Leaving the house, Doc and his group headed into town— they wanted to speak with Calamity before anything happened to her. Harrid and Lia walked ahead of Doc, and Rosa and Sophia were at his sides.
“Do you think whoever is behind Calamity’s attack will try again today?” Sophia asked.
“For me? Not sure. I’m almost positive they will try to get her out of jail. They won’t know that she’s been cured. That might be good or bad, depending on what she remembers and if they get close to her,” Doc said.
“She might lash out at them, and that might get her injured or killed,” Rosa added.
“Yeah… I just hope they let her sleep and didn’t give anyone else the chance to interact with her.”
Harrid and Lia listened to the conversation, but stayed quiet as they scanned for threats. Both were sure there would be another incident; it was just the how and when they weren’t positive about.
The sheriff’s office wasn’t a great building— it was kind of run down and hadn’t been shown any real attention, besides the sign with fresh nails in it on the wall. Harrid walked in, followed by the others, but stepped aside quickly, as it wasn’t a big space.
A single desk took up part of the open space before the barred back of the room. The sheriff was at his desk with a cup of coffee in his hand, looking bored. Calamity was sleeping in one of the two cells.
When the group entered, the sheriff set his cup down and stood up. His hand touched his gun, then pulled away when he saw Harrid and Lia. His scowl grew when he saw Doc. “Holyday, right?”
“Yes, sir. I’m here to speak with Calamity.”
“It’ll go before the judge in an hour,” the sheriff said grumpily. “Already seen the preacher, who assured me it’d be taken off my hands at that point.”
Doc nodded, now having what he considered a confirmation of Calamity’s origin. “Be that as it may, as the one who healed her, I’ll make sure she’s fit to see the judge.”
“Doesn’t matter. It’ll go either way.”
Doc’s patience was thin, but he tried one more time, “May I speak with her or not?”
“Go ahead, but your menagerie here can wait outside.”
Doc’s patience snapped. “Sheriff, I’m normally a polite and respectful man. I lose those qualities when someone insults my wives and companions.” His voice was frigid as he spoke. “Do so again and I will make sure you are ruined— I’ll bring the full weight of my wealth and power to bear. My attorney is here to witness your response, so choose your words carefully.”
The sheriff stepped back. “Are you threatening a lawman?”
“My husband in no way ever threatened you, Sheriff. He only pointed out that you have been discourteous and offered to show you the same,” Sophia said primly. “It might be for the best if everyone took a few deep breaths. Maybe step outside for a bit while I speak to my client.” She motioned to Calamity. “You wouldn’t deny someone legal counsel, would you?”
“Everyone but you will step outside,” the sheriff growled.
“Can’t. I’m paying for her legal counsel,” Doc smiled, “which means I must talk with her, too. Lia and Harrid will step out with you. Weed has to stay with me. You surely know the laws about dryads.”
Grinding his teeth, the sheriff motioned to the door. “Fine. You two, get.”
Lia and Harrid stepped outside with the sheriff. When the door shut, Doc exhaled slowly. “Didn’t mean to lose my temper.”
Sophia touched his arm. “Doc, we understand. You only did because he insulted us.”
“He is a bigot of the worst kind, Doc. I’ll tell Ayla that she should find another to take up the role of sheriff here. With the tribes and clans helping you, leaving him in power would be terrible,” Rosa said.
Doc rubbed at his face, then sighed. “Yeah… maybe ask Posy to ask Wenn who he knows that we could send for? This way, we get a good lawman. Looking for someone here in town would fail.”
“I will.”
“We don’t have long,” Sophia said, walking to the back. “How do we wake her up?”
“I am awake,” Calamity said, shifting to look at them. “I’ve been awake since you came in.” She froze when she saw Rosa. “Caretaker?”
“Child, it is odd that you are here. Your kind belongs in the sands to the east. How did you come to be here?”
Calamity swayed in place. “I’ve been here for decades. They shipped me here shortly after the haze started. If I do what they say, they care for my nest… but are they?” Fear for her nest grew in her heart as she spoke. “My sisters… my clutch… what has become of them?”
“I do not know. Show me your mind and I will ask Mother to find out.”
Calamity went to the bars of her cell in one quick movement, much like a snake striking. “Please! Please? Help them.”
Rosa stared at Calamity for a long moment. “One of my sisters is near that area. I will ask her to check as best she can; the church has set up a temple near there. It will be dangerous, but she will do her best.”
Calamity reached through the bars, taking Rosa’s hands. “Thank you.”
“You are welcome, child. Do you remember yesterday?”
“The haze and voices told me to find and kill him,” Calamity whispered, lowering her head to avoid looking at Doc. “I was told by the one I was loaned to that Doc Holyday must die. I tried… but he didn’t… and then… the haze broke apart.”
“I removed it,” Doc said. “When I was healing you, I found you to be full of a chemical that made you suggestable. That’ll no longer be possible for you; I made sure of it. You won’t be controlled like that ever again. We need to know about the one you were loaned to and who loaned you to him.”
Rosa stiffened, as Calamity had immediately thought of the man, then of who’d been in charge of her before that. Doc glanced at her, but Rosa was looking through Calamity’s thoughts.
“Also, you are going to be charged with attempted murder among other crimes soon,” Sophia said, joining the conversation. “It seems the church wants to take charge of you. I can fight that, if you’d like.”
“Don’t let them take me!” Calamity cried out fearfully. “They won’t be happy…”
“I will do my best. My name is Sophia Holyday. I’m your attorney. I will be going with you to the judge.”
“Thank you… Caretaker, they are with you?”
Rosa smiled. “Child, this is Doc Holyday, the Voice of Luck. Sophia is one of his wives, as am I.”
“Voice…? A real Voice…? But… they left us all… they abandoned us to the Darkness.”
“No. They were killed by Apoc, who uses that name to hide that they are the Darkness. Lady Luck has sent him to help save Mother. He has been making strides, but now, the church knows of him.”
“And they sent me…? I almost doomed us…! Me…!”
“Stop, please?” Doc asked softly, stepping up to the bars. “Nothing you’ve done since they captured you is your fault. When you are controlled, lied to, and sent to do another’s bidding, you’re merely a tool. You’ll never be a tool again. Your life will be yours again. We’ll do our best to free you.”
“But getting you home will be much tougher if the church doesn’t want to let you go,” Sophia added gently. “It might be best if you lose yourself in the wilderness for a few years so they forget about you.”
“The tribes would welcome you,” Rosa said. “Doc has already helped them, and they will be happy to assist another of Mother’s children. If you head to the southern tribes of this area, it is much like your home: hot and sandy.”
Calamity swallowed, swaying back and forth. “Can I hear of my nest, first?”
“We will try, but my sister Yucca will be able to help you, too. She is with the tribes currently. If we don’t find out before you are free of the charges, she will find you to let you know.”
Her swaying slowed. “Thank you, Caretaker. Thank you, Voice.”
Doc reached through the bars touching her arm. “You’re welcome. Just talk with Rosa and Sophia until it’s time to go. The more they know, the better we can help.”
“I will, Voice.”
Doc went to leave, but Rosa touched his arm, then walked a little away from the others with him. “Doc, you need to know: the man who was in charge of her here is the same man Harrid has been hoping to meet, the one who hurt Ginger.”
Doc’s blood went cold. “You’re sure? No… that’s dumb to ask. Sorry. Of course, you are.”
Rosa squeezed his arm. “I know where they were staying. We could go there before the trial.”
“Sophia,” Doc called over to her, “you and Lia will go with Calamity. I’m going with Rosa to speak to a man. Harrid will be going with me.”
“Is everything okay, Doc?” Sophia heard his tone.
“Old hurts that need to be repaid. It’s possible I’ll need you to help me afterward.”
“I’ll be ready.”
Doc stepped outside, finding Lia and Harrid a couple of paces away while the sheriff leaned next to the door. “Lia, you’ll stay here with Sophia. Harrid and I need to go see someone.”
Lia met his eyes, then nodded. “I’ll keep her safe, Doc.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re done, then?” the sheriff asked coldly.
“Sophia is still talking to her to get her defense in order, Sheriff,” Doc said flatly. “I’m sure you wouldn’t break the confidentiality they’re due.”
Spitting to the side, the sheriff shut his mouth.
“I’m ready, Doc,” Harrid said.
As Harrid, Doc, and Rosa walked away, Doc spoke softly, “We’re going to see the man who controlled Calamity for this trip. I need to press him so Rosa can get information from him.”
“Okay. I’ll make sure you’re safe.”
Doc felt bad for not explaining it all to Harrid, but he really wanted to talk to the man first. He paused for a moment, then sighed, realizing that he couldn’t keep that from his friend. “Harrid, I was going to tell you afterward, but… the man we’re going to see? He’s the one who hurt Ginger.”
Harrid nearly stumbled when the words registered. “He is?”
“Yes. I know what you want, and I don’t want to stop you, but can you wait a few minutes?”
Harrid gritted his teeth, but nodded. “I can wait. I thought I’d never find him. Now… to be so close…?”
Doc patted his shoulder. “If we can tie this back to Strongarm, David can make sure he pays.”
Exhaling slowly to get out some of the anger, Harrid nodded. “Understood.”