CHAPTER 34
He met his men at breakfast and started off by apologizing for going alone to find an accountant. He said Chadron Turner was in charge of the home operations until Red came back from helping Doug at Diamond. Chaw was going to move over and be the new foreman at the Erickson Ranch.
After Harp outlined the new bosses, he said, “I bet some of you saw that dark-eyed pretty girl who’s been staying at the main house.”
Most of them nodded and grinned.
“Well, our old buddy Chaw never introduced her to any of you until after she said she’d marry him. Can you believe that?”
“Good thing he’s leaving,” one of the punchers said.
Another piped up. “He ain’t so damn far away we can shiveree him, either.”
“Yeah!”
“Men, all kidding aside now, I think we will have trouble over this last try at killing me. I really hated the results, but that won’t bring the boy back, and his family will be angry. Ride in pairs and keep your eyes peeled for trouble.”
Later in the day the head deputy Kent Roberts came out and spoke to him. “I know you’re a busy man. I want you to ride over with me and show me the details about yesterday.”
“I will be glad to do that. They picked the fight. I only survived it.”
“Let’s reenact it for the Justice of the Peace’s court.”
“You had lunch?”
“I had some jerky; I’ll be fine.”
He told Katy his plans and the two rode out.
The first thing he showed was where the bullet barely missed him and how he came off his horse and armed himself. Then how, when he was out of sight of them, he changed positions. Harp showed how the one with the single-shot target rifle had stood up and he shot the man. Then, when his partner was in sight, Harper explained how he shot the second one.
Roberts picked up the casings in the dirt and then Harp showed him where he ran up the hill to stop number three from escaping. He explained that the horses were fighting the rider or he’d been gone. Harp showed him where he stopped, couldn’t see the person’s face, and then shot him.
They searched until Roberts found the last empty casing, where he made the long shot from, and he agreed that it all read like Harp said.
“A helluva shot with your rifle.”
“I knew I only had one chance and he’d be gone. When I got over there and saw it was a kid I got sick to my stomach. But what was he up here for, if he hadn’t showed the others where I’d cross?”
“I agree. He was running with wolves in my estimation. That’s why I came up here to see the whole thing and to back your story. I can see it perfectly.”
“One was concerned that I might be conscious and that they should wait to not risk that. Let me bleed to death he said. At the time I was looking right at those two through some brush.”
“Thanks. It may be hell to prove, but they don’t have another witness to dispute what happened. To me, it is open and shut.”
“We can get back in time for supper if we hurry.”
Roberts agreed and they rode for the ranch.
Roberts told Hiram that it all was like Harper had said and he’d picked up the empty cartridges on the spots. Everyone at the family table sighed with relief and thanked him for coming out.
But the next day, when Harp drove his wife to town for a few things she still needed for the up and coming wedding, he was shocked to see hand-painted board signs posted on the way into town, and all over the town.
O’Malley Murdered a fourteen-year-old boy in cold blood. Why deosn’t the law arrest him? Rich cowboy gets away with murder!! Help us find Justuce!
The town marshal, Tyler, met him before he got off the buckboard in front of the store. “Harper, I hired two men to take down and burn them signs north and south of town.”
“How much did it cost?”
“Couple of dollars. I am so sorry.”
“No problem.” He repaid the man and clapped him on the shoulder. “Thanks.”
He saw other painted boards asking for justuce. Damn. He might have to use his knuckles to show people what justice was.
Word was out the JP planned to hold hearings about the three deaths. Justice of the Peace, Patrick Cassidy, was the man in that office and he had summoned Harp to testify at the hearing the next day. Harp said he’d be there. His crew, except for a few to guard the ranches, would be there as well. The men took a crow bar with them and removed the remaining high-up signs by standing on saddles and ripping them off the trees and buildings. Harp asked them not to fight unless pressed into it. He wanted the matter resolved, especially any bad feeling with the boy’s parents.
Harp knew a lot was astir. But, as Darvon pointed out, Harp had many supporters among the crowd, folks that he had delivered cattle for in Kansas. A few spoke to him and said they were there to support him. Katy revealed, under her breath on the way to the schoolhouse where the case would be heard, that she’d heard the same information.
He and Kate found benches while his men stood around at the wall. There was a crowd inside and outside the schoolhouse. His mother joined them and his dad was at the wall with the men.
JP Cassidy pounded the gavel for silence. “This coroner’s hearing concerns the deaths of three individuals. Jonah, read the deceased names.”
“Donny Joseph McEntry, age thirty-five, residence unknown; Kilmer Morgan, age thirty-two, residence unknown; and Roger Holder, age sixteen, a county resident.”
“Thank you. Now will Doc Combs please step forward and give his information?” The physician was sworn in.
“All three were dead when delivered to the local funeral home. McEntry had been shot from the front, the bullet passing through his chest. The wound was fatal. Morgan also received a fatal bullet in his chest. That bullet was forty-four-forty lead, too. Holder was shot in the back and his heart blown apart by a similar caliber bullet.”
“Do you have anything else, Doc?”
“No, Your Honor.”
“You are excused. Harper O’Malley, please come forward and tell us your side of this situation.”
“That gawdamn coward murdered my son—”
“If I hear one more uncalled for outburst from you, you will be removed,” Patrick said to the boy’s father.
“I’ll leave, Patrick, because you sons of bitches are going to turn my son’s killer loose. He’s bought you off like he and the other O’Malleys have done a lot of ranchers around here.”
Patrick rose. “I am fining you twenty dollars for blowing your filthy mouth off in my courtroom.”
“Arrest me. I ain’t got twenty dollars to my name.”
“Deputy.”
“Jack will take him to jail, Your Honor,” Kent Roberts said.
“Fine. Any more outbursts will be handled like that one,” Justice Patrick warned the crowd.
“Harper O’Malley, you have been sworn in. Have a seat in that chair. Tell us about the incident as you saw it happen, please.”
“I was coming home by myself. At Loller’s Creek a bullet, which was intended for me, hit the bank. That cut the creek made there at that crossing is a deep one, so I was out of sight to any shooters on the higher ground. I dismounted and armed myself with my rifle from the scabbard and hurried up the creek to where some bushes would give me cover enough to try and locate them. I found cover, and heard this McEntry, who was standing up, talking about my demise to the other bushwhacker. I didn’t know him.
“I shot him first—to be certain. Then I shot his partner who I also did not know. The third party was gathering the horses. The horses were resisting him, but I had no way to know it was a boy. He was up the hill a ways. Two men had shot at me and the last one was escaping. I shot him. That is what I told the deputy when I brought their bodies in and also told Deputy Roberts the next day when I showed him everything. I could have let them lie there and gone on home. I didn’t like the fact that a boy was shot, but if you ride in bad company you can expect bad things to happen, Your Honor.”
“Anything else you have to say, sir?”
“No, Judge. Nothing more.”
“You are excused for now, but please remain in case something else turns up today.”
“I will, Your Honor.”
“Thank you. Deputy Sheriff Roberts is next witness.”
The hearing continued. “Roberts, you are sworn in now. Tell us your side of this situation.”
“Your Honor, the very next day I rode out to the O’Malley ranch and then rode with Harper O’Malley to the ambush site. We went there and I found the empty shells in all three cases right there as he said in his testimony. He exhibited his regret at the boy’s death, but that young man was participating in that ambush.”
“You have proof ?”
“Your Honor, Harper O’Malley brought those horses, carrying their bodies, into town. All were wearing the Holder brand.”
The entire crowd oh’d.
Patrick rapped the gavel on the desktop. “It is in the opinion of this court today that it was justified homicide. Case dismissed.”
Everyone on Harp’s side reached in to shake his hand and tell him he’d done the right thing. He nodded, and in the case of a woman congratulating him, he removed his hat for her. Still he saw the hate-filled sharp-eyed hawks leaving the building, whose hearts, he had no doubt, were filled with evil feelings toward him since they were on Holder’s side.
He stood in the cool sunshine, outside of the schoolhouse, making conversation. His mom and Kate were inviting folks to Chaw’s wedding. He spoke with Red and they talked about eating lunch at the hotel restaurant.
He also learned that Holder’s friends had scraped up the money to pay for Holder’s fine.
They were walking in a group when a shot went off half a block away. Harp and Red had the women behind them and were joined by his dad. A cowboy Harp knew rode by and said, “It’s all right now. Town marshal disarmed Mary Holder before she could use it. Went off in the air.”
“Thanks,” Harper said, even more convinced that the boy’s death had not been set aside yet.
Damn you, Long O’Malley, wherever you are at. I could use your backing here, right now. Holder’s horses were involved. Someone was footing the bill of those two dead gunmen. Harper knew his outfit couldn’t be hurting Holder by branding maverick cattle. Holder was in on the dirty work of someone powerful, and Harp couldn’t think who that was—but he’d damn sure find out who, hopefully sooner rather than later.
The hotel meal went well. Red gave the men in town enough money to eat off the sandwich bar at the saloon and have a beer or two before they rode home.
Harp spoke briefly with Roberts before leaving town. They both wondered who hired the shooters. For sure if Holder didn’t have the cash money for bail, he wouldn’t have it to hire shooters.
Leaving town, he drove the buckskins home smartly, with his wife talking about Chaw’s wedding and what a fine foreman he’d make.
Harp recalled the tough rebel veteran at Greg’s herd the first day when Chaw sided with him and Long against the drunk boss and bad cook. He’d made a good candidate for being a boss after two cattle drives. His gal had cleaned him up some more and that didn’t hurt, either. The O’Malley outfit was shaping into a good one.
He simply needed eyes in the back of his head from there on, especially after the coroner’s court decision, which would not stop bad thinking on his opponent’s side of the fence.
Long, you rascal, it is near mid-November and no sign of your hide.