CHAPTER 4 -- CONTINUAL SUSPICION
Despite the fact that his tone had been very mellow, the Sheriff’s words echoed through the parlor with the power and sting of a gunshot. Time seemed to stop, as the immensity of what had been said began to sink in. Sitting deathly silent, everyone was stunned. Even Ira, whose mouth had dropped completely open, shook his head blankly. Looking directly at him, Hattie’s mind suspected the worst. After the way he left Silver Creek in such a rage the night before coupled with the fact that he lied about them riding left Hattie very suspicious. But to her surprise, his look wasn’t the one of shame or regret or even sadness that she had expected. Instead, it was a look of complete and utter shock. Quietly pondering the situation, she thought, “Something about all this just doesn’t make sense.” Then, glancing at the Sheriff, she could tell by the look on his face that he was feeling the exact same way.
Curious for more information, Matthew was the first to say something. “Just exactly what happened, Sheriff?”
“Well, Mr. Forsythe, yesterday evenin’, November 24th, at about ten o’ clock in the evenin’, Nicholas Starr was shot twice in the back just off the road to Gallatin in what looked like an attempted robbery. Though seriously wounded, he got away from his assailant and managed to get to old widower Sharpe’s farm. Bill quickly went after Doc Cowley, but despite the Doc’s best efforts, Nick died just after midnight.”
Still shaking his head in awe, Ira’s mind was spinning like a roulette wheel with a million thoughts in it. Then, in an instant, it stopped, as he realized what this news meant for him. After all the pain and the anguish and the torment that Nick had caused him, he was finally and truly free. Closing his eyes, he let out a deep breath, and for the first time in months, a look of real peace fell over his face. In a single moment, it was if the whole weight of the world had been taken off his shoulders, and both Hattie and Matthew noticed it. Then, opening his eyes, Ira turned his attention to the Sheriff and in a somber voice said, “I’m sorry to hear that, Sheriff, Nick was a good friend.”
Rolling her eyes, Hattie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “A good friend,” she thought, “just yesterday he was fit to be tied with Nick, not to mention Laville. Ryan Teeples even saw them fighting, but now, after one mysterious night which included his death, Nick was a good friend again.” Reaching over to grab Matthew’s hand for support, Hattie’s mind was racing. It was now clear to her why the Sheriff was there to speak with Ira, as he and Nick were known around town to be friends, but despite her best efforts to figure things out, Hattie was at a loss. “It was obvious,” she reaffirmed to herself, “by his reaction that Nick’s death was a surprise to him, but why lie about him being a good friend when they were clearly at odds? And why the sudden look of peace when this ‘good’ friend died?” Leaning back in her chair, Hattie was near her wits end. Nothing made sense, and she couldn’t help but be unnerved by Ira’s reactions. With her mind continuing to run in all directions, she finally settled on Laville. “Is Laville aware of any of this, Sheriff? She ought to know, being Nick’s fiancé and all.”
Sighing heavily, he replied, “Yes, she does. She was at Nick’s side when he died.”
“At midnight?”
“Yes, Miss Hattie, at midnight. What’s strange is that no one knows who informed her of the attack on Starr or how she found him. She was just there.”
“Well, why didn’t she come here and tell us herself?”
Clearing his throat, he said softly, “I’m afraid she couldn’t, Miss Hattie. She’s under arrest.”
