Part 16 (1/2)

”How do you get all that from what she just said?” Alex asked.

Sandra was saved an answer by the arrival of their food. She managed to steer their conversation in a thousand directions, all of them directly away from Elise Danton.

After they'd eaten, Alex said, ”Sandra, I need to ask you something. Do you really think Armstrong's going to arrest Bill Yadkin for the murder?”

Sandra said, ”I gave up trying to figure our sheriff out long ago.” She lowered her voice as she added, ”I shouldn't say this, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least. I'm afraid Bill's temper is going to be his downfall.” As she pulled her check from the two on the table, Sandra said, ”Alex, I don't know how well you two know each other, but he needs every friend he's got right now.”

She stood beside the table, and before walking to the register, Sandra added, ”Alex, for your sake, I do hope Elise comes back soon. I really mean it. I know how much you miss her.”

”Thanks,” Alex said, amazed that Sandra was being so adult about it all. After all, he'd been the one to break their relations.h.i.+p off, one of the reasons being so he could pursue something with Elise. Though that hadn't materialized, Alex knew the breakup had still hurt Sandra's feelings. As he paid his own check, Alex wondered if Sandra did indeed think Elise was gone for good.

It could be she was just being gracious in her victory.

Alex decided to take Sandra's advice and pop in on Bill Yadkin before heading back to the inn.

He heard angry voices coming from the shop in back of the man's house when he arrived. Calling it a shop was quite generous. The blacksmith's building was in stark contrast with the modern efficiency of Jefferson Lee's workplace. Bill's equipment could have been taken from a smithy a hundred years before, with ma.s.sive leather bellows by his forge and a faded black anvil that looked ancient to Alex. No fire was burning in the forge, though. All of the heat was coming from Bill Yadkin as he argued with Rachel Seabock.

”I don't care. Do you hear me?” Bill shouted, the words dying as he spotted Alex behind him. ”What do you want?”

”I thought you might need a friend about now,” Alex said gently.

Rachel snapped, ”Alex, you try pounding some sense into him, he won't listen to me.”

Alex saw that the young blacksmith had a bag by his side, obviously full of clothes and some of his most precious tools. ”Going somewhere, Bill?”

”I'm getting as far away from Elkton Falls as I can, if it's any of your business!”

Rachel snapped, ”Bill! He just wants to help!”

Bill Yadkin threw a set of metal pincers down on his anvil so hard the steel rang. ”That's the trouble with this place! Everybody just wants to help. Why don't you people get it through your thick skulls? I don't need any help!”

Alex said calmly, ”The biggest mistake you can make in the world right now is running away. I'll wait until you finish your little tantrum before I tell you why.” He pointed to a bucket of water beside the anvil. ”Why don't you soak your head in that bucket for a while until you cool off?”

Alex fought the fear in him as the blacksmith's strong hands twisted a knot in the handle of his bag. There was a rage and an energy in the young blacksmith that was truly frightening, but Alex knew if he showed the slightest sign of weakness, it could spell disaster.

Rachel started to say something, then thought better of it and remained mute.

It took a few moments, but Bill's anger suddenly dissipated. ”Yeah, maybe you're right. A good soaking might do me some good. So why shouldn't I leave before that k.n.o.bby-kneed sheriff throws me in jail?”

”If you run, it's just going to look like you really did kill Jefferson Lee. There's a lot of anger in you, isn't there?”

”I've got a temper, I'm the first to admit it, but I'd never kill anyone. I swear it.”

For some reason he couldn't fathom, Alex believed him. He knew he could easily be wrong, but his gut was telling him that the young blacksmith was telling the truth.

Rachel said, ”Bill, don't you see that Alex is right? You can't run away from this. I'll stay by your side; you know it's true.”

Yadkin put a powerful hand on her shoulder. ”I know you will, Rachel. It's just so frustrating. Everybody in town thinks I'm a killer.”

”Not everybody,” Alex said. ”You've got Rachel and me on your side.”

Bill nodded. ”I thank you for that, Alex. Maybe you're right.”

Alex looked at him and grinned. ”Maybe?”

Bill chuckled at that. ”Okay, I admit it, you're right. Alex, I'm sorry I snapped at you. You didn't do a thing in the world to deserve it.” He held out a meaty paw, and Alex took it. There was power to crush in that grip, but Bill's clasp stopped at a firm warmth.

”I guess I'd better unpack this stuff before Armstrong comes along and gets the wrong idea.”

”I'll be inside in a second,” Rachel said as Bill Yadkin headed back into his modest house.

”Alex, I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come along when you did.”

”I'm glad I could help.” He looked back toward the house. ”Is he going to be all right?”

”I think so. I've been trying to get him to think straight since all this mess started, but that's the first time I've seen the man I care about since Jefferson Lee's murder. Alex, do you really believe him? It's important that I know you're not just saying it to keep him in town.”

”I'll be honest with you, Rachel, I couldn't give you a reason that would stand up in a court of law, but I do think he's telling the truth. I'm worried, though. If he doesn't get that temper under control, it could be bad news for him. I'm not trying to scare you, but you know it's the truth.”

”I'm working on it, Alex. That's all I can do.” She squeezed his hand lightly as she added, ”Honestly, you men are so hard to train.”

”Yes, but we're worth the effort, aren't we?” Alex said with a smile.

”Sometimes,” Rachel admitted as she headed for the house.

Alex had gone around town searching for answers, but he hadn't learned anything new. Something was niggling at the back of his mind; the only problem was, he couldn't put his finger on what it was.

Alex wanted to talk to Shantara again.

Maybe chewing things over with his old friend would jar something loose.

At that point, it was the best he could hope for.

As Alex walked toward Shantara's store, he had the distinct feeling that someone was watching him. Trying to be cool, he looked over his shoulder, but he couldn't see a soul paying him any attention at all.

Chiding himself for his overactive imagination, Alex hurried his pace nevertheless.

Chapter 21.

”Hey, anybody here?” Alex called out as he walked into Shantara's store.

”I'm over here,” she said, and Alex followed her voice to the craft corner. Shantara was trying to hang a large, woven shawl on a hanger from a high nail. The handwork was obviously one of Jenny's latest bright creations.

Alex said, ”Let me help you with that.”

She said haughtily, ”Just because you're a man doesn't mean you can do something I can't, Alex Winston.”