‘They asked the sheriff to arrest Walter for shooting Ben Leach,’ she said bravely. ‘They say, because he took Ben’s horse and gun, it don’t look like self-defense.[’]
‘But they say Dad murdered Peter Morgan.’
‘Who testified?’ asked Hashknife.
‘Some boys of the 6X6 testified that Peter Morgan’s body came on, roped to the saddle of his horse. That was all the testimony, except what was said about the fight Dad had with Peter Morgan in Mesa City, and that Dad swore he’d kill them if they came here.’
‘And that’s all the evidence they needed to name yore dad as the murderer?’
‘That was all. They didn’t ask me to testify. Lem told them about Walter coming home from Mesa City drunk, and what he said about “fixing” one of the 6X6 outfit. Lem tried to give his opinion of Ben Leach following Walter, but the coroner wouldn’t let him talk, and they almost had a fight.’
‘And will the sheriff be obliged to capture your father and brother now?’ asked Rex.
Nan nodded wearily. ‘I guess he will. Oh, I don’t know what to do. We haven’t any money to hire lawyers; nothing to fight with.’
‘The court will appoint a lawyer to defend them,’ said Hashknife.
‘To represent them,’ corrected Nan quickly. ‘But of what value will he be to us? It is merely a matter of form. Oh, I know enough about the law to know what it will mean. A cow-town jury, sitting in judgment on a nester.’