Jacob Payne left Mrs. Hyke’s store with his mind whirring. Through all of his investigation, he kept discovering more and more clues that Benjamin Wilbourne was innocent of the charge of theft for which he was currently sitting in a jail cell. In spite of all of this, Jacob knew that it wasn’t yet enough to free him.
Adding doubt to the conviction was one thing, but doubt was not evidence of innocence.
Jacob would need something more definitive—something like discovering the actual perpetrator. Finding the cash would be even better.
But he had no idea how to do that.
All he had was a rough description from Mrs. Hyke, and the same small circumstantial clues that also pointed to Benjamin Wilbourne.
Who in town had come into a lot of money in the last day or two? Who in town had been (or had a reputation for being) dirty and unhygienic? Who would smoke or not notice if they dropped a button?
There were too many questions to answer.
And on top of that Jacob now owned a harmonica.
Jacob laughed to himself, as he walked through the cold winter street of Tucson. He hadn’t learned anything new worth taking back to the marshal. No, what he needed right now was a hot meal and some time to think over all he had learned and what his next step would be.
Turning left at the next corner, Jacob made his way to the San Xavier Cafe. He had plans to meet Bonnie there, one of the few times they would be eating together instead of her waiting on him as he ate.
He wondered if she would want to continue to work if he were to propose.
The thought almost stopped him in his tracks. He stumbled briefly, recovering his balance as he thought over this realization.
Jacob didn’t want to be grabbing dinner at the cafe, even if his sweetheart was waiting for him there. Jacob wanted to be heading to his own home, his own warm fire, where he could share a meal with his wife. Or, maybe he could even wait on her. Lord knew the woman deserved to be treated the best he could offer.
That settled it. Maybe it was the cold night; maybe it was the thought of being innocently accused; maybe it was simply that enough time had passed and he was ready. But there in the middle of the Tucson street, just at sunset, Jacob Payne decided the time had come and he would propose to Bonnie Loft.
He would not stall any longer.
He could not risk losing her.
Jacob arrived at the cafe, threw open the door and immediately locked eyes with his love. Though every bone in his body screamed at him to take her in his arms, he knew he didn’t want to embarrass her in public with any display of emotion she might not be ready for.
Instead, he waved, smiled, and began to cross the room to her to share their meal.
No sooner had he taken a few steps into the cafe, than Jacob felt a hand on his shoulder. As he was turning to see who wanted his attention, Pastor Ambrose stood next to him.
“Mr. Payne! I’m delighted to find you here. Miss Loft suggested I might, and as usual she was right. Come over to the bar.”
He sat heavily on a stool while Jacob remained standing. He was puzzled. He looked over his shoulder to where Bonnie was giving him a quizzical look.
“What can I get for you boys?” Mickey asked, appearing behind the bar.
“I’m meeting Bonnie,” Jacob said, pointing over his shoulder and hoping the pastor would take a hint.
“Oh, I’ve already eaten,” the pastor said. “I just need a word with Mr. Payne and then I’ll free up my seat.”
“See that you do,” Mickey said sullenly, before moving to help the next man over.
“Can I help you with something, sir?” Jacob asked Pastor Ambrose.
“You can.” Pastor Ambrose turned so his body was completely facing Jacob. “You can. I need you, Mr. Payne. I don’t think there’s anyone else I can turn to.”
Jacob heard the desperation in the man’s voice; past the flattery, it was clear he really was hoping for the bounty hunter’s help.
“Is there something wrong with the manger I built?”
As he asked that, he felt another, smaller, hand rest on his other side. Jacob turned to see Bonnie Loft standing with her face lit up in expectation.
“Bonnie! I’m sorry. The pastor here waylaid me on my—”
“No, no, don’t worry,” she assured him. “I just wanted to see if there was anything I can do. I’m sorry. I was the one who told Pastor Ambrose he would find you here.”
Her gentle smile made him feel to bursting with admiration. For a brief moment, Jacob felt self-conscious that he had only just moments before decided to propose to this wonderful woman, but now in the bright light and crowd of the cafe it seemed too crass, too bold.
“I’m glad he found you,” she continued.
Jacob blinked in surprise and looked back and forth between his two friends. “What’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing, nothing,” the pastor assured him. “That is, nothing that’s not fixable. It’s just that … well, we seem to be short a person for our Nativity play tomorrow. I know you’re generally a busy man, but Bonnie assured me that you would love to do it.”
“I’m sorry … I …” Jacob stuttered. He glanced at Bonnie who nodded at him encouragingly. “You need me to what? I don’t understand.”
“We need a Joseph,” Bonnie blurted out.
“A Joseph?” Jacob repeated.
“Joseph,” Pastor Ambrose said. “For the Nativity play. Marshal Santos had promised to do it but he now tells us that the circuit judge will be in town right when we plan to be holding the performance. We need another tall man, someone with presence and honor, to play the role of Saint Joseph, husband of Mary, in the Nativity play. You were our first choice.”
“Me? Joseph?”
“And you’re not planning on leaving town again, right, Jacob?” Bonnie asked hesitantly. “I know that’s what you had told me, but I also know that you might need to change your mind.”
Jacob’s mind spun at all the commitments he had tied himself to and all he still needed to accomplish in order to free Benjamin Wilbourne. But, then, how could he say no to Bonnie?
“I would so love if you were able to help with this,” she said. “I’ll be there the whole time, helping with the costumes.”
“Costumes?”
All three of them turned to the fourth voice, the man who was inserting himself into their conversation. It was Clifford Pierce, talkative as ever.
“You’re not thinking of putting this man in a costume, are you, Pastor?” Pierce laughed and clapped a hand to Jacob’s shoulder.
He felt surrounded, pressure from all sides.
“Why, yes, Mr. Pierce,” the pastor said. “I think he’d make a wonderful Joseph.”
“As you say. But if you’d like, I’m happy to set aside my shepherd’s robes to step up. Only if you need me to, that is. I just want to serve the Lord where I’m needed most.”
“You are going to be in the Nativity play?” Jacob asked, shocked.
“I certainly am,” Pierce responded with faux indignation. “Coleman and me and a couple other fellas agreed to help out. It’s all for the glory of God, ain’t it? I’m not one to be too proud to take on a little ol’ task for the church.”
At this pronouncement, Jacob happened to catch a glimpse of Bonnie’s face—she was proud and admiring, listening to this other man’s willingness to help. Jacob knew he couldn’t let her down. Though he still didn’t know how he was going to be able to prove that Benjamin Wilbourne had not robbed that telegraph office, Jacob reasoned that by the time the Nativity began, the judge would already be here. He would have to solve this problem before he needed to get in the costume either way.
“All right,” he said, to Bonnie first, before turning to the pastor. “I’ll help you. Just tell me what to do.”
Bonnie threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you! Thank you. This will be so wonderful. Thank you.”
Jacob caught Mickey’s grin as he delivered a plate to the man sitting next to Jacob, suspicious that the bartender had been eavesdropping on the whole thing. As Jacob tried to imagine himself in the biblical robes that would make up his costume, he groaned to himself, wondering how many of his friends would show up in church just to see him like that.
But, he thought to himself, maybe Pierce is right. It’s for a good cause, after all.