Salvation in the Sheriff's Kiss(45)

Caleb and Hunter followed him and picked out their own bales to sit on. “I know, but truth is, Meredith Connolly is determined to clear her pa’s name and I got a sense there’s a lot more to the story than what came out during the trial. I thought, seeing as how you knew Yucton, you might be able to fill in some holes and maybe we could help Yucton and Meredith at the same time.”

Foster fixed his attention on his hand and flexed the knuckles, stiff fingers bending slowly. “Not sure what I can tell ya.”

“I’m curious about the relationship between Abbott Connolly and Yucton.”

“Oh, that’s an easy one. Like brothers those two were. Bill owed Abbott a debt in his mind. They met back in forty I guess it was. Indian scouts they were for a time. Just boys without a single chin hair between ’em. Got themselves caught up in a sneak attack. Abbott saved Bill’s life, got them both out with their scalps still attached. After that, far as Bill was concerned, he owed Abbott his allegiance for life. Said that’s how the Chinese did it. Don’t know where he came upon that idea, but he swore by it. Can’t imagine it ever sat right with Bill that he couldn’t keep Abbott from being sent up river for a crime he didn’t commit.”

Caleb stretched out his legs and crossed them at the ankle. “You think Yucton came back to pay his final respects to a man he felt indebted to?”

Foster glanced at Caleb and shook his head, then turned his attention to Hunter, his eyes sharp despite his age and erasing any doubt he had that Foster’s mind might be slowing down or growing hazy. “Knowin’ Bill, he simply transferred his allegiance from one Connolly to another.”

“Meredith,” Hunter said.

Foster nodded. “That girl was everything to Abbott. Bill knew it. He’ll protect her with his last dying breath you mark my words. And before he goes he’ll make sure someone else is there to take his place.”

Yucton’s words came back to haunt him. You just make sure you keep her safe.

It appeared he’d been nominated.

“Don’t suppose you have any idea what she needs protection from?”

Foster hesitated. He studied the back of his hands again before answering. “The Syndicate’d be my guess.”

There it was again. The Syndicate. McLaren, Yucton and now Foster—all of them had mentioned it. “What the hell is this Syndicate?”

Foster held a hand out as if to ward off Hunter’s sudden interest. “Now I don’t know much and what I do know is jus’ all hearsay secondhand. And don’t go askin’ me to stand up in a court a’ law to testify ’cause near as I can tell most of the men been involved in this whole situation have a funny habit of eating dirt shortly thereafter. And I ain’t got much fondness for dirt.”

The air around them stilled as Hunter waited. Foster seemed reluctant to continue. It wasn’t until Caleb’s quiet timbre filled the empty space that he relented.

“Best you tell him what you know, Foster.”

The old man stared at Caleb a moment as if sizing up the situation. If he was worried about anyone coming after him, he couldn’t be in safer hands than Caleb Beckett’s.

“When it became clear the judge wasn’t going to allow Bill to testify on Abbott’s behalf he slipped outta the jail—”

Hunter scowled. “I remember.” It hadn’t been on his watch, McLaren had offered to work that night instead, but he still hated the idea that Yucton had managed to get loose and disappear.

Foster smiled, showing a mouthful of tobacco-stained teeth. “Don’t take it personal. Ain’t been a jail made that could hold that man. He’s slipperier than an eel and twice as sly as a fox. If’n he’s still sitting in your jail now, it’s simply ’cause that’s where he’s decided he needs to be.”

Hunter didn’t care for the implication he had little to do with whether Yucton stayed or went. “When he slipped out the first time, why didn’t he take Abbott with him?”

“Abbott woulda never left Meredith. By then, it was clear his wife wasn’t gonna make it. If he went with Bill, he’d be on the run from the law and the Syndicate for the rest of his life. It woulda meant leavin’ Meredith behind unprotected. So’s he told Bill to git, but to keep in contact in case Meredith ever had need of ’im.”

“How would he stay in contact without raising suspicion?”

“Guess there was always someone who knew where he’d be and could wire him if he needed to.”

“Bertram Trent,” Hunter supplied and rubbed at the stubble sprouting a shadow across his jaw. It made sense. He’d kept in contact with Meredith and Abbott over the years. Likely he kept tabs on Yucton, as well. “How do you know all this?”