A knock came early as the sun was just coming up over the horizon.
Mr. Easton stood, stretched his back then opened the door. I sat up in bed and ensured the sheet was tucked securely about me.
There stood a man who looked to Mr. Easton, then to me in bed. He stepped inside, forcing Mr. Easton to take a step back. He was in his fifties with graying hair, a portly belly, yet a very observant eye. "It's good to see you again, Wiley."
"Sir."
They shook hands.
"I obviously arrived earlier than you expected," the older man's voice held censure.
Mr. Easton looked to me, then back to the man and held up his hands in front of him. "It's not as it appears. She's my prisoner."
The other man arched one dark brow. "Since when have you taken liberties with a prisoner?"
"Libert
ies?" Mr. Easton pointed to my dress wadded up on the floor that he'd used as a pillow. "I slept on the damn floor."
The man looked to me. "Ma'am, I'm Judge Appleby."
I introduced myself as I held the sheet in a tight grip over my breasts. Mortification swept over me being caught like this. While Mr. Easton vowed nothing unseemly occurred and I could agree with that, I did feel caught as if we had.
"I'll get this visit moving along. Miss Sinclair is innocent and free of all charges."
"What?" Mr. Easton asked, running his hand across his beard. "There was a woman accomplice!"
The judge nodded. "Yes, it is a woman by the name of Sheila Carter from Miles City. While she hasn't been caught, she's been named and have been given a solid clue as to her whereabouts."
Mr. Easton pointed at me. "She's related to the men who did the crime."
"She is, but Miss Carter was the...acquaintance of Mr. Kevin Sinclair and their time together was well documented by many witnesses in saloons not only in Miles City, but in Billings and Hardin as well. Kevin Sinclair confirmed this just a short time ago."
"What about the money box? Clearly Miss Carter didn't have the money box in the bottom of her vegetable basket."
That made the judge pause. "You are correct, but the Sinclair men say Miss Sinclair had no knowledge of the box. They were going to put the money in the bank. Mr. Gibbons at the bank was familiar with this arrangement, albeit an unusual one, to collect the money and deposit it for them."
"He didn't think it odd that the money was hidden among a bunch of cucumbers?" Mr. Easton asked, his voice booming.
"Poor judgment, to be sure, but they didn't want it to be discovered and stolen," the judge countered. "I'll remind you we are in a hotel with sleeping guests all around us."
Mr. Easton sighed. "Then why didn't they tell Miss Sinclair? Why make it seem so illicit?" He glanced at me.
I had no idea about the money box until Mr. Easton and his men uncovered it, so I couldn't even guess.
"Her family didn't want her to know about the extra funds, for then she would know of their wrongdoing," the judge replied.
"You believe this?" Mr. Easton asked.
The judge gave him a pointed look. "The Sinclair men have had a fair trial for the crimes they did commit. I have no reason to believe Miss Sinclair had any part of their wrongdoing. There's no evidence to prove otherwise. Miss Carter is still at large and is someone you should go after. There is a bounty on her head, not Miss Sinclair's."
"I'm free to go?" I asked, tugging the sheet a little higher.
Mr. Easton looked at me, considering. I wanted to gloat, but now was not the time. I felt vindicated and once I had my clothes back, perhaps I could hold my head high in town once again. Although, with three relatives guilty of terrible crimes, it might not be possible.
"Not so fast, young lady." The judge rubbed his hands together. "Now then, onto more important concerns. Where are you clothes?"
I glanced down at the floor at my crumpled dress.