She moved quickly.
“The basin.”
“What?”
She deliberately knocked the wash basin from the table.
Water hit the floor.
Wren stepped backward.
Nola grabbed cloths.
Garrick understood too late.
Confusion.
Noise.
Distraction.
Downstairs, Eli slipped toward the doctor’s saddlebag beside the door.
He opened it.
Papers.
Bottles.
Bandages.
Ledger pages.
He scanned.
Then the front door opened.
Deputy Pike walked in.
The boy froze.
Pike saw the open bag.
“What are you doing?”
Eli ran.
Pike caught his shirt collar.
“Thieving little—”
Eli kicked backward.
His heel struck Pike’s shin.
The deputy swore.
Upstairs Garrick heard.
He was moving before Nola could stop him.
They reached the stairs as Pike shoved Eli against the wall.
Garrick descended like a storm.
“Take your hand off my son.”
Pike drew himself up.
“Boy was stealing.”
“I said let go.”
Wren appeared behind Nola.
Saw his open bag.
Every trace of professional calm vanished.
He ran for it.
Nola followed.
Wren reached inside.
Not for a weapon.
For a folded paper.
He tore it from the bundle and threw it into the stove.
Nola lunged.
Flames caught.
She grabbed the iron tongs and pulled the burning sheet out.
Wren shoved her shoulder.
Hard.
She hit the edge of the table.
Garrick saw.
His control vanished.
He struck Wren once across the jaw.
The doctor crashed into the wall.
Pike released Eli and drew his revolver.
“Enough!”
Garrick turned.
The barrel pointed at his chest.
Nola’s breath stopped.
Pike’s voice shook despite the weapon.
“Hands up.”
Garrick slowly raised them.
Wren staggered upright.
Blood at his lip.
He looked toward the half-burned paper beneath Nola’s boot.
“Give me that.”
Nola stared.
“No.”
Pike shifted the gun toward her.
Garrick stepped sideways.
“Keep it on me.”
Pike sneered.
“Hero now?”
“No.”
“Husband?”
Something crossed Garrick’s face.
Nola ignored it.
The deputy stepped closer.
“Move your foot.”
“No.”
“Nola.”
Garrick’s voice was low.
She knew what he meant.
Not worth dying.
Maybe.
Then a voice came from the doorway.
“Deputy Pike.”
Everyone turned.
An older man stood outside wearing a long gray coat.
Beside him were two armed territorial marshals.
Amos stood behind them.
And beside Amos:
Dr. Abel Merritt.
Pike’s face drained.
One marshal raised his rifle.
“Set the revolver down.”
Pike looked toward Wren.
Wren looked toward the back door.
Eli saw.
The doctor ran.
The boy stuck one foot into his path.
Wren tripped over him and hit the floor face-first.
Nola stared.
Eli looked up.
“You said don't steal.”
Nola almost laughed.
“Technically true.”
Pike placed the gun down.
The marshal kicked it away.
Garrick lowered his hands.