Heart of a Lady (Book One of the Red River Valley Brides)

by Hestand, Rita

  Harry glanced up in time to see Dillon leading Jo Ella out of the court room on his arm.

  Harry cringed. There was no justice today.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  That evening, Harry sat in his office, rubbing his chin. That judge was not going to be lenient. He didn't know anyone is this town, and he had no feelings or background for the case. Not that many judges did, but some were more prone to give full sentence than to take into consideration the people they tried.

  The way the judge looked at the entire thing was that there was a robbery, and witnesses to the effect. The kid was involved through the getaway, through the running, and through the capture.

  They were guilty. Even Harry couldn't justify what they did.

  Harry was too involved with the prisoners and he knew it, but he couldn't turn those feelings on and off. He feared justice would not be served.

  Trying to look at the robbery from an outsider's view, he knew it looked pretty cut and dried.

  Cole called him back to the cell.

  "Yeah, Cole, something I can do for you?" Harry asked, his voice irascibly patient.

  "Naw. I just wanted to thank your ma for all the good meals. And…" Cole stared at the floor for a while then looked back at Harry. "We're gonna hang, aren't we?" He sounded calm, and his gaze was steady.

  Harry's booted toe scratched the floor. The way Cole said that—not surprised, not frustrated or angry, but controlled and accepting—had Harry looking at the man.

  "I don't know. This judge doesn't seem to have much understanding of people, or life. I wish I could predict the future, but I can't."

  "You know!" Morey's frown encompassed them.

  "No." Harry shook his head, and tried to keep himself in check. "I really don't know, Morey. And in your case, I don't much care. But that kid doesn't deserve to die, and I really figured, for the crime you'd just do some time. It's that judge…"

  "He's a hangin' judge, ain't he?" Morey asked, his voice raising.

  "I don't know. I've never met the man before the other day. I did go talk to him about the three of you. I laid it out as best I could. It was up to him whether he listened."

  "Sheriff, about Mae… If anything goes wrong… could you see after her every now and then?" Cole asked. "She's a good woman. She tried to teach me right. I just didn't listen. I deserve whatever comes, but you're right, this kid… He just fell in with the wrong people. Me and Morey. I got a lot of regrets, but I've made peace with my maker. I made peace with him the minute I laid eyes on that judge. He's a hanging judge, all right. I can't change that. And you can't neither."

  "Have you seen him before?"

  "Nope, I just looked into his eyes and I knew."

  Harry stared at him a moment, taking in the suddenly confident way he stood and moved. "It's not over yet. So stop worrying about it. But if it comes to that, yeah, I'll look in on her every now and again. That's a promise."

  "Thanks. That's all I can ask."

  "I didn't think I'd hang?" the kid cried out, his voice broke with anguish.

  "We don't know that for sure. Don't worry until tomorrow, kid." Harry tried to sound more positive for their sakes'.

  "I ain't ready to die." Tears streamed down Danny's face. "I don't have no peace. I’m scared."

  "Danny, no one is ready to die," Harry said. "You can't prepare for it. You can't be ready to die. And I'm hoping this judge takes into consideration the things I've said. Because I did speak up for you, Danny. Not that you are an innocent, but that you are a kid. But if I were you, I'd get right with my God." Harry sighed heavily and walked out of the jail.

  "God! Now he's preaching to us!" Morey screamed. Harry heard him tell the kid, "Stop your blubbering kid. We are gonna swing for sure."

  Once he reached his desk, Harry pounded it with his fist. His thoughts were on Cole now and the confident and determined way he handled himself. He hadn't seen many men make such a turnaround.

  Ma came over, bringing their supper. She set the basket down and went straight to her son. "Don't fret so. This will all be over soon."

  "Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of." Harry shook his head and flopped back in his chair.

  "You've done all you can do." Ma frowned.

  "Have I? I can't prove this, but I think Dillon had control over which judge they sent. He was so confident they'd hang."

  "Yes, and you know it. Now calm down. You and I are gonna have supper together, and then you are gonna get some sleep."

  "I can't sleep," Harry protested.

  "You can try. You need your wits about you. Tomorrow is liable to be an explosive day. You got to be ready for it, son. No matter how it goes."

  "Yeah, I guess you are right about that." He took some of the food out of the basket. "Jo Ella came last night. I guess I really let her down too."

  "What do you mean?"

  "She wanted a commitment from me. She wanted me to tell her how I feel. And I couldn't. It just wasn't the right time."

  "When is the right time, Harry?"

  "I don't know. When this is over, maybe."

  "It could be too late."

  "I know. I saw Dillon plop himself down beside her. I saw him lead her out of the courtroom. But if she can turn to him so easily, maybe it's best. The woman I take has to be able to cope with me and this job. She has to understand there are times that love gets in the way."

  "Do you love her?"

  Harry's head jerked up, and he stared disbelievingly at his mother. "Of course I love her."

  "Then what's so hard to say? If you can say it to me, why can't you say it to her?"

  "She's involved with Dillon. She says she isn't, but she is. Her eyes light up when she talks about him. I can't interfere with that. All I can do is accept it."

  "Did she say she was?"

  "No, but I see it in her eyes."

  "Maybe what you see is her feelings for you!" Ma said staunchly. "Look, son, Dillon may have beaten you in the courts today. Maybe he got what he wanted. But that doesn't mean he wins everything. Take a chance, and trust in her. Trust in yourself."

  "I got too much on me right now, Ma. I keep putting her and Dillon in the back of my mind to take care of later. Only, I am afraid you are right, later may be too late. I do love her. But I have to see this through first. I try to stay focused on my job. You know, the more I think on it, the more I think I’m right about Dillon and that judge. If there was just some way to prove it. And in time. He has strings with a lot of people. I keep thinking he is controlling this, and I’m just a puppet."

  "So what can you do to prevent it?"

  "Not much. Not much at all."

  "Exactly. You can't change what is gonna be. You can't make it all come out like you want it to."

  Harry looked at her long and hard. "I guess you are right. It's just that they surrendered so easily. They gave back the money. They didn't harm Jo Ella for which I am eternally grateful. And now they could hang. Only one of them deserves it."

  "Morey?" His mother rolled her eyes.

  "Yes, Morey. He did kill Dillon's pa. But I can't prove it. Maybe this job isn't right for me. Maybe I presume too much." Harry looked disgusted, his lip pouched out, his eyes were glassy from lack of sleep.

  "I can see now I misjudged you, son. I thought this jealousy was just about you, Dillon, and Jo Ella. But it's not. Dillon has found a way to have his way with this. But one thing you haven't figured in."

  "What's that?" He snapped, and was instantly sorry he spoke that way to his mother. She was only trying to help.

  "God. God has a way of straightening out things. And usually it is all for the better. He's more powerful than all the Dillon's in this world. So put your faith in him. He'll see you through this. I'm just sorry I can't help more than that."

  "I wish he'd hurry up and start as I’m getting awfully nervous." Harry tried to smile.

  "All in good time, honey, all in good time."

  Harry nodded and began to eat. He felt better after
Ma's visit. She had a way of making him see that it could work out. Somehow.

  He sighed as he locked the door behind her and settled in for the night.

  Maybe he could face this trial, and Jo Ella.

  He only hoped he wasn't too late!

  Chapter Thirty

  The next morning, Harry fed the prisoners and anxiously awaited his call to the courtroom. Nothing had changed his opinion of the judge, but he was resigned to accepting whatever decision was rendered.

  When someone pounded on the office door, Harry knew it was time.

  Cole stood straighter than any of the three. He marched into the courtroom with determination. The kid was stalling. Morey snarled at everyone.

  The judge hit his gavel and waited for everyone to be seated. "I will rule now on this case. I have given myself time to think about what each witness said. I have weighed the Sheriff's words too. But now I must rule, according to the laws of this state. I hereby find Cole Hartman, Morey Dickens, and Danny Turner guilty as charged of robbery, attempted murder, kidnapping and generally disturbing the peace."

  There were a lot of murmurings from the courtroom.

  "Order, order. Disrupting this court is fineable."

  The courtroom got quiet again.

  "It is my ruling also that the three of them shall be hung until dead on May thirty-first of this year in the city of Vada. May God have mercy on your souls." He hit his gavel and walked out. His face looked placid, unfeeling, unaffected.

  The courtroom came alive with chatter. Some were dumbstruck with shock. Others were celebrating before the celebration. Still others were quiet and sad. But it seemed almost everyone felt something when they saw the stream of tears falling down Danny's face. "I don't want to hang!" He cried aloud.

  Harry grit his teeth.

  Dillon walked up to him with a cagey smile. "Justice was done. I'm satisfied."

  "Yes, I can see that." Harry tried to keep the sarcasm from spilling from his voice. "You don't have to rub it in or wear it on your sleeve, Dillon. I got the message. You are one happy man. Good for you!"

  "They got what they deserved," Dillon announced loud enough for everyone to hear.

  Heads shook. Some nodded. Others turned away from him.

  "Even Danny?" Harry pressed.

  "He was a part of it. Witnesses saw him. You can't change the facts." Dillon looked like he wanted to laugh.

  Jo Ella came up to Harry's side. "I don't think this is a time for celebration, Dillon."

  Harry glanced at her, his heart lodged in his throat.

  "It is for me. It's justice, Jo Ella. Morey killed my dad."

  "Even so, Cole and Danny didn't," she protested hotly.

  The cold victory in Dillon's eyes settled on her. "May I escort you home?"

  "No thank you. I came with Ma. I'll leave with her." She turned her back on Dillon.

  Trish, Sarah, Nadine, and Maggie all walked up to Jo Ella and glanced at Harry. "We are just shocked. And so sorry…especially for that kid." Maggie said, her eyes full of emotions.

  Jo Ella took Maggie's arm and they followed Ma out of the courtoom.

  "You can't win them all, Dillon." Harry nearly smiled.

  "She's just upset about the kid. She'll get over it. She'll see soon enough justice was done. It will all be forgotten before long. These three men are misfits we don't need here in Vada."

  "Are you the judge and the jury, Dillon?" Harry asked as he cuffed the prisoners. "You didn't want to be sheriff, but you sure as hell want to run this town, don't you?"

  He left Dillon and took the prisoners back to jail. Cole hadn't reflected any reaction, which amazed Harry. Morey looked angrier than he ever had.

  "They won't hang me!" he shouted.

  "Morey, I wouldn't bet on that if I was you," Harry said quietly as he locked them in their cell.

  His armed deputies surrounded the jail, and he went to speak to them.

  "Be ready," he cautioned. "If Morey is going to make a move, it will be soon."

  "We got this covered," Jeff said as he relaxed on the rocking chair in front of the jail. "You're thinkin' Morey is gonna make his move now?"

  "Pretty much, yeah. He doesn't have much choice. It's that or the gallows. He has nothing to lose either way."

  "Guess that's true." Jeff looked at Harry. "What did you think of the verdict?"

  "I think it is a miscarriage of justice, and will set the system back for a long time. Why would anyone willingly give stolen money back, if they knew they would hang anyway? What is accomplished by them hanging?" Harry went back inside his office.

  May thirty-first was ten days away.

  Danny had quit crying. Cole was talking to him, in a low voice, calming him. Harry wondered what he said to the kid, but he didn't want to invade their privacy.

  Three days later, the platform for the hanging was built. It had been a long time since anyone was hanged here, and it was a sight to see. People came from all around. The constant pounding of nails made a horrendous melody for Harry.

  As far as the citizens went, some were happy about the hanging, others were reserved and quiet. Dillon spread his opinion all over town about how they would hang, reminding everyone of the date and smiling all the while.

  Harry's stomach clinched and unclenched about the whole thing.

  Cole and Morey both probably deserved hanging. This wasn't the first time Cole had been in trouble, just the first time he'd been caught. And probably the last time too, Harry reflected.

  Morey, on the other hand, had spent a few years in prison. He'd committed many atrocities. Harry was at peace about him.

  But Danny. The kid was green behind the ears. He hadn't known what he got himself into. And now it was too late.

  Saul the banker came by the jail. He eyed Harry a moment then asked, "So what's your reaction to this, sheriff?"

  "Does it really matter?"

  Saul shifted his weight and took a chair. "It matters to me, Harry. I respect you."

  Harry shook his head put some paperwork in his drawer and slammed the drawer too hard. "I don't know. Maybe I've been a sheriff too long. Maybe I'm getting soft. But the only one I wanted to see hang was Morey. He killed Dillon's pa. He admitted it in front of Jo Ella."

  Saul knitted his brow, and shook his head. "He admitted it?" Saul repeated.

  "Yep."

  "Then why didn't you charge him with murder?" Saul protested.

  "Because it's hearsay. Not enough to convict, in most courts. Still, he's going to hang, so justice did prevail for him. But the other two… I don't know. I thought they'd go to jail for a while. I really did."

  Saul nodded. "Cole's been in and out of trouble for some time. He was bound to get caught for it."

  "I guess so."

  "And the boy?"

  "That's just it, Saul, he's just a boy. He got in with the wrong crowd of people, and it's costing him his life. He doesn't have the time now to learn the difference. He's gonna hang right along with them." Harry pitched a piece of paper on his desk.

  "Yeah, I don't feel right about the kid. I mean… maybe you are right about him."

  "I think Cole somehow got some religion through all of this. He's at peace. I never thought that would happen, but it has. Mae comes to visit him every day. She don't cry or make a fuss. She hasn't had an ill word to say about any of it. She's one fine woman, Saul."

  "I always liked her. She made a bad decision to hook up with that no account Hinny, but other than that, she's been a good God-fearin' woman. I am a little surprised by Cole though. I thought he'd scream the loudest when the verdict was handed down."

  "The old Cole probably would have. Something was changing about the man as we rode back to the jail. I saw it. I felt it. And I can't say I wasn't affected by it."

  Saul nodded. "It happens sometimes. People get religion at the strangest times."

  "Yeah, it looks like." Harry tried to chuckle.

  "I wanted to thank you for the way you handled it all, H
arry. I mean none of us expected to see that money back. You brought every penny back, and you made it look so dang easy. We are all proud of you, Harry. You done a really good job."

  "I'm no hero, Saul, but ole Watchita taught me well about how to get the upper hand. I used it, and it worked. But them giving the money back, that was something. Morey didn't want that to happen, but Cole had already told me where it was. Danny didn't seem to care anymore."

  "How is old Watchita? I haven't seen him around town for a long while." Saul crossed his arms over his big chest.

  "He's dead. Died of old age, he did…"

  "He was a colorful addition to this town. The only Indian that was peaceful and here a lot."

  "That's true. He learned to like the white man. He learned to live with them. That's important. Wish all of them would," Harry said quietly.

  "Well, I better be going. Just wanted to stop off and say that I appreciate your good work on this. And that I have a few mixed feelings about the hanging myself. As we become more civilized, you'd think we could do away with hangings."

  Harry nodded. "Maybe someday, Saul. Thanks for coming by. It means a lot to me."

  "If you need anything, you just let me know. I'm very grateful."

  "Thanks. I'll let you know." He smiled and shook hands with the man.

  "You know…" Saul paused at the door. "Jonathon was nearly paralyzed by the robbery. He's recovering now, but he quit me."

  "No kidding. What's he doing for a living now?"

  "He's working for Fred at the dry goods. He said he wanted nothing more to do with banks."

  "So who replaced him?"

  "No one yet. I got a nephew I'm sort of training for the job."

  "Good for you. Life does go on, doesn't it?" Harry smiled.

  "You bet. See ya."

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Things seemed peaceful enough, so Harry decided to take a day off since Jeff was better now and able to resume all his duties. Harry considered him his most trusted deputy. He left him in charge and went to Ma's.

  "I want to take her out and ask her to the next dance," Harry said quietly as his mother prepared lunch.