JUDGE RANCE IVERSON SIPPED his Kentucky bourbon while he listened to the governor.
“As you know, Rance, my sister means the world to me. It’s not her fault her no account husband gave her a bad seed. She would just die if he swung.”
“Murder and rape are serious crimes, Governor.”
“Yes, yes, I know, but not so bad when it’s an old sodbuster and his ignorant sons. And the girl, well, probably just a country floozy.”
“It would put me in a tough position.”
“I understand, but you’re a tough man. That’s why I’m recommending you to replace me when I become a United States Senator after we become a state.”
“I’ll give this matter some thought. I’m concerned about this cowboy, Rich Delton, though. According to the report I’ve seen, he’s an eyewitness to the crimes you’re nephew committed.”
“Allegedly committed.” The governor shot back. “But I hear the good folks of Lowell Town are mighty upset at that Delton boy. There’s a lot of talk about a lynchin’.”
“That’s not likely to happen as long as Stan Barstow is the town marshal. He’s a tough, honest lawman.”
The governor leaned forward in his chair. “Rance, Delton won’t make it to court.”
Iverson’s swallow of bourbon went down hard.
“Now, this Jasper Lee fellow is a problem. I’m quite sure he’s the only person who cares one wit about what happened in Arlington. What I need you to do is issue an arrest warrant for Jasper Lee on thirteen counts of murder in the first degree. That should distract folks about Bart.”
“I’ll need the prosecutor to send me the charges.”
“He will.”
Iverson gave the governor a quizzical look.
“Who do think is going to replace you as judge?”
Charlie Forbes eyed the rider trotting towards the ranch office and rested his hand on his pistol. Several cowboys had come by looking for work in the last couple of weeks, but he sent them on after giving them a meal. He’d have to do the same with this man.
“You the foreman?”
“I am...”
“Name’s John Smith. The governor said you’d have a job for me,” the man said before Charlie could tell him the score.
“The governor, eh. You done any cow punchin’?”
“Oh yeah, plenty.”
Charlie looked at the horse this John Smith rode in to the ranch. “I don’t see any chaps or rope on that horse.”
“Look, the governor said you’d have a job for me. I don’t think you wanna piss him off.”
Charlie gave Smith a hard look. “You’ll have a job...right up to the time you talk to me like that again. You understand?”
“Okay, okay, I understand.”
“Put your horse away and get some vittles over at the bunkhouse. We start work at sun up. Be ready.”
“I will.”
Charlie went back into his office and continued going over the brand count. Thirty minutes later a commotion outside interrupted his count. He stepped out to find Smith sitting in the dirt in front of the bunkhouse door. Three other young cowboys surrounded him, one holding a pistol by the top of the cylinder.
“What the hell’s going on here?”
“He’s what’s going on,” Jerry Sanchez nodded to Smith.
“You got a problem with Smith?”
“Smith? This here’s Bart Moore, a lyin’, back-stabbin’ low life.”
“Moore, eh.” Charlie rubbed his hand over his chin then across the back of his neck. You kin to the governor’s sister?”
“I’m the governor’s nephew! You’d better watch out what you do.”
“You bringin’ him on, Charlie? Because if you do, I’m quittin’.”
“That’ll make three of us,” Walt Winters added and his brother nodded in agreement.
Charlie walked over, picked up Moore’s hat and lifted him up by the arm. He plopped the hat on Moore’s head sending a cloud of dust flying around the outlaw. “Is that his pistol?”
“Yeah, we took it from him after he pulled it on us.”
Charlie took the pistol, emptied it and gave it to Moore. “Get your horse and get out. Tell the governor he can’t afford you workin’ here.”
Moore glared. “You’re going to regret this.”
Forbes laughed. “Not likely.” His eyes narrowed. “Now, get out.”
Jasper rode Coal at an easy lope for a good four hours occasionally stopping to check his back trail. Although his eyes constantly scanned his surroundings, his thoughts kept going over the night before. He tried to sort out what he witnessed, indeed what he took part in, and his own idea of what constituted fair justice. Jasper knew many people believed his past levies of justice were harsh…even cruel, because he acted swiftly and finally. He rarely took time to hear a man’s story. His thoughts continued without resolution.
He rode up the Seneca River and eased Coal into a thicket of trees. He scanned the area for anything out of place. The river was running fairly strong, its azure waters undulating like a giant serpent. The day had become warm and annoying insects darted around Jasper, but he remained still.
He narrowed his eyes at a shadow behind some tall brush across the river. It appeared to be a horse. Then he saw a man sitting against a tree on the opposite bank near the river’s edge. Jasper pulled out his telescope. The man had a large blotch of blood around his right shoulder. Japer recognized the man as Harry Wells, an off and on outlaw that had ridden in his regiment during the war. A scan of the area didn’t turn up anything else.
Jasper urged Coal out of the trees and eased him into the water. Near the middle of the river the cold water came up over Jasper’s high top moccasins. It felt good against the heat of the day. When they got to the other side Coal climbed the bank and Jasper dismounted. He let Coal stay to drink and walked over to Wells.
Harry’s eyes were closed and Jasper noticed his breathing was labored.
“Harry? It’s Jasper Lee.”
Harry’s eyelids fluttered open. “Well howdy, Jasper. Long time no see.”
“Looks like you lost an argument.”
“Son-of-a-bitch shot me in the back.”
“Who?”
“Dewey Cann, I think.”
“He rides with Bart Moore, don’t he?”
“Yeah, so did I.”
Jasper gave Harry a hard stare.
“C’mon, Jasper. You’ve knowed me long enough to know I might get a little squirrelly sometimes, but I ain’t never killed men in cold blood and I sure as hell ain’t forced myself on no women.”
“Were you the rider that met the gang at Arlington and Tully Valley Road?”
Harry nodded. “Yeah, I got a belly full of whiskey a couple of nights before the boys left Kentville and shot up a saloon. They threw me in the jail for five days. I went lookin’ for the boys after that.”
“You know what they did.”
“Yeah, that crazy idiot Bart Moore and some of the others bragged all about it.”
“Why did you stay with ‘em.”
“Well, Jasper, I was going to leave ‘em but it appears you were the one who shot us all up in Tully Valley. I didn’t know what the hell was goin’ on until Moore told us you were the one. I knew I had nothin’ to fear from you because I didn’t do what they did so I decided to get out of the territory. That’s when Cann shot me.”
“Let me look at that wound.” Jasper unbuttoned Harry’s shirt and carefully inspected the injury. “If I can get you to a healer soon enough you might make it. Can you ride?”
“I don’t know, Jasper.” Harry took a deep breath and looked around him. “I was kinda thinkin’ dyin’ might not be so bad since I ain’t amounted to much my whole life and this place looked as good as any for my bones to rest.”
Jasper put his hand on Harry’s other shoulder. “Harry, you’ve done good things in your life, along with the bad. I know you were a good soldier. Maybe this is what you needed to change yourself around.”
“Well, the closest town is Kentville. I wouldn’t last ten seconds there.”
“I’m not takin’ you to Kentville. I’ll make a poultice for that wound, then I’ll take you to the clan. They’re family to me and they’ll take care of you.”
“I’m not sure I can stay awake for the ride.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll truss you up good and tight.”
Jasper guided Harry’s horse for two hours before he noticed the ropes were beginning to loosen. He dismounted and started working on tightening them. A hawk called out and Jasper looked up to see it circling above. He caught the red tinge along the edge of the hawk’s tail feathers...a red-tailed hawk, his clan namesake. He nodded to the bird and continued tightening the ropes on Harry.
Suddenly wings flapped behind him. He turned to see the hawk sitting on his saddle, gazing at him.
Surprised for a moment, Jasper finally found his tongue. “Afternoon, Hawk.”
The hawk’s gaze was fixed and Jasper found himself gazing back and getting drawn into those dark eyes. He felt, rather than heard a voice.
“I am your spirit guide, but you are a hard one to give counsel to because you do not take the time to listen.”
“I’m sorry, Hawk, I meant no disrespect.”
“I felt no disrespect, but listen now. Follow the trail but know there are strong forces working against you. Be alert and cautious. Do not judge every one by how they look. The outwardly meek often have great strength and courage in their hearts. Trust those with clear eyes and clean tongue. Trust those who love you.”
“Sound words, Hawk. I will keep them in my heart.”
With a flap of great wings, Hawk took to the air.
Jasper stood silently for awhile trying to understand what just happened. Harry’s moan brought Jasper back to the task at hand.
When Jasper arrived at the clan, Rain Water immediately ordered Harry to be brought to the family lodge. Rain Water, a holy woman and a healer, immediately went to work with the help of Black Feather’s wife.
Jasper walked out of the lodge with Black Feather feeling better now that Harry was in good hands.
“Now you must stay for the celebration, Fire Hawk. Father Sun is going for his rest and soon we will light the fires.”
“I’ll stay, my Brother, but I’ll leave before Father Sun rises again.”
Black Feather put a hand on Jasper’s shoulder and smiled.
The sunset set the clouds aglow casting a light show across the blue sky. Claw Of The Eagle and Moon On The Water stood facing Wind Runner and Butterfly Wing.
Each couple wore matching headbands made of the white and black eagle feathers and multi-colored beads. Moon On The Water’s proud face glowed in the sun’s rays. Butterfly Wing’s mouth bore a slight smile as she leaned against Wind Runner, who held her with a protective arm. The women didn’t seem to mind they had no time to make their joining dresses. They both wore necklaces and ankle bracelets made by other women in the clan.
The Chief stepped between the two couples and cleared his throat. “I, Walks With Bears, say it is time for the joining.”
A young girl came forward and handed the chief a decorated leather tie.
He turned to Claw Of The Eagle and Moon On The Water. “We offer this tie and with it the blessings of Father Sun, Mother Earth and the Clan Of The Hawk. By this tying may you be forever joined in life.”
He performed the same ritual with Wind Runner and Butterfly Wing then stepped back into the circle. “May your joining be filled with happiness and bring forth children who will make our clan strong and bring harmony for all.”
Still joined by the ties, the couples walked through the happy people heading for their lodges. They stopped in front of Jasper. The sisters each touched his hands and nodded to him. He nodded back. The people sang and danced well into the night, celebrating the new families and the new way.
The sun had not yet shown when Jasper tied his bedroll and quietly started for the lodge door.
“Jasper,” Harry whispered.
Jasper bent down near him. “Feelin’ better, Harry?”
“A might. I wanted to thank you for bringin’ me here and getting me fixed up.”
“I’m glad I found you.”
“Listen, Jasper. Bart Moore was braggin’ that his uncle was goin’ to take care of their problems, including you. You gotta be careful.”
“I will. Where’s the gang?”
“A day’s ride north of Kentville, where the Seneca and Muddy creek meet. They stay in and around an old cabin.”
“Yeah, I know the area. Thanks, Harry, and you rest up.”
“Good luck, Jasper. I think you’ll need it.”