CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Blue Corrigan pointed at the sulking attorney. “Let’s take a good look at all this. Slick here was hired by Agon Bordner and brought to town last week for this hearing only. Bet on it. Bordner owns the bank, hired Hixon, and had him make up this tale about us robbing the bank.
“Bordner also owns the general store and tried to force the Sanchezes and us out by refusing our business. He took ownership of the biggest ranch around here in a shady way,” Blue continued. “To continue with Bordner’s attempt to own everything around here, I would like to call Mr. James Hannah to the stand.” He motioned toward the front of the restaurant.
Bordner growled, “This isn’t a hearing. It’s a joke.” He stood up and brushed the ashes off his suitcoat.
“Sit down. I’ll decide that, Mr. Bordner,” Judge Pence declared. “I’m sure y’all will have an opportunity to speak your piece.”
James Hannah appeared from the crowd at the front of the restaurant and ambled to the witness chair. After being sworn in, he straightened his glasses.
“Mr. Hannah, would you please tell the court of your involvement with Mr. Bordner?”
“Be happy to,” Hannah shifted in the chair so he could see the fat man clearly and glared at him. Only Deed seemed to notice he was wearing a shoulder holster under his suitcoat.
“Bordner tried to hire me to kill Deed Corrigan,” Hannah testified. “He was afraid of him and none of his men wanted to tangle with Deed. From firsthand knowledge, I can tell you they were smart not to try. The offer was five hundred in gold. I didn’t take the job.” He folded his arms for emphasis. “They tried attacking his ranch when the men were gone and that didn’t work. I was there. This fake robbery was the only way they could figure out how to bring down Deed and his brothers. It isn’t going to work either. The fat man underestimated them again.”
The courtroom exploded in a fury of voices. Judge Pence banged his gavel and banged it more to try to bring the room to silence.
“Thank you, Mr. Hannah.” Blue held up a sheet of paper. “This telegram is from the governor of New Mexico stating that Agon Bordner is wanted for murder and cattle rustling there. So are Bordner’s henchmen, Macy Shields, Rhey Selmon, Sear Georgian, and Willard Hixon.”
Waving his arms, Bordner shouted, “This is ridiculous! I am not on trial here. I have never met this man before. I am leaving. Come on, Dixie, let’s get out of here. I’m hungry.”
“Yes, you are, Bordner . . . and you aren’t leaving.” Deed snapped. “Neither are you, Dixie.”
Bordner’s mouth opened and his cigar fell on the floor. He couldn’t bend over to get the smoke and asked Dixie Murphy to retrieve it for him. Snorting, the cattleman leaned over and retrieved it. Bordner looked at the cigar and threw it back to the floor. Dixie grunted.
Blue turned back to Hixon, sitting at the table. “You are still under oath, Hixon. Did you fake the loan that the Regans were supposed to have signed? Be careful what you say. This nightmare is all over, but you might save yourself from hanging—if you speak the truth.”
Hixon looked down at his hands.
“I asked you a question, Hixon. I expect an honest answer.”
Sitting up straight, Tritt growled. “You don’t have to answer that.”
“No, you don’t. Slick here is right for a change. But if you’re smart, you will. Look at me,” Blue demanded. “You are involved in a scheme that killed innocent people. In a few minutes, I’m going to bring in a boy who survived the Bar 3 attack and he is going to identify who was involved. Another witness will nail Bordner himself and his men to that terrible crime. You can listen to slick or you can help yourself stay away from a rope.”
Across the table, Bordner demanded that Hixon remain silent. Dixie reinforced it with a threat.
Blue laughed. “Isn’t it interesting, Hixon. They don’t sound so tough anymore, do they?”
In a small voice, Hixon cracked, “Y-Yes, I-I faked the loan. I-I didn’t know anybody w-was going to be killed. H-Honest.” He looked up and his eyes were welling with tears. “Stay away from me, Shields.”
“What about the Merefords and the Hansons?”
“R-Rhey and his bunch killed them. Made it look like Indians did it. Like they did at the Bar 3 and took back the money Bordner paid them for their places.”
“Thank you, Hixon. May God have mercy on your soul,” Blue said.
Judge Pence banged his gavel. “I rule Blue, Deed, and Holt Corrigan are innocent of robbing the bank. I question that it was ever robbed.” He shuffled this robe and drew his long-barreled revolver, cocked, and aimed it at Bordner. “I also order the arrest of Agon Bordner, Rhey Selmon, Sear Georgian, Willard Hixon, and Macy Shields to be held for a hearing on charges of the murders of the Regan family and the families of the Merefords and the Hansons, and deceitful gain of the Bar 3, H-5, and the Roof-M.” He looked toward the front of the restaurant. “Rangers, do your duty. I request the Sanchezes to get their guns and help with this task. You are hereby deputized.”
Tritt waved his arms. “But . . . but—”
“Shut up, Tritt,” Judge Pence shouted. “You’re done here.”
Felix, Taol, and Cliente went to the pile of guns; Silka followed to get his sword.
As the two Rangers stepped forward with their guns drawn, Bordner pulled a hidden gun from his coat pocket. Murphy and the Bar 3 men drew their concealed weapons.
“Drop your guns, Rangers, or you die. You, too, Judge,” Bordner declared. “And you bastard Corrigans are going to die now. You’ve caused me too much trouble.”
The Rangers dropped their guns and raised their hands.
Instead of complying, Judge Pence fired and clipped Murphy’s shoulder. Murphy spun and fired back, blasting splinters from the judge’s table as he turned it over and ducked behind the heavy surface. Judge Pence peeked over the table and fired again. Three other men fired at the gray-haired magistrate, missing.
A wild-eyed Tritt ran toward the kitchen but was stopped by the restaurant owner brandishing a shotgun. He held up his hands and began crying.
Bordner turned toward Deed, smiled, and cocked his revolver. “Good-bye, Deed Corrigan.”
Deed’s hand dropped behind his shirt and drew his throwing knife. The blade hit Bordner in the heart so quickly the fat man didn’t react until it struck deep. Bordner’s gun went off, slamming a bullet past Deed’s head and into the restaurant wall. Bordner groaned and grabbed the knife to withdraw it as his shirt turned crimson. Deed rushed him and slammed his opened right hand down against Bordner’s gun-holding wrist and grabbed the gun with his other hand, yanking it upward and free. A thunderous blow across Bordner’s face with the gun in his fist followed. The fat man crumpled to the ground, knocking the table and his chair over as he fell.
At the same time, from the witness chair, Hannah pulled free his Smith & Wesson .44 Russian revolver and fired three times, hitting Shields and a tall Bar 3 gunman. He tried to move to the judge’s table for protection. Gunshots from the other Bar 3 gunmen hammered Hannah and he collapsed.
Blue withdrew the derringer from his boot, fired, and missed as the wounded Murphy and the rest of the Bar 3 gunmen headed for the door, brandishing their six-guns. The courtroom was wild with fear. Townspeople dropped to the floor, hiding behind chairs. One woman stood and screamed. Three men ran out the restaurant door.
Deed stalked the fleeing gunmen firing Bordner’s gun. From the other side of the restaurant Silka, Felix, Taol, and Cliente closed in with their retrieved weapons. Deed and Taol put four bullets into Murphy as the cattleman fired at Felix. The crooked cattleman stumbled to the floor. The blond-haired outlaw with the strange eyes stared at the dead Murphy, then spun toward Deed firing as he turned. Deed emptied his gun into the outlaw. The outlaw’s gun fired into the ceiling and dropped from his hand as he fell.
The rest of the Bar 3 gunmen were stunned, except for the scar-faced cowboy. He swung his gun toward Deed. Silka flew in and drove his sword through the man.
Suddenly it was over. Felix Sanchez commanded, “Drop the guns.”
Scared by Silka’s deadly attack, the gunmen dropped their weapons and raised their hands. With the help of the Sanchezes, the two Rangers led them away to the jail. Blue walked over to the massive body lying on the floor. He felt for a pulse. There was none. He pulled Deed’s knife free, wiped the blade on the fat man’s suit and pushed it into his belt. Agon Bordner and his dream of the Crown Ranch were dead.
Throughout the room, people began to stand, talk, and leave.
Along the front of the restaurant, Deed saw Atlee and went over to her. She hugged him tightly. “Oh, Deed, I was so scared.”
“It’s all over now.”
“I love you, Deed.”
“I love you, Atlee.”
From near the doorway, Silka started to go to Deed, then saw their embrace and stopped. He smiled, touched the brass circle worn around his neck and muttered a Japanese blessing of love.
Judge Pence walked from behind the table, returning his gun to his shoulder holster and shook hands with Blue. “Well done. I was hopin’ ya’d git the job done. Jason Regan was my cousin. I knew it was dirty work that got their place. Been trying to find a way to bring down that big bastard ever since.” He shook his head and explained that the Rangers also suspected Bordner’s gang of robbing stagecoaches, using knowledge of money shipments from his bank ownership, but couldn’t prove it.
“Wish we’d known that earlier.” Blue rubbed the sleeved stub of his left arm.
“Like I said, we didn’t have no proof,” Judge Pence said. “Say, I’d sure like to see that telegram.”
“Sure.” Blue stepped to the defendants’ table, retrieved the sheet of paper, and handed it to him as he walked to the slumped figure near the judge’s table. “I’ve got to check on James.”
Deed and Atlee hurried to Blue, who was holding Hannah’s head and talking softly to the badly wounded gunman. Hannah stared at him with glazed eyes.
“Stay with us, James,” Blue encouraged. “We’ll get a doc in here.” He looked up at Deed. “Get some water from the kitchen. And some towels.”
“Sure.” Deed went to the kitchen with Atlee following.
“I-I’d rather have some w-whiskey,” Hannah stammered. “Tell R-Rebecca that I’m sorry we aren’t going to get to K-Kansas.”
“Don’t be silly, James. You’ll be up and around in no time.”
Breathing heavily, Hannah took hold of Blue’s arm. “You think because I’ve been hanging out with Deed some of his luck has come my way?”
Blue smiled and nodded.
Hannah shut his eyes, then blinked them open. “Just in case, the rest of Bordner’s money is in the hotel room. In the dresser. Third drawer. F-For Rebecca.”
“Okay. But you can get it yourself when you’re up and about.”
Returning from the kitchen, Deed had a bucket of water and Atlee was carrying towels.
Deed looked toward the front door and said, “Doc’s here.”
Dr. Sandor hurried toward Hannah, looked at all the people milling around, and grabbed the closest two men, saying, “Take him to my office immediately. I will save him.”
Wide eyed, Rebecca came running into the restaurant just as the two men were carrying Hannah out. Sobbing, she asked the doctor if he was still alive. Reassured she grabbed her husband’s hand and went with him to the doctor’s office.
Meanwhile, the gray-haired magistrate walked over holding his tobacco spit can, almost giddy, and declared, “Thar’s nothin’ on this so-called telegram. It’s blank.” A grin was working its way onto the corner of his mouth until he saw Hannah being carried out.
“Is yer friend gonna make it?”
“He is a good friend and Doc said he’s going to make it,” Blue said and murmured a blessing. He stood and turned to Judge Pence. “You’re right. Holt told us where Bordner came from and we took a chance.”
Judge Pence laughed. “How about that thar witness who was going to incriminate Bordner?”
“That would’ve been Holt.”
“Holt? Your brother?”
Blue explained the situation, including Holt going by the name Sam Holton.
“I see,” Judge Pence said. “What about the kid?”
Blue answered, “That would’ve been Jeremy Regan.”
“I thought the whole family was killed. The boy’s alive?”
“Yes. He lives with us now,” Blue said. “We’re going to adopt him. Can you make it official?”
“Sure, we kin do it now. I’ll write it up. Goin’ back to what ya said, could Jeremy have identified any o’ them?”
He grinned. “No, I don’t think so. I was bluffing.”
Pence rubbed his chin. “I’d sure like to see the boy. I remember that he favored his ma.”
“He’s a fine youngster. We’re happy to have him as part of our family.”
“Those were some mighty big bluffs ya ran, son,” Pence remarked and spit into his can. “Wish I’d have known that earlier,” he smiled, repeating Blue’s earlier statement.
“Guess so,” Blue said. “We didn’t see another way. Didn’t think you’d let us do it.”
Pence nodded. “Wal, I’d a’ bin real tempted to let ya do it, but prob’ly not, bein’ that bluffin’ ain’t truly legal.”
Looking dazed, Sylvestor Tritt tiptoed from the kitchen, glanced at them, and hurried past.
Pence put out a hand to stop the lawyer. “Tritt, I don’ wanna see ya in my court ever again.” He spit into his can and stared at the disgraced attorney.
Tritt lowered his head and left. As he cleared the restaurant door, there was a commotion. Into the restaurant with only his right hand raised came Rhey Selmon in his bearskin coat. His shirt was bloody and he could only raise the one arm. His holsters were empty. Behind him with one of Selmon’s silver-plated guns pointed at the wounded gunman was Holt Corrigan. The other was shoved into Holt’s waistband.
“Where do you want this bear boy? Saw him hiding when I rode in. He wasn’t as brave as he thought,” Holt said. “Go on. Get in here.”
“Oh, hi, Sam,” Blue said.
Holt’s gaze took in the room and stopped when it came to the massive body of Agon Bordner. “Came in to give my brothers a hand. Doesn’t look like you needed it.”
The emphasis on brothers was deliberate. He touched the cardinal feather in his hatband and motioned toward the street. “Saw another hombre in a coat and tie come busting out of the general store and hurry toward the livery. Anybody we should go after?”
Deed cocked his head. “Ah, Sam, that’ll be Jephrum Virdin. Bordner hired him to run the store but he’s a harmless fool. In a way he helped me.”
Both brothers were trying to make Holt realize a judge was present. Holt was too proud of his brothers’ finally stopping Agon Bordner’s evil to pay attention, or care.
Judge Pence waved his arms. “Take Rhey Selmon over to the jail. That’s where the rest of them are. Consider yourself deputized.” He looked over at Blue and winked.
Blue realized Pence knew it was Holt.
Holt looked at his brothers. “Deputized?”
“Uh, Sam, this is Circuit Court Judge Oscar Pence,” Blue declared, frowning at Holt.
Turning toward the infamous outlaw, Pence said, “I reckon one o’ the heroes of Sabine Pass deserves that . . . and more, Holt Corrigan. Ya bin a’ helpin’ clear up this mess too. As kin to the Regans, I appreciate that more than ya know. So let’s resolve this hyar outlaw issue ri’t now.”
Holt stood without moving. Selmon attempted to step away, but Holt jammed his gun in the gunman’s back and he froze, cursing.
“David Copate, he’s a banker in El Paso an’ a friend o’ mine. He tolt me yer name’s bin attached to all sorts o’ holdups . . . an’ he thinks it’s wrong. Jes’ like this hyar so-called holdup an’ the robbery o’ his own bank. Ya weren’t at neither. I agree with Copate.” He cocked his head and grinned. “An’ thar’s no way a court’s gonna prove ya did any other holdup, iffen ya did.”
He spit into the can and looked at Deed and Blue. “Ya know you all got amnesty at the end o’ that awful war, but it takes a while fer that nasty business to end fer some. An’ some are too proud to ask.”
Glancing at the dead Bordner, Pence folded his arms, being careful with the spit can. “Holt Corrigan, I also heard ya stopped ol’ bear boy thar an’ two o’ Bordner’s gunslicks from hurtin’ a lady at Emilio’s.” Pence smiled and looked back at Holt. “Yeah, good stuff kin git’round, too, Holt. Emilio’s another friend o’ mine.” He ran his hand through his gray hair. “Ya know, Texas needs good men like ya helpin’ it grow, not runnin’ from past mistakes.” He unfolded his arms and spit again. “Ya should have amnesty, too, Holt Corrigan, an’ I’m gonna do it. I’ll write this up. Holt, ya are now a free man. But it’s gonna cost ya.”
Holt frowned. Was the judge asking for a bribe? Blue looked at Deed who shrugged.
“I hereby appoint ya actin’ county sheriff. Ya will handle that job till the next county election. Deal?”
Holt nodded and couldn’t stop grinning. “Deal.”
The three brothers looked at each other and broke into wide grins. Blue walked over to Macy Shields’s body and pulled the badge from his shirt. He brought it to Pence.
“How about swearing him in right now, Judge?”
“Good idee.” Pence spit into the can, took the badge, and walked over to Holt.
“Ah, hold up . . . yer left hand, Holt. That’s plenty good nuff. Ya got business with the other.”
Lifting his left hand, Holt repeated Pence’s oath. “I swear to uphold the laws of the county and of the great state of Texas to the best of my ability, so help me God.”
Pence pinned the badge on Holt’s shirt and patted him on the shoulder. “Do good, boy.”
“I will, sir.”
“Got a feelin’ that’s so.”
Deed and Blue cheered, so did Atlee.
Holt smiled and shoved his gun into Rhey Selmon’s back. “Come on, bear boy.”
The gunman swore and they left with a grinning Holt pushing him to walk faster.
Smiling, Pence returned to the back of the restaurant and put his arms around Blue’s and Deed’s shoulders. He patted them both.
“Reckon the court’ll have to decide what to do with the Bar 3 and them other two ranches. Come to think on it, thar’s also gonna be a bank an’ general store fer sale. Hey, an’ a town marshal’s job to fill. Got any suggestions?”