Almost Arizona by Susan Page Davis

Author:Susan Page Davis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2013-08-13T00:00:00+00:00

eleven

“That’s not just any matches you’ve got there,” Adam said. “I was in Phoenix in July, and somebody gave me half a dozen of those.”

Julia peered at the cover of the matchbook. “Arizona, the forty-eighth state. What is this, some kind of advertisement?”

“Exactly.”

“I don’t understand. Is it to remind people to vote?”

“Sort of. You know President Taft vetoed our constitution?”

“Yes,” Julia said. “Arizona has to vote again.”

“That’s right. And we hope it will go through this time and we’ll be a state. Then the map will be complete, and we’ll get all the benefits of statehood.”

“But what were you doing in Phoenix?”

“I helped take a prisoner down there for his trial. I had to testify.”

Oliver looked at Julia. “I guess I didn’t tell you about that. I should have mentioned it in my last letters, but with Mama passing and all, I didn’t think to tell you.”

“Tell me what?” Julia glanced from him to Adam, but Adam was now looking down, seemingly fascinated by the fire.

“Adam helped catch a train robber last spring, and they held the trial in Phoenix, that’s all. But when he got down there, some folks started working on him, trying to get him to run for legislature.”

Julia eyed her brother carefully. He probably hadn’t told her deliberately, because he knew she didn’t want to be told when Adam risked his life on the job. Not that it concerned her anymore. But, yes, it was the type of event Oliver might omit from his letters so as not to disturb her.

“Well,” she said at last, “who’s this they you’re talking about?”

“Some politicians,” Adam said. “I had to hang around the capital for almost two weeks, waiting for my turn to testify in the court case.”

“Oh yes, because you were escorting someone you arrested. Who was it that time? Any of my friends?” Julia’s voice dripped acid.

“Julia,” Oliver said softly.

“Sorry,” she said, but she felt far from repentant. “I believe Oliver said it was a train robber, and I don’t think any of my friends qualify as one of those.”

“There was a gang of them,” Adam said. “The county sheriff headed up the case. He called in all his deputies to help catch them. I was in on it. When it came time for the leader to go to court, they didn’t think he could get a fair trial up here, so they sent him to Phoenix. Anyway, it kept me away for a while. I wasn’t back when your mama died, and I’m sorry about that. I should have been there for Oliver.”

She barked out a laugh. “That’s all right, Adam. You can be there for him while I’m in jail. Oops! I almost forgot. You’re putting him in jail, too. Who’s going to be there for the two of us, I wonder.”

Oliver scowled at her. “Really, Jules, this isn’t the time—”

“Then when is the time? The fact that Adam got a matchbook when he was delivering a prisoner doesn’t prove a thing. A lot of people probably have those.

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