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Eden handed over her account but kept Jesse’s notebook. She had given him her word.

“I need to return to the clinic,” Eden said.

Marmee glanced toward the darkening windows. “One of the men will return you to town. There’s no sense setting out alone in this weather.”

Eden tucked Jesse’s notebook beneath her shawl. She had promised to tell him what the women learned, and she intended to keep that promise.

A short while later, a cowboy named Rich brought the covered buggy to the porch. Eden climbed aboard, grateful for the leather top which kept the worst of the rain from reaching them.

The journey back to town would take about an hour. She could only hope the men searching the south crossing found shelter before the storm grew worse.

Jesse was awake when she reached the clinic. Nate had gone to the front room, leaving a lamp burning by the bed. The book they’d been reading lay on the chair beside him.

“You’re wet,” Jesse said.

“Rain has a habit of doing that.”

“Could’ve waited it out.”

“It showed no sign of asking my permission.”

He gave her a brief grin. Then his attention moved to the notebook beneath her shawl.

“Find anything?”

“Yes.” Eden pulled the chair closer. “Izzy remembered the warning you gave her. Three high notes. She knew it meant to keep playing and pretend nothing was wrong.”

Jesse lay quiet. “She listened?”

“She did. It helped her stay out of the back hall.”

He rubbed a thumb across the blanket. “Good.”

“Hannah King remembered a man at the livery. Rose saw him at her store. His name may be Frank Crowley.”

“Silver tooth?”

“Yes. He bought peppermint sticks, too.”

Jesse’s hand stopped moving. “That’s him.”

Eden waited. He had recognized something important; she would not press him for more when his voice already sounded tired.

“Did you tell Whit?” he asked.

“I did. He and the marshal went to check the south crossing.”

“Bass?”

“He went with them.”

Jesse’s jaw tightened. “Of course he did.”

“They have a plan,” she said. “Whit is leading them, and they know this could be a trap.”

“Bass doesn’t follow plans worth a lick.”

“Then the sheriff has his work cut out for him.”