by Lee Clinton
Gus felt no mercy. ‘You and I know it wasn’t Cheyenne.’ He had to check himself from grabbing Larry by the collar of his jacket and pulling him out of his chair. ‘We both know it was Cole and the Moy brothers, don’t we?’
Larry was silent.
‘Don’t we?’ yelled Gus.
‘Yes,’ he finally whispered.
‘You and I both carry a stain upon our souls. Yours is of avarice and mine is of stupidity. We are both guilty and while we can’t put things back as they were, at least we can put them straight.’
‘How?’ asked Larry.
‘By justice, but it will be a justice delivered in a way that fits the sin, and you are going to help me. Right?’
Larry’s eyes darted from side to side.
‘Right?’ repeated Gus and his tone was severe.
Larry swallowed hard. ‘How?’
‘We are going to get rid of Cole and his half-brothers.’
‘How?’
‘You are going to set the trap and I am going to kill all three.’
‘I couldn’t, I would be an accessory to murder.’ Larry looked scared.
‘You already are, but I’m willing to keep your secret. You can trust me, but you can’t trust Cole. He has more than the Army contract to hold over you and he will never let you go. He’s already killed one stock agent, what’s one more? But this way, my way, you get to start over again.’
‘But, but—’ Larry was stumbling over his words. ‘You can’t kill, not like this, in cold blood or revenge, you are the law.’
‘Yes, I am, and I’m going to administer the law as I see fit. There is no other way, and you are going to help me. You don’t have a choice, so just nod your head so that I know we both understand each other.’
The livestock agent’s eyes were wide and wet, mucus ran down from both nostrils to cross the upper lip of a half-open mouth, and as his chin quivered he nodded his head.
Consent had been given and the agreement sealed.
CHAPTER 26
PAST BEING RIGHT
A Part to Play
Larry Earnshaw was on the edge of falling apart. Gus knew it and Larry knew it. His world of livestock auctions, sales, accounts, waistcoats and starched collars had been turned into a pretence, a façade. Instead, he’d become a grubby little crook with a desire for women and riches.
Am I any better? thought Gus. His was a crime of opportunity and desire, while mine is now one of premeditated murder. An eye for an eye. Gus held down one side of the rolled map as he said to Larry, ‘Point out to me each of the properties that Cole now has control of. And start with the Mayfield land.’
‘But he doesn’t have control of the Mayfield property yet. He can’t purchase until the court approves the sale. He’s just running his stock on it.’
‘On whose authority?’
‘None.’
‘So he’s not paying rent?’
Larry shook his head.
‘This is the Mayfield property, right?’ Gus pointed to a patch of blue on the map.
‘Yes.’
‘What properties has he purchased?’
‘The Elwell property here in pink. The Batchford property in yellow. The Hood property is this brown one.’ Larry’s finger moved to the other side of the Mayfield property. ‘This was the Harmans’ property here in green, the Randalls’ in red, and the Kirkpatricks’ in white.’
All the properties were clustered around the only source of all-year water that ran through the light blue patch of Mayfield land. Gus could now clearly see the importance of Abe’s property to Cole’s new empire. ‘And this one to the north and further out to the west, is that Bev Warren’s place?’
‘Yes,’ confirmed Larry. ‘It’s the smallest of them all. Rufus said he’s in no hurry for that one. He said he’ll get to it once he has secured the Mayfield property.’
‘Is there any way we could get Cole to change his mind and make a move on the Warren property, now?’
‘How?’ asked Larry.
‘You tell me? Is their stock good quality?’
‘Sure, but Cole has plenty of good stock at the moment.’
‘Is the property important geographically?’ asked Gus.
‘Not especially, not like the Mayfield property that has access to water over the hottest summers.’
Gus’s finger tapped the map on the blue patch of the Mayfield property. ‘There has to be a way,’ he said under his breath.
Then he got it.
‘Tell Cole that you heard from me that Chrissy Mayfield wants to sell her land to Bev Warren and her son, Luke.’
‘Does she?’ asked Larry.
Gus stood up to ease his back. ‘Tell him that’s what you heard from me.’
‘I, I, I don’t know if I could do that.’
Gus’s mouth tightened. ‘I’m not asking, I’m telling. So, what do you think Rufus Cole will do when he hears that?’
‘He’ll run her and her boy off, like he did to the others.’
‘Will he move quickly?’
‘Guess. He has in the past. He has to have the Mayfield property or all his plans fall apart.’
‘Within a week? Would he move that quickly?’
‘Guess.’
Gus fell silent, deep in thought, before saying, ‘I may have to move out to the Warren property and wait him out. I just don’t want to raise suspicion if I’m away from town for too long.’
‘He only ever makes his visits to the settlers on a Sunday night,’ said Larry. ‘It is the one day that the saloon is closed and the three of them can get away. It gives them time to ride out in daylight and return the next day, early, without notice.’
‘It’s Wednesday – would he move this Sunday?’
‘I don’t know. He might, but I don’t know.’
‘I’ve got to know. I’ll get one shot at this, that’s all.’
‘We shouldn’t be doing this, it’s not right.’ Larry was squirming.
‘Don’t you go to water on me now, Larry. It’s well past being right. We are going to do this, and we need to do it as soon as it can be done. We both have a part to play. Now, you get the word to Cole, and see if you can find out when he and his brothers will make their move.’
Larry went to speak, but Gus cut him off. ‘Just do it or I’ll come after you. I plan on killing three – one more won’t matter.’
CHAPTER 27
SETTING THE TRAP
Trust
Gus knew there was no going back. In his heart, he had already committed the crime and failed the foremost test of every lawman, to work only within the confines of the law. Yet a tranquillity seemed to come over him. He slept a sound sleep that night, one that had eluded him for months, and the burning in his chest seemed to have passed.
Larry Earnshaw on the other hand was a bundle of nerves. Just after Gus left his office and he was alone, he heard the last call whistle of the Central Pacific to Sacramento. He was of half a mind to make a bolt for it and run, but that required courage and right now that well was dry. His nerve was so near to breaking that in desperation he sought solace from a bottle of Wharton’s whiskey kept in the bureau behind his desk. The first swig burnt as he swallowed, taking his breath away. But it was not enough, and each following mouthful was justified as necessary, as was his weakness for the company and comfort of a woman.
By the time he stepped onto the stairs of The Red Blood, leading to where the girls entertained those who had an invitation, he was inebriated to the point where fear had been replaced by a swagger.
‘You’re early,’ said Demetri, the Russian who gave or denied access on the orders of Rufus Cole.
‘With good reason. I need to speak to Mr Cole,’ replied Larry.
‘He’s not here,’ said Demetri.
‘I’ll wait.’
‘You can wait downstairs unless you pay.’
‘I’ll pay, I’ll pay,’ he said with agitation. ‘I always pay.’
Rufus Cole was standing directly behind Larry, who was
unaware that he had been followed up the stairs. He tilted his head to Demetri to let the stock agent through as he stayed just a pace behind. ‘You wanted to see me?’ he said as they both stepped onto the landing.
Larry was startled, but the alcohol allowed him to regain composure quickly. ‘Ah, Rufus, you surprised me.’
‘You said you wanted to see me?’
‘I got a visit from Sheriff Ward today.’
‘What about?’
‘About the Mayfield property.’
Cole took Larry by the arm and walked him away from three girls sitting on a red velveteen settee, so that they were out of earshot. ‘What about the Mayfield property?’
‘He says that the Mayfield girl wants to sell it to Beverly Warren and her son.’
‘I thought the Mayfield girl had been struck dumb after the Indian attack?’
‘Seems not.’ Larry swayed a little.
‘What else did he have to say?’
‘Just that.’
‘Why was he telling you?’
‘He was asking about livestock.’
‘What livestock?’
Larry had enough alcohol in his blood to respond confidently with a lie. ‘He wanted to know if the sale of the land without livestock would be a benefit or a hindrance.’
‘Huh,’ snorted Cole in defiance. ‘I own the Mayfield livestock. I paid for it fair and square.’
‘Square, but not fair,’ said Larry. ‘I got it for you, and for a good price – a very good price. I told Judge Morgan that it was a fair price under the circumstances, but it wasn’t. He accepted what I said because he trusts me. Do you trust me, Rufus?’
Rufus Cole trusted nobody, but Larry’s lack of judgement in such matters was blind to that fact. Rufus Cole had lied, cheated and killed his way to where he was today. That he dressed in the finest wool, cotton and silk was no more than the disguise of a well-to-do businessman. Wearing the black hood of an executioner would have been far more fitting. ‘Of course I trust you, Larry. That’s why we are partners, but partners need to be discreet, just like you need to be when you come in here asking for me, when you’re drunk.’
‘I’m not drunk.’
‘I can smell it on you.’
‘I’ve just had a drink or two, that’s all.’
‘Why is that?’
The alcohol was now taking its full effect. The stock agent went to speak but missed his words, before saying, ‘I, I, just needed it.’
‘Don’t you go soft on me, Larry, there is too much at stake. I’ve got another thousand head ready to be shipped and I don’t want any mistakes.’
Larry stiffened. ‘’course not, you can depend on me.’
‘Good,’ said Cole, ‘because if I can’t, then I don’t have any need for you. Have you got that?’
All of a sudden, Larry felt stone-cold sober. Gus had warned him that he couldn’t trust Cole, that he had already killed one stock agent, so why not one more? The realization of the threat was like iced water upon his face.
‘Got that?’ repeated Rufus Cole, his voice sharp and piercing.
‘Yes, yes, of course,’ said Larry.
Rufus Cole smiled, ‘Now off you go and have your fun.’ The whole demeanour and tone of his voice had changed from threatening to soothing in the space of a few words. ‘Lilly, come here and look after Mr Earnshaw. He is one of our special guests.’
The young woman responded with enthusiasm. ‘It would be my delight, Mr Cole.’
‘And his too, I’m sure,’ said Rufus Cole as he smiled, turned and left.
‘Drink, Mr Earnshaw?’
‘No, not at the moment, thank you, Lilly. I’m feeling a little—’ he paused, swaying slightly before saying, ‘You’ll have to excuse me, I need to go.’
CHAPTER 28
BLOOD AND HEART
Eavesdropping
On hearing the news, the burning in Gus’s chest was back in an instant. ‘When did it happen?’ he asked.
‘Last night sometime,’ said Deputy Ivan Davies.
‘Where?’
‘In his office. He was found this morning, early, by a clerk from the stockyards who went up to get him. He was late. Thursday is loading day and there was a shipment of cattle going out to Cheyenne.’ Ivan flicked a page in his notebook before asking. ‘Do you want to go see? Real messy.’
‘No,’ said Gus, ‘just tell me how he did it.’
‘At his desk, handgun to the mouth, took off the back of the skull. Hyrum says he’ll remove the body and clean up, but only after you say so.’
‘Tell him to go ahead. Who needs to be notified?’
‘No kin in town. The clerk who found him said he has an uncle in Chicago who is also in the livestock trade. Seems it was the uncle that got Larry the job here in Laramie. The clerk suggested that we send a telegram to the livestock agency in Cheyenne as they will know how to contact the uncle.’
‘Go ahead and do that, will you?’ said Gus.
Ivan put his hat on to leave.
‘Just one thing,’ said Gus. ‘You said he was at his desk when he shot himself.’
‘That’s right.’
‘Did he leave a note as to why he would commit suicide?’
‘I looked, but nothing.’
‘Check the drawers?’
‘Yep, checked the top of the desk, the drawers, his wastepaper basket, the floor under the desk, even his pockets. Nothing.’ Ivan lifted his hat, rubbed the top of his forehead as he said, ‘Doing something like that. It just doesn’t make sense, does it?’
‘I’m not sure I know just what does make sense any more,’ said Gus slowly.
Gus was now at an impasse. Had Larry set the trap for Rufus Cole? He had no idea, but his guess, his gut, said no, that the livestock agent had lost his nerve and taken flight to escape to the other side, rather than face Cole. But could he take the risk? What if he had? What if Cole was preparing to act and make his move against Bev and her son Luke, to drive them off their land? Or worse, kill them and burn the place to the ground like he had done to the Mayfield family?
Gus could feel the burning in his chest.
There was no choice. He couldn’t take the chance. He would have to ride out on Sunday, and at the very least warn Beverly Warren that she and her son could be in imminent danger. He would stay the night and protect them, and if Cole and the Moy brothers turned up while he was there, then—
Gus paused his thoughts, his chest still burning.
Go on, he told himself. Then what?
He forced himself to answer, clearly and deliberately. Then he would kill them.
Somehow, this commitment calmed him. He knew he would have to face the consequences wherever they fell. Would a jury judge his actions as falling within the law even if he was to find the evidence that the three had murdered the Mayfield family?
Or if he lied and said it was in self-defence – would a jury believe him?
He didn’t know, but he no longer cared, so why lie? If he was going to dispense justice his way, at least let it wear a shroud of truth by being honest with himself first and foremost.
On Friday, Gus reorganised the duty roster and advised both Ivan and Joel that he would be away on Sunday and return sometime after noon on Monday. He apologized for the inconvenience, saying that he needed to follow up on some missing district papers from the June 1 census. He knew that his deputies disliked anything to do with the national census, as they did not consider it to be law work, so they would be happy that someone else was looking after it.
On Saturday, he told Martha the same ‘white’ lie he had told his deputies. He then walked down to the office where Joel was on duty and attended to some overdue paperwork, before heading across to the livery stables. His intention had been to select and take a horse back home with him so that he could leave for the Warren property as soon as he had attended church with Martha. This plan was altered when one of the stable boys mentioned that he could bring a horse to his home on Sunday morning. ‘I ca
n do it before I deliver the others,’ he said.
‘Sure,’ said Gus, knowing that the boy was chasing a tip, before asking, ‘Where do you have to deliver the other horses?’
‘The saloon,’ said the boy. ‘Just after lunch.’
Gus felt his back stiffen while he tried to say casually, ‘How many?’
‘Three of the best. Mr Cole likes fast horses.’
Gus returned home with a sense of both urgency and anticipation. He drew up a chair at the kitchen table and began to strip and clean his Winchester and his Colt revolver. He was deep in thought and wiping each individual round of ammunition with a soft cloth when Henry walked in and sat down.
‘You want me to come with you?’ his son asked.
‘No,’ said Gus, ‘it’s just census papers.’
‘So Joel told me. And maybe a bit of hunting?’ asked Henry, looking down to the row of .44 rifle ammunition that had now been polished bright.
‘Yeah,’ nodded Gus, ‘maybe a jack rabbit or two.’
A silence followed. Gus kept polishing while Henry looked directly at his father. ‘There are no lost or outstanding census papers, are there?’
Gus kept cleaning.
‘I helped fill out the return sheets and took them down to be signed off by Judge Morgan, myself. They were all present and correct. He said I’d done a good job.’
Gus’s deceit had been exposed by his own son. He picked up the next cartridge and wiped it carefully with the cotton cloth.
‘And you’re not hunting jack rabbits, you’re going after something altogether different, aren’t you?’
Gus wasn’t game to look up at Henry in case his son saw the pretence upon his face.
‘I want to come with you,’ said Henry, his voice strong and calm.
‘You can’t,’ said Gus.
‘Why not?’
It was no good deceiving any more. ‘It is something I have to do, and it is best left with me. I don’t want you involved.’
‘But I am involved. I’m your son. Grace was my betrothed. And now I have fallen in love with Chrissy. You can’t untangle any of that. It is what it is, blood and heart.’
