Chapter 1

The Hanging Tree

Most people called it ‘The Hanging Tree’. The English invented the gallows back in the 1200’s. Nobody knew who invented it, but whoever it was, knew that one day, somebody would cheat death from it. Over the years, the gallows had its evolution. A plank or board stuck in between branches, and then somebody constructed a temporary gallows; one that will hang twenty people. They called it the Triple Tree, because it had three beams running across it. However, it was not until April of 1760 when a new design of the gallows was constructed. It added a lever mechanism, so all the hangman had to do was pull the lever and a trapdoor below you would open. This one left you hanging in suspense, literally. Federal and local authority first used it in Fort Smith, Florida in 1817. Soon after it, people used them all over the United States including a small town in New Mexico sixty-eight years later.

The sun’s rays pounded over Clayton, New Mexico as if you were inside of a brick oven. It has not rained for weeks, as the air was extra dry that day. The locals crowded around the wooden gal-lows that were a permanent attraction in front of the courthouse. It seems that every Monday morning right before noon, there would be a hanging. The crowd was a murmur as they ques-tioned on who it would it be this week. Then they heard a young woman’s cry in protest as the local sheriff escorted her from the jailhouse. She had tied her long black hair in braids that reached to her backside. They climbed the dreadful steps as she saw the noose hanging from the top beam. Then her dark brown eyes started to weep as she struggled from the sheriff’s grasp. The sheriff, a tall thinly man, dressed in his beige dirty cowboy hat and tanned colored vest, grabbed both of the woman’s arms as she kicked and screamed like a child. Then a short balding pastor stepped forward as the hangman and sheriff pre-pared her. The tall muscular hangman, dressed in red colored chaps and black shirt, placed the noose over her neck.

The pastor opened his bible to chapter that he had bookmarked and started to read from a verse of Mathew, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

“That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if there-fore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!”

The crowed replied “Amen” in unison.

After he was done, the sheriff looked to a tall middle-aged man that was standing in the doorway of the courtroom. It was the judge who sentenced the woman to death by hanging. The judge, looking like a crow, nodded to the sheriff as he looked to the young woman.

“You have any last words missy?” he asked.

Her dark brown wet eyes gazed upon one stoutly man who was standing in the front row. His white handmade straw hat and white blazer looked backed at her. His reddish rugged leathery face had a disappointment expression on it.

“Father please!” she pleaded.

The father slightly shook his head. She started to cry again and whispered, “I hate you.”

For what crimes could she have committed that her father refuse to pay the judge to extend her life. He must have been so ashamed for what she had done. She looked toward the window of the local hotel and saw another girl. She pressed her hands to the glass as tears streamed from her eyes, like tiny streams.

The hangman then placed a black woven cloth hood over her head. The crowd looked on as they heard her sobbing through the hood. The hangman walked over to a large lever, placed his hand on it, hesitated for a moment or two, and then pushed it forward. A trap door beneath her gave away and she dropped. The sound of a crack was the only thing the people heard. She died instantly.

The girl in the hotel window screamed so loudly that it could be heard from every room, if guests occupied them. Some in the crowd did hear her muffled cry, but ignored it.

Now at that same moment the loud whistle from the 11:50AM train from Thos blared. The giant black iron horse chugged its way slowly through the Clayton station pulling three red passenger cars and the caboose as the bell on top of the train’s boiler rang. On tender’s side, it had the painted decals of Santa Fe 3411. As the locomotive stopped, hissing sounds bellowed from the lower release valves.

The doors on the passenger’s yellow painted coach opened, as the porter unlinked the safety chain, and stepped down. He took out his golden rail watch, glanced at it and smiled, as he knew that the train arrived on time. He placed the watch back in his pocket and called out, “Clayton! Clayton Station!”

Only three people stepped off the train that day. The first was a pretty blond lady in a blue dress and hat to match. Her face was soft as silk as her smile brightened the day. The second was young man dressed in a brown blazer and a grey cowboy hat. They held hands as they stepped on the platform.

“Yeee-Hawwww! Clayton, here we are!” cried a third passenger as he waved his brown hat in the air, from the doorway.

The couple looked at him and chuckled. He had dirty blond hair, and a medium build. With his dark tanned vest and white shirt, he stepped down to join his friends.

“Come on little bro,” the man in the grey hat told him, “Let’s locate a hotel and find us some fun.”

His little brother, Gabriel, just turned 17 and as a gift, he wanted to ride the rails to see America and drink every beer, whisky and ale along the way. Therefore, his brother Jacob, and his girl friend Jane, earned enough money for their little vacation. A second porter helped them with their luggage as he set them down on the wooden platform. Jacob tipped the man a couple of copper coins as Gabe grabbed the three large bags.

Jacob had gotten the information from the stationmaster that Eklund Hotel had few vacancies left. He thanked him as the three made their way through the town.

The townspeople crowded the dusty dirt street where a few horsemen rode their steeds. Jacob found the three-story building that had a large sign painted in yellow:

EKLUND HOTEL

SALOON & DINING

They journeyed over to the clay brick hotel. It was a few buildings down from the railroad station. Gabe looked around as they walked and noticed the gallows at the end of the street. He saw three men carrying a small body from it and wondered what has happened.

Jacob followed his brother’s gaze and said, “We better be on our best behavior. It seems that the town follows the law seriously ‘round here.”

Three entered the lobby area. It was elegant in design, as they looked around. Jacob saw the check in desk and a shiny copper bell sitting on top. Nobody occupied the desk as the trio walked over. Gabe dropped the bags as Jacob rang the bell. There was no answer. He tapped it again and they waited another minute. Before Gabe said a word, Jacob heard some laughter coming from the back.

They walked over to the swinging red wooden doors and found that the hotel had a saloon in-side. There were several patrons in the saloon. Three at the bar, including the barkeep, and three sitting at a round table playing poker. The bar smelled of tobacco and alcohol as Gabe smiled. He could not wait to have some fun.

“All in good time bro,” Jacob reminded him.

The round faced barkeeper, as well as the three who were standing drinking their preferred drinks and looked at them in curiosity.

“Welcome,” the barkeep greeted, “What can I get ya‘ll?”

Jacob smiled at his white bushy mustache and replied, “We would like to have a couple of rooms for starters.”

He nodded and shouted, “Sara!”

A mid-aged woman walked from an adjoining room. She had shining red hair tied in a knot and a red bustle dress to match.

“Ya don’t have to shout Carl,” She said. “I can hear ya clearly from the kitchen.”

“These three want a room or two,” he said nodding to them.

She turned to the trio, her red painted lips smiled at them with welcoming eyes and said, “Well, welcome to Clayton. Come, we’ll get ya’ll signed in.”

They followed her back into the lobby as she walked behind the large oak desk. She drew a large book from behind the cubby, placed it in front of them, and opened to the bookmarked page.

“Would you ya’ll kindly sign your name?” She said. “How many rooms are ya’ll taking?”

Jacob took the quill, dipped it in the inkwell that was beside the book and signed his name as he replied to her, “Two would be fine if you have a one with a full size bed.”

She looked at Jacob and Jane and smiled warmly knowing they were lovers, “I think we have one available.” She saw his signature, Jacob Jones. Next, Jane then signed her name below his, Jane Pager. Then lastly, Gabriel signed the book. Gabriel Jones. “Ok,” she started, as she looked the key wall behind her. She grabbed two keys from it and placed it on the desk, “That’ll be half a dollar each per day. How long will ya’ll be staying?”

“A couple of days or until the next train arrives,” answered Jacob.

“Well I hope ya’ll enjoy your stay here in Clayton,” she said.

Jacob nodded as he dug into his pocket and produced a couple of silver coins and handed it to Sara. Sara told them that Jacob and Jane’s room was 204 and Gabe’s was 308. He then took the keys and thanked her. Gabe grabbed the bags and followed Jacob and Jane climbing the stairs to the second floor.

Jacob gave Gabe his key as he took some of the luggage from his brother.

“We’ll unpack and meet ya down in the saloon,” Jacob informed to his brother.

Gabe nodded. He climbed the steps to the third floor, walked down the hall until he came upon room 308. He unlocked the door to his room and entered. He placed his brown bag on the small bed and started to unpack.

Meanwhile in the room one floor below Gabe’s, Jacob and Jane started to unpack their bags. Their room was bigger than Gabe’s as it had a beautiful full sized bed in it with expensive cotton sheets draped neatly over it. After a couple of days of travel, she looked at him and wondered. She knew that he did not bring Gabe and her to the south west just for drinks and fun. There had to be a reason.

“Jacob?” She started as her lover hummed a yes, “What’s the real reason for dragging us out here in the west?”

He looked at her beautiful blue eyes, smiled playfully and replied, “Vacation for my little broth-er.” Jane looked at him and frowned a bit. She knew that it was not the real answer and wanted the right one. “Alright, I was going to save my announcement until we get to our last stop, and I am.” Her expression changed to a confusing look as Jacob continued, “It’s surprise for Gabe and I don’t want to spoil it.”

“So, why don’t you tell me?” She said as she stepped closer to him. Jane then slipped her slender arms around Jacob’s waist as he did the same. “You can trust me. I won’t tell him.”

He smiled to her and replied, “I know you won’t, but I want to surprise you too.”

She sighed and said, “You are a terrible tease, you know that?”

He smiled and gently kissed her pink lips, “Maybe I’ll give him an insight tonight.”

She smiled warmly at him, kissed him back. This time, the kiss lasted much longer. When their embrace was over, they then finished unpacking and strolled back down the saloon to meet Gabe for drinks.