Free Under a Texas Star by Alison Bruce Page B

successfully attacked," she explained. "The Bakers and Egans came and soon afterward the settlement grew from an outpost to a town. Those two families are pretty important around here. Cornerstones of the community. However, it was the Businessman's Committee that asked the state to appoint a marshal." She popped the rest of a sandwich in her mouth. "Headed by the banker and Miz Jezebel."
    The little devil on Jase's shoulder that was just a mite jealous of how easily Marly found supporters was tempted to tease her with the information that Jezebel had asked him to come to Fortuna before Strothers was appointed. He mentally pushed the devil aside and pretended this was all news to him.
    "When you got a place like this," he said, looking around, "you want enough order to keep it from being broke up. Makes sense the banker would want a marshal. I've met Mr. Winters already. Friendliest face outside The Oasis. The others I met today are curious. Wary too. Don't think they mind law so much as they don't like this murder business. Protective of Egan, too."
    Marly washed down another mouthful of food with coffee.
    "They may not mind the law," she said, "but I bet they didn't like Strothers much. Seems he applied justice somewhat unevenly. At least, that's how some look at it."
    Jase's eyebrow lifted.
    "Some say there's a connection between Miz Jezebel bringing in the marshal and The Haven getting picked on."
    "You've been busy, Marly."
    The discussion was dropped when Arnie came back to refill their cups. After he left again, they finished the plate of sandwiches in silence, then went back to the stables
    The stable boy had anticipated them and had Trouble and Grandee ready. He had also taken care of Marly's holster, securing it to her saddle. Marly nodded her thanks. Jase showed his appreciation with a couple of coins.
    He wanted to follow Strothers' route the night of the murder. He knew from Jezebel that Strothers always paraded down Main Street on his way out of town. Coming back, especially if he was trail-worn, he tended to use the back roads.
    Jase and Marly rode the length of Main Street from livery to churchyard. On the way past The Haven, the men lounging on the porch stood and glared at them. One spat a long stream of tobacco-stained spittle and hit Trouble on the flank.
    The horse was startled, but Marly kept him under control. Jase caught her eye and she turned away quickly, biting her lower lip. He didn't press her until they were leaving town.
    "You wanna share somethin' with me?" he asked.
    She shook her head. "Don't want to, but I should. Those cowboys didn't know I was with you. I was listening to them gossip. Now they probably think I was spying on them."
    "Did any of them admit to killin' Strothers?"
    "No."
    "Then they'll get over it."
     
    Marly couldn't fault his logic, so she set aside the incident.
    Once clear of the houses, they picked up the pace and headed west, toward the Egan and Baker ranches. Thanks to Arnie, she knew that they'd pass the smaller Circle-X  Ranch. The road had a right-of-way through the property that acted as the boundary between Egan's Lazy E ranch and Baker's Bar B.
    This was where the murder occurred.
    The road dipped into a gully and there was just enough of a bend to it to create blind spots in any direction. By report, Strothers would have been travelling back to town.
    Jase and Marly dismounted and approached the scene on foot.
    After almost two weeks and regular traffic, Marly reckoned there wasn't much sign left to read. It was easy to deduce the most likely location of the ambush, however.
    Jase climbed up to that spot.
    "This place has been used by at least two people several times," he said. "One spent a fair bit of time waitin'. He passed the time whittlin'. Take Trouble and ride 'round to the other side. Go back about a quarter mile, then ride up the trail."
    Marly was off. Riding up the road, she scanned the ground for anything that might help Jase. On the way back, she