He turned back to Mitchell. "How do you know it was Lionel?"

"Mama Rose and Livonia both told me Lionel had beaten them. The doctor saw Livonia 's son the next afternoon. He came into the hospital room while the doctor was there. I have his signed statement. He said that when Lionel leaned down to kiss his mother, he saw the cuts and bruises on his fists. He asked Lionel directly if he'd done this to his mother, and Lionel told him to mind his own business. He never came back after that day. I believe he hired an attorney and set out for Montana Territory with his brother a couple of days later."

"Thank you, Alfred. You may step down now." He turned to the jury and added, "Folks, Mitchell is living proof there are some honest men living down south."

"Lionel Adderley, get back on the stand."

Lionel's face was beet red when he took his chair. He looked sullen and angry.

"You lied to me, to Judge Burns, and to this jury, Lionel Adderley. You lied more than once too. I asked you specifically if you coerced your mother into signing the document. Both times you told me you didn't."

"I didn't coerce her. I merely helped her see the rightness in telling the truth."

"By breaking damned near every bone in her body?" Harrison roared. "That's helping her?" Harrison shook his head in disgust. "I have no more questions."

Lionel stupidly glared at the jury on his way back to his chair. Harrison called Reginald to the stand next. He didn't soft-pedal his way through his questions with the younger brother. He was demanding, forceful, and somewhat threatening. He got down close to Reginald's face when he was finished prying out of him what he needed, and told the man what he thought of him.

He then dismissed Reginald.

It was now time for his summation. He positioned himself right in front of the jury, just far enough away so that none of the six in the first row would have to stretch up to look at him.

"The proof is unquestionable. Adam Clayborne has been cleared of the murder charges by two witnesses. Lionel and Reginald Adderley have come into our community and pointed their fingers at Adam as a criminal. They're outsiders, and so they believe they know better than simple, ignorant country folk like us. Adam isn't an outsider. He's one of us. He's a neighbor and a friend. He's been there when someone's needed help, and he's been loyal. He's a good man. You all know that. He didn't like hearing sweet Catherine Morrison being called a man-sniffing whore any better than the rest of you. He didn't like what they called Catherine's mother either. They were foul, crude words used by city boys. And all of them untrue. Do we turn the other cheek and pretend we don't mind outsiders telling us our business? There are criminals sitting in the courtroom today. Have a good look at them, gentlemen. Lionel and Reginald Adderley. Picture what they did to their own mama, and then think about your own. We'll all pray Livonia makes it, but I doubt she will. She won't press charges while she's alive, but the doctor plans to bring in the authorities and charge both boys with murder if she dies. Do the right thing. Let justice, our justice, decide the day. Thank you."

Judge Burns wasn't quite certain what to do with the jury now. He didn't want anyone inside the courtroom to leave because he'd have to go through the sorting-out process all over again. He settled on sending the jury into the storeroom instead.

"Pick up your chairs and go on in there," he ordered. "We'll all wait here for as long as it takes you. I'll give you an hour before I let anyone out of here."

Harrison didn't look at the jury as they made their way into the storeroom. No one said a word in the room, not even the spectators. Harrison hoped they were all silently seething over the facts he'd presented.

Hate. It was all about hating. He was sickened by the reality. Evidence wasn't as strong to a man who wanted to hate. He would latch on to any little piece of possible truth and condemn his enemy. Reason was forgotten, along with compassion and understanding. Hate, like a gnawing tumor, devoured it.

He was disgusted by the theatrics he'd used, but he'd used them all the same. He knew they needed to hate someone, and so he fueled their fire until the simmering coals roared into life. And then he'd turned the flames away from Adam. He gave the jurors someone else to hate more.

He sat down at the table and turned to his wife. He needed to look at her, to assure himself she was there. He needed her comfort, and, dear God, inside he was so scared and uncertain, he could barely speak to her.

She had tears in her eyes. "Are you feeling all right?" he whispered.

"May I tell you now, Harrison?"

He felt the warmth of her comfort around his heart. "Yes, tell me."

"I love you."

"I love you too. Sir, give Mary Rose your handkerchief."

He turned around again. Adam was looking at him. "When you nodded, it meant you were…"

"Yes, that's what it meant."

John Morrison came back into the room and called to the judge. Burns immediately got up and hurried over to the door. He listened for just a minute, gave Harrison a nod, and hurried on into the storeroom with the twelve men.

Harrison and Adam both stood up. "All rise. Court is now in session," Harrison said.

The judge led the jury back inside. The men left their chairs in the storeroom but lined up in their same positions.

"Have you reached a verdict, John Morrison?"

"We have, Your Honor."

"On the charge of murder, how do you find John Quincy Adam Clayborne?"

Morrison looked directly at Adam when he answered. "We find him not guilty."

The crowd went wild. People jumped to their feet. They cheered and they clapped over the decision.

The judge pounded on his table. "All right, that's enough. We're all mighty happy justice was served today. Lionel and Reginald Adderley, you get the hell out of town. You don't call our namesake a dirty nickel whore and think you're gonna live long. I might just put a couple of bullets through your foul mouths myself. Harrison come up here. All right now. Court's adjourned," he added with one last swing of his gavel.

Harrison hurried over to the judge. Burns was standing now, stretching his arms.

"Tell me about the wire you were expecting. What were you hoping for?"

"I wasn't hoping, Judge, but Mitchell's brother was going to wire me when Livonia died. I'm sorry for her. She'd had one hell of a life. Maybe she'll find peace in the next one."

"If a woman ever deserves to get into heaven, Livonia surely does," Harrison said.

"She's lingering, is she?"

"Just barely. It's inevitable. She's bleeding inside."

"You wanted the boys to know they had murder charges hanging over their heads, didn't you?"

"Yes, Your Honor. I did."

"They were the first ones out the door. Let me shake your hand, son. You did a fine job."

Harrison did just that. Mary Rose caught him from behind. She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tight.

She inadvertently gave Burns a notion of his own. "Sugar Belle, come on over here and give me one of your happy-to-see-me kisses."

Harrison had to peel his wife's hands away before he could turn around.

Tears of joy were streaming down her face. "I'm so proud of you, Harrison."

He kissed her on the mouth, long and hard. "You can tell me all about it in bed tonight, sweetheart. We have to get Adam home first. Bickley's still outside, remember?"

"Let Cole shoot him," she suggested.

Harrison laughed.

Belle stopped to kiss him on her way out the door. "I've got to hurry on home and get ready for the judge," she explained. "I'll come on out to your ranch tomorrow to celebrate with you."

"We'd love to have you, Belle. Bring the judge with you," Mary Rose called out.

She couldn't make herself let go of her husband. Family and friends surrounded her brothers. Adam looked as if he was in a daze. Harrison doubted he'd even remember what was now being said to him by John Morrison.

They went outside together. The road was almost deserted. Once the outsiders had heard the disappointing news that there wouldn't be a hanging anytime soon, they'd gone on back home.

Bickley and five others in his vigilante group stood in the center of the road. Harrison noticed they were all armed. He shoved Mary Rose behind him.

"Sir, go on and get in the buggy. Cole will make certain you get there. Take Mary Rose with you."

She started to go to her father, but she kept her attention on Bickley. He wasn't looking at Adam now. Harrison seemed to be the target of his anger.

Bickley went for his gun. Mary Rose didn't hesitate. She threw herself in front of her husband to shield him.

Harrison shouted, "No."

Everyone drew his gun at the same time. The judge was quicker than all of them, for he already had his pistol out and cocked. He'd had a pretty good notion of what Bickley planned to do, and so he'd waited by the side for his opportunity.

The bullet went right through the center of Bickley's forehead. He flew backward and landed in the dust.

"Any of you other boys want some of this here gun?" the judge roared.

Bickley's friends shook their heads and put their hands up. "Then get the hell out of my town," the judge ordered. "And haul that trash on the ground with you. Git now."

Harrison was shaking. He grabbed his wife and squeezed her. "You damned near got yourself killed. What in God's name were you doing?"