Page 59 of Heart of Mystic Valley
When Cody looked up, there was noticeable pain in his eyes. “Rounder identified Miriam’s and Sophia’s killers.”
The room quieted at the mention of Cody’s late wife and daughter.
“Rounder rode with me to where they were hiding out. Afterward, he rode back to town with me.” A brittle chuckle broke from deep in his throat. “He talked the whole way back. Drove me crazy, but it kept my mind off, well… everything.”
“He’s a little crusty,” Faith said.
Cody looked at her and nodded. “That, he is.”
“So, why do you think he wants to see you now?” Grayson asked.
He shook his head. “I have no idea. It’s been a while since what happened. Maybe he’s come to collect on the debt I owe him.”
“Debt?” Annalee asked.
“Rounder refused payment for helping me find the killers. Instead, he asked for a chit to collect on when needed. He’s probably in trouble and hopes I can help him.” Cody picked up his empty coffee cup and stood. “I won’t know until the two of us talk.”
Cody pulled out a chair in front of Brodie’s desk the next morning, then changed his mind about sitting. He wanted to get this over, discover what the erstwhile outlaw had to say.
Brodie sat on the other side of the desk, watching the man who’d been his closest friend since they were children.
Back then, they’d made a rivalry of everything. Finishing assignments, having the better lunch, racing their horses, even liking the same girl. When Brodie had told Cody he was going to marry his friend’s sister one day, it had led to a fight, ending with both of them being tossed out of school for a week. Brodie still had feelings for Annalee, but he’d kept those thoughts to himself since Cody’s return to Mystic.
Standing, Brodie grabbed the ring of keys, picking out the one to Rounder’s cell. “Let’s get this done,” he said, heading to the back of the jail.
Rounder’s eyes widened and a smile appeared at the sight of Cody. “If it isn’t the bounty hunter. How ya doing, Burke?”
Cody stared through the bars at the man he’d let ride away in exchange for guiding him to the killers he’d been tracking. “The correct question is, what do you want, Rounder?”
Rising from where he sat on the cot, Rounder stepped toward the cell door. “Got some news for you. Get me out of here and I’ll tell you.”
Cody smirked. “Tell me, then I’ll talk to the sheriff about letting you go. Of course, Faith will have to drop the charges for breaking into her house.”
“After all I did for you? I expected a little more gratitude.”
Cody let out a breath, knowing Rounder was right. He looked at Brodie. “What do you say?”
Shrugging, he unlocked the cell. “You try anything at all, Rounder, and I’ll make sure you stay behind bars for longer than you can imagine.”
When Rounder came through the open cell door, Brodie grabbed his arm and secured one end of the handcuffs he’d been holding to the man’s wrist. Walking him to the front, he waited until Rounder sat down before securing the other end of the cuffs to the chair.
Brodie shot a look at Cody. “He’s all yours.” Walking around the desk, he took a seat.
Cody leaned a hip against Brodie’s desk, crossing his arms. “What do you have for me?”
“First, you need to promise no matter what I tell you, I’ll be let go.”
“Depends on what you tell me,” Cody said. “And it’ll be up to the sheriff, not me.”
Rounder’s features drew into a tense expression, his gaze narrowing as he stared at the cuffs securing him to the chair. Raising his head, he flicked a look at Brodie before nodding.
“I know where you can find the gang who robbed the bank.”
Brodie sat up straighter. “How do you know where they’re hiding?”
“’Cause I rode with them.”
“You were part of the gang?” Brodie asked.
