Laurel did think about it. “He wouldn’t have been able to get a good sighting out of either of the jail cell windows. He’d have needed some height so he could see where I was.”
“Right.”
“The brothel,” Laurel said. “That’s it, isn’t it? He took his shot from Mrs. Fry’s.”
“Right. It’s the only building on that side of the street with a second floor that he could access without question. The women would take their cue from Mrs. Fry, and she certainly wouldn’t stop him.”
Laurel offered her agreement reluctantly, not because she didn’t believe him but because she knew there was nothing she could say that would stop Call from confronting Rayleigh.
“I’m leaving,” he said.
Rooster said, “I’m going with you.”
Call hesitated. “All right. Dillon. Hank. You keep an eye on Miss Laurel. See that she stays put.”
Laurel wanted to roll her eyes, but resisted because the brothers might think she was disparaging their abilities. “I’m going to stay in the house with Mr. Berry. He’s probably wondering what’s become of me. What can I tell him about what happened?”
“Nothing at all would be best. He should hear it from Carter. If you can get him to talk about the Hammersmiths, that could be helpful.”
“Be careful.” Laurel took Rooster’s hand and squeezed it. “Look out for each other.”
“You know we will.” He followed Call out of the barn to get his gun.
39
You’re completely mad,” said Desiree. The rain had stopped and she was sitting on the padded seat beside the open window. The air was fresh and cooler than it had been before the thunderstorm. She’d had to wring out the curtains that framed the window because they’d been swept outside when Carter pushed through the opening to sight his target. Desiree didn’t know what he was aiming at until after he’d fired and then withdrew. It wasn’t difficult to make out that he’d missed because of the sharp string of curses that followed his effort, but he wasn’t forthcoming about what he shot at until he tossed the Springfield on her bed and flopped down beside it. That was when she got up and went to the open window to see what she could see. She could hardly draw a breath when she realized the truth. Still, she asked him what he’d done, and never doubted that he told her honestly. There was only one reason for confirming her suspicions, and it wasn’t because he trusted her. It was because he didn’t, and he wanted an accomplice, someone who would share the burden of blame if it came his way.
“Not mad,” said Carter. “Not like you mean. Mad I missed, that’s true. The rain didn’t help. I had that shot and then she bent over the damn horse.”
“You need to get out of here.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want you here. I don’t want to be any part of this.”
“You’re part of nothing. Who’s going to know?”
“Everyone who watched you march in here with a rifle.”
“You were in this room when I fired it. Did you hear it go off?”
Desiree had to admit she hadn’t. “You got lucky with the thunder.”
“Luck? Itimedthat shot to follow the lightning.”
“Then I bow to your expert marksmanship,” she said sarcastically as she turned to look out the window again. “You miss the war, don’t you? Miss picking off the enemy from your hidey-hole. Miss the recognition from your commanders. I bet you count those years as a sniper as the best years you ever had.”
“I never shot from a hidey-hole,” he said mildly.
“You know what I mean.” She waved a hand dismissively. “Rain’s letting up.”
“That’s what I was waiting for.” In spite of his words, he didn’t move.
“They’re all gone now,” she said. “No one looked up this way. Maybe your luck is holding.”
Carter pushed himself into a sitting position and leaned back against the headboard. He closed his eyes. “Did you see anyone pick up her hat?”
“That skinny fella. Rooster? Is that his name?”
