Call asked, “How well do you know the Hammersmiths, Laurel?”
“Not well at all. I’ve never met them. What I know, or think I know, is through the grapevine and bits and pieces from Mr. Berry.”
“Have you ever suspected that Carter is kin to the family?”
She shook her head. “Never. Rooster?”
“No,” said Rooster. “I already told Call that. Carter’s been around here years before the Hammersmiths settled on their land. Best I can figure is that he’s just working for them.”
Laurel leaned back against the wall and looked up at Call. His features were set gravely. It was the glacial sharpness of his eyes that spoke of something other thanconcern. She wasn’t certain she wanted to know what he was thinking. “What an awful turn.”
“Beautifully understated,” said Call, surprising even himself with the lack of feeling in his tone. “How many years has Carter been sheriff?”
It was Hank who answered. “Five. I remember because it was right around my fourteenth birthday and my ma was despairing that no one was stepping in to challenge him. Pa considered it just so Ma would quiet down, but she came close to braining him with a skillet for saying so. Election was in May.”
Call considered that. “So a few years before the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads met in Utah.”
Hank didn’t know why that crossed Call’s mind, but he nevertheless confirmed it.
Call asked Laurel, “When did you receive notice about rails coming out this way?”
“Official notice didn’t come until a year or so later, but Sam Henderson met with me long before then. It might even have been before the spike was driven at Promontory. He told me the writing was on the wall and the time of the express stages would be coming to an end. He promised the coach line would continue runs for as long as it was profitable because of Stonechurch Mining, but he expected tracks to come through sooner rather than later. If the government responded as quickly as Sam did, the trains would already be running.”
Nodding, Call said, “And the Hammersmiths were already settled here by then.”
“Yes.”
“So it’s entirely possible they were as perceptive as Sam Henderson and began their campaign to secure the route and contract around the same time you did.”
“I have no knowledge of that, but it’s possible.”
“They might have had Carter in their pocket for a long time.”
Rooster said, “You could have it backwards. That snake Carter might’ve approached them. The man never didmuch as sheriff—never had to—but he always had his ear to the ground, I’ll give him that. Could be he heard the Hammersmiths were interested in the government contract same as Laurel Beth. It’d tickle him to pull the wool over her eyes.”
Laurel blinked and sat up straight. “Why would that tickle him? You make it sound as if he has something against me.”
“He thinks you’re uppity,” Rooster said bluntly.
Rather than taking umbrage, Laurel was thoughtful. She said to Call, “I reckon you were wrong about him having a sincere interest in me. More like he wanted to play me for a fool.”
Call started to respond, but Rooster interrupted him. “Oh, never doubt that Carter has a sincere interest in you, Miss Laurel. He just can’t muster the courage to act on it. Probably why he says you’re uppity. Easier to say something’s not right with you than own up to being a coward.”
“How do you come by this, Rooster?”
“Sweeny’s,” he said, shrugging. “Fellas talk.”
“Lord,” she said, closing her eyes briefly as she rubbed her temple. “That might be more disturbing than our sheriff trying to kill me.” She cast a look around. “Is there a plan? What do we do now? Carter knows he missed me. If I had mounted Abby instead of walking her back to the station, he would have had a clear shot. She shielded me.”
Call was very much aware that Laurel’s decision to walk had saved her life. His gut churned every time his eyes strayed to her hat. “I’m going to pay Carter a visit,” he said.
“You can’t go to the jail,” said Laurel. “He’ll toss you in a cell.”
“I doubt that, but in any event, I’m not going to see him there.”
“I don’t understand.”
“He went to his office to get his Springfield, but he didn’t try to shoot you from there. Think about where youwere when you lost your hat and then consider where the jail is in relation to that spot.”
