Virgin River (Virgin River #1)(112)

A skinny, wasted-looking, bearded man came out of a hut. A shack. Behind him was a stringy-haired, skinny young woman. Slowly a few more men came around from the back of dilapidated trailers. This small crowd didn’t display arms, but they stayed back, having knowledge of the firearms Jack, Jim and Preacher carried.

Jack approached Paulis. “Are you growing?” Jack asked.

The man shook his head.

“Did Thompson bring that operation in here?”

The girl made a sound and covered her mouth with her hand. Paulis gave a nod.

“He tried to kill a woman last night. For drugs and property. He’s dead. Who brought in the trailer?”

Paulis shook his head. “We don’t exchange names around here.”

“What’d he look like?” Jim asked.

Paulis just shrugged.

“Come on, man. You want to go to jail for him? What’d he drive?”

Paulis shrugged again, but Maxine stepped around her father, tears on her pale cheeks. “A big black Range Rover. Lights up top. You know the kind. He paid Calvin to watch the grow.”

“I know who he is,” Jack said quietly to Jim. “Don’t know where he is, but I have a good idea this isn’t his only grow. And I happen to know the license number on that big SUV.”

“Well, that could come in handy.”

Then to Clifford Paulis, Jack said, “You have twenty-four hours to clear this camp and move out. The sheriff’s deputy will be out here to close down this spot real quick, and if you’re here, you’ll be arrested—that shit’s in your possession now. You have to move on now. I don’t want you around. You hear me?”

Paulis just nodded.

“That woman was my woman,” Jack said more quietly. “I’m going to look for you, and if I can find you, you haven’t moved far enough, you understand me?”

Paulis dipped his chin once more.

The differences in the men—those from the camp and Jack, Jim and Preacher, left no doubt as to who would be the winners in any kind of conflict. Just to drive the point home, Jack raised his 30-06 caliber, bolt action rifle, aimed it at the generator beside the half-buried trailer in the compound, and fired, decimating it. The report was loud enough to shake the trees. The men in view flinched, raised their hands to cover their faces or cowered back.

“I’m coming back tomorrow,” Jack said. “Early.”

When they were back in the truck, Jack asked Jim, “What do you make of them?”

“Vagrants. Just living in the forest. They didn’t have the means to put that trailer in there—that was arranged by whoever Calvin was working for. They’ll go, most likely. Deeper in the forest, where they can set up camp again and be left alone. We’ll let Henry know where to find it. But you should make good on your advice just the same. They can’t be here anymore. If they’re not dangerous, they’re willing to be taken advantage of by dangerous people.”

“I didn’t see any guns. They have to be armed.”

“Oh, sure—but they’re not armed with much. They saw what we’re carrying—none of these old boys are going to be shooting at us. The ones to worry about are guys like Calvin’s boss, and his boss’s boss. DEA cleared out a whole town in the Trinity Alps several years ago while I was an agent—and now those boys had ’em some guns.” Jim gave Jack a shot in the arm. “I’m for staying out of their business. If Forestry runs across them, they’ll report them to the sheriff’s department or maybe to the DEA.”



The spirit of the town was tense and worried. Jack had become their favorite son, and his chosen woman—the woman who had come here to help people—had had a brush with death.

Throughout the day, neighbors came to Doc’s bearing food and offering conversation. There were no patients, only friends. Doc got out of bed and dressed, coming downstairs to visit. With the exception of a short nap in the afternoon, he stayed up the entire day.

Jim and June only stayed a couple of hours, but Jack was a presence on and off throughout the day, which worked well because people who came by the house to check on Mel were anxious to talk to him. “Shot him while he held her at knifepoint, they’re saying.” Jack merely nodded and reached for her hand. “How’d you dare? How’d you know you wouldn’t be off by a half inch?”

“I didn’t have that much to spare,” he said. “I wouldn’t have pulled the trigger if I thought there was any chance I’d be off my mark.”

Another matter of great interest was the shining ring that graced Mel’s finger. The engagement was met with happiness and affection, though not surprise. There were many questions about the wedding, and a serious protest when it was learned that there would be a small ceremony in a few days for family only in Sacramento.

Jack, Doc and Mel ate a dinner made up of the food brought by well-wishers and when it was done and the dishes cleaned up, Doc said, “I’m going to bed, Melinda. You should go back to your man’s bed. Those hospital beds are no place for the two of you.” And up the stairs he slowly trudged.

“Yes, you should,” Jack confirmed, taking her with him across the street.

Having slept so little the night before, once she was in Jack’s bed, curled up against his warmth, she nearly passed out from exhaustion.