CHAPTER 16HENRY POWELL spent the afternoon in his office above Len Milliard’s store. Standing at the window he watched the gathering farmers crowd the ground around the grange hall. They made an odd appearance, fifty of them, with all types of horses, from heavy draft animals to an occasional mule.
Their arms were just as varied—shotguns, hunting rifles and even the heavy muskets from the battlefields of the war. He made no effort to have a close look, being content to remain at the window until at dusk he saw Que Layton emerge and stalk toward his tethered horse.
All afternoon he had watched, fearing that the Laytons might try to take Edna home before riding south. He moved to the stairs now and dropped quickly down them.
But none of the grangers showed any interest in the hotel, and t
