Jess McCall picked up some of the conversation Marshal Teague was having with Perry Culhane and the man called Meers. They were sticking to their story which left McCall out on a limb. It seemed Teague was unsure but Perry had two friends to back him and McCall was a stranger in the area. He heard the jail door close as Perry and Meers left. A few moments later Marshal Teague came into the cell area and stood facing McCall through the bars.
‘I heard,’ McCall said. ‘They got their story together. There’s three of them and I don’t have anyone to back me.’
‘Just listen first. I see it this way. You’re new to this part of the country, right? Ever been this way before?’
‘No.’
‘Here to make a deal with a man over to Hope. To buy breeding cattle?’
‘Right.’
‘So tell me, Mister McCall, why would you set a man on fire who most likely you didn’t know? Tell me, McCall? Why would you do that?’
McCall spread his hands in gesture of having no idea.
‘If that train hadn’t come off the tracks I wouldn’t have been in the area. Just my bad luck I decided to ride on to Hope instead of sitting it out. I really picked a bad day coming by this way. Now your Perry Culhane can tell it a dozen ways from breakfast but he’s a damned liar.’
‘I’m inclined to agree with you. But unless I can have him in here and admitting to what happened, McCall, it’s his telling against yours. Hate to say it but the Culhanes throw one hell of a wide loop around the town. Right now he’ll be out there spreading his side and passing out free drinks to anyone who’ll listen.’
Teague showed the keys to the cells and unlocked McCall’s door.
‘Step out and stretch your legs while we try and figure this mess out.’
‘Just so you know, Teague. I’m not about to leave until I get this settled. Perry Culhane’s accused me of murder. I can’t let that stand. I won’t. Better get used to it because this town ain’t putting me down for something I didn’t do.’
They walked back into the office where Teague poured them both fresh coffee.
‘Perry Culhane is a rare piece of work. It’s only because of his father he gets to throw his weight about. The Major is a hard man. Over the years he’s protected Perry. Covered for every time he’s done something wrong. Cost him money as well. The son is nothing like his father. He plays on the old man’s influence. Uses his old man’s name to get him whatever he takes a fancy to. You’ve got a taste of the town. If it wasn’t for The Major, Culhane would lose half its businesses. Boxed-C has clout. Big enough to matter. The Major – well, he sees Perry as taking over when he can’t run the ranch any longer.’
‘There any other family?’
‘The Major lost his wife years back. No other children. Just Perry.’
‘Must be a disappointment to him,’ McCall said.
Teague managed a sympathetic smile. ‘Have to admit Perry hasn’t grown up anything like his father.’
‘But he is family.’
‘There is that.’
‘So should we expect a visit from The Major?’
‘He’ll be here once he gets news about what’s happened.’
‘He going to ride in with his crew backing him?’
‘That’s not the Major’s way. He doesn’t need a crowd of guns behind him. Only one who might come in with him is Cole Landers. Boxed-C foreman. Good man. Well respected. He’s loyal to The Major. Landers and Perry don’t get along.’
‘Doesn’t surprise me.’
‘I need to ride out the way you came in,’ Teague said. ‘Take a look around.’
He stood and went to the gun rack. Took down a .44-40 Winchester. He loaded the rifle with shells from a box. Did the same with handgun. He had just finished when the door opened and his deputy came in. Mort didn’t conceal his surprise at seeing McCall.
‘I’m riding out to take a look around, Mort,’ Teague said. ‘McCall, here, has agreed to stay here until we get this sorted.’
‘He a prisoner?’
Teague put on his hat. ‘Right now he’s helping me with my inquiries,’ he said. ‘Mort, there’s a difference of opinion over what happened. Until it’s clear McCall is to be treated fair. Understand?’
Mort looked between the two men. ‘I guess. It’s kind of unusual, huh?’
‘It is. While I’m gone, Mort, you’re in charge. Take no nonsense from anyone. And I mean anyone. This is what you’re paid for.’
‘What about The Major?’
Teague picked up his gear and made for the door. He turned.
‘Him too. Major Culhane doesn’t own the law in Culhane, Mort. Remember that.’
When the door closed behind Teague the silence stretched. McCall topped up his coffee.
‘You want me back in that cell?’ he asked amiably.
‘Might be for the best.’
McCall wondered for who?
Mort was looking nervous as he followed McCall and secured the cell door. He went back to the office and perched himself in Teague’s chair. Mort wasn’t too happy with the way things were going. He had a better understanding of the situation, knowing that the Marshal was handling the matter in his own way and wouldn’t make any rash decisions. Even so, he was feeling nervous at being left on his own. Mort had been Teague’s deputy for almost two years. He had respect for the man. John Teague ran an honest office. He kept the streets of Culhane quiet and safe. Brooked no interference with the law and he was one of the few men in town who stood up to The Major. Mort admitted he was not exactly in Teague’s league. He wished he had more to offer. With the Marshal at his side he was able to handle most anything. Right now, on his own, with the man called McCall in one of the cells, and knowing the way things might go, Mort Pickett was unsettled.
He started when the door rattled and opened.
Ty Flag stood in the opening, his appearance causing Mort’s unease to increase.
Flag’s arm was in a sling. His burned face was marked by discolored flesh and blisters, his eyes wild with anger.
‘I hear right that bastard is locked up?’
‘Marshal has him here voluntarily,’ Mort said.
‘Has he now. Well that suits me just fine.’
Flag had his Colt pushed behind his belt, set so he could reach it with his left hand. He turned towards the cell block.
‘You can’t go in there,’ Mort said, pushing the chair back as he stood.
‘You damnwell watch me,’ Flag snapped. He yanked out the Colt as he spoke, dogging the hammer back. ‘I got something to settle with that son of a bitch.’
The inflamed flesh of his face gleamed because of the ointment the doctor had applied I order to cool his burns. It added a further menace to his already angry appearance.
Mort reached for his shotgun leaning against the wall close by. He brought into view, dogging back the hammers and leveled it on Flag.
‘I mean it, Ty. You can’t do this. The man hasn’t been accused of anything…’
When Flag heard the double click of the hammers being cocked, he twisted around. He stared at the black muzzles of the scatter gun.
‘What you goin’ to do? Shoot me, Mort?’
Mort surprised himself by holding the shotgun steady even though he was scared.
‘Don’t push me into it, Ty. We all need to step back from doing anything stupid.’
Neither of them had seen or heard the man who had stepped into the open doorway. But they heard him when he spoke.
‘The deputy is right, Flag. Put away your gun and leave. Now.’
It was Magnus Culhane.
The Major.