Meadowlark

by Carolyn Lampman

  “And how did Swede react when he heard the baby cry?”

  “He uh...he got a little excited.”

  “How excited?”

  “He pushed us both away.”

  “Didn’t he, in fact, do more to Mr. Bruford than push him away?”

  Sam shifted uncomfortably. “Some.”

  “Mr. Collins, would you please tell the court exactly what Swede did to Mr. Bruford? And let me remind you you’re under oath.”

  Sam gave Garrick an apologetic glance. “He hit him.”

  “And?”

  “He...um...he broke Ox’s arm.”

  “What injuries did Swede sustain?”

  Sam looked down at his hands miserably. “None.”

  “None? You mean even sick with a fever that almost killed him, Swede was able to subdue two full grown men without a scratch?”

  “Yes.”

  Mr. Breton turned to the crowd. “Mr. Bruford, would you be so kind as to stand up?”

  Ox didn’t move.

  “Mr. Bruford,” Judge Jones said with irritation, “unless you wish to be found in contempt of court, do as Mr. Breton asks.”

  “He was out of his head,” Ox said angrily as he stood up.

  “Yes, of course,” Breton said with a smile. “Much like he was the night in question, isn’t that right?”

  “Objection,” Simkins said. “Mr. Bruford isn’t under oath.”

  “I withdraw the question. You may sit down, Mr. Bruford. I have no further questions for the witness.”

  He didn’t need any, Becky thought. Any fool could see Ox was built like a brick wall.

  Sam gave Joe Simkins a hopeful look. It was obvious he expected Garrick’s lawyer to fix the damage.

  “Did Mr. Bruford try to defend himself against Swede’s attack?”

  “No. Swede was real sick.”

  “Ah, so the incident wasn’t really a fair test.”

  “No.”

  “Thank you.” Simkins started to walk away then stopped as though he’d just had an idea. “By the way, Mr. Collins, did Swede say anything before he attacked Mr. Bruford?”

  “I think he said, ‘Becky’.”

  Simkins switched around and looked at Sam in apparent surprise. “So, the whole attack was brought on by Becky Swenson?”

  Sam stared at him in astonished horror as Joe Simkins shrugged and turned away. “Never mind, I withdraw the question.”

  “We’ll take a short recess for lunch,” Judge Jones announced, striking the table with his gavel. “Court will resume at precisely one o’clock.”

  Becky winced as Garrick stood up and turned to go. If she could see his face, so could the jury. Simmering rage was plainly visible as he bent down and spoke to Constable Stolks. She relaxed a little as Abner Stolks nodded in apparent agreement and Garrick’s face resumed a more normal expression.

  She might not have been so complacent if she’d heard how thick Garrick’s accent was when he muttered, “I want to talk to Simpkins.”

  Chapter 34

  “Did you tell Simkins I wanted to see him?” Garrick asked as he and Abner walked down the street.

  “Yup. He said he had important business to take care of, but he’d meet us at the jail.” He grinned up at Garrick. “I reckon he had to visit the outhouse.”

  The shadow of a smile crossed Garrick’s face. Simkins hadn’t made many friends with his self-important attitude. “Sam said you were the one he fetched when he found Price.”

  “That’s so.”

  “Did you search Cameron?”

  “Sure did.”

  “Find anything?”

  “Nope, not even a pocket watch.”

  Garrick closed his eyes. When Sam said he’d seen Cameron take something from his pocket, Garrick suddenly remembered the wedding ring and Price putting it back in the pocket with his watch. If both were gone by the time Stolks searched him, robbery, not anger had been the motive. Garrick finally knew for certain he hadn’t been Cameron’s attacker. Relief flowed through him like the healing warmth of Becky’s kiss.

  “What’s this?” Stolks said, shading his eyes with his hand as he squinted at a rider coming down the street at a fast pace. “Damn fool. He’s going to hurt somebody if he ain’t careful.”

  Garrick watched in mild surprise as the soldier pulled his horse up next to them.

  “Where’s Sheriff Lucien?”

  “I ain’t real sure.”

  “I have a message for him from Major McGraw at Fort Bridger.”

  “If it ain’t secret, I reckon you could tell me. Then you’ll be sure he gets the message even if you don’t find him.”

  The soldier gave him a considering look. “I guess I could at that. Tell him Marshal Dutton will be here late today or early tomorrow. He has important evidence for the trial.”

  “What evidence?” Stolks asked.

  “The major didn’t say.”

  “You rode all the way up here from Fort Bridger like you had the devil on your heels, and you don’t even know why?”

  “Those were my orders.”

  Garrick’s heart sank as Stolks told the young private where to look for the sheriff. Daniel Dutton was coming. By this time tomorrow, the whole world would know Garrick’s shadowed past, and they’d come in droves to watch his hanging. He’d known it would happen eventually and was resigned to his fate.

  But what of Becky and Alaina? Garrick felt sick to his stomach as he thought of the hell the people of this town would put them through. Already they were treating Becky like some kind of leper, and that slimy little lawyer of his wasn’t making it any better. The muscle in his jaw tightened with determination. Well, that was something he could change.

  “Other than that, I don’t know where he is unless he rode over to Fort Stambaugh,” Abner was saying.

  “All right. Thanks for your help.” The private wheeled his horse around and headed back up the street.

  “Can’t figure why the army is so interested in this case,” Abner said, scratching his head.

  Garrick didn’t say anything. He had a pretty good idea, but he wasn’t about to share it with Abner Stolks.

  Joe Simkins arrived at the jail shortly after Garrick. Abner was barely civil as he opened the door into the cellblock. “I reckon if it bothers you that much, I can let you talk to him in here.”

  “Thanks. Those cells are just so small and dark.”

  Abner Stolks gave him a sardonic look as he unlocked Garrick’s cell. “They were meant to house prisoners, not to hold tea parties in. Your lawyer’s here, Swede,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “I’m just gonna lock the two of you in the cell block for now, but I’ll be right outside in the office, understand?”

  Garrick nodded. “I’m not going anywhere, Constable.”

  “Didn’t figure you were, or I’d have put the bracelets back on you.” With one last disgusted glance at Joe Simkins, Abner left, locking the door behind him.

  Simkins smiled nervously. “Constable Stolks said you wanted to talk to me. Did you remember something?”

  “Why are you attacking Becky?”

  “P-pardon?”

  “You’re supposed to be defending me, not annihilating her.”

  “But that is your defense. The jury has to believe it when we tell them you were actually grateful that Cameron Price arrived on the scene to take her off your hands. Once we prove you were glad to be rid of her, there’s no motivation for you to attack Price. I’m just trying to make the jury see the sort of woman she is.”

  “What makes you think you know anything about her?”

  “She told me herself.” Simkins shrugged. “A baby out of wedlock, going from one man’s bed to another, none of it seemed to bother her. She didn’t even act guilty. Oh, she’s pretty enough, I suppose, but completely unscrupulous. I wasn’t surprised to find out she worked at The Green Garter. Once a whore, always a whore.”

  Garrick moved so fast Joe Simkins didn’t even have time to blink befor
e he found himself suspended by his coat lapels, nose to nose with his client, his feet dangling uselessly above the floor.

  “That’s my wife you’re talking about, you little maggot. One more word out of your mouth about her, and it will be your last!”

  “B-but she said you w-weren’t married, th-that you s-sent her aw-way.” Joe Simkins’ voice came out in a frightened squeak as he squirmed in Garrick’s grasp. “I didn’t m-mean any h-arm.”

  “Didn’t mean any harm! Good Lord, man, you branded her as a prostitute in front of the whole town. She’s going to have to live here after both Cameron Price and I are dead and buried. Without either of us, she’s going to have a rough time. You don’t need to make it worse. I don’t care what you say about me, but keep Becky out of it. Understand?”

  “But the jury—”

  “I don’t give a damn what the jury thinks. If I suspect you’re even considering saying something about Becky, you’ll be dead before anyone can stop me.”

  “N-not in front of all those witnesses,” Simkins said with false bravado. “You’d...you’d hang.”

  Garrick dropped him to the floor. “I’m going to hang anyway. It makes no difference to me whether it’s for one murder or two. Now, get out of here before I lose my temper.”

  Joe Simkins staggered to his feet and scurried to the door. As he called for Abner Stolks to let him out, his client walked calmly back into the tiny dark cell. With a satisfied sigh, Garrick lay down on his bunk. That should keep the little worm quiet.

  At one o’clock, the trial resumed. The minute he walked into the courtroom, Garrick saw Becky and Angel in the front with the unfriendly crowd behind them. At least she wasn’t alone like she had been when he arrived this morning. Thank heavens for good friends like Ox and Angel.

  Almost as if she felt his nearness, Becky turned in her seat. For a moment, their eyes met across the crowded room, and Garrick felt a warm glow deep inside. He knew what it cost her to hear herself maligned by every witness and to have everyone staring at her like a circus freak. Yet here she was, staunchly behind him, her very presence saying she believed in him. Lord, how he loved her!

  “Are you sure those manacles are going to hold him?” Joe Simkins whispered to Abner.

  “I reckon so. Swede made them himself when the jail was built. He’s a damned good blacksmith.”

  Garrick turned and pinned Simkins with a cold stare. The look in his eyes plainly said the iron on his wrists wouldn’t stop him.

  Joe Simkins swallowed convulsively and mopped his face with a large white handkerchief.

  The afternoon continued much like the morning, with Breton calling witness after witness to the stand and interrogating them with dogged determination. Time and time again, the good citizens of South Pass City testified they’d seen Swede jealously watching Becky and Cameron together, that the big man had become quiet and withdrawn since Price had returned, and how angry he’d been the night of the beating.

  Through it all, Garrick sat there with an expressionless face. Every testimony was another nail in his coffin, but Garrick didn’t care. It would all be over when Daniel Dutton arrived anyway. Breton, at least, left Becky pretty much alone. Simkins said nothing beyond, ‘No questions for the witness, Your Honor.’

  Toward the end of the afternoon, Mr. Breton finished his long list of witnesses. “The prosecution rests, Your Honor,” he said, and sat down with a satisfied smile.

  “Very well. Mr. Simkins, you may call your first witness.”

  Joe Simkins was sweating profusely as he stood up. “The defense has no witnesses.”

  Judge Jones sighed with irritation. “Mr. Simkins, do you know what you’re doing?”

  “Yes, Your Honor.”

  “I was expecting an interesting trial here, Simkins. You’re a sad disappointment to me, not to mention all these good people who came to watch the show. Are you going to call any witnesses or not?”

  Simkins gave Garrick a nervous glance out of the corner of his eye. “Not at this time, Your Honor.”

  The judge shook his head in disgust. “Mr. Ellinson, since your lawyer seems incapable of doing his job would you like to hire another?”

  “No.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Ja.”

  “All right, then. We will recess until tomorrow morning when both sides will give closing remarks. I trust you will have something to say, Mr. Simkins.”

  Garrick had just settled down on his bunk and closed his eyes when he heard Becky’s voice in the outer office. She did not sound pleased.

  “I don’t care what he told you, I want to see my husband.”

  Stolks said something Garrick couldn’t hear then Becky spoke again. “I’ll take full responsibility. He’s been mad at me before, and I’ve survived. At least he won’t be able to walk out in the middle of an argument like he usually does.”

  Garrick grinned to himself. Once Becky set her mind on something, there was no stopping her. Stolks didn’t stand a chance. Suddenly, he wanted to see her, to hold her just once more, to say good-bye in private before the hangman’s noose snapped his neck. “Let her in, Stolks,” he yelled through the door. “She won’t leave you alone until you do.”

  “There, you hear that?” Becky said triumphantly. “He’s changed his mind.”

  The outer door opened, and Becky swept in with her head high and sparks of fire in her eyes. She was quite angry, and Garrick didn’t think he’d ever seen her more beautiful.

  “What are you grinning about?” she snapped as Abner unlocked his door and stepped aside to let her in.

  “It’s nice to hear someone else get the sharp side of your tongue for a change. Poor Abner never knew what hit him.” He winked at the other man as Stolks closed the door.

  “Abner Stolks is not the one I’m mad at.”

  “Uh-oh, what did I do?”

  “I wonder. How about not letting your lawyer do his job for one?”

  “What makes you think I had anything to do with that?”

  “Come on, Garrick, I saw the way you looked at him, and I saw the way he looked at you. You had the poor man scared to death.”

  “I didn’t like the way he was presenting my case.”

  “He was defending you the only way he could, Garrick.”

  “Since when does destroying you help me?”

  “Oh, Garrick, what do a few people’s opinion of me matter when it might mean the difference between the jury finding you guilty and having you walk away a free man?”

  “I’m not going to walk away, Becky. Even if Joe Simkins convinced the jury you were a scheming hussy who had trapped me against my will, and that I was thrilled to death to get rid of you, it wouldn’t save me.”

  “You didn’t do it, Garrick. I know you didn’t.”

  “Not this time, I didn’t.”

  She stared at him. “What do you mean this time?”

  Garrick sighed. “I’ve been running from the law for six years, Becky.”

  Becky felt as though a fist had slammed into her gut, even though she had begun to suspect something of the sort. “Why?”

  “I’m wanted for murder.” Garrick leaned on the door and stared out the tiny window. “He was a lieutenant in the army.”

  “Six years ago was during the war, Garrick. Everybody kills during wartime.”

  “This was my commanding officer.”

  “Then you were framed.”

  “No, I’m guilty as sin, and there were a dozen witnesses.”

  “Wh-what happened?”

  “I lost my temper and killed him with my bare hands. Then I ran.” He turned from the window with a sigh. “I’ve been running ever since. Sometimes I wish I had just stayed and taken my punishment.”

  Becky closed her eyes and swallowed the tears that threatened. No wonder he didn’t value his life and was always so willing to throw it away when someone else was in trouble. “That was a long time ago, Garrick. Nobody knows about it here.”

  “
They will tomorrow. There’s a Federal Marshal named Daniel Dutton on his way here right now. He was one of the witnesses.” Garrick reached out and caressed the side of her face. How he loved this woman. He wanted to tell her, but a lifetime of reticence kept the words locked in his throat.

  “Oh, Garrick, your poor wrist.” Even in the dim light she could see the raw patches where the heavy manacles had rubbed against his skin.

  As she gently touched the injury, Garrick could see tears sparkling in her eyes. With her tender heart, she’d never survive watching him sentenced and hanged. “Promise me you won’t go tomorrow.”

  “But Garrick—”

  “I don’t want you there, Becky.” There was no rancor in his voice, only infinite sadness. “The time we had together made my life worth something again. I don’t want you to see me die.”

  “Oh, Garrick.” She threw herself into his arms and sobbed her anguish against his chest.

  He ran his hand over the back of her head soothingly. “Shhh, we don’t have much time, little one. I don’t want to waste it.” He pulled her close and kissed her with a fervor that rivaled his forge for heat.

  Becky answered fire with fire, her tongue moving with his. After a moment, she pulled him down onto the bunk and ran her palms lovingly over his body. She had his shirt half unbuttoned before he reached up and captured her hand with his.

  “No, Becky, I won’t make love to you here.” His voice came out harsh and raspy as he fought to control his desire. “It’s dirty and dark and there are bedbugs in the mattress.”

  “I don’t care, Garrick. It’s been almost a month since we...well, you know what I mean. Besides, you’re the one who started this, and you know I can’t resist you.”

  “Oh, little one.” He leaned his forehead against hers “We can’t, Becky. What if you got pregnant again?”

  “Would you make love to me if I told you I already am?”

  Garrick pulled back as though he’d been struck. “You are?”

  He said it with such anguish that Becky was ashamed of herself. “No, at least I don’t think so. It’s a possibility after the last night we spent together, but I don’t think the timing was right.”

  Garrick tried to ignore the spurt of joy at her admission that she hadn’t slept with Cameron as he rolled from the bunk and stood up. “Then let’s keep it that way. I won’t take the chance of leaving you with another child, not when you’re going to be alone.” He held out his hand to help her up. “I think it’s time you left. There’s only so much a man can resist.”