‘State your business,’ he directed.
‘I am Percival Upshaw and this is my assistant,’ the elder of the pair said importantly. ‘I represent Mr Elmer Baddon and am serving your family with a summons. This request is sanctioned by the federal government, so the state has no say in the matter.’
Locke accepted the paper handed to him. ‘A demand for us to produce Michelle Bruckner at a hearing in Denver,’ he read the document. ‘Three days?’
‘That should be ample time for you to make the journey.’ Upshaw sniffed impudently. ‘And, I suggest you find yourself a lawyer to represent your side. The hearing will determine who has lawful guardianship of the child.’
‘She’s seventeen, not a child.’
‘Nonetheless, you must appear before the court or a federal warrant will be issued for your arrest.’
Locke saw the judge’s signature was not anyone he recognized. Obviously, Elmer had enough money and judicial clout to force him to produce the girl for the hearing.
‘We’ll be there,’ he agreed.
‘Fine. That’s fine!’ the attorney chirped, his chest puffed up like a river frog at dusk. ‘I look forward to settling this expeditiously.’
‘You’ve said your piece,’ Locke told him bluntly. ‘Now, get your money-grubbing can off of my property before I set the dogs on you both!’
Upshaw’s eyes bugged and his face flushed pink. Without another word, he and his aide climbed aboard their buggy hastily and the rig left in a cloud of dust.
Wanetta and Scarlet came out to join Locke as the two men disappeared down the trail.
‘We overheard the conversation,’ Locke’s wife said quietly. ‘What options do we have?’
Locke looked at the paper again. ‘This is a legal and binding document. We will have to deliver Mikki to Denver for the hearing.’
‘You said Baddon had money and power,’ Scarlet spoke up. ‘Is there anything our family can do?’
‘Ask your husband to come see me,’ Locke replied. ‘I need him to ride in and send a telegraph message to Wendy and Wyatt. Then we’ll decide who all is to make the trip.’
‘Cliff won’t stay behind,’ Wanetta said. ‘He has a vested interest in this – with or without thinking of Nessy’s welfare.’
‘Maybe Cliff could marry Mikki?’ Scarlet tried another angle. ‘If they were wed, Baddon would have no claim.’
‘She isn’t of age to wed without consent,’ Wanetta nixed the idea. ‘She would need permission from her guardian or parent. As it stands, Mr Baddon has the strongest claim to that position.’
Scarlet uttered a mild profanity. ‘Yes, to be her guardian, but not to force her into marrying him! That’s outrageous!’
‘Money can buy most anything,’ Locke ended the discussion. ‘Have Landau see me as soon as possible. I’ll write the message and have it ready for him.’
‘Whatever you say, Father.’
Scarlet hurried away to her house, which was located a quarter-mile from the main courtyard. Wanetta waited until she was out of earshot before speaking again.
‘What do we tell Mikki? This is going to break her heart.’
‘Tell her we are going to the hearing to demand she be allowed to choose her guardian. We intend to fight for her freedom, no matter what the odds or cost.’
‘Stand still, dummy!’ Jared warned Olmstead. ‘That piece of tree stump isn’t all that solid.’
‘You can’t do this!’ Olmstead wailed, balancing on a wooden block, his hands bound behind him and a noose around his neck. ‘I have a right to a trial.’
‘No one is taking away that right,’ Jared assured him. ‘I just need for you to pass this little test. You’ve heard of people who are unbalanced?’
‘No, I ain’t.’
‘Well, it’s a slang term for them what end up in lunatic asylums and such. It’s to prove your cattle are all moving in the right direction… you know, that your brain is working the same as normal folks.’
‘My leg is crampin’ up!’ the man whined. ‘I don’t know how long I can stay atop this here stump.’
‘Better talk fast then, before you slip and hang yourself.’
‘I ain’t gonna hang myself. It’s you who’s trying to hang me!’
‘Tsk, tsk, Olmstead,’ Jared jeered at his complaint. ‘You’re starting to sound like a big baby, crying like that.’
‘Where’s Fielding?’ he wanted to know. ‘I demand you turn me over to him!’
‘You demand?’ Jared laughed derisively. ‘You don’t make demands, Olmstead. You tell me who sent you to kill us and I’ll let loose the rope. After all, if you testify against Gaskell, the judge is bound to give you a lighter sentence.’
‘Gaskell will never let this get to court. He’ll get me out of jail, just as soon as he learns you have me under arrest.’
‘Why would he do that?’ Jared asked. ‘I mean, unless you were doing this on his orders.’
The man’s lips pressed tightly together in stubborn rebellion. He was not going to be tricked into talking by some. . . .
A gun being fired caused Olmstead to jump, nearly falling from the thick stump. He twisted his head enough to see Jared had a smoking gun in his hand.
‘What the hell are you doing?’ he howled. ‘I ’bout fell off.’
Jared displayed an impish grin. ‘I just shot a chunk out of the wood you’re standing on. You know, I’ll bet I can collapse one side with one more slug. Whatta’ yuh say? Should I give it another shot?’
He laughed. ‘Get it? Give it another shot – for real!’
‘Officer Fielding!’ the man yelled at the top of his lungs. ‘Come stop this crazy coot! He’s gonna kill me!’
‘How about I try to hit the notch right in the middle of that block of wood?’ Jared continued to torment him. ‘I’ll bet you five bucks a perfect hit will split the log right in half. You game for a wager?’
‘You’re out of your mind!’ Olmstead shouted. ‘Why would I bet on something like that? I would die if it worked!’
‘You’re right,’ Jared admitted. ‘Why bet five dollars when you are already betting your life?’ He grunted. ‘Only one way to find out if you win or lose.’ He snickered. ‘Of course, to win the bet, you lose your life. Too bad . . . but those are the odds.’
He took careful aim and cocked his Colt. . . .
‘No! Wait!’ Olmstead shrieked. ‘I’ll tell you! I’ll testify in court! I’ll do whatever you say!’
Jared frowned. ‘Don’t be turning chicken on me. How are we going to know if a bullet will split that piece of wood if you cave like this?’
‘Please! Call over Fielding! I’ll tell him everything!’
Jared uttered a tiresome sigh. ‘All right, but you’re going to wonder about that next shot for the rest of your life.’
‘At least I’ll have a life,’ Olmstead retorted. ‘You crazy coot! You’d have hanged me on the spot.’
Being made aware of the hearing, Mikki couldn’t hold back her tears. Cliff moved over and took her into his arms to console her. He held her like a child while she wept against his shoulder.
‘I made you a sincere promise, Mikki,’ he whispered next to her ear. ‘Elmer will never touch you again. If I have to kill him, I’ll keep that from happening.’
‘No,’ she murmured. ‘I can’t let you ruin your life. Nessy is so sweet. She needs you. You’re the only family she can remember.’
‘Dad knows a lot of powerful people; so does Wyatt and Brett. There’s a whole passel of us to deal with only Baddon and his lawyers. If the judge rules in his favor, we’ll go over his head to a higher court. If need be, we will keep this tied up in the courts until you are of legal age.’
Mikki leaned back. ‘Why is your family doing this for me? Until I showed up on the doorstep, none of them had ever heard of me.’
‘I told you about Nash Valeron, and how he and some of the family took on the chore of saving Trina Barrett. He and Wendy didn’t know her from a stray dog
when she walked in their door. But they did what was right. People should always band together to fight injustice or crime. That goes double when the law can’t or won’t do what’s right.’
The girl stared at him, her rich mahogany eyes still misted with tears, but a softness on her face like a mother holding her child for the first time.
‘You’re such a good man, Cliff,’ she said. ‘And this family… They are the salt of the earth.’
He reached up and brushed the tip of her nose. ‘You’re not exactly castor oil.’
She actually laughed. ‘I have my faults.’
‘Not in my eyes,’ he said. ‘Trust me when I say I’ve been looking for a girl like you all of my life. I didn’t know it until you showed up at our dinner table, but I know it now.’ He leaned forward and gently touched her lips with his own. Then added, ‘And I’m not going to ever let you go.’
Wyatt and Wendy joined up with Shane and Jared. The four of them had dinner together and exchanged news.
Shane finished their tale by saying, ‘Fielding had a heck of a time explaining to his captain about how come Olmstead was so forthcoming about Gaskell and the operation up at Paradise. All he could say was the two of us went to strap the two dead men over their horses, and when we returned, the enforcer from Paradise was singing like a meadowlark.’
‘But you didn’t touch him?’ Wendy asked Jared.
‘Nary a finger or hair on his head. I just tried to make a simple bet with him, and he folded like a greenhorn.’
‘Well, all the news isn’t good,’ Wyatt silenced the levity. ‘Baddon hired a big-time lawyer from St Louis. He served up some papers to Uncle Locke. They have to bring Mikki here to Denver for a court hearing.’
‘The man has a lot of money,’ Wendy said tightly. ‘Why are men like Baddon and Gaskell the ones who have wealth and power? How come it isn’t the good and righteous who prosper?’
‘Remember what it says in the Bible about rich men,’ Shane reminded them. ‘Easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go to heaven.’
‘Meaning we won’t meet up with either of those fellows in the afterlife,’ Wyatt said.
‘I, for one, don’t care to wait that long to end their reign here on earth,’ Jared chimed in. ‘Tomorrow, Fielding is taking a dozen men – along with me and Shane – and we’re going to close down Paradise.’
‘Yes,’ Wendy said, ‘but how do we protect Mikki?’
Wyatt answered. ‘Locke will contact the governor’s office and Brett can see what influence he can muster. I have to wonder if it will be enough.’
They discussed the situation for a time, but it was growing late. Soon the four of them were headed to the hotel.
Wyatt had a room to himself, as did Wendy. As for Shane and Jared, they had kept their room. Even as they entered the rooming house, Wendy took hold of Jared’s hand.
‘Dad wants me to find an attorney to defend Mikki in the morning. I know you’re going to be busy with this Paradise thing, but I need to talk to you for a minute,’ she said quietly.
‘Sure, sis. I’ll walk you to your room.’ He nodded to Shane. ‘Be right up. Don’t you start to snoring before I get there.’
Ronnie walked in on Gaskell to find Jane sitting on his lap! Seeing his friend’s worried look, Gaskell stood up so quickly that she slipped off and landed hard in a sitting down position. She yelped from the sudden shock and then hurried to get to her feet. Before she could brush herself off, Gaskell gave her a shove toward the door.
‘Get back to your desk!’ he barked the order. ‘No one comes in while Ronnie is in here with me.’
‘OK, Ward,’ she whimpered, rubbing her newly bruised backside. ‘Whatever you say.’
As soon as she passed by Ronnie, he slammed the door shut. From his frantic expression, Gaskell knew things had not gone well.
‘We’re in it up to our chins, Ward,’ Ronnie said breathlessly. ‘Cooper and Baldwin are dead, and Olmstead was taken prisoner. He’s singing like one of them opera gals at the top of his voice.’
‘I don’t believe it,’ Gaskell growled. ‘He knows I wouldn’t let those inept lawmen put him in prison.’
‘Donner had his ear at the window of the jail. Olm done told them how you ordered the attack on the two Valerons and Sergeant Fielding. He also blabbed about Adams – says he heard you give me the order to kill him and get rid of his body.’
‘I’d forgotten he was the one who reported Adams missing.’
‘Yep, he was standing not twenty feet away when you told me to deal with the runaway.’
‘The yellow, lily-livered fool! He’s ruined both of us!’
‘The law and the Valerons will be headed this way at any minute. I think you ought to clean out your safe, take whatever money you can get your hands on, and let’s skedaddle out of here.’
‘Damn, Ronnie, I can’t do that. I’ve got tens of thousands of dollars in the Denver bank. I can’t just leave it behind.’
‘I recollect hearing about something called restitution, Ward. They can take every dime you’ve got to pay all of the people they are going to set free from up here. From what Donner said, them law dogs intend to take every person under contract and return all of the prisoners for processing. That won’t leave enough people to run a decent-sized chicken farm. We’re out of business, pard. Plain and simple.’
Gaskell rubbed his temples while trying to conjure a plan. After a few moments, he put a hard look on Ronnie.
‘We can still make a fight of it,’ he said, his brain working quickly. ‘We’ve got a dozen men who will join us.’
Ronnie shook his head. ‘It’s no good, Ward. They can bring the army up here. We can’t fight the army!’
‘No, we won’t have to fight the army.’
‘I’m listening, Ward.’
Gaskell got up and circled his desk. He was not accustomed to losing and he hated the idea of being closed down and possibly end up behind bars. After three empty trips around the room, he had a plan in mind.
‘You’re certain of the information? There will be a posse of sorts arriving in the next few hours to arrest us for murder?’
‘Can’t be no doubt.’
Gaskell doubled his fists. ‘And you want to cut and run.’
‘As fast as a couple horses can carry us.’
He slowly turned his head from side to side. ‘I am inclined to agree with you. However, we need to get to the bank first. We can’t leave all that money behind.’
‘If you head for town, you’ll run into the posse and they will arrest you on sight,’ Ronnie surmised. ‘And if we fight, there’s a good chance we’ll end up dead. Is a little money worth the price?’
‘I’m talking about withdrawing a great deal of money – close to forty thousand dollars.’
‘The bank doesn’t have that kind of cash on hand,’ Ronnie argued.
‘No, but they can give us bank drafts that we can take to Wells Fargo. Then we can cash them at any Wells Fargo office in the country.’
‘Yeah, but it’s like I said: the law is between us and Denver. They are probably rounding up men as we speak.’
‘That’s why we are going to make a fight of it.’
‘Ward, you ain’t making a bit of sense. If we stand and fight, we’re gonna lose.’
Gaskell grinned. ‘Not if we capture the posse. We let them walk into a trap, then lock them up and make our getaway. They won’t have thought to get a judge to freeze my personal bank account and won’t be watching for us to show up in town. We will get the pay vouchers, then stop by a Wells Fargo office and deposit most of the money. Once we’re out of this part of the country, we’ll stop at every Wells Fargo station we come to and get as much cash as they have on hand. We should end up with enough to set us up for a good long time.’
‘What about the boys? What do we promise them so they will stick with us?’
‘Offer them a thousand dollars each. Once the posse is behind bars, we will
head for Denver. Soon as they have their money, we will all split up in different directions. The law won’t have a clue which way the two of us went.’
Ronnie laughed, although there was no humor in his eyes. ‘You know I’m with you, Ward. If you say we stay and spring a trap, that’s what we’ll do.’
‘Let them ride into town as if we know nothing,’ Gaskell outlined. ‘Capture as many as possible without any shooting, and tell the men to be damn sure not to kill any of the Valerons!’ He swore. ‘If one of them dies, we’ll never be able to stop looking over our shoulders.’
‘All right, Ward,’ Ronnie acknowledged the orders. ‘I’ll have Drummer round up the enforcers and any of the others who will fight. Me, Shade and Donner will get them placed where they can do the most good. We’ll salt their hides, throw the rest in jail, then grab our cayuses and be long gone before they manage to get free from their cells.’
‘You tend to it personally. I’ll gather what money I can from everything of value that I own. No need leaving any more behind than necessary.’
Ronnie smirked. ‘Does that mean taking Jane along?’
Gaskell uttered a cruel chuckle. ‘Her type is a dollar a bunch. We’ll find plenty like her once we’re set up.’
His friend laughed and made his exit.
Even as Ronnie hurried out the door, Gaskell was thinking of what he needed to pack for a quick getaway. First off, he would send Jane over to get Parker Sayles. The judge had a decision to make too. He wouldn’t be any help in a fight, nor was he likely to be of any use in the future. However, he would give the man a chance to make up his own mind.
Chapter Ten
Locke and Cliff were the only ones to leave the ranch with Mikki. Nessy would be in Wanetta’s care until they returned. Having wired ahead, Wendy had arranged for them to meet with a reputable attorney in Denver.
Cliff felt a fist close around his heart each time he looked at Mikki. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, and he suspected she hadn’t slept more than a few minutes at a time since learning of the hearing. Worse than watching her suffer, he hated the feeling of helplessness. He had promised her she would never have to see or be with Elmer again, yet the law was on the wealthy man’s side. He knew Locke and the rest of the family would do everything they could, but the Valerons were honor bound to comply with the laws of the land.
Valerons--Beyond the Law! Page 11
