Whispers on the Wind

by Brenda Jernigan

  “John told me I was the one who killed Big Jim, and I would always remember his murder, and the blood. But if I was asked what happened, my mind would go blank and I wouldn’t be able to remember anything.

  “I grabbed for his coat and tore a small piece of the green material as I begged him to let go of my arm, but he kept pushing my arm with the knife into Jim. Then he made me help him drag Jim in front of the fireplace. I could hear gurgling coming from Jim’s throat, and I knew he wasn’t dead yet. And I couldn’t do anything for him. Nothing!”

  Mary paused to gather her composure. She took a few deep breaths, then continued, ‘John grabbed my wrist and led me to my bedroom, where he pushed me, still clutching the knife, onto my bed. His last words were to hang onto that knife all night. I—I don’t remember anything else. When I woke up in the morning, I didn’t know what had happened.

  “I was scared. I knew I looked guilty. I didn’t know what to do, so I ran,” Mary finished with a sob.

  “I have no more questions, Your Honor,” Thunder said softly, patting Mary’s hand.

  The judge looked at the prosecutor. “Do you have any further questions?”

  Bryan slowly rose. “How do we know she isn’t a very good actress”—he waved his hands in a big circle—“and making up this entire story to protect her own skin?”

  “That’s a very good question,” Judge Parker said. “However, if she is telling the truth, then we have an entirely different case.” He paused, rubbed his forehead, and looked up at the bailiff. “Bring in McCoy.”

  A few moments later, the bailiff escorted McCoy into the courtroom.

  “What’s going on?” McCoy asked.

  Mary watched the slimy worm walk into the court with all the confidence in the world, and he looked so innocent. If she hadn’t been in the cabin the night of the murder, she might be inclined to believe him rather than her preposterous story. But she knew what he had done. And if she’d had a gun right now, would have done everything she could to even up the score.

  The judge turned to McCoy. “Mr. McCoy, you realize that you are still under oath?”

  McCoy nodded. He wasn’t sure what had gone on while he had been outside with the others, but he knew he had control over the girl and she’d never remember anything. They didn’t have anything on him.

  “While you were out, we had Miss Costner hypnotized and she revealed some very interesting facts.”

  “By who?” McCoy snapped the words out He’d never thought about them finding another hypnotist But would the new man be able to undo his suggestions?

  “By Dr. Delaney.”

  McCoy appeared confident as he asked, “And what were those interesting facts?”

  “The small fact that you killed your own brother.”

  “What nonsense!” He gave a half laugh. These people were bluffing. “You have no proof.”

  Carter tapped Thunder on the arm and whispered, “Mary doesn’t look like she’s feeling well. Let’s ask for a recess.”

  “Your Honor, I would like to request a recess so that I can obtain some additional information.”

  “I could use a breather myself,” Judge Parker admitted. “However, in light of this very unusual case, Bailiff, I’d like to take Mr. McCoy into temporary custody. You can hold him in a hotel room.”

  “That ain’t right, Judge. I ain’t done nothing,” McCoy protested.

  “Time will tell,” the judge said. He stood and banged the gavel. “Court is adjourned. It will reconvene tomorrow at noon.”

  All rose as the judge made his way to the side chamber. Then Mary was taken back to jail.

  Carter, Thunder, and Delaney left the courtroom. After the revealing information, all three of them needed the fresh air and time to plan what they were going to do next.

  They hadn’t gotten very far down the sidewalk when a woman came running up to them, throwing herself into Thunder’s arms.

  Carter arched a brow. The woman was beautiful. “An admirer?”

  Thunder chuckled. “I sure hope so.” He eased the woman’s arms from around his neck. “This is my wife, Brandy. Brandy, this is Carter Monroe, the marshal Mary has been staying with.”

  Brandy gaped at Thunder. “Why was she staying with him?”

  “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you later.”

  Brandy glanced at Carter, then extended her hand. “Sorry for being so rude, but Mary and I have had problems with the law in the past It’s nice to meet you.”

  “Your reaction was very similar to Mary’s when she first learned I was a lawman. I’ve heard a lot about you and your family,” Carter said with a smile. “I think you and Mary are probably more alike than you think.”

  Brandy laughed. “Well, don’t tell Mary. If she was talking about me, just remember it was probably a lie. I’m not that bad. Now, tell me what was going on in there and why we have been barred from the courtroom. I didn’t like that one bit.”

  “I’m sure,” Thunder said. He smiled, and then looked around. “This is Delaney, a friend of mine.” After Brandy shook his hand, Thunder asked, “Where is everyone else? I’m sure they want to hear this, too.”

  “Come on, they are in the lobby of the hotel,” Brandy said, and tugged on Thunder’s hand.

  Everyone went to the hotel, where Thunder told his family what was happening. They seemed a likable group, Carter thought as he watched each one.

  “So, what are you going to do?” Scott asked Thunder.

  Thunder glanced at Scott and smiled. “That is what we are getting ready to discuss.”

  “Delaney, what will happen when we return to court? Will you have to hypnotize Mary again?” Thunder asked.

  “I don’t think so. I’m sure she’s told us everything she knows. What you need is some hard evidence or a witness. The only witnesses are Mary and McCoy, so that’s a dead end.”

  “What about the coat?” Carter asked. “She mentioned the coat as she remembered. The coat has to be the key.”

  “The coat is a key,” Thunder agreed. “We need to find McCoy’s wagon.”

  Brandy turned. “Who is McCoy?”

  “A snake oil salesman and Big Jim’s half brother,” both Carter and Thunder answered.

  Helen walked over to where they were standing.“When we came into Appleton, I saw a wagon outside of town,” she told them. “There was some funny writing on the canvas, like ‘World Famous Medicine.’ It was red and yellow and very hard to miss.”

  “Sounds like what we’re looking for,” Carter said, then glanced at Thunder. “Kind of glad your family came to see you.”

  Thunder chuckled. “Delaney, I know you’ve had a long trip. Why don’t you go ahead and get your room. Carter and I are going to check out the wagon.”

  “Yeah, I’m kind of tired. But I’ll be ready when it’s time to go back to court”

  Scott and Willie walked up to them. “Can we ride out with you?”

  “Sure,” Thunder said, ruffling Willie’s hair.

  As they rode out of town, Carter said to Thunder, “I brought the green coat we found at Big Jim’s cabin with me. Mary said in there that John McCoy was wearing the coat. I hope she isn’t confused in her facts. Maybe Big Jim was wearing the jacket and she got the cloth from him. I sure hope that isn’t the case. But I do think the jacket is the key.”

  “But how could she see the coat when it has hanging in Big Jim’s closet?” Thunder thought out loud.

  “Unless there were two coats,” Carter said with a smile.

  “Good point.” Thunder nodded. “Hope you’re right”

  When they reached the wagon, the four of them all but turned the wagon upside down as they searched, but the only things of interest they found were a couple of books on hypnotism.

  The tension finally got to Carter. He threw a bottle of elixir out the back of the wagon. “I could have sworn that there would be two jackets. Now we’re back where we started.”

  Willie marched up beside them. “Does this mean they
are going to hang Mary?”

  “Not if we can help it,” Thunder said

  “I can guarantee you she’ll not hang,” Carter assured Willie. “If it comes down to it, I might have to break the law to free her, but I will get her out of jail one way or the other.”

  Thunder glanced at Carter. “You love her, don’t you?”

  Carter nodded. The idea was still too fresh to put into words.

  Scott walked up to where they were. “This coat we’re looking for,” Scott said, “if Mary said she saw a man in the green coat, then I believe her. But I heard Carter say she was in a group of people, so wouldn’t somebody else have seen the man?”

  “Rick, my deputy.” Carter paused. “That’s it! It isn’t much, but Rick said something about the man in the green coat. So he’d have to have seen somebody.”

  “How long will it take for him to get here?” Thunder asked.

  “If he rides all night, he’ll be here by noon tomorrow.”

  “Well, what are we waiting for? Send him a telegram. It isn’t much, but it’s something.”

  Mary heard a noise in the front office. When she looked up, three women were being escorted in by the sheriff. He opened the door so they could enter the cell. She grinned as she recognized Brandy, Helen, and Ellen.

  Mary hugged Helen first and was comforted by her warm, motherly bosom. “It’s so good to see you,” Mary said.

  “It’s good to see you, too, but not like this.” Mary hugged Brandy and Ellen. “Thank you so much for coming. I was surprised when I saw you enter the courtroom.”

  “Thunder told us about the trial,” Brandy said. “They wouldn’t let us in. I still don’t understand why the family could not be present, and I’d tell that judge exactly what I think if I could find him,” she said indignantly. Then she paused. “However, I find it hard to believe that someone was controlling your mind. Lord knows, I never could control you.”

  Mary chuckled. “Thank you. I can’t remember when I’ve last laughed. I’m finding everything hard to believe. I feel like I’m in the middle of a nightmare, and I want someone to wake me up and tell me it has all been a very bad dream.” She sobered. “I don’t think things are looking very good for me right now.”

  Brandy gave Mary an encouraging smile. “Remember, my trial didn’t look too good either. And I know I killed the man. Thunder will think of something.”

  “I do remember. I’ll just be glad when everything is back to normal.”

  “What will you do then?” Ellen asked as she sat down on the small cot with Helen.

  “Hire someone to run the mine,” Mary said. “My mining days are over.”

  “And about time,” Helen said.

  “But what are you going to do?” Ellen asked again. “Come back to the ranch?”

  “No. I’m going to take some of that hard-earned money and buy a house.”

  “And settle down with that Marshal Monroe?” Brandy asked with a sly smile.

  Mary looked at her sister, wondering how she would even know that they had some kind of a relationship, however strange it might be. “What made you say that?”

  “We met him after the trial. He said you’d been staying with him. And he seemed very worried about you.”

  “He is so good looking,” Ellen said.

  Mary smiled. “Yes, he is something to look at, but he’s the marshal that brought me in.” She motioned toward the cot for Brandy. “Sit down and let me tell you the rest of the story.”

  Nearly an hour passed before Mary had filled them in with all the details.

  “Oh my,” Brandy said when Mary finished with her story.

  “So you see, Carter was only doing his job by bringing me in,” Mary said with a sad frown.

  “But he is still here,” Helen pointed out “If his job is over, there is nothing to hold him here—unless it’s you.”

  Mary looked at Helen and said, “I never thought about that”

  They all got up to leave. “It’s time for us to go, but we’ll see you in the morning. I understand we will be allowed back in the courtroom,” Brandy told her.

  “Wish me luck,” Mary said, then she hugged each one. And when she got to Helen, she said, Thank you for those words.”

  It was almost noon and Rick still hadn’t arrived, which was making Carter’s disposition a little more surly than usual. He volunteered to go get Mary from the jail and bring her to the courthouse.

  She was sitting on the edge of the cot when he came back with the keys. She stood as if on cue and moved forward right past him.

  Since they were alone, he grabbed her arm and turned her toward him. “How are you holding up?”

  She shrugged and then she glanced up at him. The pain Carter saw in Mary’s eyes made him want to slug someone.

  “I’m surprised that you want to have anything to do with me after hearing my testimony yesterday,” Mary finally said.

  Carter groaned and pulled her into his arms. “Do you think that anything they have said could change the way I feel about you?”

  “And how do you feel?”

  Carter looked at her a long moment. He had found something he cherished more than anything, and loving her made him more vulnerable than he’d ever been in his life. That wasn’t something he was used to. Carter was used to not feeling anything. But he knew the threat of losing Mary had begun to haunt him night and day.

  “You don’t know the answer to the question, do you?”

  Carter chuckled and pulled her into his arms. “Yes, I know the answer. I love you,” he said simply, and before Mary could say anything in response, he smothered her words with a hungry kiss. Carter had his answer with his kiss, because Mary kissed him back with all the love he knew she felt for him.

  He loved her. He really loved her. His words were like whispers on the wind.

  A part of Mary wanted to jump for joy, but—and it was a big ‘but’—she didn’t know what was going to happen today. She pulled away from him and said, “There are so many things that I want to say. However, I’m afraid. I don’t know what will happen today, so I can’t talk about a future until the verdict is passed. Until I know what my future will be.”

  Carter gave her a heart-wrenching smile. “I understand,” he said, crushing her to him. “Let’s go.”

  As they neared the courthouse, Carter could see Thunder, Delaney, Brandy, and a stranger Carter didn’t recognize, but evidently Mary did. She broke away from his grasp and ran to the man, throwing herself into his arms.

  And the stranger wasn’t backing off, Carter noticed. As a matter of fact, he didn’t like the way he held Mary at all.

  “It’s so good to see you,” Mary told the man.

  “It has been a long time,” the stranger admitted as he kissed her on the nose. “You’ve gotten yourself into a real pickle this time.”

  “Who the hell are you?” Carter challenged.

  “I’m not sure that’s any of your business.”

  Mary moved away from the man, looking very embarrassed, and Carter thought she should look more than embarrassed because it was very evident that she cared a great deal for this sidewinder.

  “Carter, this is my brother, Billy.”

  Carter was still irritated. “Just how many brothers do you have?”

  Mary laughed. “Three. No, make that four if you count Thunder.”

  Billy held out his hand and said, “Marshal.”

  Carter shook his hand, but he’d be damned if he’d apologize.

  Thunder stepped up and placed a hand on Billy’s arm. “He has it bad.”

  “So I see,” Billy said with a laugh. “Mary, they have filled me in on what has happened. I didn’t realize that Big Jim had a brother.”

  “Half brother,” Mary said.

  A rider came galloping up at breakneck speed, and Carter breathed a sigh of relief. He grabbed the halter of Rick’s horse so he could dismount.

  “You could have given me a bit more notice,” Rick grumbled as he slid to t
he ground. “But I see that I’ve made it in time. What do you want me to do?” he asked as he tethered his horse.

  “We want you to tell the jury what you saw the night at the opera house,” Carter said as they stepped up on the boardwalk. “Remember the green coat?”

  Rick nodded.

  Before Thunder could instruct Rick, the Appleton sheriff and Marshal Forester strode into court with McCoy. McCoy glared at the group as he came through the doors.

  “Who was that?” Billy asked.

  “Big Jim’s brother,” Carter answered.

  “Sure doesn’t look anything like his brother,” Billy commented.

  “Did you know Big Jim?” Carter asked.

  Marshal Forester came back out and took Mary into the courtroom.

  “I’ll be there in a moment,” Thunder told her. Then he looked at Billy. “I’d forgotten that you took Mary to Gregory Gulch and stayed with them for a little while.”

  “That’s right. I liked Big Jim.”

  Carter took the green coat out of a tow sack that Delaney held and shook it out. “Did you ever see Jim wear this jacket?”

  Billy shook his head. “Nope. He was more into overalls.” He took the coat and held it up, then laughed.

  “What’s so funny?” Carter asked.

  “This can’t belong to Big Jim.”

  “Why?” Thunder asked.

  “Because Big Jim was a huge man.” He gestured with his hands. “He was this wide through the shoulders. There isn’t any way he could have worn this coat.”

  Carter and Thunder exchanged smiles, and then Thunder said, “Gentlemen, we have our defense. Let’s go present our case.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  For two hours, the trial had gone back and forth. Neither side seemed to be gaining an edge.

  When Rick was called to the witness stand, he explained to the jury about people thinking that they had seen someone, but they couldn’t describe him. Rick acknowledged that he had seen a man in a green coat, as well.

  Cross-examination was brief. Bryan cleared his throat as he stood. “You just said that you had seen a man in a green coat, is that correct?”