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"They won't talk to the authorities," Ed said, "so we don't know for sure if they did it, but the evidence is pretty strong against them"

Jerry Sikes pushed his way through the crowd and stood by Tess "I talked to Jack some durin' shearin' season He wasn't half-bad As for me, I don't think he done it Never did"

Tess gave hirateful smile

Deep in the crowd, a ed a tired old hat from his head and crushed it to his chest Aardly he moved to the front of the crowd "I'm Charlie MacKay I know the boys pretty well, and I wouldn't mind talkin' to 'em Maybe there's a slipup in their stories, but?"

"That's wonderful?"

"Let me finish, htin' so hard to prove he's innocent But, well, what if he ain't? I don't want to get involved unless I'm damn sure your man didn't do it"

Tess battled a crushing wave of disappointment "I understand, Mr MacKay, but Jack's a stubborn man He won't say he's innocent"

"But I couldn't sleep at night if I helped hiet outta jail and heyou knowkilled someone"

Tess winced at the ugly words and fought to maintain her composure She couldn't lose it nohen she was so close So damn close

Think, daood at Think

She had to convince Charlie, just this one man, that Jack was innocent But ho?

379

Only one thing ca An almost certain failure Still, it was all she had___

She licked her lower lip, which felt scratchy and dry "What if I talked to Jack, and got hih, Mr MacKay?" Charlie pulled a wooden pipe fro on the carved end "Yeah, I reckon that'd be enough" "We'd be ed, Charlie," Ed said Tess squeezed her eyes shut She tried her best to have hope, her very best But for the first time in her life, her soul felt twisted and empty

It was all in Jack's hands He had to admit to maybe And he'd never believed in himself yet