Mira settled back in the chair and tried to make herself comfortable. She resumed her testimony, “The story he told me I will remember for the rest of my life.” Her eyes focused on the fan at the back of the courtroom; her mind seemed far away. Her voice was strong and carried across the courtroom.
‘It was a hot day in the Texas panhandle. A breeze, even a hot one, would have been welcomed. Willy and John Baker stood by the grave of their mother until the dirt was shoveled over the casket.’
‘What are we going to do now, Willy?’ John asked.
‘I don’t know, I haven’t thought that far ahead. For now, let’s just get as far away from here as we can,’ Willy said.
‘I want to put some flowers on Mothers’ grave before we leave. It’s not right that she don’t have a bouquet of flowers on her grave!’ John said.
‘Flowers will not matter to her now,’ Willy said.
‘She should have flowers, Willy,’ John reiterated.
‘I don’t get you, John! Mother beat you more than she did me! Now you want to put flowers on her grave? Go over there and get some off that grave if you are so dead set on it!’ Willy said.
‘That’s stealing, Willy! I want to get her some store-bought flowers,’ John replied.
‘Suit yourself, Chump. I will be leaving as soon as I get my clothes together. If you’re coming with me, you better be quick. I plan on getting out of here before that low-down banker comes for that old car of Mom’s. The crook stole our land and home and if he intends to get this old car, he will have to find it. I need a drink to celebrate our new-found freedom,’ Willy said.
‘Willy, why do you have to go and say a thing like that? She did the best she could when she was sober. One of these days you will be just like her if you don’t stop drinking,’ John said.
‘John, there will be one big difference between Mom and me. I will not have a couple of kids to beat on and make their lives a living hell when I’m drunk. My drinking won’t hurt anyone but me,’ Willy said.
‘Well, after seeing what drinking did to our parents you should know better,’ John stated.
Willy had been walking away when he whirled around and yelled, ‘Don’t preach to me, John! I don’t want to hear it!’
‘Alright, I will get the flowers and meet you at Jesse’s house……which way are we going?’ John asked.
‘We will go anyway we want to from now on… I guess we will head south. Mom had a sister living in Houston. I guess we can go by and tell her about her sister,’ Willy said.
‘The boys left Lubbock a few hours later and headed south. They never made it to see me. From the pictures their mother had sent me the boys were fine looking and evidently the ladies liked them, and Willy liked them back. Willy liked the ladies and the bottle and tried to see as much of both as he could every day. On the way south John done the driving and tried to reason with Willy. They got as far as Temple before the money ran out. John went looking for a job while Willy looked for a place to live. When they met back up, John found Willy with that old mischievous smile on his face that always got them in trouble,’ Mira said.
‘I found a job, Willy, and they need me to start tonight. I will be working at a lumber supply store on Elm Street doing inventory,’ John said proudly.
‘Good, you work tonight, and I will work tomorrow night,’ Willy said.
‘Willy, I don’t like to fool people!’ John said.
‘Lighten up, John. I got us a room for half price! They don’t know we’re twins. By the way we go by the name of Billy Jack Conner,’ Willy said smiling.
‘Billy Jack Conner is dead! He died when he was ten!’ John said.
‘I know that, Dummy! Just say you’re Billy Jack. This will be fun!’ Willy said.
‘Willy, will you ever stop with the practical jokes?’ John asked.
Mira took a sip of water and wiped her mouth with a tissue. “It wasn’t in Willy to change his conniving ways,” she said.
Mira then continued, ‘Just how bad can you get? We are taking advantage of an old widow woman. That is just about as low as you have ever gone,’ John said.
“Willy just laughed at John and enjoyed his practical joke. The widow didn’t know she had two boys living in her back room paying rent as one. For Willy, life was a game and he didn’t take anything seriously. John didn’t like fooling the widow, but to keep the peace he went along. John figured to pay the widow back some way,” Mira said.
‘John worked long hours and the widow at the boarding house knew one boy. While the people that worked with John knew an entirely different boy. They were morally as different as night and day. Willy always dressed like John and their hair was cut the same. John did the working and it kept them fed. Willy, on the other hand, had other things on his mind. He was lazy and spent his time over in Georgetown courting a girl. True to form, it didn’t take long until he was in trouble with the girl’s family. Her father was the local sheriff and had a side business running the only liquor store in town. One night the sheriff was waiting for Billy Jack, I mean Willy, when he came a-calling. Conveniently, the girl’s mother had taken her shopping in Temple while her daddy lay in wait by her bedroom window. Just as Willy got to the window a lighter flared and lit the sheriff’s cigarette.’
‘Hello Billy Jack!’ he said. ‘I was about to give up on you, I figure it was about time we got to know one another. The talk around town is getting embarrassing. So tonight, I want to have a little talk with you and see if we can come to an understanding.’ The sheriff blew smoke in Willy’s face and continued, ‘Now listen, real careful son, because I just hate to repeat myself.’ Stepping out in the light from the window the sheriff stood tapping a night stick on the palm of his hand. He was a big man that seldom had a need to carry a gun. ‘You will either marry my daughter tonight or you will go to prison for robbing my store.’ Pulling a fold of paper from his pocket, he held it in the light and continued to stare down Willy saying, ‘To show you how serious I am, this is a warrant for the arrest of one Billy Jack Conner, signed all legal and proper by Judge Peele. Judge Peele is my brother-in-law and I promise you this is not a joke. You are facing hard time. Boy, you just fooled around with the wrong girl. Now it’s time to face the music. By the way, the man standing behind you is my deputy.’
‘Willy turned to see a large man step from the dark. For a long time, he stood looking at the two men as the deputy moved around beside the sheriff. The deputy’s name tag said Rusty and the two made a formidable and convincing pair. Rusty was a big homely boy and obviously didn’t like Willy’s good looks. It was in his mind to change them.’
‘Sheriff, why don’t I just turn around and leave your good town. I don’t have a hankering to marry your daughter or anyone else,’ Willy said.
‘It’s a little too late for that, Boy! There is talk here in town and my good name is at stake. You’ve made me look bad with your carrying on. After I work on you a while, you will make a right nice son-in-law. My gal sure has her heart set on you, but putting you in prison won’t bother my conscious either. The judge is waiting right now to perform a wedding ceremony, so you better make up your mind. The women folks will be pulling up any minute.’ the sheriff stated.
“Willy…I mean Billy Jack, sighed deeply. He saw little chance the sheriff would be obliging,” Mira said.
‘Sheriff, I have always had a problem listening to the voice of reason. I would like to be reasonable, though. You don’t want me as your son-in-law; I’m a shiftless cuss and hate authority, so just let me leave and I will not bother you good folks again.’
“The sheriff laughed out loud and Willy frowned. It was just not to be. Willy had made a mess of this situation and the sheriff was not about to let him off the hook. With no small amount of irritation in his voice the sheriff said. ‘Okay, Boy! If that is your answer, then you will have to live with the consequences. I can guarantee you from three to five years. Cuff him Rusty.’
‘This was the moment Rusty was waiting for.
He reached out to grab Willy’s hand and to his surprise found the younger man moving in his direction. Willy was an unusually strong boy and to the deputy’s surprise he grabbed him by his shirt front and gun belt lifting the bigger man completely off the ground and threw him against the sheriff. The two went down in a pile.’
‘That’s assault and battery of a police officer, Boy!’ the sheriff yelled.
‘Sheriff, I could accept that charge if it was from a real sheriff. You are nothing but a crook with a badge. I would take jail over being your son-in-law!’ Willy said.
‘Rusty tried for his gun but a short punch from Willy laid him out cold. The sheriff was a big man with a big bluff. He knew he was no match for the powerful young man, so he stayed on the ground. It didn’t take much to cuff the two men with their own cuffs. Attaching the end of one of the cuffs to a tree branch Willy turned to the sheriff.’
‘I’m sorry for this but I would be sorrier to be your son-in-law!’ Willy said. ‘I will be on my way sheriff. I have a long way to travel tonight. I would stay, but you are a bad man and I don’t see how this can work out.’
Mira Simpson cleared her throat and shifted in the chair. “Could I have another glass of water,” she asked. All eyes were glued on her and they were as quiet as a church mouse. Mira had their attention and after a drink of water she began again, “Oh, let’s see, where was I? Willy left in a hurry. He didn’t go back for his clothes or for his brother. He had it in his mind to contact him someway but for now John was better off without him. The next few hours he put as much distance between him and Temple as he could. He eventually ended up in Mexico and decided he really liked it there,” Mira said.
Judge Stewart noticed the tired look and voice of Mira Simpson and said, “Ladies and Gentlemen, we’ve had a long day. Let’s conclude here for now and resume at ten a.m. tomorrow morning.”
C36 - Moving Day
The Newton Post Office was no more than a small one room building distinguished only by a short flag pole and American flag. It sat at a dusty intersection of two busy dirt roads that connected East/West to North/South. Elmer Hayes breathed a nervous sigh as he entered the Federal Building. It had seemed at the time the Post Office would be a safe place to meet, that was sight-unseen. Now it looked like a remote place he could get a dose of lead that six pallbearers couldn’t carry. It was hot in the little building and every time a car passed, a new cloud of dust covered the building and sieved under the door. A few minutes later the door opened and the youngest of the West brothers entered. Elmer eased his hand under his shirt and in the small of his back he wrapped his fingers around the handle of a Colt 45 pistol. A little-old-lady came in and made her way over to her box. Sadie Smith closed box 23 and turned the key before turning to leave. Looking at the two men eyeing one another, her face took on a look of disgust. The West boys had a reputation that Sadie just couldn’t abide. The very thought of what that bunch of white trash down in the valley did for the community made her ill.
“You must be Rayford. I’ve heard so much about you. I could have picked you out of a crowd at the county fair. Before you say anything, I want you to know I did not kill Odell. He was my best friend!” Snake said.
“Marvin and Buford are sitting down the road at Shiner’s Store. I guess we will just ride down there, and you can tell it to the three of us at once!” Rayford said.
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Sonny Green walked around the house just a block from down town La Fuerte. “It’s a real nice place. I was thinking about something out in the country but being the new sheriff, I guess living in the city might be good for a few years!” he said.
Christine walked around the wrap-around porch and smiled at her husband and said, “It don’t matter much if I like it or not, mother is moving her stuff in the little garage apartment and her new son-in-law is paying her a lot of attention, so she is happy. I think I better get my luggage and move in. I have two strikes against me!”
“Does it bother you that there was a dead man sitting at your kitchen table a couple of weeks ago?” Sonny asked.
“That table and chairs better be gone! What scares me more is Earl Kaminski had an interior decorator purchase all the furniture and blinds without my assistance. I guess I will see what it looks like soon enough. You ready to carry me over the threshold?” Christine asked.
“Always ready to assist in any way if it means I can get my hands on you!” Sonny said.
Just inside the front door Sonny stood with a surprised look on his face. Christine looked around to see three well-dressed men sitting around her living room on her new furniture. Slowly, Sonny let Christine slide to a standing position.
“Sheriff Green, I apologize for the intrusion at such an intimate moment. Let me introduce myself and my associates.” Standing up and adjusting his tailored suitcoat he continued, “My name is Albert Swift, my associates Jeff and Angus.” Two bruisers cut from the same mold stood and adjusted their coats over the hardware strapped under their arms. They looked as out of place in a three-piece suit as a mouse in a cookie jar. “First, let me congratulate you on your new job and I assume your new bride. You are a very fortunate man. I believe the young lady is the daughter of Marvin West, an old friend of mine. The lady exploring the little apartment over the garage is Thelma West, Marvin’s wife, I believe,” Swift said.
“Albert Swift, I have heard your name many times usually with a negative connotation. You are the last person I expected to see. Your name is usually used in connection with the largest crime syndicate in the south. Now here you are standing in my living room. Please explain what you could possibly want here before you leave,” Sonny said.
“All that negativity you can dismiss as untrue speculations. As for why I’m here; I have to assume you know who owned this house before you. My lawyer was unable to purchase the property because you had already purchased it. I also have to assume it is no accident that you are here in the capacity of sheriff. I’m here looking for a former associate whose father, the doctor Samuel Hayes, owned this house. His son Elmer Hayes has made himself very scarce lately. It has been brought to my attention that my good friend Elmer has succumbed to a self-inflicted head wound in this very house. Now, Sheriff, I know you were not here, and neither was I and frankly I don’t believe Elmer would do such a thing. Is it your intention to look for the money he supposedly had with him? Maybe he came home and hid the money somewhere in this big house. I’m not sure that could be the case, but Elmer was a foolish boy when it came to money. The money rightfully belongs to me, Sheriff Green. Now I’m a fair man. I will reimburse you all you have invested in this house and furniture plus 20% for your trouble. I hope you will consider the offer. It will only last until I find Elmer. Then he will restore all I’m out because of his foolishness,” Albert Swift said.
“Swift, I couldn't care less about the 200 thousand dollars your associate Hayes, alias Snake, got from his little blackmail and double-cross scheme. The money, if found, would belong to Hamilton International. So just to let you know, we moved here to get as far away from Scrappin’ Valley as we could. It happened that Hamilton saw this as a possible location to build a new processing plant. I’m sheriff of this city first and on a retainer for Hamilton in case he needs my help. If the money shows up, you will be able to read about it in the papers. Good day, Gentlemen,” Sonny said.
“One more little thing I would like to mention to you, Sheriff. I can only assume you will be in touch with your father-in-law in the near future. Word from the grapevine came to me that Marvin has been inquiring into the location of Elmer. I must insist that the West family stay out of my business. It would make me mighty unhappy if they should find the Snake before I do. Please keep your family clear of Hayes and my business,” Swift said.
The three stood and made their way out to the front porch past Sonny. A long black Cadillac made its way down the street. Before getting in the car, Swift turned to look at the two standing on the porch and stated, “Green, tell
your daddy-in-law to leave this mess alone. I’ll take care of any retribution necessary for his brother’s demise without his involvement.”
Sonny stepped up behind Christine and whispered, “How about I carry you across the threshold one more time?”
“If I didn’t know better, I would be thinking you want to get your hands on me again! Actually, I was thinking the same thing! I’m sure glad there is that little apartment over the garage,” Christine said with a smile.
A minute later Sonny let Christine slide down to a standing position again. Sitting on the new furniture was Marvin, Buford and Rayford West.
“I take it you were waiting out back while Mr. Swift was here making veiled threats which he extended to cover the entire family,” Sonny said.
Well, hello, Christine. So, this is where my daughter lit-out-to when she learned I was getting out of prison? I was hurt that you were not in the valley to welcome me home. Instead, you took your mother and left in a big hurry. So, where is Thelma anyway?” Marvin asked.
Behind them a voice said, “I’m right here, Marvin. I saw the three of you sneaking up the back steps. I was hoping for a few more days of peace before I had to start dealing with you again,” Thelma West stated staring at Marvin.
Marvin turned around and looked at the woman standing in the doorway. “Well, Thelma, you are looking mighty nice. You have gained some weight and are dressing a lot better than you used to,” Marvin said.
“That just goes to show you what hope and peace-of-mind did for me while you were away in prison. From what I have just heard you are knee deep in something crooked and you ain’t been home a full week yet. You didn’t learn nothing in prison, nothing at all.” Thelma said.
Doing Time In Texas, Book 3 Page 18
