Beatrice and the Beast, page 44
The crowd began to murmur angrily at his words, but fell silent when he continued.
‘Zimmerman thought it would be easy to break her will and after she rebuffed Trainor’s advances, Zimmerman beat her and demanded she allowed the old bastard to touch her and do what he wanted otherwise he would have her stripped and taken out into the desert by his gunmen and left there after they had finished with her.’
Gasps came from the crowd and many of them muttered even more angrily.
‘He even gave the man who escorted her here, permission to rape her if he wanted to. But Zelletta is an honourable man and would never take advantage of a vulnerable woman. Not like this slimy worm.’
He poked Trainor with the toe of his boot and the elderly man moaned, before trying to rise to his hands and knees.
‘Anyhow, that poor gal fled the ranch and hid in the woods all night. Zimmerman expected her to come back when she got scared of being alone in the dark, but she has more spunk than he gave her credit for. So, the next morning, he was forced to send out his gunmen to search. But Zelletta got to her first and brought her here to town. When he found out she’d escaped, Zimmerman went crazy. He always had a temper, but I’ve never seen him so angry. He was raging on about how he would bring her back so his men could have her before killing her and he’d make Zelletta watch before killing him as well. Then he gathered five of his best gunmen including that evil shit, Billy Hunter and told them they could have her if they took her alive, but one way or another, he wanted both her and Zelletta dead. I figure most of you witnessed what happened when those gunmen tried to take her and Zelletta. Zimmerman and his men deserved what they got and, in my book, it was self-defence. That little gal was fighting for her life as well as Zelletta’s and anybody here would have done what she did to survive. So, I’m telling you now, marshal, a trial will be a waste of time, because I will be a witness and so will some of the ranch hands. I will speak out against Zimmerman and this toad here, and when the newspapers print what I and my men have to say about them. The senator here will be quickly excluded from the senate and will be vilified for the vile old pervert he is.’
Reynolds regarded Brennan.
‘Why did you decide to speak up,’ he said. ‘There ain’t nothing in it for you.’
‘I have a conscience marshal and what was happening out there, sickened me to my stomach. I am a cattleman not an enforcer who gets his way by killing. Zimmerman had that ranch teeming with gunmen and it didn’t sit well to have them driving poor families off their small spreads and farms. I’ve been thinking of resigning for a while and what happened to that girl, decided it for me. Especially when Trainor here started in wanting her hanged.’
The marshal looked over the huge crowd who were watching him intently.
‘As far as I’m concerned,’ he said. ‘She’s free to go. There’ll be no trial.’
There came a huge roar as everybody there cheered and some tossed their hats in the air. When the tumult had died down, Trainor, who had managed to get to his feet, glared at the marshal.
‘You’re letting her go free?’
‘Would you prefer to have a trial and be called as a witness to what you put her though out there?’
Trainor glowered, then turned on his heel and began to walk away. As he did so, he replied curtly, to Reynolds question.
‘Do what the hell you want.’
FORTY-NINE
Five weeks later, Beatrice was mounted on her sorrel leaving the town behind. Alongside her was Frank Zelletta mounted on his big bay with a pack mule trailing behind.
Both of them had recovered from their injuries and wore new riding clothes for the journey to who knew where. Beatrice didn’t mind where they went or what lay ahead as long as she could be with her man. After all; she felt she had already been to the gates of hell with him, so whatever lay ahead held no fear for her.
She had discovered earlier; the reason for Zelletta’s paralysis was the bullet which had hit his thick, leather gun belt causing it to slow down before coming to rest against his spinal cord. Luckily, once the doc had carefully removed it, there had been no lasting damage and he soon recovered. Charlie had taken a bit longer, but was now, back on his feet and enjoying the praise he received on a daily basis for his part in fighting Zimmerman’s gunmen. He’d been offered the marshal’s job and had been happy to accept, with Reynolds, who had become disillusioned by responsibility, happy to be his deputy.
Beatrice, on the other hand had been embarrassed by her fame and simply, wanted to hide away from all the adoration she received, which suited Zelletta. He got to monopolise her and they spent many happy hours of each day locked away in their hotel room. However, she did take the time to send a telegram to Ella and Sam Chambers in Wichita, informing them, she was safe and would visit next time she and Mister Zelletta were in those parts, tracking fugitives.
Just before they left, Charlie had held her in a fond embrace for a long time before stepping back and saying his farewells.
‘Look after that big galoot Beatrice. God knows he ain’t very capable without you to take care of him. You might think I’m joshing when I say that. But I ain’t never met a more capable woman, in my entire sixty-two years of life and doubt I ever will. For one so young, you’ve handled everything the west has thrown at you and come out on top where many of the toughest men around would have faltered. You sure have earned your spurs and that makes you a true western woman.’
‘Thank you, Charlie. That means a lot to me and I will take care of him. You take care of yourself too, because I want to see you settled down here next time we return to these parts.’
Charlie doubted, at his age, he would ever see her or Zelletta again. But he gave her a broad grin.
‘Don’t worry your pretty little head on that score. I’ll be here lookin’ out for you and Frank and when you come back, we’ll have a big shindig.’
She treated him to a beautiful, bright smile.
‘I’ll hold you to that Charlie.’
Charlie and Zelletta embraced and then shook hands warmly before the big man mounted and rode away without a backward glance. But Beatrice knew for sure, he was hurting inside, knowing he may never see his friend again.
She spurred her horse and caught up to him, riding easily, alongside his big bay horse.
‘Where are we headed Mister Zelletta?’
He looked at her and grinned.
‘I figured, as I aint never seen you looking more purdy than you did in that deerskin dress Elina gave you, we should see if we could get you another and what better place than the reservation where you enjoyed your stay so much.’
She stared at him for a moment. Then her face lit up in sheer delight.
‘Oh, thank you so much Mister Zelletta. I can see Elina and Grace again and you can catch up with Rappo.’
‘I guess so. I figured somehow, going back there, would make you happy.’
‘Just being with you makes me happy Mister Zelletta. But seeing our friends again, is the cherry on the cake.’
They rode in silence for a while, until Beatrice decided to bring up a subject, she had felt needed addressing.
‘Mister Zelletta?’
‘Yes?’
‘Why, after you rescued me from those woods, did you find it necessary to slap my backside?’
He grinned wickedly.
‘Partly because, at the time, I thought you deserved it. But mainly, because your ass looked so cute slung over my saddle, I couldn’t resist. I promise you though Miss Mellowday, I will never raise a hand to you again.’
She smiled happily.
‘I admire your honesty Mister Zelletta and I assure you, I feel honoured that you find that part of my anatomy cute. May I also say, you can slap my ass anytime the feeling takes you.’
She giggled uncontrollably at the astounded look on his face and soon, they were both laughing together. Finally, after they both calmed down, she addressed him again.
‘Mister Zelletta?’
‘Yes?’
‘Don’t you think, after living and sleeping together these past few days, it would perhaps be appropriate, to address each other by our given names?’
‘I was thinking the same thing Miss Mellowday.’
‘Then if I may, I will address you as Frank; Mister Zelletta.’
‘And if you’ve a mind, you’ll allow me to call you Beatrice, Miss Mellowday.’
They rode on without speaking for around fifteen minutes or so. Then Beatrice felt she had to speak her mind again.
‘Do you think we will ever be comfortable being on first name terms Mister Zelletta?’
He grinned and gazed at her lovely face.
‘I believe one day we will, Miss Mellowday.
The End.
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Ken Coleman and Verity Goodyear.
Ken Coleman, Beatrice and the Beast
