“Don’t judge,” Shea said.“Don’t make that mistake.Sometimes people do wrong things for the right reason.I’ve discovered in the past weeks that black is often white and white black, or shades of gray.”She was thinking about Clint, about everything Clint had done in the name of friendship.But she was also talking about Rafe.
Kate put her arm around her.“I’m sorry.I didn’t mean to judge.If you care about him, I’m sure …” Her voice trailed off, and Shea felt as protective as that mama bear, even though she knew Rafe didn’t need that protection.
If only she knew what was going on inside.
She turned and walked inside, noting two men standing guard at a door.“I want to go in,” she said.
“Orders, ma’am.The sheriff says to keep everyone out.”
She thought about barging in, but she would probably be stopped and perhaps hurt Rafe’s cause.She had to let him handle it.He’d been waiting long enough.
She ignored Kate and sat down, opposite the door.And wished.And willed.
And waited.
Chapter 27
Rafe watched Russ Dewayne’s brows furrow, the lines around the eyes grow deeper.Some of the warmth he’d initially showed Jack Randall faded away as he listened intently.
Every once in a while the sheriff’s gaze flickered over to Rafe, as if weighing the impact of the words being said.Dewayne listened in silence as his two sons swore several times in low voices.
When Randall had finished, Dewayne turned to Rafe.“Why in the hell didn’t you say something about this several days ago?”
Rafe shrugged.“Once you saw that brand, you weren’t going to believe anything I said.”
Dewayne turned back to Jack Randall.“Why are you telling me this now?”His tone was suspicious, as if there was still something Randall wasn’t telling him, some excuse for Randall’s actions, which clearly offended the lawman.
“I … was going to, I told McClary as much.That’s why he shot me.He thought he’d left me dead.”
“Why should I believe you?McClary is conveniently dead.”
Randall looked at Rafe, then back to Dewayne.“There’s no reason I should incriminate myself if it weren’t true, damn it.”
“Your daughter, perhaps.We know this man had others working with him.Maybe they threatened her.”
Rafe felt his jaw tighten.Dewayne would obviously rather believe anything that would excuse Randall.To hell with the truth.He stood restlessly, his anger explosive.
“Sit down!”Dewayne ordered.
“Why in hell don’t you just hand me over to that mob in Casey Springs?”
The sheriff’s face grew grimmer.“I’m sorry about that.If I had known, realized, I wouldn’t have taken you there.”
Rafe snorted, his bitter disbelief obvious.“Sorry?Why?I’m just an ex-convict who’s threatening the daughter of your leading most respectable citizen.”
“You also admit you’ve been robbing stagecoaches and the express office.Now sit down.”
Rafe balled his hands into fists but sat back down.
Dewayne sat back in his seat, studying each man carefully.“What a damn mess,” he said.“Jack, you say you knew McClary was committing those murders and you just let him go on doing it.You know that makes you an accomplice.”
Randall nodded grimly.“I wish I had an excuse other than cowardice, but I don’t.I wanted to protect what I’d built.”
Russ Dewayne shook his head.“I thought I knew you.And you,” Dewayne said, turning his attention to Rafe.“You were going to prove you were innocent by robbing stagecoaches?”
Rafe smiled wryly at the ironic tone in the sheriff’s voice.“I just wanted Randall exposed.I thought if I pushed him hard enough, he would resort to his old ways of getting cash.”
“It seems you managed that.You can share the same cell together.”
