Page 83 of Wyoming Promises

“No marshal came through here,” Lola said.

“He came in undercover, a drifter passing through. We discovered he hung for the murder of a local man, Mr. Roland Martin.”

Lola gasped and tears filled her green eyes. She bit her lip, then took a deep, shuddering breath. Bridger slid closer, but she froze him with a glare to stop the heart of weaker men.

She crossed her arms. “Go on.”

“Obviously, he didn’t murder your father. I suspect Ike did but pinned it on my friend. He must’ve figured out what Alex was doing here, though I don’t know how.” He clenched his fists. Bridger felt his frustration as Jake returned his focus to Lola. “I do know Ike Tyler has hurt a lot of people, and I’m going to put him away if it’s the last thing I do. What Bridger did tonight...he was only doing what I asked. It was a poor plan, but we didn’t want to endanger you by divulging too much too soon.”

Lola drew near with urgent steps. She grasped Jake’s wrist, but Bridger warmed to see her eyes locked on his. He’d never witnessed the glow of faith restored in a woman’s eyes before, and he longed to crush her in his arms.

“Let me help,” she said. “I know Ike felt something for me once. I can get him to talk. I know it.”

Fear clenched Bridger’s gut. “No. The men all but said Ike was behind it all. I have enough information to confront him. I can play this part long enough to get his confession myself.”

“I can help!” She gave Jake’s arm an insistent shake.

“Not if I can prevent—”

Jake held up his hand, head shaking. “This is my case. I was foolish to involve ordinary citizens in the first place, and I won’t make that mistake again.”

Bridger rested his thumbs on his belt. “He’ll never talk to you.”

“Then we’ll find another way,” Jake said.

“What about Grace?” Lola asked.

Jake shook free from her grasp. “What about her?”

“She may have more information than she realizes.”

“No, I read Pete’s log. If he knew anything, he didn’t write it there,” Jake said.

Bridger wondered. “Lola didn’t know anything, either, but her father kept notes hidden. What if Pete McKenna kept a separate log, waiting for something more concrete before he added it to his permanent files?”

Jake shrugged his shoulders. “That’s a possibility, I guess.” He slipped to his feet and leaned against the desk, arms crossed. “But Ike knows I’m a marshal now. If he sees me questioning Grace, it places her in greater danger.”

Lola’s skirt swayed as she stepped back. Her slender fingers clasped together like a woman in prayer, and her eyes gleamed. Her pink lips twisted in a determined grimace. “Let me talk with her. She has a lot on her mind, and the baby’s to arrive within a few weeks. I won’t upset her, and Ike won’t suspect a thing, I promise.”

Jake stared at his boots and Bridger knew the same sensation of gears whirring in his mind. What Lola said made perfect sense. Prying questions would be much easier to answer with another woman, especially as close as the two ladies were. Running every possible opportunity for danger scrambled his thoughts, but nothing reasonable came to mind. But his heart prevented rational thought and argued against any involvement from Lola.

Jake nudged his reaction with a nod. Bridger huffed, feeling the tug at his side. “When can you talk to her?”

“Tonight. She’s staying at my place rather than ride home.” Excitement filled Lola’s breathless voice.

Bridger raked fingers through his hair and along his scruffy jaw. Rough whiskers bit raw against his palm, like the strain of the night on his mind. “I can’t think of any reason for you not to ask Grace. But I still don’t feel right about this. If Ike was willing to torch his own hotel, he suspects something. I think he’s starting to unravel.”

Jake interrupted. “You’re absolutely certain Frank had nothing to do with the fire? More people than Ike suspect him, you know, and I have to give them something.”

Bridger stomped forward, shoving the marshal and forcing his full attention. “How could you ask such a fool question after all this?”

Jake threw his hands up, backing toward the wall. But his tone remained adamant. “Even if it were an accident, the folks in town will expect some kind of answers. You’ll never be able to stay in Quiver Creek when this is done if you can’t lay those fears to rest.”

Lola cleared her throat with a gentle cough. “He’s afraid of fire. He won’t even strike a match, isn’t that right?”

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