He soon turned into Woman’s Breast and didn’t see light coming from any of the buildings, so if Dave was here, he didn’t have a fire going. Jake knew he might choose the place where Dave was hiding but decided it was a risk worth taking. So, he headed for the broken-down livery so the gelding could get some protection from the storm.
He still scanned for any signs of Dave Forrest as he headed for the barn but didn’t find any evidence he was there.
When he walked the gelding into the livery, Jake was grateful to be out of the rain and he was sure that the horse was pleased to be hidden from the lightning. But his gratitude was immediately replaced by fear when he spotted the gray gelding and another horse already in two of the stalls.
He quickly stepped down and pulled his Colt in case Dave was staying with his horses. He walked slowly around the barn searching in the shadows, but it didn’t take long for him to relax. Dave wasn’t here, but he had to be somewhere in town.
He didn’t unsaddle the sorrel but tied his reins to a post before stepping back to the front of the barn. The rain was still intense, but the wind seemed to have lessened. He stood there for more than a minute as he scanned the dark street. He didn’t want to stay in the barn waiting for Dave to retrieve his horses. He’d have to stay awake and alert, and he was already tired after the long ride. He had to find Dave’s hiding place now. Then he remembered the town’s only resident.
Jake wondered if Joe Packard had spotted Dave when he arrived. If he had, it was likely that Joe was now dead. But when he’d shown up in Joe’s town, Joe had waited until he’d ridden past and then was on his way back before stepping outside. He was a cautious old coot, which was why he might still be alive. He hoped that Joe was even more wary when Dave arrived and could tell him where he’d find his ex-foreman.
He pulled his Colt-wielding right hand under his rain slicker and stepped out of the livery. He slipped and sloshed his way across the mud and was able to reach the boardwalk on the other side without falling. He made another scan of the street but wasn’t given any added illumination by the storm, so he turned and headed for the run-down saloon that Joe called home.
There were no batwing or doors of any kind blocking the entrance, so Jake stepped inside but didn’t invade Joe’s residence.
“Joe! This is Jake Elliott! I met you a little while ago. Can I talk to you?”
Joe had seen a shadow enter his saloon and almost pulled his Springfield’s trigger. If he hadn’t wanted to waste the ammunition, Jake wouldn’t have had the air in his lungs to shout.
Joe slowly stepped out from behind the remnants of the bar and asked, “Are you lookin’ for that feller who rode in here on a gray horse?”
Jake couldn’t see him but faced in the direction of his voice and answered, “Yes, I am. Do you know where he is?”
“I know where he’s hidin’ out. Why are you lookin’ for him?”
“He killed my parents and then when he ran from Helena, he killed two deputies.”
“I knew he was no good. Are you gonna kill him?”
“Maybe. But I want to ask him why he did it first.”
“He’s in the old saddlery. It’s at the end of the street on the southeast corner. I’m kinda surprised you didn’t see him.”
Jake didn’t explain why he hadn’t been able to look as he said, “Thanks, Joe. I’m going to head over there and see if I can surprise him.”
Joe stepped closer as he asked, “Mind if I come along?”
“Not at all, but if I were you, I’d stay back a few yards until I find him.”
“I was plannin’ on stayin’ back a might further anyway.”
Jake smiled as he turned and left the saloon. He walked along the broken boardwalk to stay dry and glanced down to make sure he didn’t step into a gap between the boards. But his main focus was on the saddlery at the end of the street.
As he drew closer, he still didn’t spot any light, even though the heavy rain had slowed to a shower. The lightning and its noisy brother were already moving east as well. But the storm wasn’t Jake’s primary interest.
When he reached the end of the boardwalk across the street from the saddlery, he picked up a familiar scent. He would have asked Joe if he could smell it, but he was too far away, and Joe’s nose probably wasn’t as sensitive as it used to be.
Jake stepped into the thick mud but kept his pistol under his slicker as he made his way through the muck. As he crossed the street, the smell became more pronounced, and its presence raised his concern and curiosity. Not only was the smell of gunsmoke in the air, but it was thick enough to be noticeable this far away despite the storm.
He stepped onto the boardwalk before the saddlery and stood off to the side of the open door. After he scraped most of the mud off his boots on the edge of boardwalk, he pulled his Colt out from under his slicker and took a breath. Before he entered the old building, he checked behind him. Joe was a shadow across the street, so Jake turned back to the open doorway.
He hoped that Dave was either asleep or not looking at the door as he cocked his pistol’s hammer then quietly entered the building. It was even darker inside the rundown room, so it took
