by McCabe, R. J
‘Well, not quite, my dad was a crooked son of a bitch who had some kind of rustlin' ring goin' with some other dirty, sons of bitches. He was shot out their in the street when he tried to rip off some out of town, unsavoury types. Shot him down like a dog so they did.’ Ken’s eyes looked distant as he retold the story.
‘I see. So I guess you decided to serve to law to wrong his rights and all that then?’
‘No, not really, growin' up round here, there isn't a fat lot of work goin'. So what you gonna do? Plus I ain’t never been the law breakin' type and if you ain’t gonna break the law then might as well try and uphold it.’
Bill looked at Ken for a moment and tried to figure out if he was pretty dumb or pretty smart. He guessed he would find out in time. ‘I guess I can see the sense in that.’
‘What bout you Bill, what made you become a law man?’
‘I guess where I grew up there wasn’t much else to do either,’
Ken let out a small chuckle.
‘So why don't you tell me what happened to my predecessor,’ asked Bill.
‘Your peeder what?' replied a puzzled Ken.
‘Predecessor, the man who was in the job before me. Sheriff Watts wasn’t it?’
‘Oh, I got ya' replied Ken. ‘Let me fix us another drink and I'll tell you what I know.’ Ken got up off his seat and went to pour two more drinks. Bill had a look around the room. There were two jail cells, two desks and a gun cupboard. There was a back which Bill guessed led out to the toilet. Ken returned to the desk with two drinks, placed one in front of Bill and sat down holding the other.
‘Sheriff Watts was a good man,’ Ken began. ‘One of the best, He looked at things a little differently than other people here, always willin' to help someone out if he felt somethin' was unjust, whilst everyone else was screamin' for a hangin'. He saved the lives of more than one innocent man let me tell ya. He was sheriff of this town for twenty-five years, and served as a deputy many years before that. He understood how the people here worked, how they thought and he knew how to handle folks but let me tell you somethin'. If you crossed him, if he knew you was a bad sort, then you were in a whole heap of shit. He was like a rabid dog that wouldn't let go once he got his teeth into somethin' or someone who deserved it. He wouldn't stop until justice had been served and I guess in the end, that was what got him killed, him bein' unable to stop and give up. See he had been followin' a string of cattle robberies in the Town and the surroundin' areas. No-one had a clue who was doin' it and everyone figured it was somethin' to do with Jack or Joel Blackwater.’
‘Blackwater? Is he some local big shot?’ asked Bill.
‘Oh he’s more than just that, he's Mr Money in this county and every county nearby. Anyway we will talk about him in a bit. As I was sayin, everyone thought it was somethin' to do with those boys, but Blackwater himself rode on into town to set things straight.’
‘Afraid the sheriff might go after him?’ Bill asked before taking a sip of his drink.
‘Oh I don't think it was that. Jack Blackwater ain’t afraid of any man alive so far as I know. That son of his though is a different kind of crazy, a real dangerous sort. Then theres the fact he’s got hundreds of hired guns willin' to come serve him whenever he hollers. Nah he weren't afraid, but he grew up here and knew Sheriff Watts for many years, was quite fond of him I think. Some say growin’ up they were like brothers but you hear all kinds of stuff in little towns and most is horse shit. I remember seein' them both around here any moons back but I'll be damned if I can recall them hangin’ around together. Anyway, Blackwater came to town to put things straight with the sheriff and I think the sheriff believed him. Blackwater said he’d heard things and while he didn’t want to drop anybody in the shit, he gave the sheriff a clue or two as to who might or might not be rustlin' on all the local farms. Anyhow, Blackwater leaves town and the sheriff suddenly gets a bee in his bonnet about the Hamilton boys from two towns north and from then on when he wasn't seeing to local town business he was ridin' out and asking questions as to the location of those boys. So it turns out they get to hear about him askin' all those questions about them and one evenin' the three of em ride into town to have a talk with the sheriff. I was sitting at my desk, when they strode in here, real nasty lookin’ mother fuckers they were.’
‘Mother what?’ Bills face a mixture of amusement and confusion.
‘Mother fuckers! It’s a cussing term I made up is all,' replied Ken
‘I’m not familiar with it. What does it mean?’
‘Well, how can I explain it. Okay, what kind of man would fuck his own mother?’
‘The lowest kind I suppose,’ replied Bill
‘Well, there you go, like the Hamilton boys. No morals, no regard for anyone, no respect and no mercy. Mother fuckers!’
‘Got it. I like the term, it’s..harsh. Not sure it will catch on though,’ said Bill, smiling.
‘It’s fittin' as those boys were harsh let me tell ya! They came in here lookin' like maniacs. I tried to send em on their way, tellin' em the sheriff was out of town for a day or two and I think they were buyin' it, that was until the god damn sheriff comes walkin' in here.’
‘Oh, I bet that was awkward,’ said Bill.
‘Yeah it was kind of awkward, but it was more awkward when one of those Mother fuckers was kneelin' on my face with a gun pressed against my head for trying to feed em horse-shit.’
‘And the sheriff?’ asked Bill listening intently.
‘Well, they whooped him good, I mean real good, knocked out a couple of his teeth, broke a rib and three of his fingers. They stamped on his balls so many times I was scared they were gonna come out of his ass. They told him it was a warnin' and next time they weren't gonna play so nice. Although no-one has ever proved it, I guessed they were tellin' the truth.’
‘They killed him? The Hamilton boys?’ Bill asked.
‘Like I said no one has ever proven it but Sheriff Watts bein' who he was, never gave up tryin’ to prove those boys guilty. After they whooped his ass he went after them with a vengeance. He wrote to Austin, Texas, tellin' em what he thought and asked them to send down some backup so he could go after those boys. There was only me and him here and we weren't gonna be any match for em. The promise of help came but the backup never arrived. Word must have gotten to those sons of bitches bout what the sheriff was plannin' on doin' cause one evenin' when the old sheriff was relaxin' up their in his house, someone went in his place and shot his sweet lady wife in the chest as she sat sewin' in her favourite chair. The sheriff was takin' a bath so they reckon. He was dragged outside, naked as the day he was born, and they strung him up on his porch. I guess they got bored watchin' him hang there dyin' so they decided to use him for target practice. The doctor reckons they found more than twenty bullets in his body, reckons they blew one of his eyes out and blew his nuts and pisser clean off.’
‘Holy shit, that’s awful!’ Bill said, his mouth hanging open.
‘Sure was, sure is and I don't reckon theres too many folks out there that are capable of such things, but those Hamilton boys sure are.’
‘Have they ever been caught?’
‘Nah, no-one has seen hide nor hair of em since the murder. Some official boys came down sniffin' around, told me they were gonna find the men responsible but they gave up after a while. There weren't no witnesses and no sign of those Hamilton boys. They went up to talk with Blackwater, but he wouldn't have done somethin' like that. He's a mean son of a bitch but like I said, he had some sort of connection with Sheriff Watts, as well as Sundown. Watts was a good, solid man and he didn't deserve to die like that, naked and hangin' from his own porch.’
‘I can think of a few men I've met who could do with that kind treatment, but a good honest law man certainly isn't one of them. That lady who was in here earlier, she seemed a little agitated,’ said Bill sensing a change of subject was in order.
‘Oh yeah, she's a feisty one, stands up for herself but jeez does she gi
ve me some earache, always asking me to sort out this guy or that.’
‘Well, I suppose if you're gonna have someone keep botherin' you then you want her to look like that hey Ken?’ said Bill, with a wink.
Ken rubbed his bushy beard for a moment before answering. ‘Well, if I'm honest she ain’t really my type.’
‘Oh I get it, on account of the red hair? Or is it you like the bigger ladies?’
‘I’d say more on account that she’s my daughter,’ said Ken with a smile.
Bill felt himself blushing. ‘Well, I bet you can’t guess who feels like a horses pecker?’
Ken laughs, ‘No need for that Bill. She sure is a good lookin' girl my Gina, gets all her looks from her mother god bless her soul.’
‘Oh you lost her? Im sorry to hear that Ken.’
‘Oh I lost her, but not to death, she ran off with a medicine salesman who passed through the town a few years back. I ain’t got no idea where she is now but I do know that salesman was an alcoholic and a gambler, so I reckon her soul needs all the blessin' she can get.’
Bill laughed for a moment before raising his hand. ‘Im sorry, I shouldn't laugh, that just tickled me is all.’
‘Laugh all you want Sheriff. Life is full of shit and hardships and I reckon that the time we are laughin' is time not spent feelin' miserable as shit… and I'm all for that.’ Ken said slapping a hand down on the table.
Bill laughed again before sitting back in his seat and focusing on Ken. He liked him. He decided the man wasn't stupid and Bill also knew they would work well together.
‘So Deputy, what do we have first on today’s agenda?’
‘Don’t you want to drop you cases off first? Get yourself settled in?’ asked Ken.
‘Ken, I've been sat ridin' in a coach since yesterday afternoon and I've been bored to shit. I want to get to work, I can get settled later,’ replied Bill and drank the rest of the whiskey in his glass.
‘Whatever you say Sheriff,’ Ken said slapping the table again. ‘Well, it’s been kind of quiet around here for the last few days, but if you want we can go and visit Big John Duggan? He's the guy thats been givin' the girls at the whorehouse some shit of late with not payin' and pushin' em around.’
‘Whorehouse? I wish they would come up a different name for those places,’ said Bill.
‘Well, even if they were to change the name it’s still the same kind of place ain’t it? Oh, and before you ask me, Gina ain’t and never has been a whore. She runs the place for old Eleanor Boatreen who just got too old to cope with the day to day stuff. They are nice girls that work there, just fallen on hard times most of em for one reason or another and they are part of this town so we need to take care of em.’
‘I totally agree. So who is this man we are going to see?’
‘Big John Duggan lives just on the edge of town with his wife. He’s done a bit of work for Blackwater over the years, but he is unreliable and prone to drink and women.’
‘His wife, but he uses the whorehouse?’
‘Yup, and let me tell ya his wife is a lovely lady. Tiny little thing, shy as a field mouse but sweet as can be. Some say he pushes her around when he's drunk and some say they've seen her with bruises and that, but I've never seen it. I've been up there a couple of times after I've been told she’s been lookin' a little beat on, but she never answers the door to me. My guess is she is scared of what he might do if he finds out sh’s been talkin' about him. Or perhaps she just straight up loves the fella and don’t want to see him locked up. Either way there isn’t a lot I can do if she won’t talk. Im all for helpin' folks but they gotta do a little for themselves too if you know what I'm sayin'.
‘I know exactly what you mean Deputy. This guy sounds like a nice piece of work. Big John Duggan you say? I guess thats not an ironic nickname due to the fact he’s a little man?’ asked Bill.
‘Well, that would make things easier but no, he's a big bastard.’
‘Why is it, whenever you have to go see these bullyin' types, they are always called big this or killer that? It would be nice, just for once, if the guy turned out to be a little turd.’
Ken laughed. ‘I don't see how his size or name matters unless you plan on
gettin' physical with the guy?’
‘No, I'm not plannin' on that. I'm hopin' the bird-shit stain on my waistcoat is going to be enough to intimidate the man.’
‘Let’s go see him then’ Ken said. ‘We have to be careful though, he's a big boy and a real handful.’
‘Well, I got big hands,’ said Bill with a smile. ‘Lets go and see Big John.’
‘After you Sheriff,’ Ken said pointing to the door. Bill was about to stand up when he stopped.
‘Probably better put another drink in my glass if he’s as big as you say he is.’
Ken laughed. ‘Perhaps I best,’ and poured he and Bill another drink.
3
Ken and Bill walked across the street and people looked in their direction, some greeted them, but the majority just stood staring.
‘That there is Monty’s bar. He’s a good man and if you ever need a slate, he’s good to let you have it so long as you pay it back.’
‘Thanks for that Deputy, but as a rule, if the money ain’t in my pocket then I don't order. I don't much like being in anyones debt.’
‘I kind of figured you would say somethin' like that, but I got to make conversation as we gonna be workin' together. I’m a bit like that myself, but there has been occasions when I fancy another drink, so I put my hand in my pocket but I only find my balls.’
Bill laughed. ‘I appreciate the information. Keep it comin'.’
Ken pointed to a building to their right. ‘Thats Art’s barber shop, he's a hell of a barber and his razors are so sharp I reckon he sharpens them on the devils horns. Good man too, lived here since he was a baby when his parents moved down this way. I can see your hair is kinda long so you might not have much need for that place.’
Bill lifted up his hat and ran a hand through his mid length, slightly greying hair. ‘You never know, I might get a new style. I just haven't thought much about it lately.’
Ken looked at Bill. ‘Well, you say that, but judgin' on the way you got that moustache styled I reckon you take better care of yourself that you are lettin' on.’ He gave Bill a little nudge.
‘You don’t miss a trick.’ Bill said.
‘Not as dumb as folks think I am, I just do a good impression. Now that buildin' comin' up go the left there is Mary and Tom’s grocery store. They got everythin' you need to eat good and they are real nice folks. I would tell you they will let you have a slate there too but guess you ain’t gonna be buyin' any potatoes unless you got the right change in your pocket.’
Bill looked over to the grocery store and as he did he saw a man in white apron suddenly appear on the wooden decking in front of the shop as if the man had been pushed from inside. The man was staring back into the shop and he looked scared.
‘Well, what we got here?’ said Ken.
As he spoke, a big man, roughly six feet five and built like a bison, walked out pointing his finger at Tom who looked almost a foot shorter and half the weight. ‘That there is Big John Duggan. What a stroke of luck hey Sheriff?’
Bill wasn't so sure it was lucky to come across such a big man in the middle of a busy street. He had faced men like this one before and one thing he did know was that Big John Duggan wasn't going to want to lose face with all the townsfolk watching. Bill decided he was going to take the diplomatic approach, let Big John think he was a friend, for now.
As the two men approached the shop Tom’s wife, Mary, came out and was also having words with the big man, she looked protective over Tom as if scared that John Duggan was going to put a beating on him.
‘What seems to be the problem here folks?’ asked Ken in a jovial manner.
Mary was the first to speak. ‘It’s him, he come in tryin' to bully us to give him free stuff. Just like he always does, and it�
�s gotta stop.’
Big John pointed a finger at Mary before speaking in a deep voice. ‘Stop talkin' shit about me woman. I said I’d pay you back, I don't want anythin' for free. I’m no street dog.’
Tom spoke. ‘You already owe us money from the last five or six times you've been in here. You ain’t paid and we cant afford to keep givin' stuff away.’
‘I told you, you skinny idiot. I’m gonna pay just as soon as I get some work,’ said Big John, his face growing red with anger.
‘Maybe if you stopped spendin' all your money in the bar and fuckin' those whores, you might have some left to feed you and your wife. God knows why that sweet woman is still with you,’ said Mary. She spoke in a harsh confident tone but Bill could see she was shaking.
John Duggan looked away momentarily before swinging an open palm in an arc, slapping Mary across the face. The force of the slap sent her falling back onto her rump. She hit the wooden floor with a thud.
Bill looked around and the whole town seemed to be out on the street, all of them had stopped what they were doing to watch the commotion. He took a step forward just as Big John took Tom by the scruff of his pencil thin neck.
‘Hey there big fella,’ said Bill. ‘What’s say we all just calm down. We don't want people seein' this and we sure don't want them to see big men hittin' little women, or as I see here stranglin' men half their size. You never heard the phrase pick on someone your own size?’
Big John let go of Tom and turned towards Bill, a grin appearing on his broad face. Bill, at six feet one and around 200lbs, was no light weight. Yet he sure felt like one faced with such a large man.
‘There ain’t nobody round here my size.’ Big John said, his sneer revealing missing teeth. ‘I don’t give a fuck what these people see. Now take that old man there and go back to whatever queer bar you two just walked out of.’
Ken began to wag a finger at John. ‘Now I don't think you wanna be talking to him like that. This here is the new sheriff and he might just have to throw your big ass in jail.’
