MOST ALL OF THE RESIDENTS of Cassidy County attended the meeting to appoint a new sheriff. Micah looked around for Gale but she wasn’t there. He hoped she would come to the meeting and approve of Jasper’s appointment. Micah knew only Gale could convince Jasper to accept.
“Quiet down! Quiet down! This here meetin’ will come to order!” Bill Newlin, the chairman of the county commission called out.
An unsettled quiet filled the room.
“Okay, thank you. We’re here today to appoint a new sheriff. This appointment will be temporary until we hold an election. Because of the urgency of the situation we’re going to take nominations from the group here today and the commissioners will appoint one of those nominated.”
The door opened and Micah turned to see if his hope had been fulfilled.
Gale stepped inside.
He rose to his feet. “Mr. Chairman, I have a nomination.”
“Go ahead, Micah.”
“I nominate Jasper Lee.”
The room filled with murmurs and muffled exclamations.
“Order! Order! Is Jasper here?” Bill asked.
“No he ain’t,” someone said.
“Well, I don’t think it’s right to nominate someone who ain’t here,” Bill commented. “He can’t speak for himself.”
“I can speak for him,” Gale almost whispered.
“Wait a minute!” Horace Baily called out. “Jasper Lee is a violent man and a known killer. We can’t have him as sheriff!”
Micah could feel the blood flush to his face. “Horace, you weren’t here during the cattle wars. All you’ve heard about Jasper is part rumor and part legend. Jasper fought in the War Between the States and came back a decorated cavalry officer. He found his family’s ranches and those of his neighbors in jeopardy from marauding ex-soldiers from both sides who raided ranches committing murder and rape while stealing ranch lands and cattle. He organized the ranchers to fight back. That’s how the cattle wars began. They lasted for seven months, off and on. The wars ended largely because of Jasper’s pursuit of the criminals and his reputation for no quarter frightened most of them off.”
“That’s the part I don’t understand. I hear tell he killed more men than was needed.”
“Depends on your point of view. In my opinion Jasper did what he had to do. We all did for that matter.”
“Well, I hope it don’t happen again.”
Micah didn’t answer right away as several unpleasant pictures flew through his mind. Then a long breath escaped through his teeth. “We can always hope. Jasper is the only one among us who had the guts to go after the killers who committed the worst crime in this county for a long time. From all accounts he’s taking care of business we all should be doin’. You got no right sayin’ he’s a bad man.”
Horace pointed his finger at Micah. “That don’t mean...”
“My husband is not a bad man!” Gale’s voice rang clear and true. “He can be a hard man, I’ll give you that, but this is hard country. Times come when we have need of hard men.
“There’s not a person in this room that can call Jasper a cheat, a fraud, or a thief. When many of you needed help, he came to you. I can’t recall a time when he turned down any one of you that asked for his help and there’s that many again that he helped without your asking. Landsakes, Horace, when you took sick he worked day and night on both our ranches until you got well! If it hadn’t been for him you’d a lost your ranch. And now you say bad things about him! Not a one of you can say Jasper’s not a man of his word and y’all know if he’s appointed sheriff, he’ll be fair and honest.”
Jessica Dolan, Claire’s mother, stood. “We received word from the marshal in Lowell Town that Jasper found and buried Claire. I went to her grave. Jasper was careful to make it a fitting, resting place for our beautiful girl. A bad man doesn’t do things like that. As you all know my husband’s wounds prevent him from being here but he urges the commission to appoint Jasper as the sheriff of this county.”
“Do ya think he’d accept the appointment, Gale?” Bill asked.
“I don’t rightly know. He has his own thoughts about the law and justice. But if you appoint him, I’ll talk to him. No promises, mind you, but I’ll speak my piece.”
“Mr. Chairman,” Micah called. “It’s my suggestion, unless there’s other nominations, you appoint Jasper Lee, Sheriff of Cassidy County startin’ back when Carl Williams was killed. He’s already brought several of those criminals to justice. I believe he should have our blessing for what he’s done and for his hunt for the rest of them.”
The chairman looked around the room. “Are there any other nominations?”
No one spoke.
The Chairman smacked his gavel on the table. “The nominations are closed. Those commissioners in favor of appointing Jasper Lee as Sheriff of Cassidy County, say aye.”
The vote was unanimous.
“Those commissioners in favor of allowing Gale Lee to accept the appointment on behalf of Jasper Lee, say aye.”
The vote was unanimous again.
“Is this legal?” someone shouted.
“How in the heck do I know?” Bill answered. “I ain’t no lawyer but we don’t have the time to dicker. Until further notice Jasper Lee is the sheriff of this county and that’s that.”
The chairman waved and after a deep breath to steady herself, Gale walked forward. She held her head high and was happy she wore a dress so no one could see her shaking knees.
She stood in front of the council. She wasn’t nervous about the people in the meeting, but thoughts about Jasper’s reaction made her heart pound like a horse’s galloping hooves.
“Gale Lee, do you firmly believe Jasper Lee will accept this appointment?”
“Yes.” After I talk to him.
The Chairman nodded. “Please raise your right hand. Does Jasper Lee solemnly swear to defend and uphold the Constitution of the United States and enforce its laws and the laws of this territory?”
“He does.”
“I hereby appoint Jasper Lee Sheriff of Cassidy County as of the death of Sheriff Carl Williams.“ He handed Gale the sheriff’s badge and banged the gavel. “This meetin’ is adjourned.”
Gale stood still looking at the badge in her hand. Lord, what have I done. Memories of Jasper’s comments about law and justice percolated through her mind. She closed her fingers around the badge, swallowing hard.
A hand fell gently on her shoulder. “You all right, Gale?”
She turned and looked at Micah. “I think I’ve created the greatest test of Jasper’s love I could ever conceive.”
“I don’t think anything could shake his love for you. Until this tragedy he’s stayed close to home, workin’ hard for you and the kids.”
“I know. I don’t want to lose that.”
“Have faith, Gale. He’s a good man. He’ll do the right thing.”
She hurried out the door, tears fell from her eyes. She could only hope Micah was right.
Bart Moore dismounted at the broken down cabin where the last five of his men were hiding. The cabin was back in the trees a ways from the confluence of the Seneca River and Big Muddy Creek. Aside from the sound of the wind in the trees and critters going about their day, the colliding waters made a constant low rumbling undertone.
“What’s the news, Bart?” Dewey Cann asked.
“It was Jasper Lee who ambushed us. After the ambush he tracked down Johnny Stewart and Rich Delton. He shot Johnny in a saloon in Lowell Town along with two cowboys.” The Lowell Town marshal saved Delton but he’s in jail now.”
“Shit, Bart, what are we goin’ to do? Jasper Lee is a natural born killer. We don’t stand a chance against him.”
“Don’t give me any of your goddamn whinin’, Dewey! I ain’t afraid of Jasper Lee.”
“Well, you’d better be,” Harry Wells said after spitting a short stream of tobacco juice. “I know Lee and he’s a curly wolf. Fought with him during the War Between the States and agin’ him in the Cattle Wars. He’s fearless and the best fightin’ man I’ve ever seen.”
“You sound like you like the son-of-a-bitch, Wells.”
“I don’t necessarily like him, but I do respect him.”
Bart looked at Harry. His thoughts lingered on the word respect and the anger started to boil inside him again. His hand rested on the butt of his pistol. “I’m just as dangerous as Jasper Lee, Harry. How come you don’t respect me like you do him?”
“Didn’t say I don’t Bart. I’m just tellin’ you that Jasper is nobody to take lightly.”
Bart relaxed a little, satisfied he had put Harry in his place. “Well, we ain’t goin’ to have to fight him. My uncle’s takin’ care of business. We just gotta lay low until he gets things set straight. I gotta go to his ranch for a while. You boys stay here until you hear from me. Bart mounted and jerked the reins to point his horse in the opposite direction. “And don’t cause no trouble!”
Harry Wells picked up his saddle and blanket and walked over to his horse.
“Where the hell do you think you’re goin’?” Dewey Cann asked.
“Like I told you before, that Bart Moore is crazy. I ain’t waitin’ around for him. I’m gettin’ outta this territory.”
“He told us to stay here.”
Wells finished saddling his horse and mounted. “Look around you, Dewey. Moore’s goin’ to a nice comfortable ranch while he wants us to stay out in this dump. Does that make any sense to you?”
“He says his uncle is going to straighten things out.”
“His uncle is a no good lyin’, cheatin’ politican. I don’t trust either of ‘em. Good luck to all of you.” Wells turned his horse and started toward the trail.
Cann waited a few seconds before he drew his pistol and fired. Wells slumped forward in his saddle, but his horse galloped off.
“Shall we go finish him off?” Jackson Smith asked.
“Hell no!” Cann holstered his pistol. “I shot him didn’t I?”
“Well, sure you did.”
“Well then he’s dead because I don’t miss.”
Gale stepped outside into the fading sun. Shading her eyes she looked around and spotted a lone rider heading towards the ranch house. He rode with the butt of a Winchester resting on his thigh. Sean was coming in later than usual. She let out a long sigh as he approached. Both pride and dread filled her heart at the sight of her son riding like a strong man, but he seemed too comfortable with the rifle for her liking.
“Hello, Ma.”
“You stayed out much later than usual.”
A sly smile crossed Sean’s face. “You worried about me meeting some pretty face out here, Ma?”
“Don’t get smart with me, young man.” Gale was smiling, but the word man caught in her throat.
Sean slipped the Winchester in its scabbard, dismounted and gave his mother a hug. “Just following Pa’s evening track and makin’ sure everything is well.”
Gale put her hand on Sean’s cheek and felt the beginnings of a beard. Thank you, son, but what took you so long?”
“Pa taught me that when I ride perimeter not to leave any question unanswered.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Pa says we all see things that raise questions in our mind but we ignore most of them. When you ride perimeter you don’t ignore any of them. Other soldier’s lives depend on it, or in this case my family’s lives depend on it. I just saw a lot of questions.”
Gale looked at her son for a moment. “Take care of your horse and come on in. I kept your supper warm for you.”
“Yes’m.”
Gale watched him head for the barn knowing the die was cast. She went back inside and set supper out for him. She sat at the table and began mending the knees of Brenden’s pants, a seemingly endless chore. He and the girls were already in bed.
Sean came in and sat down at the table. “Boy, the ham smells awfully good, Ma.” He cut into the meat and forked a piece into his mouth. His head nodded with approval. “Tastes good too,” he said after he swallowed.
“Thank you, son.” Then almost absent mindedly she said, “From now on when you ride out to the range I think it’s best you wear your gun belt.”
Sean stopped chewing for a moment and looked at his mother but didn’t say anything.
“Did you hear me, son?”
“I did, Ma, it’s just you surprised me. Whenever I ask Pa about when I could wear my gun he always says, ‘Your mother will know.’”
“Your father said that?”
“Yes’m.”
“That rascal. He knows me too well.”
They both laughed, then Gale became serious. “Well, I think you’re ready now. Son, I know firearms are necessary in this country. I trust you’ll follow your father’s words about their use.”
“Pa has taught me well, Ma. I won’t misuse them.”
Gale took a deep breath and nodded. She folded Brenden’s pants and stood. “I’m turning in. Good night, son. I love you.”
“I love you too, Ma.”