PART 3
Across town from the bank, near where the Stage was due to stop, Nick paced nervously, lurking in the shadows. He was sweating and he had his sleeves rolled up which he never usually did in town. He held the crystal in his hand.
Of all the people in the world, his uncle was one he never wanted to see again. "What if he buys the bank here?" he thought. "I couldn't avoid him forever. What would I do if I saw him? What would he do if he saw me?" The thought sent a wave of panic through him as memories came rushing back.
He got control of himself quickly. "It might not even be him. Bridger said "Jenkins and Son." He don't got no son. Well, he didn't then. He could now." The thoughts kept racing through his head as they had been for the past week.
He heard the wagon, bringing him out of his trance. It was racing into town at break neck speed. A little boy, about three years old, was wandering across the street directly in it's path.
Without a second thought Nick ran across the street. He scooped the boy up in his arms and dove out of the way of the speeding wagon.
"Ya alright?" Nick asked the boy.
The boy's mother cried, "Oh Brett, my baby." She picked him up and gave him a hug. She looked at Nick. "Thank you."
Nick rose from the dirt and dusted himself off. "Just glad I could help." He looked at the boy and thought how much he looked like…
"Nick, are you all right?" Laurie called as he ran down the street, interrupting Nick's thought.
"Yeah, I'm alright, Laurie."
"No. You are injured," said the boy's mother, pointing to Nick's right arm.
He looked down at a large scrape from his wrist to his elbow. "Aw, it's nothin'."
"Come to my office and you can clean it up there," Laurie ordered as he led Nick away.
Nick looked over his shoulder to see the woman carrying the boy and walking up the street.
Back at Plumfield, the children assembled in the classroom after lunch as usual. But things were not really as usual. Franz was pacing back and forth in the front of the room, a disturbed expression on his face.
"Good afternoon Franz" the children each said as they made their way to their seats.
"Good afternoon," he replied, trying to contain himself.
When they were all seated Franz stopped pacing and turned to face the class. "I keep a record of the grade each of you has earned on each assignment in my grade book. All of you are aware of that. You are also aware that I keep it right here." He points to an empty spot on his desk.
"Can anybody explain this to me?" Franz said.
The children look at each other, confused.
"I keep the book here in sight of all of you on the honor system, the same way Mr. Fritz did. And now that trust has been broken. I ask again. Can anybody explain this to me?"
Nat and Nan look at each other. "Nat, Nan. Do you have something to say?" Franz asked angrily.
"No," Nan said confidently.
"Uh, no. I don't think so,' Nat said.
"Nat?" Franz said. Hearing the hesitation in Nat's voice.
Nat looked at Nan. She tried to silently encourage him to stay quiet. Franz looked at him. Everyone was waiting for him to say something.
"I don't know where your book is Franz. There have been so many things missing lately that Nan and I have been trying to figure out who it might be that's taking them." Nat hesitated.
Franz was waiting for an explanation. He looked at Nan "We thought it might be Tommy. We don't have any proof but he said he played a joke on you today."
"Tommy," Franz said, turning to the boy.
"No Franz," Nan spoke up. "We thought it was Tommy, but he didn't take your book." Franz looked at her for an explanation.
"Well, you see. We sort of followed him during lunch. He couldn't have taken your book."
"You followed me?" Tommy said. Then he had a thought. "Dan was late for lunch," Tommy observed.
Everyone, including Franz, looked at Dan who sat wide-eyed and speechless.
"I didn't do it," Dan said finally.
"Well," said Franz. "I do not wish to spend any more time on this right now. We have lessons to do. But if whoever did this does not come forward by the end of the day, there will be an extra assignment for everybody."
The children all began to point fingers accusingly and mumble about each other.
"Class! Settle down and let's begin our lesson."
Meanwhile, back at the bank, Jo and Meg stood outside. They were unsure of what to do and were surprised that Nick was not there. Harrison Bridger walked up behind them, pen and paper in hand. He was still confused about what Jo's interest in the bank was, but he wanted to help her, nonetheless.
"Good day again, ladies," he said. "I'm here to interview Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Fletcher. Would you care to join me inside?"
They almost jumped at the invitation and followed him in. They greeted Mr. Fletcher who introduced them to Luke Jenkins.
"He's younger than me. He could not be Nick's uncle," Jo thought, disappointed. And then she noticed his sky blue eyes, sparkling like diamonds. She knew those eyes well. She held back a gasp as she glanced at Meg who had noticed them, too. "He could be Nick's brother," Jo joked to herself.
A woman rushing through the door carrying a small boy interrupted the conversation. The woman and boy were both crying.
"Oh Luke," she cried, "It was terrible." He took the boy in his arms and pulled the woman close.
"What happened?" he asked, concerned.
"I stopped to look at a dress in the shop window. I only took my eyes off of him for a second. Brett was in the street before I knew it. A wagon came racing down the street right at him. If it was not for that man who pulled him out of the way…" She shuddered.
"Are you all right?" he asked the boy.
"Yes Father."
"Excuse me Ma'am. Harrison Bridger, editor of the Concord Chronicle. Do you know the name of the man who saved your son?"
"I am sorry but he did not introduce himself." She saw the disappointed look on his face. "I can describe him, if that would help. He was about Luke's size, with short brown hair. He had blue eyes and was dressed in working clothes. He was rather handsome, I might add." She paused, "Oh, and the other man called him Nick."
Harrison spoke first. "Sounds like Mr. Riley." Luke was taken aback. The reaction not lost on Jo. "He is the caretaker at Mrs. Bhaer's school. I should take his comment for the newspaper. If he will speak with me, that is. He is a rather private man."
"I'm not sure if you will find him. He left to tend to his injury," Mrs. Jenkins said.
"Injury?" Jo's heart began to race.
"Yes, his right forearm. Do not worry. It was minor."
"Mrs. Bhaer," Jenkins said, glancing at his wife with a nervous smile, "I would like to thank Mr. Riley, personally. Would you know where I might find him?"
"I have some possibilities. I am sure we can find him," Jo answered excitedly.
"Yes. We will find him," Meg confirmed.
"Then what are we waiting for?" asked Harrison.
PART 4
