John chuckles. “Making hard decisions keeps ya young.”
Jake shakes his head and says, “So that means you’ve not made a single one ever, eh OLD MAN?”
Everyone at the table laughs as the tension visibly relaxes and everyone is able to enjoy the fellowship.
Chapter 50
John sits on the edge of his bed and removes his boots with a grunt, exhausted from the day’s events. Dinner was filling and good. They enjoyed the conversation and easy fellowship, almost as if life and death didn’t hang in the balance. It was a great evening.
He doesn’t have the energy tonight to do his nightly Bible reading. He blows out the lantern, takes his shirt off and lays down on his back.
Quietly, he prays for strength and patience the following day, then covers his eyes with his hand.
He hears the latch to his door quietly work and feels the air pressure change as the door opens then closes.
He’s been expecting this. As much of a show about hating everyone who shows their faith, Liz has been staying close to him. Much closer than she started out with. She seems to seek strength from his presence.
Without taking his hand from his eyes, he moves over in the bed, to make room for who’s entering.
She hardly makes a noise as she pads across his room, before laying down next to him.
She turns over on to her side to face him and lays her head on his shoulder, then wraps her arm across his midsection.
He takes a deep breath, the weight of her head on his chest is instantly comfortable and familiar. It untwists knots he’d forgotten he had for decades.
Under his breath, he prays to God to allow him the strength to show his faith. He prays for the ability to deny himself and her, if it comes to that.
He wraps her in his arms and pulls her tightly to him. He can feel his pulse quicken in anticipation. Her breath catches in what he thinks is anticipation as well.
He fights to keep his movements tightly controlled as he eases the pressure from the embrace. This is the turning point. He can feel it. If he takes one wrong step, he knows he’ll continue down a road he swore he’d never go down.
She moves against him, shifting her position. He opens his eyes to stare directly into her blue eyes. He’s mesmerized by how her eyes change different shades of blue as her pulse quickens.
She whispers, “I want you.”
He can feel her words race through him, quickening his pulse. The hair on his arms stand straight up. He whispers, “I love you.” She sighs and tries to give him a kiss. He reaches up and pushes her away, slightly. “I love you. Do you understand that?”
Her eyes open wide in disappointment and shock.
He takes a deep breath and says slowly, clearly, “I love you so much, I don’t want you to dishonor either of us. I love you and want to take you as wife, not just as lover.”
His pulse is racing so hard, he can hardly feel her lean against him again. He steels himself once more. “Liz, please, no.” She stops, grins and presses against him. “Liz, I love you. Please—please stop.”
He can feel her lips tighten into a smile as she kisses him. He knows his defenses are crumbling. One last time. “Liz, please,” his breath catches, belying his desire, “don’t.”
She puts her hand on his neck and kisses him again. This time he can feel it in his soul.
He can feel himself giving over to the temptation when he hears it. His pulse immediately slows. His vision, previously blurry from the increased blood pressure is now crystal clear. He hears the whispered voices in his mind. “John.” It was the same as what was talking to him in that dream, less than a year ago. It’s the same voice that was coming from the shadows that were claiming his soul as their own. “John, your soul’s ours now.”
Liz kisses his neck in the exact same place as one of the shadows bit him during the attack. John’s mouth goes dry as he cries out, he pushes Liz off him and covers his neck. He starts trembling in a cold sweat as if he were poisoned.
She clambers off the bed and crosses her arms, blushing from desire and embarrassment. She shakes her head and stares at him, wide eyed, chest heaving with her breath.
John continues to tremble for several moments, before finally able to think a quick prayer for healing and is able to get his breathing back under control. He looks at her just staring at him, breathing deeply. He watches as her body trembles with its own energy.
He takes another deep breath and swings his legs off the edge of his bed and holds his head in his hands.
She walks up to him slowly and gently presses his head into her belly, holding him there comfortingly.
An instant after he feels her press against him, he wraps his arms around her hips and hugs her midsection tightly. His voice quavering with suppressed energy and emotion, he says into her belly, “I really do love you. I’m sorry, I just can’t do it. Not tonight. Not like this.”
Her voice is sharp as she says, “I don’t believe in love. You do what you want, when you want, then deal with the consequences later.” She firmly removes his arms from her waist, turns and storms out of the room.
John sits there, on the edge of the bed, now holding his head in his hands once again, crying softly, praying for understanding and strength in these times.
JAKE LOOKS ACROSS THE breakfast table at his brother, unsure why he seems so distracted this morning. John appears to be looking at everyone, everyone except Liz. Uh oh. Here we go again.
While talking to Joey, Jake looks out of the corner of his eye at Liz. She’s studiously avoiding John as well. He looks back at Joey and sees that she seems to be distracted by something herself. He expects it’s for a totally different reason than his brother or his love.
He looks at Sean. The young man hasn’t touched his food. Once it was time for breakfast, Jake had to go retrieve the young man from his room. When he went in, Sean was just sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor, in the dark. Jake said his name and the young Irishman didn’t react. So, finally, after several minutes, Jake got tired of trying to get through to him and shook his young friend’s shoulder. That’s when Sean stood up and allowed the deputy to move him out to the breakfast area.
Now that he’s out with everyone else, he’s just sitting there, staring at his food.
David and Rebekah have been trying to engage Liz in conversation, but her obvious preoccupation with whatever happened last night is keeping her from being very open in her conversation.
Finally, at the end of the very tense breakfast, Jake gets tired of Sean not talking and says, “Look Sean. When you see the judge, later this morning, you’re going to have to interact with him somehow. Either way, you’re gonna have to say something to him when asked. Got it?”
Sean gives him a look that’s more dead than alive. “An’ wha ‘twould be tha reason ta say somet’hin’? T’hey’re jes goan hang ma anyways.”
Jake shakes his head. “You don’t know that. In fact, I highly doubt they will hang you. Extenuating circumstances and all. Either way, just answer truthfully when you’re questioned. Okay?”
Sean just waves the question away.
“Your word on it, Sean,” Jake insists.
The young man looks at him a while, then says in a clear voice, “Fine. Ma wort onnit.”
Jake nods, now sure this won’t be the end of it. He just hopes the young man can get the help he needs so desperately.
Two and a half hours later, the three lawmen and young Irishman sit in a crowded courtroom, listening to cases be called up and judged. Several people even went so far as, during their arraignment, requesting a jury trial. Judge Logan sent them to the court secretary to be scheduled.
Finally, after several hours, Sean is called forward by the bailiff.
The prosecuting attorney, a familiar-looking man of middling years steps forward to address the court.
As he steps forward, Judge Logan bangs the gavel and says, “Mr. Pike, if you would, please read the charges to the court.�
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Pike looks at a piece of paper sitting on a stack of them, then looks up at Judge Logan uncertainly. “There’s only one charge here, Judge.”
Logan nods.
“Yes, sir.” He looks at Sean. “Sean Seamus Mallory, you’re charged with the death of a prisoner that was in your custody. What do you plead?”
Sean looks at the man uncomprehendingly and asks, “Wha are ma choices?”
“Guilty, not guilty and no contest.”
Sean looks at the judge and says quietly, “No contest.”
Logan looks directly at Sean and asks him, “Are you willing to submit to this court’s ruling, then? No matter what?” Sean nods after each question. Then, he looks at Pike. “What is the recommended punishment?”
“Death.”
Judge Logan sits there a moment, thinking. “Granted. Considering the extenuating circumstances, the sentence of death is commuted. It is the judgment of this court that the prisoner be remanded from this place to serve out a twenty-five year sentence in the penal facility of this court’s choosing. He will serve a minimum of five years before having the possibility of parole. I understand that he has property, a claim in Norman?”
The prosecutor nods.
“He is to be stripped of that claim. It will be available for the next person whom stakes it.”
John stands up. “Your honor. As the legal representative of Brigit McKennon, I wish to place a bid on that claim, in her name.”
Judge Logan looks to be suppressing a grin as he asks, “How much is the bid for?”
“One dollar.”
“Sold.” The gavel bangs. “The claim property and all the buildings on it are now the property of Miss Brigit McKennon. Sean Mallory, you will be led from this courtroom to a holding cell until such time as you are transferred to the penal facility. May God have mercy on your miserable soul.” He bangs the gavel three times and gestures for the bailiff to lead Sean from the courtroom in cuffs, head hanging low.
There’s a murmur through the courtroom as Logan scribbles a note on a piece of paper, then hands it to another bailiff, pointing at Jake.
The judge bangs his gavel three more times and calls for order, as the bailiff delivers the note.
It reads simply: “You three in my chambers during the break for lunch.”
He hands it to John, then Joey, who both nod in turn.
The next case takes a couple of hours to hear the testimony. The result is the defendant is found guilty and sentenced to life in prison for murder during a barroom brawl.
As the gavel bangs, signaling the end of that morning’s hearings, Logan motions toward the bailiff, who calls a recess for a two hour lunch.
Everyone rises and starts filing out of the courtroom. As the three lawmen leave, they turn down the hall toward the stairwell at the other end of the building. Joshua is guarding it and, seeing the three marshals approach, smiles and motions them on.
Once they reach the judge’s chambers, Joey squares her shoulders and knocks on the door twice. Hearing the command to enter, she opens the door and holds it for the deputies. As they enter, they see Judge Logan, now with his robes off, standing in front of a window with his hands clasped behind his back, staring at the street below.
The three lawmen move to stand in front of his desk, awaiting the litigator’s return from his ruminations.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, but is only a few minutes, Judge Logan says, “Every time I have to condemn a poor soul to stand in front of the Ultimate Judge, I prefer to watch the press and throng of life in town. It reminds me of what I fight to protect.” He turns to look at the marshals and smiles grimly. “Much like the Hebrews after Jericho, I feel like cleansing mind, body and soul every time I have to condemn someone.”
All three marshals look at each other, uncertain as to why he’s chosen now to open up to them.
“I feel sorry for you, ya know. When I bang my gavel, my job is done. When you’re out there making the choice of life or death, you live with it day in and day out. In my case, someone else pulls the lever or the trigger.” He shakes his head. “I apologize. Sometimes, I feel a bit maudlin. There are times I can feel the years pressing down on me, pushing me into the grave.” He passes his hand over his face in exhaustion. “I know I told you I would let you know your fate after I decided that of your friend. I can’t. It’s not up to me. It’s up to the senior marshal in the territory that doesn’t have a conflict of interest.”
Joey takes a deep breath as if about to say something but Logan shakes his head. “Walters will decide and let you know tonight at dinner. Speaking of which.” He points toward them. “You three, plus David and his family are going over to my house for dinner, once court is done. I need to talk to both of you deputies outside of the courthouse.” All three nod. “Good. I’ll send my man to get you from the hotel when the time comes.” He shoos them out the door impatiently. “Now, I’d prefer to eat my lunch alone, if you don’t mind.”
The three lawmen turn and leave the building. Just outside, Jake asks Joey, “How does he know the hotel we’re staying in?”
She smirks. “Told ya, I always stay in the same place when I stay in town.”
Chapter 51
They head back to the hotel and are bombarded with questions about what happened to Sean. Finally, Joey says, “Look, we’ll tell you, but food first. I’m not really in the mood to eat, but I know I have to.”
After ordering his meal, Jake stares out into space, allowing his thoughts to go over the day thus far and trying to figure out how they’re going to be able to explain why Sean isn’t there.
Once everyone has their food, John prays a blessing over the meal and his Amen is echoed by everyone, but Liz.
Joey takes a drink of her lemonade and begins by explaining the charges being read out loud in court. Finally, she finishes off with, “So the final verdict was death.” David, Rebekah and Liz all gasp in surprise. “But Judge Logan commuted the sentence. ‘Extenuating circumstances,’ he called it. Instead, Sean lost his hotel and is going to serve twenty-five years hard time at a penal facility to be named later. Judge Logan sold the claim and all its improvements to Brigit for a dollar. So, at least the hotel can ‘stay in the family’ that way.”
Liz looks shrewdly at Joey and asks simply, “What aren’t you saying?”
John looks in surprise at his ex-fiancé’s astuteness and says, “What makes you think the Marshal’s holding anything back?”
In Cherokee, she says, ”Don’t BE stupid. Don’t EVER think I’M stupid, Johnny. It’s written all over her face, she screams it with every part of her being. Now tell us what else is going on here.”
John looks at Joey questioningly for a moment before she nods at him. In Cherokee, he says, “So, since Joey was officially the leader of our merry little band, she’s being held partly responsible for Sean’s actions. She finds out what’ll happen to her at dinner tonight. Speaking of which, we’re all expected to go to dinner at Judge Logan’s house later. He’ll send someone to fetch us around five or six of the clock.”
Rebekah shakes her head. “I do NOT want to go to the house of someone that just took away one of my only friends in the world!”
John takes a slow, deep breath. “He expects us all to go. It’s not in the nature of a friendly request.”
David looks at his father suspiciously and asks, “Why does he want us ALL there?”
John shakes his head. “I don’t know. Honestly, he didn’t have a choice about what to do with Sean. Please come with us. I don’t know what to expect, but like everyone at this table, he’s my friend. Will you all come with us?”
David looks at his wife with a pleading look until she sighs disconsolately, and nods. Then, when he looks at his mother, she rolls her eyes, sighs and nods. “Yes, we will go. We will go in support of you and Joey.”
Liz looks at John. “It’s gonna cost you, though. I refuse to wear my Cherokee dress for meeting a judge. I need new clothes a
nd shoes. If I’m going to be living among the whites again, I need to dress like one, don’t you think?”
John sighs and chuckles, then nods. “Of course. I’ll have David withdraw some money from the bank and you can get what you would like, within reason.”
She sits back in her chair with a smug, self-satisfied expression on her face. “Rebekah, would you mind going with me to get some new clothes?”
The beautiful young woman assesses her mother-in-law coolly, then smiles warmly. “Of course, I will.”
Liz looks at Joey. “Would you like to come along as well?”
The look of shock on Joey’s face is enough to make Jake bite the inside of his cheek to keep from bursting out in laughter. He quickly looks at Rebekah and sees the look of outrage on her face.
“Unfortunately, I can’t. I didn’t bring anything feminine enough. It wouldn’t look right for a man to be giving you advice on dresses.”
Rebekah breathes a sigh of relief as Liz nods. “That’s fine. I expect you to go shopping with me sometime though. Understood?”
Joey blushes unexpectedly and nods. “Of course. Just under better circumstances, okay?”
Liz nods. “Alright, Johnny. Let’s do this. We only have a few hours to get this done and get ready.”
John nods, then sighs and pulls out his wallet from his vest. Quickly, he fills out a check for a hundred dollars and signs it. He hands it over to his son and winks. “I expect you to bring me back some change, understand?”
David looks at the check and his eyes go wide in surprise at the amount. “Well! I should HOPE you expect some change back!”
John chuckles and looks at Liz. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, but you’ll need someone close by, in case someone gets frisky. I’d prefer to have a lawman with you, but David can handle himself well enough. Especially since I’m sending him with a derringer.”
She nods. “Of course. He’ll be welcome to come along. At least up to a point. There are certain places that no man should ever go.”
Deputy at Large Page 33
