as coming here.”
“Where else can he go?”
“He might stop at Fort Shaw, but that wouldn’t be safe for very long. He’d want to hide out until things cool off. He’d want his own sanctuary.”
“Do you have any idea where he could find one?”
“I do. Remember I told you about that ghost town called Woman’s Breast?”
“With its one lone resident.”
“Yup. I know that he had been there before he arrived on the Elk when it had a few residents. But even if he thought there were fifty people still living there, he’d know that the town doesn’t have a telegraph or stagecoach service. It’s pretty isolated, yet still within a day’s ride of Fort Shaw.”
“So, that’s where you and the sheriff will start looking for him tomorrow?”
“We’ll probably stop at Fort Shaw and ask around, but I have a feeling that we’ll find him at Woman’s Breast.”
“You are taking your Sharps with you; aren’t you?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m not taking a packhorse this time. I won’t ride Mars or Vulcan either. I’ll pick out a good horse from the remuda, so Dave doesn’t identify me so easily.”
Sara opened the firebox door and removed her roast as she said, “You seem to have a well-developed plan already.”
“I was working on it when I thought I might have to search for Dave next week.”
She set the roast beef onto the cookstove then said, “I’ll make you enough food out of our supper’s leftovers to last you for a couple of days.”
Jake nodded and was immensely pleased with Sara’s calm reaction to what he was about to do. Even though he’d have Sheriff Zendt with him, he’d be searching for a man who’d already murdered four people, including his parents and now two deputy sheriffs. A man with a powerful, long-range rifle who had obviously learned how to use it to good effect.
Sara may have appeared calm, but she was hideously worried. After he’d told her that Dave’s apprehension would be handled by those sworn to protect the citizenry, she had been grateful that he’d made that decision. But just as it appeared that they might have a normal life, Dave Forrest threatened to destroy it. She wished that she could do more than just give him food to take along. After he left, all she could do was pray and wait for him to return. Hopefully, she’d have an uninjured Jake back in her arms in just three days.
_____
Dave was making good time as he hurried toward Fort Shaw. He had only stopped to rest the horses once and had only grabbed some jerky from his diminished stock of supplies. He had to get to Fort Shaw before the sutler store closed for the night. Luckily, they stayed open longer than the businesses in Fort Benton or Helena because it was the post’s only civilian source of supplies.
It was still a couple of hours before sunset when he spotted Fort Shaw and took one last look behind him. Nobody was there, so he was able to finally relax as he made his last descent of the long ride.
When he pulled into the small town outside the fort, he headed for the sutler’s store. He soon dismounted, then pulled his packhorse’s two almost empty panniers from the pack saddle and entered.
The proprietor spotted him and said, “Howdy there, mister.”
“Howdy. I need to pick up some supplies.”
“I can see that. Headin’ to the gold fields to do some prospectin’, I reckon.”
“That’s the idea. I haven’t had much luck yet, though.”
“That’s the way for most of the fellers who try to strike it rich.”
Dave grinned then nodded as he set his panniers near the rough plank that served as a counter before he turned into the store to start making his selections.
While Dave shopped, Amos Stoker was outside examining the gray gelding.
“You sure seem a might tired there, boy. You musta had a long trip. I reckon the feller who rode you here is inside. I guess he’s gonna get some rest for himself and leave you and your pal with me for the night. So, I’ll head back to the livery and wait for ya.”
Amos snickered and patted the
