Chapter Fourteen
WORK SAT IN PILES ONStuart’s desk, but he had yet to touch any of it. Between thinking about Maddox and his friends’ interest in the local freight companies and nearly kissing Norah last night, he couldn’t concentrate on anything.
It was nearly noon when Nate arrived. Stuart had traded staring at paperwork for pacing the building and spotted Nate the moment he walked through the door.
“Ruthann sent me to see if you’d like to join us for a quick meal,” Nate said. He lowered his voice. “I think she’s beside herself with curiosity to learn what you and Norah have uncovered about Jeremy.”
It was exactly what Stuart needed to get his worries off his mind. Besides, Nate might have useful insight into why Maddox and the others were so interested in Guelph’s and the mines.
He relayed the information to Nate as they walked. “I don’t know how it could help with Jeremy—and it may not have anything to do with him at all. But if they’re planning something, it might help remove the threat Jeremy received if they’re arrested. Or it might provide some way to connect them to the robbery that night.”
Nate nodded thoughtfully. “You think Maddox and the others were behind the train robbery?”
“I do. Why else would they threaten Jeremy’s family if he fought the charges against him? One of them murdered that railroadman, and they somehow made Jeremy into the guilty party.”
“If Jeremy is innocent, why was he at the depot that night?” Nate asked the question that Stuart had posed to Norah.
“I don’t know. But if I can figure out what they’ve got planned for Guelph’s, maybe Jeremy will tell us.”
Nate was quiet for a moment. They passed the church the Joliets usually attended, and Stuart greeted the minister, who was outside cleaning the church windows. As they walked on, Nate finally spoke up.
“What do you suppose was on the train the night of that robbery? Did they take anything off it?”
Stuart furrowed his brow, thinking. “I don’t think so. They’d wrenched a door open, and supposedly the man who was supposed to be guarding the train came to inspect the noise. The gunshot alerted folks nearby, and when the sheriff arrived, he found Jeremy bent over the man he supposedly killed. No one else was around, and not a thing had been taken from the train.” He paused. “They must have scattered when the shooting happened and abandoned their plans.”
And everyone in town—the sheriff included—assumed Jeremy had done the shooting. It would have been an unbelievable assumption months before, but everyone knew of Jeremy’s turn toward the unsavory. It didn’t help that he’d been wearing black clothing, had brought a shotgun, and was inches away from the revolver that had killed the fellow he seemed desperate to try to help.
All of the evidence was stacked against him, and everyone thought he was guilty—Stuart included. Everyone except Norah.
“It might be useful to learn what was on that train that they wanted badly enough to kill for it,” Nate said.
“You’re right.” A hundred possibilities ran through Stuart’s mind. Most of the freight onboard would have been handled by Joliet’s, Guelph’s, or one of the smaller shipping companies in town. Which means there would have been receipting for it.
When they reached Nate’s studio, they climbed the stairs to the second floor.
Nate was right about Ruthann. She immediately asked for information, and then looked disappointed that he hadn’t learned more already. And then just as they were finishing the meal, she began to ask pointed questions about Norah.
“Ruthie.” Stuart stood and laid his napkin down on the table. Nate had already excused himself to return to work, and Ruthann avoided his eyes as she cuddled little Caleb. “What exactly are you asking?”
“Oh, nothing in particular.” She finally looked up and gave him that sickly sweet smile he knew meant she was after something. “It’s only that you’ve been spending an awful lot of time with Norah, and well . . . she has very flattering things to say about you.”
