“Otis, you’re lucky I’m in a good mood and ready to go home to my wife. Otherwise, I’d toss your scrawny ass outside,” she said.
“A woman isn’t allowed to marry no woman. That pastor’s done lost his mind.” He shook his head, nearly falling off the stool as he reached for his drink.
“Elmer, he’s done for the night. Cut him off,” she said.
“Oh, come on! Now, you’re going to tell us how much we can drink? What’s next? Are you going to measure it while I take a piss?” he growled.
“Otis! Now, that’s enough!” Elmer yelled. “She’s still a lady and you don’t talk like that to a lady.”
“It’s okay,” Jessie said, holding her hand up to Elmer. “I’m about as far from a proper lady as you can get, but he’s right,” she said, looking at Otis. “Your mouth is going to dig you a hole that you can’t climb out of.”
“What are you going to do? Arrest me? I haven’t broken any rules. Leave me the hell alone,” he growled.
Jessie shook her head. “Keep an eye on him. I mean it, no more drinks tonight,” she said to Elmer. “I’m heading home.”
He watched her leave before walking back over to Otis, taking his glass away. “That woman doesn’t play around. I suggest you stop harassing her,” he said.
“She doesn’t scare me,” he sneered.
“She ought to,” Elmer sighed and continued in a serious tone, “She’s done a lot of good around here, and all you do is poke her with a sharp stick every time she comes near. I personally don’t want to see what happens when you finally do piss her off, and I’m pretty sure you don’t want to either.”
Otis huffed angrily as he stumbled off the stool and stormed out.
***
It was dark in the General Store when Jessie walked inside. She struck a match and lit a walking candle so she could find her way up the stairs. Ellie was asleep in the bed when she stepped into the room. After splashing some water on her face at the washing bowl, she removed her clothes, relieved herself in the chamber pot, and climbed into the bed.
Ellie slept with her hair in a long braid so that she could easily move, leaving the soft skin of her neck exposed. Jessie cuddled close, pressing her lips to the delicate area. Ellie stirred, then rolled in her direction.
“How was your night?” she whispered.
“Quiet.” Jessie wrapped her arms around Ellie. “Lying here with you feels like a dream,” she said, pulling her close.
“Then I don’t ever want to wake up,” Ellie murmured, kissing her softly.
“Me either,” Jessie replied, rolling her to her back and deepening the kiss.
TWENTY-ONE
Justice Walker T. Samuelson arrived in town a few days later on a stage out of Red Rock. He was taller than Jessie expected, and slightly round in the midsection. His gray hair was oiled and perfectly combed, and his matching mustache was twisted into two long, straight lines over his upper lip. He wore a dark suit with a light gray vest, a black puff-tie, and a bowler hat.
“You must be the Town Marshal, Jessie Henry,” he said, holding out his hand.
“Yes, Sir,” she replied. “This is my deputy, Bert.”
“Nice to meet you both.” He looked around, pursing his lips. “Where’s Mayor Montgomery?”
“In his office. He sent us to escort you over.”
“Well, now…I’ve been here before. I’m sure I can find my way. That is…unless, it’s dangerous on the street in the middle of the day?”
“Oh, no Sir. Boone Creek is a safe place. If you’d like to go on your own, simply take Main Street here, all the way to the end where it turns into Main Street Curve. Follow that around and you’ll see his office on the left hand side,” she stated.
“I’ll do that,” he said. “How about you two meet me at the mayor’s office in a couple of hours, say four o’clock?”
“Sure thing. Enjoy your stay here in Boone Creek,” Jessie replied with a smile as she tipped her hat to him.
Bert stood next to her as they watched the man walk away. “I have a feeling I’m not going to like him,” he whispered.
Jessie laughed. “Bert, you like everyone.”
“That’s not true.”
“Name me one person you don’t like.” She crossed her arms and waited.
He thought for a minute, switching his weight from one foot to the other.
“See, I told you. Come on, it’s hot as hell out here,” she said, wiping the sweat from her brow. They’d started leaving their coats behind in the middle of the day, due to the summer heat, but with the justice in town, they’d kept them on.
As they passed by the theatre, Jessie looked over at the Closed sign and sighed.
“I wonder if it will ever reopen,” Bert muttered.
“Not as long as that clown, Nicolas Munroe, is pretending to buy it.” She shook her head. “It could be a great establishment for this town.”
“It used to be, before the thugs took over the town. Molly and I went there a time or two to see the shows.”
“I was hoping I’d see you,” Ellie called from the sidewalk of the General Trade, where she was cleaning the outside of the store windows. “I made fresh biscuits with honey jam.” She smiled.
“Perfect timing, I’m starved,” Jessie said, kissing her cheek as she passed by and stepped inside the store.
“Bert, you’re welcome to have some, but you better hurry. She’ll eat them all before you get a bite.”
“Molly sent me with small cakes this morning,” he replied.
“I’ll have to trade recipes with her.”
“She’d love that, Mrs. Henry.”
Jessie walked back outside a minute later with her mouth full of biscuit and another one in her hand. “Here,” she said, handing one to Bert. “Try this.”
“I’m fine. I ate all of those small cakes this morning.”
“Oh, eat the damn biscuit, Bert,” Jessie retorted.
Ellie covered her mouth with her hand as she bit back a laugh.
“This is delicious,” he mumbled between bites. “You simply must trade recipes. I’ll let her know this evening.”
“Sure thing, but only if you stop calling me Mrs. Henry,” she chided. “You were in my wedding for crying out loud. I consider you and Molly my friends.”
Bert smiled and nodded politely.
“I saw the justice arrived a bit ago. He stopped in for a tin of tea leaves on his way to see the mayor.”
“Did you give him the mint ones?”
“No. I ran out a few days ago. He was looking specifically for peach leaves, said his wife loves peach tea, but I’ve never had any in here. Apparently, they’ve been out of them for a while in Red Rock. He was trying to surprise her, I suppose.” She finished the window and carried her washing stuff inside.
“Speaking of Justice Samuelson, we’re meeting with him and the mayor in a little bit. I’m not sure how long we’ll be, but I’ll come for supper afterwards.”
“That’s fine.” She smiled, dabbing the sweat from her forehead onto a towel.
“Let’s have another walk around town before we have to head over there,” Jessie said to Bert.
***
Some of the town folk waved, others stopped to say hi as Bert and Jessie made their rounds. Otis stood outside of the saloon, mumbling something as they passed.
“Why does that old drunk hate you so much?” Bert questioned. “I don’t remember him giving Marshal Milford a hard time, then again, everyone pretty much walked all over him.”
“Maybe that’s what it is. I uphold the law and bring order to the town. Or, he could just hate women. I couldn’t care less,” she replied, pulling a cigar from her pocket. She struck the match on the bottom of her boot and lit it with ease.
“Marshal Henry,” Pastor Noah said, nodding in her direction as they passed by the church. “How’s married life treating you?”
“Pretty good so far,” she called.
<
br /> “That’s grand,” he replied. “I’m looking forward to seeing you on Sunday. I hope you have your spot all picked out.”
“Sure do,” she answered as they kept walking.
“What was that all about? You don’t go to church.”
“Oh, just a little deal I struck with the pastor, and no…I do not go to church.”
As they went further around the corner, Bert could see his house, which sat closer to where Center Street cut through town. He waved to Molly, who was sitting out on the small front porch.
“Do you want to walk down and say hi before we go in?” Jessie asked.
“No. Let’s get this over with,” he said, looking in that direction one more time. “She’s been talking about having kids.”
“Oh…” Jessie nodded.
“What about you and Ellie? Do you want kids?”
“Well…” Jessie cleared her throat and snubbed out the remainder of her cigar. “That would be something of a miracle, I believe.”
“I know that, I mean is it something you want?”
“We’ve been married all of a week. Kids haven’t exactly been part of our conversations.” She looked up at the sky. “I never really knew my father and my mother was harlot, so I’m not sure how I’d be any different in the long run.”
Bert raised his brows in surprise.
“What about you?” Jessie asked.
“I don’t know. I suppose I’d be a pretty good father. I know Molly would be a wonderful mother.”
“Marshal, Deputy, glad you could join us,” Mayor Montgomery said, opening the door to his office after seeing them milling about out front.
“We’re a tad bit early,” Jessie replied, removing her hat and walking up the stairs.
“It’s fine. We were just waiting for you two to arrive,” the mayor said, walking alongside her.
“Good to see you again, Marshal Henry, Deputy Bert.” Justice Samuelson shook their hands when they entered the mayor’s office. “Please, have a seat,” he added, waving to the extra chairs in front of the mayor’s desk.
Bert sat next to Jessie, who was next to the justice. The mayor sat in his chair on the opposite side.
“I’m going to get right to the point. There’s no sense in wasting either of your time. When a felon, that’s what we call them in the justice system, dies in the jail while awaiting trial, or during transport to his trial, the court system must complete a thorough review of those events, which is why I am here. Now, Shamus Maguire was in your care from May 14th until June 3rd, is that correct?”
“Yes,” Jessie answered. “We left for Red Rock the morning of June third.”
“Did he have any visitors during this time?”
“No. We don’t allow jailers to be visited.”
“Okay. That sounds a bit harsh, but nonetheless, did you see or overhear anyone talking about Mr. Maguire? Perhaps in the saloon or on the streets?”
“There was some talk, but I wasn’t involved with any of it.”
“All right. Take me through June third.”
Together, Bert and Jessie gave a recount of the ambush, the roundup of the bodies, and their return to Boone Creek.
“Do you have any idea where the other four men came from? Or how they knew where to find you?” he asked.
“They came up on us from behind, but they could’ve come from anywhere,” Bert said.
“They knew where we’d be and when we’d be there because of this,” Jessie stated, handing him the Frontier Ledger. “Turn to page two.”
Justice Samuelson glanced at the mayor, then flipped the paper over.
“That list right there on the left is all of your felons and their trial dates. Shamus’s gang could’ve read that and lied in wait, knowing how long it would take to get to Red Rock from Boone Creek, as well as the path we’d take. We pretty much handed ourselves to them.”
“Justice, I’d like to know how many transports have been ambushed in the past six months,” Mayor Montgomery chimed in. “I believe this list is putting sheriffs and marshals in jeopardy out in the open terrain, and thus should be stopped at once.”
“Well, now, Mayor, we can’t just shut down the newspaper.”
“I’m not saying the paper, but this column should cease. Aren’t our law officer’s lives more important than the criminals?”
“Part of a law officer’s job is to protect the criminals while they’re in custody.”
“I agree, but who is going to protect our law officers?” the mayor asked.
“This information is printed in the newspaper because the public has a right to know about these upcoming trials. It’s the only way to inform everyone at the same time. We simply can’t wire everyone who may wish to witness one of these trials. Therefore, we put it the newspaper.”
Mayor Montgomery shook his head. “Bert and Jessie, will you step out in the hall for a minute?”
Jessie nodded and stood up. Bert followed her out of the room.
“You want to shoot that ridiculous mustache off his face, don’t you?” he said.
“What gives you that idea?” She grinned.
“He can’t honestly think we planned this whole thing.”
“Of course he doesn’t. He knows the truth. Since they advertise all of the trial information in the paper like it’s news, I’m sure this isn’t the first time a transport has been attacked. He just won’t admit it. He’s here using his authority to stroke his own ego at our expense,” she spat.
Bert shook his head in disgust. “I would like to see what happens when he’s the one out there dodging bullets, and getting dragged by buggy, while a bunch of madmen are trying to kill him!”
“He’d piss all over himself,” she laughed.
***
The mayor waited for Jessie and Bert to leave his office, then he continued. “Walt, no disrespect. You’re an old friend. I’ve known you since before you became a judge. You and I both know my marshal and deputy had nothing to do with Shamus Maguire’s death, or the deaths of his gang members. They were attacked and fought back to save their own lives.”
“I’m not disagreeing with you, Horace. I’m sure they read about the trial and planned the ambush all along, but there are laws in place, which I must follow, and one of them is conducting a full review on a situation such as this one. You know we’ve had sheriffs and marshals taking the law into their own hands for far too long. This new law is to hold them accountable for their behavior, and help prevent it from happening.”
“I understand. Where do we go from here? You have their statements.”
“I need to see the wagon, and we’ll have to exhume the bodies.”
“What on earth for?” Mayor Montgomery barked.
“I need to see how they died.”
“For crying out loud, they were shot. What more do you need to see? Our town doctor looked over them before they were buried. Maybe he can give you his statement, instead of digging them up. I’m all for justice, but this is taking things a little too far, in my opinion.”
“I know you well, and I know you won’t purposely steer me wrong. Let’s look at the wagon and talk with the doctor. If everything checks out, I won’t have the bodies exhumed. Deal?”
“Fine.” Mayor Montgomery stood up. “The wagon is in the stable,” he said, before pulling his office door open. “Come on. We’re going to see the wagon,” he stated to Jessie and Bert as he put his hat on.
They both nodded, following behind the men as they made their way out of the building and down the street. No words were exchanged as they walked along.
***
“Mayor,” the stable-hand said cheerfully. “What can I do for you?”
“We need to see the wagon from the ambush.”
“It’s in the back here. We have it on the repair schedule, but were told to hold off until you gave the go ahead.”
“That’s correct,” Mayor Montgomery replied. “We were
waiting for this man, Justice Walter T. Samuelson. He’s here to have a look at it.”
“Well, right here it is.” He pulled the cloth covering back, revealing the bullet riddled and bloodied wagon.
“My word,” Justice Samuelson gasped. He walked around, taking in the array of holes, and noticed the blood stains in the back. “This will do for now. I’ll speak with the doctor in the morning, and let you know of my decision,” he said, looking at the mayor.
“All right. Do you know your way to the hotel?”
“We can escort you, if you’d like,” Jessie said.
“I’ll be fine,” he replied. “Have a good evening.”
Jessie watched him walk away. “I thought this wasn’t supposed to get messy?”
“It’s not. He’s just doing his job. The justice department is trying to put a stop to Frontier Law.”
“Why is he meeting with Doc Vernon?” Bert asked.
“He wants to dig up the Dirty Boys’ bodies.”
“What the hell for?”
“To see their bullet holes, I guess,” he sighed. “After seeing his reaction to the wagon, I doubt he’ll go any further. But, it’s best that you both be available in the morning anyhow.”
“We’ll call it an early night, tonight,” Jessie said.
***
Jessie was sitting at the dining table in the room above the General Trade, which they called home, eating eggs and biscuits with honey jam. She smiled at Ellie when she handed her a cup of coffee and sat down.
“I don’t see how digging up those men has any merit. They tried to kill you and Bert. The holes in the wagon are proof of that,” she said. “He might as well let them rest in hell where they belong.”
Jessie raised a brow, but didn’t say anything.
The bell above the door down below, rang loudly, indicating someone had walked into the store.
“Marshal!” Bert called.
“He must have news,” Jessie said. “Be down in a minute!” she yelled, grabbing a biscuit to go. “I love you. I’ll let know what’s going on as soon as I can.” She softly kissed Ellie’s lips and grabbed her hat before rushing down the stairs.
Boone Creek Page 13
