Jake stiffened even more. “Where is he, Hash? Where is Marty?”
“I got no idea.”
“The hell you don’t! I’ll find him, and if I find you with him, you’ll die right along with your son! It would go easier on you if you owned up right now where I can find Marty.”
“Find him yourself, Harkner,” Hash sneered. He glanced sidelong at Randy. “And keep your family in town where it’s safer while you’re at it.”
Jake stormed toward him and ripped the shotgun right out of his hand. “Get out, Hash! You are truly pushing your luck. I am real tempted to change my mind about not leaving body parts all over this restaurant!”
The look in Jake’s eyes was enough to make a snake crawl back into its hole.
Hash Bryant backed up. “I’ll go, but only because I aim to have it out with you when you’re healthy, so’s people know who the better man really is.”
“Fine with me, as long as it’s face-to-face and not behind my back!”
Jeff heard footsteps on the boardwalk then, someone running. Lloyd came charging through the door.
“Stay there!” Jake ordered. “It’s all right.”
Hash turned to glance at Lloyd. “Well now, ain’t it nice how loyal the son is to the father.”
“Pa isn’t healed yet, Hash, and there are innocent people in this restaurant, including my mother!” Lloyd seethed.
Hash turned his gaze back to Jake. “Oh, I’ll leave for now. I’m savin’ your pa for when he’s better, so’s I can rightfully beat the life out of him. I might not be able to take him in a gunfight, boy, or you either…but I damn well can take him another way.” He glanced at Randy. “There’s plenty of ways to take a man down without a gun.” He turned and walked to the door. Lloyd stood in his way.
“Let him leave, Lloyd,” Jake told him. “The sooner he’s out of my sight, the better.”
Reluctantly, Lloyd stepped aside.
“Ain’t you just the lovin’ son?” Hash sneered at Lloyd before walking out.
Jeff felt Jake’s rage. It filled the room.
Jake turned and pulled some money from his pocket and threw it on the table. “Let’s go.” He took his hat from where he’d laid it on an extra chair and put it on.
“Jake, maybe this isn’t a good time to go see Peter,” Randy objected, still clinging to Jeff’s hand.
“There will never be a good time, so let’s go before I go after Hash Bryant and bleed to death beating the hell out of him!” He headed for the door, still holding Hash’s shotgun. Lloyd followed him out.
Randy finally let go of Jeff’s hand. She pulled on her gloves and rose.
Juan grasped her arm. “Señora, it is all right. That Hash Bryant, he is a bad hombre. Everybody in here, they understand that.”
Randy nodded. “His being a bad hombre is what worries me.” They left the restaurant. Outside, Jake was leaning against a porch post lighting a cigarette while Lloyd paced angrily.
“If I’d known he came into town this morning, I never would have let him look you up, Pa!”
“I know that. I just had better not see his face in town again anytime soon.”
“Maybe you’d better go back home and cool down a little,” Lloyd suggested.
“No! I have more to talk to Peter Brown about than Jeff’s book or a trust fund. I’ll be fine.”
“You’re not fine at all, Pa! I know you. You’re so damn mad, you want to hit something, or better yet, go after Hash Bryant. Go home before you open that wound up all over again or do something to get you fired and thrown back into prison.”
Jake pushed back his hat and rubbed at his eyes. “I’m not canceling this appointment. What are you doing here, anyway?”
“I couldn’t sleep because of Marty Bryant’s escape…and I’m worried about Mom.” He glanced at his mother, who remained silent. “I got dressed and went down to the jail and found out Hash had been there, and came looking for you.”
A few people came out of the restaurant, moving away from Jake, knowing what he was like when angry. Juan, however, walked right up to him.
“Señor, Dios se encarga de todas las cosas. Él los protegerá a usted y su familia. Confía en él, señor.”
Jake nodded and seemed calmer.
Lloyd walked closer to Jake. “What did Brian say? Is Mom all right?”
Jake glanced at Randy. “She just might need some surgery, that’s all. She’ll be fine.”
Lloyd looked at his mother. “He’s lying, isn’t he?”
Jeff just stood there listening in wonder and worry.