Free The Healer's Touch by Lori Copeland Page B

Brown’s been seen in the area as late as last month—and even Jim Cummins—but then I heard Hoodoo moved his family somewhere up around Warrensburg not long ago and took a decent job as a printer’s devil. But men like him don’t stay straight fer long.”
    If the man on her sofa was Hoodoo he was married with a large family.
    â€œIs this Hoodoo’s poster?” The poster was faded and the face was hard to make out.
    â€œThat’s him.”
    She peered closer and noted this man wore a long white beard. Of course men shaved, but the man in the image before her was older than her outlaw. Tacking the poster back into place, she continued down the row. Not a single likeness fit her man.
    â€œIf I go to all the trouble of fixin’ for a hanging you are going to bring your man here, aren’t you? You’re not going to turn him loose if he lives. You’d be a fool.”
    And she’d make a bigger fool of him. “If you’d like, you can come get him. Mother might even invite you inside.”
    The jailer paled. “That ain’t necessary. I’ll take your word on it.”
    She hadn’t given her word. “You said this Cummins person was seen in the area recently?”
    â€œHe was—but something spooked him real good and he hightailed it outta town like a cat on moonshine—forgot all about buying his tobacco. What makes you ask?”
    â€œWell, I’m thinking it could be him in my parlor.”
    â€œNo.” The jailer lifted a thoughtful hand to his jaw. “Don’t reckon so. One of Cummins’s cousins was in yesterday and he didn’t mention anything about Jim. If Cummins had gone missin’ in your parlor, the boy would have asked about him.”
    The whole situation took on a troubling aspect. If the man on Mother’s sofa was really an outlaw in need of hanging there should be an image of him among these…sterling-looking specimens. Shouldn’t there?
    â€œIf you don’t mind me saying so, I don’t know why any of this should trouble you. Just hand him over and I’ll take care of your problem. Don’t matter if he feels good or not—in a split second he’ll be out of his misery.”
    â€œI thought you didn’t go looking for trouble.”
    â€œI ain’t looking for it, but when it’s handed to me I dispose of the matter. You bring him in and I’ll hang him.”
    She turned. “And if he isn’t wanted by the law?”
    â€œWell then, I’d say he’d be having a bad day and I’d also say if he’s in these hollers he’s wanted for something.”
    Bad day, indeed. She’d consider being strung up like a smoked ham more than a bad day; it would be criminal if the man were innocent. Yet there wasn’t a single reason for her to think him blameless. Just because he was dazed didn’t mean he was harmless. Shaking her head she moved away from the board. “There’s one other thing.”
    â€œYes’m?”
    â€œIf there is a bounty on this man’s head what would it be?”
    â€œDon’t rightly know the amount, but a man like Cummins won’t bring much. But if you had part of a Younger gang, now, you’d be looking at a lot more money.”
    â€œA hundred dollars?”
    â€œMa’am, a bounty can to go five thousand and up if ’n it’s the right person. Depends on the charges and if he’s killed anyone important.”
    Five thousand dollars. A fortune. The amount spun in her head. She and Lark would be set for life. They could go anywhere—on a ship, travel by coach, and stay in the nicest hotels.
    The sheriff cleared his throat. “Not likely you got Frank, but anyone ridin’ with that Younger gang is bad news. If you should happen to have one of them in your possession then we’re talkin’ real money.”
    Nodding, she stepped around him and walked to the