Her expression didn't change, but something around her eyes went very still in the way that meant she was deciding something. "How bad are the wrists?" she said. "She'll scar." Agnes set the paper down carefully. "Sheriff Calhoun is going to come to your cabin today, before noon most likely, because Wade will push him, and Calhoun doesn't have the backbone to push back."
She looked at Sam directly. "He's going to have a document, a petition for temporary guardianship of Lily Briggs on the grounds that Martha is an unfit and unstable custodian. Wade filed it three days ago, before Harold had even been in the ground two weeks. He was ready." "Can he get it?"
"He can get Calhoun to carry it. Whether it holds up is a different matter." She came around the counter, moved to the window, looked out at the empty main street with her arms crossed. "There's a lawyer in Denver, Thomas Garrett. He's handled cases against the Briggs family before.
Harold tried to steal water rights from the Kellerman ranch 4 years back and Garrett stopped him cold. He doesn't care about their money and he doesn't care about their reputation. She turned. I can get a telegram to him today. He could be here in three days if the roads hold. three days is a long time if Calhoun comes with a document today.
I know. Agnes pressed her lips together. Martha needs to refuse to go. Politely, clearly, in front of witnesses if possible. Calhoun can't physically remove her from your property without a full court order and a full court order takes longer than a petition.
Wade knows this. He's hoping she'll be frightened enough to comply before she understands what she's actually signing. She looked at Sam. Is she frightened? He thought about Martha sitting straight-backed on the edge of his bed at 2:00 in the morning with her daughter against her chest running calculations while men on horseback watched from the tree line.
Not in the way Wade thinks she is. Agnes studied him for a moment. You trust her. It wasn't a question, but it had the shape of one. The shape Agnes gave to things she'd already decided, but wanted to hear spoken aloud for confirmation.
Sam met her eyes. I trust her. Good. Agnes moved back to the counter, picked up the paper, folded it again, and held it out to him. Keep this.
It's evidence. Don't let it out of your possession. She was already moving toward the back room. I'm going to send that telegram now. You go back to your cabin.
When Calhoun comes, and he will come, let Martha speak for herself. Don't put yourself between her and the sheriff unless he tries to physically remove her. The moment this becomes you against the law instead of Martha against a corrupt petition, Wade wins. And if Calhoun doesn't listen to her? Agnes stopped in the doorway to the back room.