Jacob still had a few hours before he needed to report to the Everlasting Hope Church for his turn as Joseph in the Nativity play. He had been hoping that all of this additional investigating he was doing would have some kind of result. He had been hoping that he could spend this time going over the new revelations with the marshal, convincing him of Benjamin’s innocence, getting him out of that jail cell and maybe even inviting the kid to come to church with him.
But as the bounty hunter strode down the streets of Tucson without goal or purpose, he realized he had never been more disappointed in himself. Time was up and he had failed.
When a wagon drawn by two charcoal-black horses rolled by, Jacob was reminded of someone who might still need him: his horse Blaze. With renewed energy, he turned the next corner to make his way to the livery where Caleb Shaw always took such good care of Jacob’s mount in the weeks that he was in Tucson.
When he entered the stable, Caleb was busy brushing down another horse, but nodded when he saw Jacob. Not many men came to just visit their horses, but Jacob had never been like other men. As he stepped into the stall, Blaze must have recognized his scent and visibly perked up.
“Hey there, fella,” Jacob said softly, reaching up to scratch between the horse’s ears. “You having a good break? You makin’ some friends in here?”
Blaze nuzzled Jacob’s coat, looking for the carrots or other treats that he always brought.
“You’re right. You found them. You got me.” Jacob laughed as he offered the vegetables to his horse.
While Blaze munched on the carrots, Jacob thought about all the pieces that were missing in the case he was trying to solve. Someone knew something; he just had to figure out who that was.
After a few silent minutes, Jacob heard boot steps on the ground coming toward him.
“What are you doing here, Payne?” Clifford Pierce said as he approached.
He walked up to the horse and rider slowly, letting Blaze get his scent and grow accustomed to a new person. Jacob was grateful. Though Pierce tended to irritate him in other ways, there was no doubt that he was a good horseman and a good bounty hunter. Not quite as good as Jacob himself, but certainly deserving of respect.
“What are you doing here?” Jacob countered. “I didn’t think I’d be seeing you till the church later today.”
“Oh, I forgot I left a box of bullets in my saddle bag, and I came to claim it.” He held up the box he must have only retrieved. “I’m supposed to meet Coleman for a drink before we head over to the church.”
“That’s right. I had forgotten he was going to be part of the play as well. Tell me again, Pierce. How did you meet that fella?”
He shrugged. “Cards. Whiskey. You know. Same way we meet pretty much anyone new to town.”
“That’s what I figured.”
“Why do you ask?”
“Oh … I just …” Jacob continued to stroke Blaze’s neck while he thought about the best way to word it. “I’m not sure. He just strikes me as the kind of man to pay attention to.”
“Gut feeling, is it?” Clifford suggested, nodding sagely. “I had the same feeling. In fact, the first few days he was in town I stuck really close to him. Made sure to find out where he’s staying and try to get him to take every meal with me.”
“Did that work?”
He shrugged. “Some. Hit and miss. I certainly spent a lot of time with the man. That feeling never went away, though.”
“Hm,” Jacob mused. “Thank you, Pierce. Glad to know my feeling’s not mistaken.”
“I don’t think he truly caught on to what I was doing, though,” Pierce said with a laugh. “Poor man musta thought I was real lonely. Once, a couple days ago, he even suggested someone else I should invite to eat with instead of himself. So I wouldn’t be lonely, I’d wager. Mr. Wood looked mighty shocked to get the invite, tell you the truth. Not sure he leaves his shop all that often.”
Jacob frowned and turned all his focus on Pierce. Blaze began to nuzzle Jacob’s neck and ear, pleading for more attention. “Mr. Wood? Is that what you said?”
“Sure was. Closed his store up and everything for a dinner break. He and I went over to the San Xavier. Your girl wasn’t working then, though. He’s a nice man. I hadn’t previously had the pleasure of too much conversation, but did you know that he came out to the territory when he was only ten? His parents were missionaries and—”
Jacob held up a hand to forestall another of Pierce’s longwinded stories. “Hang on, I just need to— Wood, you said. Wood closed up his telegraph office to have dinner with you because your friend Coleman suggested it?”
Pierce paused, and rubbed his chin through his beard, as though thinking carefully. “Yes, I suppose that’s all correct. Why do you ask?”
“I was just talking to him…” Jacob trailed off, his mind whirring over all the possibilities and what this could mean. Wood hadn’t mentioned leaving to see Pierce, but maybe that was just a harmless oversight. Was Pierce in any way part of this? Jacob scrutinized the other man—his friend—taking in his blank expression and everything that he knew about the other bounty hunter.
This new piece of information was both potentially helpful and maddeningly incomplete.
What did it mean?
“Do you know where Coleman is now?”
The look Pierce gave him was part amusement, part condescension.
“Payne, I have no ever-loving idea where he is this second. I’m not his keeper.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry, I just—”
“But I know where he will be,” Pierce added. “So do you. I just told you I’m meeting him for a drink, and then later he’s supposed to be one of the shepherds at church later. Remember? You’ll be there, won’t you? You’re not gonna make me make excuses for you to your girl.”
“I’ll be there.” He glanced quickly at his pocket watch. “I just have a lot to do before then.”
Pierce chuckled. “You always got something. You really should try to relax more, Payne. Enjoy life.”
“I will. After this last thing.”
Pierce was still laughing when Payne told his horse good-bye and darted out of the livery again.