The Proclaimers, page 11
Walt stayed just inside the tree line as he rode his horse slowly. When he picked up sight of the side of Moses’ barn, he was about 150 yards away. The two small buildings were tucked back amongst the trees, and had it not been for the odd wisps of blue smoke there would have been no sign of life in the small valley at all. This provided a degree of security, but eventually a proclaimer would find it and make his presence known.
Walt picked his way through the pines to come out near the solid corner posts and heavy roofing beams of the barn. As he turned his horse around the corner of the barn he almost ran into Moses, who was standing by the open barn door with a Winchester aimed at Walt’s chest.
Walt stopped and splayed his palms to show that he was not handling a weapon. ‘It’s me, Walt Garfield,’ he said.
Moses kept his rifle aimed. ‘I heard shooting.’
‘Sheriff Townsend was gunned down just over the ridge.’
The big man’s face showed immediate concern. ‘Who by?’
‘Three Tennessee boys.’
‘Why?’
‘One said that they thought he was Justin Roy trying to escape.’
Moses eyes flashed.
‘He also said that more are coming up from Red Oak to join in the hunt. Seems the local blacksmith is selling the word that your boy is up here.’
Moses did not respond to the bait. ‘Where are the men who killed the sheriff?’
‘Two dead, one escaped.’
‘You kill them?’
‘Yes, I killed them,’ said Walt as he eased out of the saddle. ‘Can I water my horse?’
Moses seemed lost as to what to do, then slowly lowered the barrel of his rifle, turned and started to walk towards the hut. Walt followed until they were close to the veranda.
‘Water barrel ’tis around the far side.’
Walt nodded and walked past Moses, leading his horse, but as he got to the corner of the cabin he glanced back to see Moses duck up the far side of the building and out of view. As his horse drank he undid the cinch around the girth and ran his hand down over each leg, checking with a squeeze to ensure there was no soreness that might hinder any long hard ride that might lie ahead.
While leaning down, with his hand close to a hoof, he looked along the length of the log wall and sighted the slightest of movements upon the ground. It was the tip of a boot toe, just protruding, no more than an inch or two.
Had it remained stationary Walt doubted if he would have noticed it, as its colour was dark like the stones upon which it stood. But its owner had shifted his weight just a little and Walt’s eye had picked up that slight movement. His gut told him that it was Justin Roy.
‘Your mother told me where to come to look for you,’ he called to the toe of the boot. ‘She is worried.’
He received no response, but Walt saw the toe move again, slightly.
‘Sheriff Townsend is dead. The men who shot him down thought he was you, and there are more to follow. I’ve been sent to keep you safe, but I can only do that with your cooperation.’
‘Who sent you to keep me safe?’ asked the voice of the unseen owner of the boot.
‘A lawyer from Pennsylvania by the name of Harris. He and Sheriff Ireland of Bismarck County rode up here with me and the sheriff of Red Oak to find and protect you.’
‘Where are the sheriff and lawyer now?’
‘Probably waiting for me down by the main creek at the moment.’
The young man stepped out into the open, but Walt didn’t immediately look at him.
‘What is Sheriff Ireland doing here?’
Walt drew his hand back up his horse’s front leg, then looked at the young man. ‘He, like the lawyer, me, and your mother, don’t want any harm to come to you.’
‘Why?’
It seemed like a dopey question to Walt and it showed when he spoke. ‘Well, the sheriff wants to uphold the law, the lawyer wants to see justice done, and I guess your mother loves you. What the hell do you think?’
‘And you?’
It was an unexpected question and Walt thought about it for a moment as he ran his hand up his horse’s neck towards the bridle.
‘Me?’ he said. ‘Well, my reasons are far less righteous. I need the money. If I keep you alive then I get paid by the lawyer.’ Walt looked over at the boy, who was standing with his feet together as if at attention. He was a tall, lean young man in dark trousers and wearing a green waistcoat. In his right hand he held a Winchester.
‘Mind you,’ continued Walt. ‘If I was to shoot you dead and claim the reward on your head, I’d be paid handsomely and save myself a lot of trouble.’ Walt started to grin as he thought of what he had just said.
Justin Roy didn’t, he just looked stern. ‘I was found not guilty by a jury in a court of law.’
‘I heard that,’ said Walt.
‘So why has a reward been placed on me?’
Walt turned his head towards his horse while he thought for a second or two, then he looked back towards Roy.
‘I don’t rightly know the answer to that. Maybe it’s the revenge of a father. Or maybe it’s anger at the loss of a son. Or maybe it’s a crazy old man with far too much money? But as I said, I don’t truly know and to be honest, it doesn’t really matter at the moment. The reward has been set and you are the target.’
The young man’s shoulders slumped. ‘I should go and hide.’
‘And where are you planning on doing that?’
‘I know these hills. I know places.’ There was a touch of defiance in his voice.
‘So you hide. It still won’t change anything. You’ll still be a walking target. You can’t hide all your life.’
Moses stepped out from behind the cabin to stand behind Justin Roy. ‘I will protect him.’ In his hand he held an axe.
Walt rubbed his hand across his chin, then spat on the ground. ‘Ah geezas,’ he said. ‘Well, that should work out real fine then.’ The derision was clear in his voice.
The boy came to Moses’ defence. ‘Uncle Moses was a soldier. Fought in the war. Has a medal.’
‘A medal? Well, that should help.’
The comment seemed to infuriate the young cowboy.
‘What do you suggest Mr Garfield?’ came Moses’ deep voice.
‘I suggest that we all saddle up then head back down to the main creek to join up with Sheriff Ireland and Lawyer Harris.’
‘And then?’
‘And then I take your boy all the way to Pennsylvania.’
‘Why will he be safe in Pennsylvania and not some place else, closer?’
‘He won’t be any safer in Pennsylvania than he will be in any other place. But it is in Pennsylvania that the proclamation was posted and it’s in Pennsylvania that we need to have it rescinded.’ Walt looked directly at Justin Roy. ‘Until then a ten thousand-dollar reward can be claimed on the basis of a photograph of you lying dead and naked to show off all the bullet holes. Until the offer of that reward is removed, you will continue to walk around with a target glued to the front and back of your shirt. So that’s why you need to go to Pennsylvania.’
‘But what can I do when I get there, to have the reward lifted?’
‘You speak to the father of the man you killed.’
The young man shuffled uneasily on the spot. ‘What makes you think that there is anything I can say that will make him change his mind.’
‘Probably nothing.’
‘So what is the use of going then?’ asked Moses.
Walt now got a little irritated. ‘Well, maybe because I can’t think of any other way.’ He then took a breath and softened his tone. ‘Or maybe it’s easy to have a man killed when you have never met him; but not so easy when you have to look him in the eye and still tell him that you plan to have him executed. Besides,’ said Walt, ‘there are some things I would like to discuss with him as well, and I am known,’ Walt pulled on his trousers to hitch them up a little, ‘to be a very persuasive man.’
CHAPTER 34
It Works
Walt’s idea of going to Pennsylvania to confront Richard Tambling was half-baked and he knew it, but he just couldn’t figure out any other way to resolve the situation. That he could get access to Tambling via Lawyer Harris seemed to make some sense of such a stunt, at least in his mind, but the details of any plan were sketchy, very sketchy indeed. He knew that it would be too dangerous to head back south or east towards Red Oak where they had left their horses, as he would run into proclaimers heading for the hills to lynch Roy. Therefore, it seemed that the best chance was to head west and into Nebraska. If he could make it to Omaha, he could travel by train to Chicago and on to Pennsylvania. Once aboard the train, on a first class ticket, he would lock Roy in his compartment and relax. Then, he told himself, he could discuss the detail with the lawyer, on a colleague-to-colleague basis, about the best way to tackle Tambling.
As Justin Roy packed up his few belongings, Moses acted like a caring uncle, helping to wrap his bedroll and secure his personal items. He then made it known that he would like to ride along with them, at least as far as the creek, to meet up with Lawyer Harris and Sheriff Ireland.
‘Is that OK with you?’ Moses asked.
‘That is exactly what I want you to do. And I don’t mind if you come all the way to Pennsylvania with us,’ said Walt. ‘I can use an extra gun and besides, I’m damned if I’d stay around here and get shot at.’
Moses looked concerned. ‘Why would I be shot at?’
‘The lowlifes who are interested in making a claim on your boy are willing to shoot at anyone, and then ask for a name. So it could be a simple case of mistaken identity.’
Moses looked down at the back of his hand. ‘I don’t know how?’
Walt thought about it for a little. ‘You should be OK during the day, but I wouldn’t venture out in the dark.’
‘Only a fool would mistake me for a young white boy. I’ll be fine,’ said Moses.
Roy turned to Walt. ‘Will Moses be fine, Mr Garfield?’
‘Walt. It’s Walt,’ Walt said. He looked across at Moses. ‘You ever had trouble up here before?’
‘No. I don’t see many folk and none in winter.’
‘Well, you’ll have someone knocking on your door this time and if they get wind that you were protecting their prize, well, I don’t know. All of them have records and most have killed for no good reason. If they think you have information they will get it out of you, one way or another. None of the proclaimers I saw in the Bismarck county hall respect anything, and least of all—’ Walt cut himself short.
Moses finished for him. ‘Least of all a Nigra?’
Walt paused before he said. ‘Yeah,’ then added. ‘But it’s nothing personal.’
Moses pulled a face. ‘And how do you figure that?’
‘They hate Indians, Mexican, Chinese, bankers and lawyers just as much as they hate you. On par, choosing between the two of us, I think most would shoot me first.’
‘Sounds like I’m in good company then.’
Walt recognized the good humour and smiled. ‘Yeah, I’ve met good and bad in each of those folk I’ve just named, and until recently I would have put lawyers at the top of the list. But Lawyer Harris is proving me wrong.’ Then he added, ‘So far.’
Justin Roy now looked very concerned. ‘Maybe you should come along with us, Moses, at least until this blows over.’
‘You good with a gun?’ asked Walt.
Roy answered for him, declaring. ‘He is a decorated soldier.’
Walt was unimpressed. ‘Not all soldiers are good with guns. Even the decorated ones who got a medal for counting beans.’
‘He was not—’
Moses cut him short. ‘I can shoot,’ he said.
‘What do you carry?’
‘I used to carry a .44 Colt 1860 Army. No need now, but I still keep it clean and oiled.’
Walt had to stop from saying, have you got any ammunition for that antique? but instead he simply asked. ‘Caps?’
‘Of course.’
‘You never bothered to upgraded to cartridges?’
‘No need to. I only ever use a shotgun now days.’
‘What type?’
‘I got two. The best is a Stevens 10 gauge.’
‘One or two barrels?’
‘Double.’
‘Now that could come in real handy, so bring that along too,’ said Walt. He switched his gaze on to the young man. ‘And where’s your rig?’
‘I don’t carry a handgun any more. Just a rifle for hunting.’ It was said in a pious voice.
‘Oh. And why is that?’ asked Walt.
‘It did me no good. I killed a man and nearly ended up in jail or worse, so I decided that from then on I’d stay away from handguns.’ It was said as a rehearsed declaration, the sort of thing pronounced in a tent or down by the river just before a baptism.
‘How noble,’ mumbled Walt sarcastically.
‘What was that?’ asked Roy.
Walt left the small cabin without answering. He returned with Sheriff Townsend’s rig in his hand and threw it towards the young man.
Roy caught it and looked down at the belt with the handgun in its polished tan leather holster and the loops that held gleaming cartridges. ‘I don’t want it,’ he said.
‘It’s near new and belonged to Sheriff Townsend.’
‘I don’t care, I don’t want it.’
Walt drew in a breath and his face took on that look; the one that says I don’t need this right now.
‘Well, let me tell you something, Mister-I’ve-Declared-To-Stay-Away-From-Handguns. That’s the rig a lawman was carrying when he came to find and protect you. He was gunned down before he could pull it from the holster to defend himself. The reprobates that shot him down thought it was you, then when they realized their mistake they knew that there was no going back, so they shot him dead in cold blood. Now strap that on to your thigh and be prepared to use it to protect your hide.’
Justin Roy looked at Moses.
Moses nodded his approval.
Roy slowly started to put the belt around his hips.
‘You’ll need to replace one of the cartridges,’ said Walt. ‘I tested it for you and it works.’
CHAPTER 35
Pennsylvania Bound
The ride back down to Honey Creek was done just inside the pines and close to the north side of the small valley. Moses led the way, followed by Justin Roy then Walt. The old soldier had strapped on his old Army Colt and was resting his Stevens 10-gauge across his lap, while holding it steady with his right hand. The big man sat straight-backed and rode with a light touch as he weaved his horse through the trees, stopping from time to time, but always indicating first with a low hand signal. Walt had to concede that yes, Moses had seen field service and was now quickly falling back into familiar ways.
Close to three hours had passed since Sheriff Townsend and Walt had parted on top of the ridge, and nearly five hours since the two of them had left the company of Lawyer Harris and Sheriff Ireland. Walt was now concerned that his delay in getting back would cause the sheriff and lawyer to come looking along the tributary that he and Sheriff Townsend had taken. If they had not heard the shooting on the other side of the ridge they could, unawares, easily ride into the open valley to present a target to Pat Harrison, who would be on edge and trigger-happy. If that happened Walt knew that he would have no other choice but to ride out into the open and intercept them before they ran for cover. To lose them before last light would cause precious time to be lost: time that could be vital to their chances of escape. So he told Moses of his intentions should that occur, adding that he should continue to escort Roy out of the valley and down to the tributary junction, where they would then meet up.
Moses answered with a crisp, ‘Yes sir.’
Gee, thought Walt, I could have done with such an obliging attitude in some of my deputies.
When they got to the end of the valley and to where the small tributary flowed into the narrow gorge, Walt voiced his concern that the sheriff and the lawyer might already have entered the valley.
‘No one has passed this way since you and Sheriff Ireland,’ said Moses.
‘You sure?’ asked Walt; showing his scepticism.
‘You don’t believe me?’ asked Moses.
Justin Roy added, ‘He was—’
Walt cut in. ‘I know: he was in the Army, but not everybody in the Army can read sign, and that includes me.’
‘Moses can,’ said Roy with defiance. ‘Indians taught him.’
Walt seemed inclined to dismiss this information, but he looked over at Moses. ‘Are you sure? No sign?’
‘I’m sure,’ said Moses.
‘OK, let’s get on to the creek and I’ll lead, I know the way from here. And I want them to see it’s me, not some someone who they think is a proclaimer.’
When they arrived at the intersection of the two tributaries that led into the main creek there was no sign of the sheriff or the lawyer.
Moses bent forward in the saddle to examine the ground. ‘Been a bit of coming and going through here,’ he said.
‘Yeah, four of us came through here mid-morning.’ Walt told him,
‘This looks later. Lots of sign.’
‘There were four of us,’ repeated Walt.
‘This is more than four horses and it’s recent.’
‘Let me see.’ Walt rode up alongside Moses and bent forward to look at the mass of hoofprints on the bank of the creek. ‘How many?’ he asked.
‘Well, three or four riders have gone up there.’ Moses pointed to the tributary where Sheriff Ireland and the Lawyer Harris had gone to explore.
‘There were only two,’ said Walt.
Moses moved his horse forward a pace and pointed. ‘The same have gone up, down and up again.’
‘What?’
‘Same horses. You can tell by the shoes. The others over there are different. They continued up Honey.’
Walt could see a large number of hoofprints, but guessed that Harris and Ireland had come back down the tributary, then gone for a look along Honey Creek. He was thinking of drawing his pistol and firing a signal shot when Roy asked,
