Though not normally twiddling her thumbs, Jack found herself tying the strings of her hat into knots as she walked into Irvington the next day. She and Donovan had stayed up late into the night debating what they would tell Titus the next day. Jack had argued for total honesty; Titus Fletcher was a good, just man and he deserved to know the full truth of the crime he was addressing. Now, however, as Jack walked through the town with secrets roaring in her mind, she wondered if this was folly. Was she only endangering the sheriff by pulling him into this mess or was she saving Donovan?

Jack's fingers caught in the knot formed in her hat strings and the hat fell off into the mud. "Drats," she mumbled under her breath, stooping in the street to fetch the hat from the puddle. Her hands were shaking with restrained nervous energy and the unknowns to come. Would Titus listen to them and trust them or would he disregard the truth due to lack of evidence? Even if he listened to them, what could he really do?

"Jack? What are you doing here?"

Jack stood up straight to find Hannah Benjamin, her curls hanging loose around her dark round eyes. As she rose, the wet hat collided with her body and sprayed mud all over her dress. So much for looking presentable.

"Good morning, Hannah," Jack said, studying the girl for a moment.

Not only was her hair out of place, but her cheeks were flushed and a bright smile graced her pleasant features. The sheriff's office was just behind her, and despite the weight on her shoulders, Jack couldn't resist a lascivious grin.

"You're looking quite fine this morning," she teased and Hannah's blush deepened.

"Yes, well, I was just visiting Titus before I go to work," the girl said, straightening a wrinkle in her lilac colored dress. "But what about you? You're quite far from the factory."
"I'm visiting your beau as well," Jack confessed, wondering just how much she should tell her friend. Anything she told Hannah would be sure to get back to her two nieces as well.

Hannah's dark eyebrows gathered. "Titus? Why? You didn't go swimming in your underwear again, did you?"
Jack sighed in exasperation, the floppy hat slapping against her legs. "Has everyone in the entire town heard that story?"

"I'm afraid so. Margaret Hunt has quite a lot to say about you."

Thoughts of the Hunt girl destroyed the momentary levity and Jack frowned. She wondered what lies Margaret would spin for Titus if given the chance. Jack had very few regrets in life, but she wondered if her carefree lifestyle would undermine her witness to Titus.

"So what are you doing here, Jack?" Hannah prodded, pinning back the loose curls as she spoke.

Jack stepped closer to the girl, her eyes narrowed. "Donovan's in trouble."

Hannah's hand stilled in mid air and her eyes widened. "What? Oh, no. I'm so sorry, Jack. I know he's friends with Mr. Booker and your..." she hesitated, chewing on her lip. "I'm sorry. Can I do anything?"

"Just don't tell anyone. It's all a load of hogwash, but those Slates and Margaret Hunt are up to no good, and I'm...I'm afraid."

The word lingered in the air between them and Jack bit her lip until it bled. Afraid. Jack couldn't remember the last time she'd admitted fear to herself. But this was the truth--Jack was terrified, and she hated the weak, powerless feeling that accompanied it. She wasn't afraid of being shot to pieces by the Slates or having her reputation destroyed by Margaret. She was afraid of losing Donovan either to the Slates' guns or the government's flawed judicial system. She was afraid of losing Donovan.

Hannah stepped closer and touched Jack's arm. "Is it serious, Jack?"
Jack nodded, releasing a slow breath. "It is. They want to take Donovan into custody and have him hung for a crime he didn't commit, and I'm here to give my testimony. He didn't do it, he's innocent, and Titus has to believe me."
Hannah must have been able to hear the doubt in Jack's voice because she nodded, her jaw tensing. "Titus will believe you. Trust me, Jack. He knows that you're a wonderful person despite your...eccentricities." They both laughed for a moment. "He'll listen to you both, Jack, and he'll make sure to find the truth before he lets them hang anyone."

He doesn't have to let them do anything, Jack thought, remembering the bullets that peppered the ground and Donovan's automobile when she had narrowly escaped with her life not that long ago.
"I just hope that's enough."

Hannah smiled brightly at Jack. "It will be. Titus will help you both, I'm sure of it. Good luck, Jack."

She touched Jack's shoulder once and then continued down the sidewalk, a cheery jaunt in her step. Jack, on the other hand, felt as if she were weighed down by leaden feet as she walked to the sheriff's office. The building was old and wooden, set in between two higher buildings. The shingles on the roof were peeling and the paint was faded by exposure to the sun; Titus had only become the sheriff with the onset of the war. Titus had been the deputy for years but couldn't join the Army due to his prosthetic leg; thus, he'd taken the place of the previous sheriff.

Jack knocked on the door, rough against her knuckles. She heard Titus limp to the door and it swung open. His face was pale and drawn as he nodded at Jack, welcoming her in wordlessly.

Jack entered and sat on the three legged chair across from Titus's desk. It rocked as she sat and clutched her dirty hat on her lap. A fire crackled in the hearth next to her and the heat brought a warm glow to Titus's sharp face and flinty eyes.

"Good morning, Jack," he said with a sigh, taking the seat behind the desk with deliberate movements. The five-point sheriff's star was pinned to his leather vest that stretched as he set his hands on the desk and thrummed his fingers on the dusty wood.

"As you know, Max and Clyde Slate are levelling some very serious allegations against Mr. Donovan. The courts in King William show that there is a warrant for his arrest for murder in the third degree, but he escaped before he could be brought in for questioning. There's something suspicious in the crime and subsequent escape, and to be frank with you, I don't care for the Slates or for the way they're trying to manipulate certain people in Irvington so they can get what they want."

Oliver Walker.

"And they want Donovan dead," Jack said, her voice wavering for a moment. "That's what they really want. They want him hung up in the town square."

Titus sighed and ran a hand through his dark hair. "I'm afraid so. They want justice, or so they say. I assure you that I will be thoroughly investigating their claims and I've already arranged to speak with the sheriff in King William over the telephone. Today, I'll interview the Slates and Margaret as well as you in Donovan to get a fuller picture of what's going on here. I'm hoping they'll say something that I can punch holes in."

Titus's words brought Jack a measure of relief. He obviously didn't believe their claims, at least not fully, and surely the sheriff who had helped Donovan escape would also aid him by providing a testimony to his innocence.

"Now, Jack, I need you to tell me everything you know. Don't spare any details."

And so Jack told him everything she'd learned from Donovan, Soka, the Slates. She told him of how the Slates were trying to take the Powhatan reservation land in King William for their manufacturing company. She told him of the Slates' hand in the unjust death of Donovan's brother. She told him about Donovan's nephew being drafted into the Army and Donovan defending Soka's land. Jack told Titus that Donovan shot the eldest Slate brother in self-defense and escaped to the Bookers. She told him that the Slates wanted revenge and would stop at nothing.

"But what sort of proof do you have, Jack? I can't remove these allegations on the weight of what you've heard from Donovan alone. All of this is second-hand, and one man's testimony won't stand against an arrest warrant for murder."

Jack closed her eyes and remembering the buzzing sound of the bullet flying over her head as she collided with the ground. That may not be proof, but attempted murder had to give even the greediest mayor paused.

"They tried to shoot me."

Titus's eyebrows shot up. "What?"
Jack nodded with a sigh. "I went to Margaret Hunt's house, which is where they're staying. It was stupid and I told them about what I knew, which was also quite dumb. They tried to shoot me to shut me up, but I got away."

"They tried to shoot you?" Titus repeated, his eyes wide. "Why didn't you tell me, Jack? This can't go on!"
Jack sighed and pushed the chair back, standing up. "Because the government doesn't listen to unmarried women or Indians, Titus!" She pounded her fist on the desk, rattling the mug of cold coffee sitting to one side. "No one has ever believed Donovan and he's been forced to fight against judgment and prejudice all his life. I don't want to put him into more danger, but what else can we do?"

Titus stood to face her, his hands braced on the edge of the desk. "I believe you, Jack. I don't know Donovan, so I can't just believe him on your testimony, but you can trust me to give him as fair a trial as anyone. And if the Slates did try to kill you, then I'll make sure they face the repercussions of their actions regardless of their money or status."

"Even if you want to be fair, will Oliver let you?" Jack asked, the bitterness of defeat lacing her voice.

She didn't want to admit it, but Jack felt like she was fighting a losing battle. History and experience told her that Donovan didn't have a chance unless he ran, but Jack refused to surrender. She'd always believed that right would win out, that good would be rewarded.

"I'll do everything in my power, Jack." Titus said, gazing levelly at her. "That's a promise. I'll need Donovan's full cooperation as well, of course, but I'll do everything I can. Walker may be the mayor, but I'm still the sheriff."

Another knock sounded on the door and they both turned to gaze at it, a frown on Titus's face. "That must be the Slates now."

A rage burned through Jack when she realized they were right outside the door. Her eyes jumped to the rifle standing behind the desk and she wondered if she could shoot a hole through one of them before Titus could stop her.

"Don't even think about it, Jack. I'll deal with them, you go and make sure Donovan comes to see me after school." Titus rose and limped towards the door, and Jack followed him, her hands balled into fists.

Maybe she couldn't shoot Max Slate, but she could at least leave him with a black eye he wouldn't soon forget. No, Jack told herself, you have to stay calm. You can't make things worse--again.

Titus opened the door and Max Slate lounged in the doorway, leaning against one elbow. His suit was perfectly pressed and if Jack hadn't known better, she would have found him rather dashing in his pinstriped suit and hat. His dark eyes moved from Titus to Jack and he removed the hat, bowing.

"Morning, Miss Harrison," he said, a murderous twinkle his eye. "It's mighty fine to see you again."

Rage seethed through Jack and she gritted her teeth. Stay calm. "I wish I could stay the same."

"No need for hard feelings, ma'am. We're just trying to do our civic duty," he said, placing his hat on his head again.

Jack chewed on the inside of her cheek, picturing how Max Slate would look with a bullet hole through his chest. The image brought little relief.

"Goodbye, Sheriff," Jack said, forcing her chin high. She stepped passed the Slates and proceeded down the sidewalk to the Post Office.

Jack spent the rest of the day in restless work interrupted by long periods of rage and anxious thoughts. What had the Slates told Titus? Would their lies and manipulation change his mind? The uncertainty and stagnation made Jack want to scream or punch something, but she could do neither. Finally, the day wound to a close and the sun started to set. Donovan was supposed to come and pick her up after meeting with Titus, but he had yet to appear and Jack had worn a track into the floor from her anxious pacing.

She needed to see the sheriff.

Jack's hurried walk grew into a trot and Jack's breath shattered through her lungs as she rushed to the sheriff's office. When she reached it, Jack looked for his automobile but didn't see it. She pounded on the door and opened it when she heard Titus calling for her to come in. SHe pushed through the door and found the man sitting at his desk, reading a newspaper.

"Jack, what's wrong?"

"Donovan, did he come?" Jack demanded.

Titus sighed and shook his head. "I'm sorry, Jack. He never showed up."