Major Culhane arrived in town with dawn streaking the sky. He rode in with only one man with him. Culhane was astride his favorite horse, a powerful, splendid looking chestnut mare. As befitting an ex-military man The Major sat upright in his saddle, controlling the chestnut with strong hands. He looked neither left or right as he took his horse along the street, ignoring the gusting wind that had remained since the previous night. He drew rein outside the jail, dismounted and passed the reins to one of his men.
‘Cole, would go and find out where my…where Perry is. At a guess he’ll be in The Golden Deuce.’
Cole Landers, a lean man, wearing range clothes and carrying a holstered Remington .44 caliber revolver, turned his horse along the street.
‘I need to talk with the marshal,’ Culhane said as Landers moved away.
He stepped up on the boardwalk and walked into the jail.
‘Teague, we need to discuss this matter,’ he said without any kind of preamble.
Teague was behind his desk, holding a hot coffee in his hands.
He had sent Mort home earlier. The only other person in the office was Seth Tyler, seated across from the town marshal.
‘Major, we certainly do.’
‘This nonsense about Perry and his men.’
Teague placed his mug on the desk, glancing at Seth briefly before picking up sheets of paper. He held up the documents.
‘This is a sworn statement given by a witness who was present when Carl Sturdevant was attacked, doused in coal oil and set on fire. Said witness, who was also attacked, identified the men involved as Perry Culhane, Buck Meers and Ty Flag. The statement was witnessed and signed by Seth Tyler here. He’s the marshal from the town of Hope.’ The marshal of Culhane paused. ‘You were going to say, Major?’
Culhane reached out and took the documents. An uneasy silence descended as he slowly read through the statement. His face grew pale as he did so. After some time he lowered the papers and stared across the desk at Teague.
‘Who is this Mountain Spirit?
‘A Ute Indian who lived with Carl Sturdevant. And before you ask, Major, we consider her to be a competent witness. She speaks and understands English well enough. It seems Sturdevant taught her. She’s an intelligent young woman. As far as I’m concerned she has given us an honest account of what happened.’
‘But she’s an…’
Seth cleared his throat. ‘Major Culhane, I hope you’re not going to tell us because she’s an Indian her words are not to be accepted. Right now that wouldn’t be very wise.’
‘Yes, you’re right. I apologize for what I said.’
‘You should also know, Major,’ Teague said, ‘that last night, Ty Flag, made an attempt to attack the young woman at the doc’s. If it hadn’t been for one of Marshal Tyler’s friends who was watching over her, Flag might have succeeded. Flag is dead. Mountain Spirit even identified him as one of the three men who attack her and murdered Sturdevant.’
Culhane sank into an empty chair, silenced now, because there was no denying what he had heard.
‘Sorry to have to tell you these things, Major, but there’s no doubt now that it was Perry and his friends who carried out the events in that statement. I have to tell you there’s no way he can walk away from it. Ira Begley was murdered last night. Knifed to death in an alley. No proof as such yet but I have a feeling his death is a result of Perry’s crimes.’
‘I feel responsible,’ The Major said. ‘For Perry’s actions. Too many times I’ve given in to his indiscretions. Allowed him to get away with…’ he hesitated, ‘…I almost said murder. It seems as if this time that’s what it is. Murder. To top off all the other things my son has done he’s now killed someone simply to conceal his actions.’
Culhane fell silent, his eyes staring beyond Teague but not really seeing anything. The moment dragged because what needed saying would come hard.
‘I’m going to have to arrest Perry and Meers,’ Teague said. ‘No other choice, Major.’
‘Yes…I understand,’ Culhane said in a quiet tone. He stood. ‘I have things to do.’
He left the office then, closing the door behind him. Watching through the window Seth saw the man mount his horse and move off up the street.
‘That was a moment I could have done without,’ Teague said. ‘And so is what I got to do next.’
When Seth didn’t answer Teague looked round. Seth was on his feet, crossing to stare out the window.
‘Something wrong?’
‘Not sure,’ Seth told him.
They both heard the approaching sound of a train whistle.
‘That’ll be the one with McCall’s friend on board,’ Teague said.
Seth had taken out his pistol. He checked it was fully loaded before he slid it back into the holster.
‘Way you did that makes me think you might need it,’ Teague said.
‘Something’s telling me I just might.’
Seth was not wrong.