Second Harvest - Page 112/146

Frank stared at Roy with a puzzled expression. "My gun safe?"

"The less you know Frank, the better. Just open it for Grover and walk away." Roy grabbed a nearly empty crate and dumped the contents on the counter. He then packed all the ammunition into the crate. "Thanks, Frank. I'll settle my bill later." Roy grabbed the container and dashed out the door. Frank and the elderly patron stared in disbelief.

As Roy carried the box back to the blacksmith shop, he crossed paths with Grover the bank president carrying a large cloth bag. Grover looked nervous as he clutched the bag to his chest.

"Grover, Frank is expecting you," said Roy as the two men passed each other in the street.

Grover spied the contents of Roy's crate. "Roy, where are you going with all that ammunition?"

Roy briefly paused to answer. "I'm fixing to end a war between me and the Dixon gang."

The bewildered president continued toward Dillard's but kept a watchful eye on Roy as he hurried along.

Arriving at the home of Reverend McAllister, Roy first dropped the crate on the buckboard floor, and then he knocked on the McAllister's front door.

Maura opened the door and cheerfully greeted Roy. Her pregnant belly seemed larger. "Roy, come on in. Sara and the boys are helping us fix dinner. Can you stay for supper?"

Roy's expression was serious. "Not at this time, but thanks. May I speak with Sara?"

Before Maura could turn around, Sara heard Roy's voice from the kitchen and came running out. "Roy!"

"We need to talk Sara."

Sara saw Roy's face. "Is everything alright?"

Roy walked off the porch and over to the buckboard and waited. Sara excused herself to Maura and ran over to meet Roy with a hug. As she kissed him, she spotted the crate sitting on the floor.

"What's this Roy?" Sara pointed at the box.

Grasping Sara by the shoulders, Roy stared into Sara's eyes. Sara was still dusty from the tunnel dirt. "I need to tell you how much I love you. We almost died in that cave, and the thought of not having you and the boys around is not something I want to imagine. I need you and the boys to stay here with the McAllister family until I get back."

"Roy, what are you planning? What's all the ammunition for?"

"Sara, I don't expect you to understand, but the Dixon gang won't stop until they have the money they stole. Sheriff Dinkins took a bunch of the money and I suspect that the Dixon group is going to start killing more innocent people before this is over with."