STAN LISTENED TO THE CITIZENS of the secret brigade report what they saw and heard.
Black Feather came in. “The governor’s men and sheriff deputies are spread all through the town, ready for trouble.”
“Good. They’ll get it, just not the kind they may be expecting. Make sure everyone is in place.”
Black Feather nodded and went out the door.
Stan looked around for Amos Scoville, but he found Doris in the kitchen.
“Amos just went in to work on our patient.” Doris pulled a loaf of delicious smelling bread from the oven. “Willis will need a little fixing up if he’s going to have enough strength to make it into town.”
“I was hoping Amos could go into town to find out what’s going on with the proceedings.”
“I know just the thing, Stan. Can you hook up the surrey for me? It’s in the back so you’ll not be seen.”
Stan had a flash of uncertainty about sending a woman into such a dangerous situation alone, but he needed to know what was going on. “Certainly.”
Doris came out wearing her bonnet and carrying her purse. “I just need to pick up something for dinner tonight.”
She winked and climbed into the surrey. “Tell Amos I’ll be right back.”
Maggie Colson and her daughter, Emma, walked briskly back from the courthouse carrying the remains of the lunch they had served the jurors. They entered her café and found Doris Scoville waiting.
“Maggie, did you see any of what’s going on in there?”
“Oh Doris, they are such horrible men. The governor is in there with them and they are just jokin’ around. They don’t care about any evidence and such. They’re just goin’ to hang Mr. Lee.”
“I wonder why they’re doing it this way instead of just lynching Jasper.”
“I heard the governor say they had to make it look good, but Lord knows they ain’t foolin’ no one.”
“Someone said they was goin’ to hang Mr. Lee this afternoon,” Emma reported. “I thought it was good to hang him, Mrs. Scoville. He’s a bad man, ain’t he?”
“I know he is a gunfighter, Emma, but so far I’ve only seen him do good things.”
Emma’s eyes started to brim with tears. “Oh. I feel bad he’s gonna hang now.”
Doris patted Emma’s arm. “Don’t fret, dear. No one is going to hang today.”
Doris picked up her package and went home to tell Stan what she heard.
“Good work, Doris,” Stan said. “It’s time for me to show my face.”
The judge banged his gavel. “The defendant will stand.”
Jasper rose. During the time everyone was busy with the so-called deliberating, Jasper had moved his dirk from his moccasin to his sleeve.
The judge turned to the jury. “Has the jury reached a verdict?”
The foreman stood. “We have, your honor.”
“What say ye?”
“Guilty on all counts.”
“Thank you for your service. You’re all discharged.”
The men of the jury filed out of the courtroom.
“Well, Mr. Lee, do you have anything to say before I pass sentence?”
“You might as well just go ahead and finish this farce.”
The judge’s face reddened. “I hereby sentence you to hang by the neck until dead.”
“When?” Jasper asked.
“Now,” the governor said. “Before we get too big of a crowd.”
“I sentence you to hang now, Mr. Lee.” The judge banged his gavel one last time. “Sheriff, carry out your duty.”
The sheriff fastened on the manacles and shoved Jasper down the aisle and out the door. Jasper squinted until his eyes adjusted to the bright afternoon sunlight. A warm breeze floated by him and a calmness trickled through his body. The shrill cry of a hawk pierced the air, drawing Jasper’s eyes skyward.
“Hawk, I need your guidance,” Jasper said to his spirit guide.
All that I’ve said is true. You will own this day. Use it wisely.
“Whaddya doin’, Lee? Goin’ nuts because you’re goin’ to…Shit! Where’d all these people come from?”
“Move it, Morey.” The governor’s voice drew Jasper back to the matter at hand. “Let’s get this over with.”
Lock pushed Jasper up the stairs to the noose. Jasper shook the dirk from his sleeve and laid the blade against the rope on his wrists.
“Hold it, Norris!” Stan Barstow climbed up onto the gallows followed by Black Feather and an Army captain. “United States Marshals. Move in men! Take them all into custody!” Stan grabbed the governor. “Cornell Norris, I have a federal warrant for you. You’re under arrest.”
“Unhand me,” Norris bellowed as the marshal put him in manacles. “I’m the governor of this territory!”
“Actually, Norris, we all think you’re just a pile of shit!” a voice yelled from the crowd.
“We have a federal warrant for you too, Sheriff Lock,” Black Feather informed him.
The crowd openly laughed and cheered.
With the assistance of Amos Scoville, Willis walked up to Judge Iverson.
Even though the young lawyer looked pretty beat up, Jasper couldn’t have been happier and he silently thanked the spirits and the Lord that Willis was still alive.
Willis held out a paper to the judge. “This is a federal warrant for your arrest.” Wind Runner put manacles on the judge.
Iverson’s face turned whiter than a bed sheet. “Oh my God, you’re alive.”
Lock tried to twist away from Black Feather. “You can’t stop this hangin’! Lee’s been found guilty and sentenced to hang. Everybody knows he killed those men when he had no right to!”
Jasper cut the rope binding his hands, bent down and pulled his derringer. With barely a breath he swung around toward Norris.
“Jasper! Don’t!” Gale ran up the stairs followed by Micah Niles and Bill Newlin.
“Gale?” Her name caught on the happiness Jasper felt at the sound of her voice. “What are you doin’ here?”
She smiled and touched his arm. “We’ve come to take you home.”
“For your information, Sheriff Lock,” Bill Newlin said. “Jasper Lee is the Sheriff of Cassidy County and had every right and duty to bring those men to justice.”
“Put the gun away, Jasper,” Gale said. “It’s all right. Marshal Barstow has everything under control.”
Jasper looked around before he put the gun in his pocket.
Gale took his hands and held them in hers. She pressed the sheriff’s badge against his fingers. “The people of Cassidy County appointed you to be their sheriff.”
“Gale, I ca…”
She put her fingers on his lips. Her deep emerald eyes held Jasper still and quiet.
“Yes, you can. The words in your letter told me you know that true justice is a hard thing to understand. You’ve talked about justice ever since I’ve known you. Sometimes I think it haunts you. Now you’ve seen how justice can be perverted by men in power. Take this badge and do it right. Do it right for the people who believe in you and trust in you. Do it right for our friends and neighbors. Do it right for our family. Do it right for me.”
“I couldn’t have said it better, Jasper.” Micah looked at Jasper. “We need you. I wish there were more men like you.”
Bill Newlin nodded his head.
Jasper took a deep breath and looked at the badge for a few seconds. Rain Water’s words came to his mind. Find the star and keep it close to your heart.
He folded his fingers around the cool metal and nodded. He started to put the badge on his shirt, but Gale stopped him.
She took the badge and pinned it on him. Then taking the cuff of her sleeve, she burnished it to a shine. She stood on her toes and kissed him. “It’s good to see you, Sheriff Lee.”
Micah handed him his gun belt and Bowie knife.
Suddenly shots rang out down the street. Bart Moore ran out, a saddle bag slung over his shoulder. He leapt onto his horse and galloped off.
“That’s the man who escaped the ambush on Marshal Barstow,“ Wind Runner shouted. He pushed his way through the crowd and sprinted to his horse. He mounted with a leap and was off after Moore. Black Feather galloped after them.
“Pa!” Sean led Coal to the gallows.
Jasper jumped on his big horse and started after his brothers. Sean was right behind, but Gale’s voice pierced the turmoil.
“Sean! No!”
Jasper turned. “Stay here, son.”
Sean looked at Jasper then looked at his mother then back to Jasper again. The disappointment was clear in his eyes, but he turned his horse and rode back to the gallows.