Chapter Forty-Six

In spite of Robert’s best intentions to send Sophie out riding the next day, or on an errand that would keep her away long enough that he could read more of Civil War Babylon, fate intervened in the form of a knock on the door. It was José, the stock boy.

“Mama Norma says come to the store right away.”

Robert frowned. He had given himself the day off. Norma had assured him that the day after Christmas was always light on business and she could handle it without him. “What’s the matter? Is someone hurt or sick?”

José shrugged. “Not that I know of. She just said to come.”

“All right. Go tell her I’ll be there in a few minutes.” Robert put on his new boots and grabbed his jacket.

Sophie looked up from the kitchen table where she was playing with a deck of cards. “Should I come too?”

“No, I don’t think it’s an emergency. If I’m going to be more than a couple hours, or if there’s any reason I need you, I’ll send word.”

When he arrived at the store he found Norma in a state of agitation. She motioned him into the back room. “Emily’s gone.”

Robert wasn’t sure why this would be cause for alarm. “It’s about time.”

“You don’t understand. She came in here right before Christmas and got some supplies for the road.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Norma gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “She said she wasn’t leaving anytime soon, and you did say she could have whatever she wanted.”

“Okay.” Robert conceded the point. “So what’s the problem?”

“Julio is looking all over for her. He’s furious.”

“We knew he would be. He’ll get over it eventually. What choice does he have?”

Norma looked at him as though he were an especially dense child. “He thinks we have something to do with it.”

“Why would he think that?”

“Well, me because I knew about the affair and the murder. He thinks Emily confides in me.”

“Okay. But why me?”

“Because you’re Arthur’s brother. And because you…have a reputation.”

Robert’s eyes narrowed. “What kind of reputation? And why didn’t you mention this before?”

Norma took a step back, momentarily flustered. “Well, you have been seen going with her into the back of the store. Everyone knows you once stole a man’s wife. Some people say what’s to stop you from doing it again?”

“They believe I have something going on with Emily?” Robert was incredulous. “I like to think that if I wanted another woman in my life, which I don’t, I could do a lot better than that drunken fool.”

“Julio isn’t using logic right now. They say he spent all night hitting the still and now he’s riding around everywhere saying crazy things and making threats.”

Robert thought of his daughter, who was alone and no match for a drunk who was out of his mind. “I should go home and check on Sophie. I have a safe place in the lodge where she can hide. Lock up the store, and use your best judgment as to which of our employees can go home safely. You stay here until I can come back and escort you home.”

“Don’t put yourself out over me, Mr. Dubeck. Just send the sheriff. That way you can stay at home and protect your little girl.”

Robert agreed that was a better plan, but when he stopped by the old sporting goods store, now the sheriff’s office, no one was there. No doubt he had already ridden out in search of Julio. Robert hurried home.

Sophie was still at the kitchen table, playing Klondike. “Come on,” he said, grabbing her arm. “I need you to hide. Now.”

The girl stumbled after him. “What? Why? Where are we going?”

“I’ll explain it all later. Just come. Hurry.” He took her into the lodge and upstairs to the second floor room he had been using as an occasional study. “Stay in here with the door locked, and keep quiet.”

“But—”

“Don’t open this door for anyone but me, Norma, or the sheriff. Got it?” Robert pushed the door shut and was gratified to hear the deadbolt slide into place, followed by the chain. Good girl.

He ran back into his apartment and went to his room, where he grabbed his Glock and a couple of clips. In some ways it felt like old times. He only hoped that he wouldn’t be called on to actually use his gun, since his marksmanship was sure to be no better than it was in the old times, either.

Robert hesitated at the kitchen door. He could get to the store faster on his horse, but no, he would lose too much time saddling her. Instead, he ran.

When he got near the store, he found a cluster of excited people out front. One of the windows was broken.

“He’s inside,” old Mr. Henson shouted. “We’re just waiting for him to come out and then we’ve got him surrounded.”

“Norma’s in there alone, you fool!” Robert fumbled with his key and opened the door. Norma had turned out the lights, and it took a moment for his eyes to adjust. Then he heard a noise from the back room and drew his gun.

A few townspeople followed as he ran toward the back and opened the door. Here the lights were on, and Julio had Norma pinned against the wall, his big hands around her throat.

“Let her go!” Robert said.

Julio met his eyes and spat on the floor. Then he pulled Norma away from the wall as if he might release her, only to fling her back against the concrete, knocking her head against the wall with an audible thud. Robert fired and missed. Julio let Norma fall to the floor, then took a step toward Robert. One of the men looking over Robert’s shoulder shouted, but he couldn’t hear for all the noise that suddenly filled his head. He fired again.

This time he didn’t miss.