Righteous Kill

by G. Michael Hopf

  “Where are you going?”

  “To the marshal’s office to get Bob, or Alfred; I’ll never get use to calling him Alfred,” Hemsworth joked.

  Billy followed Hemsworth out of the office and into the bright morning light. He donned his wide-brimmed hat and said, “When we’re done with this job, the first thing I’m going to do when we get back to Coeur d’Alene is see Bradley.” Bradley was the United States Marshal for their district and their direct boss.

  “I’d recommend you don’t do that. It’s unfortunate, but we have to deal with politics in this profession, and if you have a desire to advance someday, you’d be wise to keep your mouth shut.”

  “I’m aware of the politics, but this entire thing with Bob is just off. I smell a rat, you could say,” Billy said.

  “I agree, but there’s something clearly sensitive, and I’m betting it has something to do with Canada. By the way, I’m quite sure the Canadians will serve him the justice he so rightly deserves.”

  “I pray you’re right.”

  The men reached the marshal’s office, but before stepping inside, Hemsworth turned to Billy and said, “I know it’s hard, but don’t take this job personally.”

  “How can you not?”

  “Let me clarify, don’t let your emotions dictate your actions when it comes to this job.”

  “I’ll always follow my heart as well as my mind; they work well together,” Billy said.

  “Just think bigger is all I’m saying. I know we’re both upset that Bob is not getting the justice he deserves here for the murder of the marshal, but he will get justice, period, just not here.”

  “Well, I hope you’re right,” Billy said, unconvinced, as he suspected something wasn’t right.

  “Now come on, let’s get ole Bob and head north; the sooner this is over, the better,” Hemsworth said.

  TWO MILES SOUTH OF GREAT FALLS, MONTANA

  The dog rubbed its wet and cold nose against Alice’s face and sniffed. He smelled her for a second then began to lick her cheeks.

  After a few wet licks, Alice opened her eyes and recoiled at the sight of the large mastiff.

  The dog also jumped back, cocked its head, and gave Alice a curious look.

  Alice squinted from the bright morning light and gazed around but didn’t see anyone. Sitting up, she brushed off the leaves that covered her and took in her surroundings. The sun was up, which meant she’d been sleeping for more than a few hours. Her mind raced to the events from earlier. She hopped to her feet and looked around to get her bearings.

  The dog didn’t budge; it stood staring at her.

  “Where do I go, boy?” she asked the dog.

  The dog answered her with a deep bark.

  “You’re a pretty boy,” she said, petting the dog’s head. She glanced around until she felt confident of the direction she should travel. With concern and fear of what she’d find upon returning home, she headed through the woods with urgency.

  ***

  She reached the edge of the woods and saw her house in the distance. The trip through the dense woods felt like it had taken an eternity, when in reality she’d only spent ten minutes traveling. Before stepping out into the field, she looked for anything out of place but saw nothing that would tell her if the men were still there or not.

  Assuming they had gone, she broke the protection and cover of the tree line and stepped into the open field. She paused and looked again, but still she didn’t see anything that would tell her the situation at the house. With nothing to go on and a need to see her family, she sprinted towards the house.

  She reached the edge of the field. The house was now thirty feet away. Again she looked around but saw nothing out of sorts. Just as she was about to take a step, the front door opened and out came Anne, her grandmother.

  Anne went to the rocker she always sat in and took a seat.

  As if nothing had happened, Anne began to rock back and forth.

  Feeling safe, Alice exited the field and crossed the yard. “Grandma!” she cried out.

  Anne’s eyes widened upon hearing her name being called. She looked around until she spotted Alice. “My dear, where have you been?”

  Alice stopped and asked, “Are they gone?”

  “Yes, they’re gone,” Anne said.

  Sighing, Alice ran onto the porch and embraced Anne. Tears flowed as she said, “Are you okay? Is Mama? What about Martha? I heard her cry out last night.”

  “My dear, things will forever be different, but the worst of it is now over,” Anne said, attempting to bring solace to Alice’s concerns.

  “Where’s Martha?”

  “She’s upstairs resting. She’s been through a lot.”

  “Did they?” Alice asked, praying that they hadn’t raped her.

  “Oh no, they didn’t do what you’re thinking to her. Those men are cruel and despicable, but they still had enough morals left in them that prevented them from doing that.”

  “And Mama?”

  “She’s resting too. She had a rough night,” Anne said.

  Alice pulled back and asked, “And you, Grandma?”

  “I’m fine. I didn’t get to be this old by being soft.”

  Noting the bruises on Anne’s face and hands finally, Alice said, “They hurt you.”

  “It’s nothing. Now go check on your mama and sister; don’t worry about me,” Anne said, nudging her to go inside.

  “Shouldn’t we notify the sheriff?”

  “We’re not doing anything,” Maggie blared from the open front door, startling Alice.

  Stunned by her mother’s comment, Alice said, “But those men, they…they hurt you and Grandma.”

  “Those men do what men do, and now they’re gone. We won’t be involving any lawmen, who will just make assumptions and such,” Maggie said as she slowly walked out of the house. She lowered herself carefully into a rocker chair next to Anne and continued, “I see you ran away.”

  “I didn’t know what else to do,” Alice replied, her tone defensive.

  “That was smart,” Maggie said.

  “But I did try. I went to go help, but—”

  “Girl, what would you have done? Nothing, that’s what. You would have just ended up…” Maggie snapped before cutting herself off.

  Alice went to her mother’s side and took her hand. “We need to tell the law. We must; those men need to go to jail or should be hanged for what they did.”

  Maggie pulled her hand away and glared at Alice. “Damn it, ain’t nothing going to happen to those men. I knew they were trouble the second I heard them ride up. I could smell it on them. Thing is, that’s how most men are; you can’t trust ’em, nope.”

  “But Pa wasn’t like that,” Alice said.

  “Your pa was a special man, but don’t think he didn’t act crazy now and then,” Maggie said.

  “But he wouldn’t have ever done that,” Alice barked.

  “You’re right, but most men would if given the opportunity. You can’t trust men, you hear me, Alice, do ya?”

  “But—”

  “Do you hear me?” Maggie shouted.

  Lowering her head, Alice answered, “Yes, Ma.”

  “Now go fetch me some whiskey,” Maggie said.

  “No, Ma, don’t start drinking. It’s still morning,” Alice pleaded.

  “Go do what your ma says,” Anne said softly.

  Alice didn’t say a word; the look of deep sadness and despair was written on her dirt-smudged face.

  “Go get me my whiskey,” Maggie barked, glaring at Alice.

  Alice’s sympathy for her mother instantly melted away. She growled under her breath and marched into the house. In the kitchen she found the whiskey and went to head back outside to deliver it when she heard Martha whimpering in the other room. Needing to see her sister, she walked into the living room, to find her on the love seat, her face buried in the palms of her hands. “Why are you crying?”

  “It was horrible,” Martha cried, her voice mu
ffled.

  Alice sat next to her. Draping her arm over Martha’s shoulder, she squeezed and said, “I’m sorry you had to experience that.”

  “They hurt Mama and Grandma,” Martha whined.

  “I know.”

  Looking up, she asked, “Where were you? Why didn’t you help us?”

  Taken aback by Martha’s questions, Alice replied, “I tried but barely escaped myself.”

  “Do you think they’ll return?”

  “They may.”

  “I miss Papa. This wouldn’t have happened if he were alive,” Martha said.

  “I think you’re right, but we have to face the fact he’s gone,” Alice replied. “What did they do to you?”

  “He grabbed me really hard and dragged me from the outhouse. Then he struck me in the head. I woke up later and found Mama and Grandma upstairs, but the men were gone.”

  Alice examined the top of Martha’s head but stopped when Martha cried out in pain.

  Recoiling from Alice, Martha snapped, “Ouch, that hurts.”

  “Sorry, I was just seeing how bad they hit you.”

  “The hit split open my head. It’s not too bad, but it does hurt,” Martha explained.

  “Did anyone take a look to see if you need stitches?”

  “Yes, Mama looked and said I’d be fine.”

  “Where’s my whiskey?” Maggie hollered from outside.

  “I’d best go deliver Mama her medicine,” Alice quipped.

  “Can we play a game when you return?” Martha asked.

  Petting Martha’s hand gently, Alice said, “Of course, whatever you’d like to do, but first could I get cleaned up?”

  “Sure,” Martha said. “Where did you go?”

  “The woods, I went and hid in that old dead oak,” Alice said.

  “I’m sorry,” Martha whimpered.

  Taking her hand in hers, Alice asked, “What could you feel sorry for?”

  “I should have warned everyone sooner or maybe fought back,” Martha said, tears streaming down her cheeks.

  Alice wiped the tears away with her hand, lifted Martha’s chin, and looked deeply into her green eyes. “You’re very brave for what you did. Few people would have cried out; I heard you. You did try to warn us and you suffered for it. I’m just so grateful they didn’t hurt you worse.”

  “Where’s my damn whiskey?” Maggie hollered again.

  Wiping her eyes, Martha said, “I’m also sorry I sounded mad at you.”

  “Oh, it’s okay, we’re all a bit emotional right now,” Alice said sweetly.

  “You’d best go before Ma comes in here and gives you a good smack,” Martha said.

  “You’re right,” Alice said. She stood and smoothed out her soiled and wrinkled skirt.

  “I overheard them saying we’re not going to tell the law. I don’t understand.”

  “I don’t either, but we don’t have a choice in the matter.”

  “If I were older, I’d saddle a horse and ride after those evil men,” Martha said.

  “And what would you do if you caught them?”

  “I’d put a bullet in them, one each, right between the eyes,” Martha growled.

  Shocked by her response, Alice said, “You know, little sister, that’s not a bad idea. Those men need killing so they won’t do to someone else what they did here.”

  “How about we go?” Martha asked.

  “I don’t think so,” Alice said, quickly dismissing the fantasy.

  Maggie appeared in the room suddenly. She hobbled over to Alice and snatched the bottle from her hands. “Darn, girl, don’t you listen?”

  “I was coming, Mama,” Alice said.

  “I heard what you two were saying, and it’s not going to happen. If you got some wild hair to go ride off after those men, you’d only end up dead yourself,” Maggie said. She pulled the cork from the bottle and took a swig. Wiping her mouth, she continued, “Now get yourself upstairs, Alice, and get cleaned up. And you, stop your crying and sniveling. What happened last night is over. Think of it as a lesson, nothing more. Know that you two can’t trust men; many are scoundrels like those men last night.”

  “But, Mama, why not tell the sheriff so he can arrest those men?” Martha asked.

  “On account that I don’t want the sheriff knowing what happened. People like to talk, and I can’t have rumors circulating about me and especially you girls. I know I’ve not been the best mother since your pa died, but I do care about how people think about you,” Maggie said.

  Once her mother revealed the real reason for not informing the sheriff, Alice could understand; yet she wanted those men to pay for what they did. Seeing them hang would actually bring her joy even though she’d never witnessed a hanging before.

  “Now get your hindquarters upstairs and get cleaned up and, you, go prepare us some food; your grandma and me are hungry,” Maggie barked.

  Alice nodded and went upstairs while Martha wiped the final tears from her cheeks and eyes, then headed for the kitchen.

  At the top of the stairs, Alice turned and looked back down to find her mother taking a large drink from the bottle. The sight filled her with disgust, but there wasn’t a thing she could do about it. Her mother was her mother. If she knew how to bring back the woman she’d known before, she’d try, but right now she was clueless about how to do that.

  FIVE MILES SOUTHWEST OF GREAT FALLS, MONTANA

  Harry rubbed his sore and bruised wrists; his thoughts were no doubt torn about what he should do about his partners. He wasn’t like them; in fact, he couldn’t be more opposite.

  They had come back like they promised, but he was finding it hard to forgive them. He didn’t have to ask what had transpired at the house, as they gloated about their depraved actions.

  He watched as the three bathed at the edge of the Missouri River. Like small boys, they splashed water and played.

  Throwing his soaked shirt at Harry, Joseph joked, “C’mon, Harry, don’t act so bent out of shape.”

  Angered by the childish act, Harry tossed the shirt in the mud and spat, “Look at you. You just got done doing all sorts of inhumane acts, and now you’re playing like a damn child.”

  “Oh, you’re just sore. Get over it,” Joseph sneered. “Look at him; he’s acting all high and mighty when in reality he’s the one being a child and pouting.”

  “Can you hurry up? We’re no doubt behind schedule,” Harry said.

  “We’re fine. We’ll get him when we get him,” Gus barked. He took a mouthful of water and spit it out like a fountain.

  “I’m going to ride into town,” Harry said.

  “What town?” Joseph asked.

  “Great Falls,” Harry said.

  “For what?” Joseph asked, concerned.

  “They told us to stop and check for any wires that may come in. I figure Great Falls is the closest, and now that we’re behind schedule, we should see if anything has changed,” Harry said, fully knowing there was risk in doing so.

  “Shouldn’t we be riding away from Great Falls?” Henry asked.

  “We should be riding away from town, but I’m not responsible for anything you fools did. We need to see if there’s a telegram for us, so I’m going into town,” Harry declared.

  “You’re such a rule follower,” Joseph said mockingly.

  “How many times do I have to remind you that we’re here to do a job, not play around or rape women,” Harry barked angrily. “We’re getting paid good money for this, and I’d like to get home to my family as soon as possible.”

  Joseph strutted out of the water and sat down on a rock. He looked at his arm and squeezed the wound from Alice’s knitting needle. Blood oozed out and dripped onto his foot.

  Harry scowled at Joseph and said, “You got hurt?”

  “Just a minor thing. Say, did I ever tell you I was married once?” Joseph asked.

  Harry couldn’t care less about Joseph’s life and didn’t reply.

  “She’s a nice girl; she had a
lot of plans for us, specifically for me. I don’t take kindly to being told how to live. I left one day and never returned,” Joseph said.

  “You were married?” Henry asked, still in the water bathing.

  “Yep, you heard right. That seems like two lifetimes ago now,” Joseph said.

  “You never mentioned you’d been married before,” Gus said, walking out of the water and sitting on a large rock near the water’s edge, his long underwear sopping wet.

  “I don’t talk about it much,” Joseph said.

  “You’re still married. It doesn’t just end because you don’t return home,” Harry said.

  “You sure?” Joseph asked.

  “I’m pretty sure. You’re just estranged from your wife is all,” Harry said.

  “Estranged? What does that mean? I still write her now and then and even send her money on account I feel guilty for leaving her, so I’m not strange,” Joseph replied.

  “Estranged, not strange,” Harry said, shaking his head at how uneducated his partners were.

  “I’m pretty sure I’m not married anymore though,” Joseph said.

  “Did you ever get a divorce decree?” Harry asked.

  “No,” Joseph answered. He shrugged off Harry’s complaints and continued, “She even took some of the money I sent her and got herself a little farm in Moscow.”

  “Where’s Moscow?” Gus asked.

  “Idaho,” Joseph replied.

  Unable to let go the small details, Harry snapped, “If you didn’t get a decree, you’re still married, you dolt.”

  “Just shut your mouth or I’ll tie you up again,” Joseph said.

  “Was she a looker?” Gus asked Joseph.

  “Oh yeah, last letter I got from her a few years back, she begged for me to return to her and said that she’d moved to a nice little farm in Idaho. Poor Melissa thinks I’ll join her there.”

  Henry finished up and exited the water. Like the other two, he found a rock and sat down. “Say, before this job, what were you doing, Gus?”

  “Oh, jobs here and there,” Gus replied.

  “And you, Harry?” Henry asked.

  “Worked at a sawmill before it closed down,” Harry said, his tone still showing his aggravation with the others.