by Mike McNeff
“Hey, Marshal. I need to piss,” Carlos McElroy complained after they had been riding for four hours.
Stan stood in his stirrups and looked around. They were in a small ravine surrounded by rocks and boulders with a few trees and brush, about a half a mile from the Fort Hurley junction.
“Okay, we’ll take a break here.” Stan dismounted and wrapped his reins around a low branch, then loosened the line on Carlos. “You can go one at a time.”
The prisoner slid off and Stan stood by holding the line.
“What’s up, Marshal? You some kind of sissy boy that you gotta watch us piss?” Carlos sneered.
“I can fix it so you can piss in your pants, if that’s want you want.”
“Yeah, yeah, you bastard.” Carlos took care of business and then climbed back on his horse.
Stan retied the line and loosened the rope on Reece. “Okay, your turn.”
Reece got off his horse. “I need some more line.”
“Piss right there.”
Look, bunghole…” Blood and lung blew out of Reece’s chest before he could finish. In the second it took for Stan to realize that Reece had been shot, another bullet smashed into Carlos’ leg. He dropped off his horse screaming a string of curses in Spanish.
Stan jumped behind his horse just avoiding a hail of gunfire. The horse danced wildly from side to side but Stan managed to grab his rifle. With one quick move he sliced the line tied to Carlos, took hold of the downed outlaw’s arm and pulled him toward the nearest boulder. A torrent of snapping bullets and ricochets bouncing off the ground raised a choking dust. Bullet fragments sprayed rock shards as Stan dragged Carlo’s dead weight around the boulder. He stumbled.
“Damn!” Stan said under his breath. He looked at his side and saw the blood oozing through his shirt.
“Son of a bitch!” Carlos grimaced as he squeezed his hands around his blood-soaked thigh. “How could those bastards miss you and hit me and Reece?!”
“Because they’re shooting at all of us.” Stan fired at a puff of gun smoke.
Carlos’ eyes grew wide. “That no good, goddamn, bunghole!”
Stan shot toward the ambushers but couldn’t tell if he hit anything. “Who?”
“The governor, that’s who. Give me a gun so I can shoot back!”
“I don’t think so.” Stan fired several more shots hoping to keep the attacker’s heads down.
“Then we’re goin’ to die.”
“I guess we all gotta go sometime.”
Stan was trying to keep the attackers at bay but he knew they were closing in. He looked at Carlos and could see the fear in his eyes. For a fleeting moment he thought about giving him a gun but then he thought of Coy, his murdered deputy, and thought better of it. He loaded his last eight rounds into his Henry rifle.
“This is bullshit, Marshal.”
Stan saw a man flanking on the right side, drew a bead and fired. The man collapsed.
“I finally nailed one!”
He saw two coming at him from the left but suddenly one dropped hard and a gunshot reached his ears. Then he heard more shots and Indian war cries.
“Well, well, Carlos. I think we just got some help!”
Black Feather sounded a war hoop and galloped toward the ambush. A gunman turned towards him but before the man could aim his pistol, Black Feather’s shot tore through his face blowing half of it into a bright red spray. Another turned to run and Black Feather shot him in the back, sprawling him against a boulder.
Wind Runner charged into the middle of the attackers’ position. One man jumped on a horse and Wind Runner used his own horse as a ram, knocking the other horse to the ground. The warrior jumped down and sank his tomahawk into the other rider’s skull. Then within a breath he leapt over a large rock toward a man raising a rifle at him. Wind Runner knocked the gun aside and grabbed the last man by the hair. The scream trying to come out was cut short by the hack that almost cut the man’s head off.
They heard a galloping horse and turned to see a man wearing a brown hat and black vest riding away. Claw Of The Eagle took a few shots from his high ground position but the rider was too far away.
Wind Runner started for his horse.
“No, Wind Runner. We must see if Stan Barstow is all right.”
Stan wrapped the bandage he tore from Carlos’ shirt around the prisoner’s thigh. He looked up when three riders leading a fourth horse came around the boulder. Relief released the breath he’d been holding. “Many thanks, Black Feather. I didn’t think we were going to make it there for a minute.”
Black Feather slid off his horse. “You are wounded, Stan Barstow.”
“Oh, I’ll be all right.” Stan tried to stand but his knees hit the ground and the air left his lungs with a grunt. “Be still. We will bandage you and take you to Fort Hurley.”
Stan was thinking it might be a good idea to take Black Feather’s advice. “What are you men doing out here?”
“Looking for Fire Hawk.”
“Fire Hawk?”
“You know him as Jasper Lee. He is our brother.”
“Your brother! That Jasper Lee sure is an interesting man.” Stan grimaced as Black Feather worked on his side. “Jasper’s in jail in Kentville, standing trial for murder.”
“And that’s a bunch of bullshit!” Carlos yelled.
“What do you mean, Carlos?” Stan frowned.
“It’s a rigged deal, set up by the governor to take the heat off of his nephew.”
“How do you know this?”
“Who do you think ordered me and Reece to kill Delton?”
Stan felt his face flush.
“Sorry about your deputy, Marshal. He really didn’t deserve to die but he was doing his job too well and Reece wasn’t right in the head…a natural born killer, Reece was.”
“Carlos, if you’ll testify about this I’ll recommend leniency from the court.”
“For what? Life in prison? No thanks, Marshal. I’ll testify just for payback on that son of a bitch, Norris. I can give the goods on a bunch of others, too.”
Black Feather put his hand on Stan’s shoulder. “How much time do we have to get to Kentville before they hang our brother?”
“Since they’re doing a trial probably a couple of days,” Stan answered. “But that’s not for sure. I’m thinking trying to take all the governor’s men with just the four of us isn’t very smart. We need to get to Fort Hurley and see what help we can get but I need one of you to ride to Arlington and tell your brother’s wife he’s in the Kent County jail.”
“I’ll go.” Claw Of The Eagle mounted his horse and galloped off.
Stan’s side burned like fire but he was feeling better when Black Feather helped him to his feet. “Let’s ride then.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
THE NEXT MORNING Judge Abramson finished signing the warrants for everyone identified by Carlos McElroy including the sheriff, the judge and the prosecutor of Kent County as well as the Territorial Governor, Cornell Norris.
“Well, Marshal, it looks like you’ve got yourself a good case against the governor and his conspirators on some very serious crimes.”
“Yes, sir. I’m going to need help making these arrests, Judge. I would like you to appoint Black Feather and Wind Runner as deputy marshals.”
The judge sat back in his chair and considered the Indians standing in front of him.
“Do you gentlemen understand the laws of the United States?”
A grim smile crossed Black Feather’s mouth. “We do, Judge, but we do not like them. Your laws depend on whose enforcing them.”
“And your laws don’t have that problem?”
“Our laws are based on the natural law and guidance from the spirits, not the greed of men.”
“If you say so, Black Feather, but like it or not, when your clan signed the treaty the laws of this territory and the United States became your laws also. If you accept the commission as a deputy marshal you must act according to those
laws. In this territory, under my supervision, that means you’ll do so honestly and fairly. Now I think you can do that, but I need you to tell me you will.”
Black Feather looked at Wind Runner who shrugged and nodded his head.
“We will, Judge.”
The judge stood up and pulled a bible out of his desk drawer. “Raise your right hands.”
After the two new deputies were commissioned Stan told the judge about Claw Of The Eagle. The judge wrote out a commission giving Stan the authority to give the oath to his third deputy.
“Bailiff!”
“Yes, your honor.”
“Go to Captain Anthony and ask him to the court.”
“Right away, sir.”
A few minutes later the captain entered the courtroom. “You ask for me, Your Honor?”
“Yes, Captain. Marshal, do you have enough men to arrest all the people you have warrants for?”
“Just myself and two, maybe three, deputies.”
“Captain, I request a squad of soldiers accompany the marshal and his deputies to Kentville to assist in the arrest of a group of suspects. One of those suspects is the territorial governor.”
The captain’s face lit up. “I’ll lead the squad myself, sir.”
“Good man. Well, Marshal, get the show on the road.”
“Yes, sir and thank you.”
Willis surprised himself when he made it into the saddle on the second try.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Doctor Scoville asked.
“I have to, Amos. My client is being railroaded to a hanging and it’s my duty to fight for him.”
“You do realize your life is in danger, don’t you?”
A tremble crawled up Willis’ spine. “Yes, I do.”
“Do you have a gun?”
“I wouldn’t know how to use it if I did.”
“All right, Willis. Walnut is a good horse. My daughter learned to ride on her and Walnut took care of her. She’ll take care of you too.”
“I hope so, Amos.” With that, Willis snapped the reins on the horse and started down the road to Fort Hurley, his head and upper body bouncing up and down, left and right precariously in saddle.
Four hours later Willis’ back and butt were causing him great pain and discomfort but filled with his sense of duty and mission he wouldn’t stop and rest. The Fort Hurley junction was in sight and a little relief flowed through him for he was over half way to his destination.
Suddenly a heavy blow slammed into the side of his head. He tried to hang on the saddle but the horse stopped in its tracks and Willis was thrown to the ground. The world went black.
Stan and his troop had been riding for three hours. They were a quarter mile from the Hurley junction when they heard a shot.
“Keep a sharp eye,” the captain ordered. “And form a skirmish line. Forward Ho!”
They rode cautiously until they reached the junction. Stan and Captain Anthony stopped and surveyed the area. “Black Feather, you and Wind Runner scout ahead,” Stan said.
They nodded and began to weave their horses through the trees until they disappeared.
“Marshal!” Wind Runner called.
Stan and the squad hurried toward the sound of his deputy’s voice. Next to a chestnut colored horse Wind Runner bent over a body.
The captain ordered the squad to set up a perimeter.
Stan slid off his horse and kneeling next to the body he recognized the new lawyer from Kentville. A deep furrow creased the young man’s scalp but he was still alive.
A soldier retrieved bandages and water and cleaned up the wound.
Stan checked through the lawyer’s saddle bags. He found court papers and immediately realized the lawyer, Willis Harwick, represented Jasper Lee.
Black Feather approached.
“Two men shot him from that hill.” Black Feather held up a spent .32 Winchester Center Fire cartridge. “I saw the tracks of two horses. One had a cracked shoe on the left front hoof. I also saw the boot mark of the shooter. A piece of the right heel is missing. We must have scared them off. I can catch up to them if you want.”
“Go ahead, but just follow them so we can identify them later. We’ll get Mr. Harwick here to the doctor in Kentville.”
Black Feather mounted his horse and galloped off.
Stan heard a moan and knelt by the injured man. “Mr. Harwick?”
The lawyer’s eyes opened and filled with fear.
“It’s all right, sir. I’m Stan Barstow, US Marshal.”
Harwick tried to sit up but fell backwards onto the arm Stan threw out to catch him. “What happened to me?”
“You were ambushed and shot in the head, but it’s just a deep gash. I suspect you’re going to have one helluva headache, otherwise you’ll be okay.”
Harwick struggled into a sitting position. “I’ve got to get to Fort Hurley and try to stop the trial. They’re going to hang Jasper Lee if I don’t.”
“Did you get a stay on the trial to make an appeal?”
“Yes, for two days.”
Stan thought for a minute. “Do you know any doctors in Kentville?”
“Amos Scoville is a doctor and good friend.”
“Will he let you stay at his house?”
“Of course, but why?”
“We’ll fix up a litter and get you to the good doctor.”
“No! I have to get to Fort Hurley!”
“Easy Mr. Harwick, there won’t be any hanging anytime soon. I have warrants for the arrest of the governor and his friends, including the judge and the prosecutor. You don’t need to go to Fort Hurley.”
Willis touched his head. “Then we need to get to Kentville with all possible speed. I can ride Marshal.”
“Mr. Harwick, the minute you try to stand you’ll fall flat on your face. That bullet didn’t kill you but your wound isn’t one to be taken lightly.”
The captain pointed to two soldiers. “You men make a litter for this gentleman. Make it quick.”
“Thanks, Captain,” Stan said. “I hope we’re not running out of time.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
GALE STOOD UPRIGHT IN THE WAGON. Burt Ashton was bringing more folks into town. Micah, Sean and Claw Of The Eagle were on horseback next to her.
“By golly, looks like everyone is here,” Micah said.
Gail turned to the crowd that had gathered in front of her. “Thank you all for coming to support Jasper. We have to get moving because we don’t know where things stand with his trial.” She looked back into the bed of the wagon. “Are you ready, Mr. Dolan?”
“I am, Mrs. Lee. Ready to avenge my daughter.”
Gale sat down and looked at Jessica Dolan sitting next to her. “You ready, Jessica?”
Jessica nodded. “More than ready.”
Gale looked at Megan, Brenden and Abbey standing with Rain Water and knew her children would be safe until her return. She hoped she could say the same for her husband. “Children, you behave for Rain Water.”
“We will, Ma,” Megan replied with authority.
“Thank you Rain Water.”
“Go Gale. Use your fire to bring my son home.”
“I want to make sure we are all on the same sheet of music when the trial resumes tomorrow,” the governor said. “I want the trial to start the first thing in the morning and I want it over in time to hang Lee before dinner.”
Jeremy Sykes, the prosecutor, cleared his throat. “With Harwick out of the picture things should go smoothly.”
“I’ll make that determination, Jeremy,” Judge Iverson said. Cornell noticed a bit of curtness in the judge’s reply. “Since Harwick was involved there is a record being made. It has to be plausible.”
“He’s no longer involved,” the governor said flatly.
“That may be true,” the judge said, “but he was a lawyer and a graduate of Harvard. Even if he’s just missing, someone may look into it.”
“All right. I don’t care what you have to do, just meet my t
ime table. Don’t worry too much about the trial. People may not like the process, but they always love a good hanging.”
A knock at the back door interrupted the governor. He motioned to Lock to check it out.
Lock carefully opened the door and Bart Moore burst in.
“Where the hell have you been?!” the governor roared.
“Layin’ low.”
“Where’s everyone else?”
“Dead.”
Cornell grabbed Bart by the front of his shirt. “Don’t tell me you screwed this up too! What happened?”
“W...w...we had them. I know Reece and Carlos are dead... I...I saw them drop, but before I could make sure the marshal was dead we got attacked by Indians!”
“Indians? What in the hell are you talking about? There are no hostile Indians in this area!”
“Well, they sure as hell were hostile to us!”
“Are you telling me that marshal is still alive?”
“No, I ain’t sayin’ that. He was hit. I saw the blood on him. He’s probably dead, I just ain’t as sure about him as I am about Reece and Carlos.”
“Goddamn it!” Cornell shoved his nephew and Bart banged hard against the wall. “I should’ve known better than to trust you to get the job done.”
Bart rubbed at the back of his head and glared at his Uncle. “It wasn’t my fault. We set a good ambush and had ‘em, but those damn Indians came out of nowhere.”
Norris could see his nephew was telling the truth about that. He wasn’t so sure about the rest.
“With Reece and Carlos dead the marshal don’t have any evidence even if he did live, Governor. Maybe this ain’t as bad as it looks,” Lock’s meek intrusion only made Cornell more angry.
The governor seemed to deflate and he collapsed into his chair. “We’re going to have to be very careful for a while. We need to get this trial over with and lay quiet until all of this blows over.”
