The Cowboy and the Angel | ✓

Chapter Twenty-Three

Micah rubbed his eyes as the sunlight streamed through the window onto his face. He reached at the empty place beside himself where Jason should be. His fingers felt nothing but air.

"Lord, what's he done got himself into to?" Micah asked his Father. He knew Jason should be back by now. There was no way 'taking care of business' would take almost two days. Surely if it would, Jason would've returned and told him about it, at least.

Micah scrambled to his feet and pulled on his boots. He glanced around, but found no sign of Jason. He decided right then that something must've happened to Jason. Just the thought made him sick to his stomach. He hurried outside, heading toward the sheriff's office, his heart intent on getting a search party for his missing friend.

***

"You think he's hurt or somethin'?" Sheriff Reeves asked, rubbing his mustache as he stared at Micah with concern.

"Yes, sir." Micah bit his lip, eyes brimming with tears and voice trembling. "Or worse."

Jedidiah eyed Micah, tossing the coin in his hands into the air and catching it. "What makes you think that? He could've just up and left to go back home."

Micah shook his head vehemently. "He didn't just leave. All his stuff is in his uncle's house, and even the pack mule is still there. I told him to be careful, I honestly did, 'cause after that note. . . ."

"Note?" Reeves asked, sharing a look with Jedidiah. "What note?"

Micah's mouth fell open. "You mean Jason didn't come tell y'all?"

"Nope. Do you know what it says?"

Micah nodded slowly. "I do. I'm the one who found it layin' on his saddle when we woke up the day after he got attacked. I managed to read it before he snatched it away. It said: If you stay, you die."

Reeves rubbed his scruffy chin. He took a moment before replying. "And he was supposed to tell us 'bout it?"

"Yes, sir."

"Wonder why he didn't?"

Jedidiah shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe he wrote it himself."

Reeves shot his deputy a withering glare. "Jason wouldn't write a note like that to himself. He's a respectable young man."

Jedidiah rubbed his head a little sheepishly. "Yes, sir. I'm sorry. I'm just--"

"Overly suspicious of strangers. I know. But this man ain't a stranger. I know him and his family. You can trust him."

"When did Jason go missin'?" Jedidiah asked, all apprehensiveness gone.

Micah chewed on his lip. "He didn't come home the night he got that note, or last night either. Somethin' bad must've happened."

Jedidiah placed his hands on his hips, turning to look at Reeves. "Sheriff, what're we gonna do?"

"We're gonna have a search party, that's what we're gonna do." Reeves replied, flicking a bug off his arm.

The front door flew open and in stumbled Abel. "Sheriff, sheriff! I f-f--"

"What in tarnation! Spit it out, Abel!"

Abel lifted his pale face to look Reeves in the eye. He shakily ran his hand across his forehead. "I f-found a d-dead man!"

"Where?" Jedidiah demanded, his hand reflexively reading at his pistol.

Reeves grabbed Abel by his shoulder. "Forget where. Just show us!"

"Yes s-sir!" Abel stuttered as he made his way back outside.