Adam laughed with gusto. “I can see that.”
Henry eyed the star on Adam’s black coat. “Congratulations on your appointment as a marshal. I reckon it’s what you’ve always wanted.”
Adam reached into his coat and tossed Henry a coin, which he expertly caught and grinned.
“Thank you, Henry.” Becoming solemn, he asked, “What is this I hear about the Indians starting unrest?”
Henry who had been admiring the coin frowned and said, “Indians? No, no, no. It’s the townsfolk. They went to raid the Indian village about a day’s ride from here.”
Adam’s eyes widened. “What?”
Henry nodded vigorously. “Many people hate Injuns around here. But I don’t mind them. They give me meat and milk anytime I meet them in the forest when I’m having backdoor trots.”
“When did this happen?”
Henry shrugged. “A few days ago, I s’pose.”
Adam’s blood ran cold. And the sheriff was sitting in his office doing nothing about it? Was it that he didn’t know?
Adam realized he spoke his thoughts out loud when Henry said, “Of course the sheriff is aware of it. He doesn’t care none about it. Supposedly, he’s in support of it.”
Rising abruptly, Adam thanked the man everyone knew had a wobblin’ jaw. Henry grinned and hurried into the saloon.
Angered that the sheriff was shirking his job, Adam retraced his steps to the office. He marched straight to Joe Tate’s table where the man was still sprawled
“I just heard that a few days ago, there was a raid in the Indian village close to the town.” He shot straight from the hip.
A frown creased the sheriff’s forehead. “Why are you telling me? What do you want me to do about it?”
Adam was scandalized by the man’s nonchalant attitude. He ought not to, after hearing that the man might even be in support of the raid.
His face tightened. “You’re the sheriff of this town. You’re supposed to keep law and order.”
Snorting, Joe Tate said, “You got that right, Marshal. I’m the sheriff of Ruby Rock and not an Indian reservation. Whatever happened there is none of my business.”
“It’s your business if your townsfolk go there to raise sand at innocent people,” Adam firmly stated.
The sheriff shrugged. “I still can’t see how it’s my job.”
Gritting his teeth, Adam saw that it was a waste of time talking to the older man about the issue when he should have gone to make more inquiries.
“Take my advice, Marshal. Leave it alone. The Indians deserved whatever came to them. The cattle rustlings have increased since they settled close to the town.”
“That doesn’t justify the townsfolk taking the law into their own hands.”
He had seen enough from his previous county to know the Indians were usually at the brunt of hateful crimes for no just cause.
“What proof do they have that the Indians are responsible for the rustling?”
The sheriff remained silent, leaning back in his chair to regard Adam with narrowed eyes.
Angered by the man’s indifference, Adam added, “That’s what I expected you to have looked for instead of sitting back and allowing the townspeople to take the law into their own hands.”
The sheriff stiffened. “Are you trying to teach me my job?”
“Maybe,” Adam returned with a savage bite.
Adam swung on his heels and walked out of the office. He couldn’t believe the gall and hide of the sheriff telling him not to investigate the raid.
