Everyone around the table nods. Sean nods, clears the rest of the table of everything, but their drinks and bustles off.
An hour later, John is in his room, gathering his clothing together, getting ready for his bath, when he hears a knock at the door to his room. He answers it, to see Lt. Woodson standing there.
John is surprised to see him, but invites the young man in. The young man gratefully accepts the invitation and limps over to and sits on the edge of the bed.
John looks at the young man critically. “I’m glad to see your wound has healed up so well thus far. What can I do for you, lieutenant?”
The young man gathers himself up, seeming to try and steel himself, then replies, “You know those prisoners you captured aren’t actually bald-knobbers, right?”
John nods. “Yeah, this is pretty far from the usual haunt of theirs. Plus, the bald-knobbers I have dealt with are more interested in social justice and taxation than land-grabbing like these guys. Why this visit?”
“I came to you, because I need your help. We need to prove these people aren’t bald-knobbers after all.”
“What difference does it make who they are?” John shakes his head. “If they are, or aren’t bald-knobbers is beside the point.”
“It’s a matter of family pride. My uncle helped start them, and I can’t be having his memory dragged through the mud like that.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t see a way to do that.”
“Can you talk to the judge and the marshal to try and get them to keep the name of the bald-knobbers out of the trial?”
“I can try, but I don’t know if it will do any good. It’s really that important to you, isn’t it?”
The young man nods. “It really is. I changed my name after he was killed a few years ago. I joined up with the cavalry to find his killers, seeking justice, only to find out it was other bald-knobbers that did it.”
“Then why are you trying to keep their name clear?”
“It will make things worse for everyone if we don’t. That will give them an open invitation to come out here and stir up more trouble than we already have.”
John thinks furiously for a minute. How can he do this and keep people from causing a stink about it? How can he make sure to try and get this figured out, without arousing suspicion of being a bald-knobber himself? The pieces click together. John nods, having made his decision. “I think we will go at it, saying we will need not mention their name, just to try and keep the violence down to a minimum. You’re right, this will invite more trouble than it is worth.”
The lieutenant nods. “I appreciate it. I would also appreciate you not mentioning my reasons for coming to talk to you about it to anyone else.”
“Oh, I won’t say anything. I do, have to ask, though, who was your uncle?”
“Galba Branson.”
John’s mouth hangs open. He couldn’t have heard it right. “You said his name was Branson?”
The lieutenant nods again.
“I’m not sure what to say. Were you ever close to him?”
“Some. By the time I was old enough to tell right from wrong, he had already gone in with them.”
“Did he ever tell you about his involvement in the war?”
“He told me all about it. It was almost as if he were proud of his accomplishments in it. Why do you ask?”
“Did he tell you about how he was involved in the burning of Lawrence?”
“Yeah. He told me how he was the one that told the bushwhackers about it. Were you involved? How do you know his name?’
“I was one of the scouts that helped him get the information. Because of my involvement, I got banished from my tribe. My brother and I, well, we joined the cavalry because of your uncle. I’m glad he’s dead, otherwise, I would want to kill him for betraying us.”
“I know what you mean. Will you talk to the judge and marshal for me about it, then?”
Just then, there’s a knock on John’s door. He answers it, seeing Joey in the hallway. He looks back at the lieutenant and says, “Speaking of talking to the marshal. I think we will enjoy the conversation here, shortly.” John grabs his gear, motions the young lieutenant out the door, before locking it.
As they head down the hallway, John motions to the lieutenant and says to Joey, “The lieutenant, here, just brought up a good point to me. If we charge the prisoners with being members of the bald-knobbers, we have to make sure we can prove it without a doubt. Otherwise, it will invite the real members to incite considerable more violence around here.”
Joey looks at her middle-aged friend a moment, “What aren’t you telling me?”
“I honestly don’t think they actually are members. This is pretty far from their usual territory, and there’s other reasons, but those are more circumstantial.”
Joey sighs, deep in thought. “I’ll talk to the prosecutor about it. You’re right, there’s more chances of violence. We’ll discuss it when I deliver the prisoners. All the law offices and the jail are in the same building.”
John smiles. “Convenient.”
Joey flashes him a quick smile in return. “Quite.”
When they get downstairs, the lieutenant waves bye, leaving the two of them to go towards the bathhouse. As they reach the back door, Logan and David walk in from outside. Logan is talking animatedly about the wonders he has just experienced.
John chuckles when he hears the judge’s comments. “Now you see why we recommend it?”
“I get the feeling I will be coming down to Norman more often, now. Jason will just have to survive with coming out here to see me, instead of me staying with him at the garrison. I wonder if they would be willing to start selling the soap in the general store. They could probably make a fortune off the stuff.”
John nods and says, “I’ve said much the same thing. I don’t know if they will or not. All we can do is try, right?”
Judge Logan nods, then says, “I’m ready for a drink after that. Gonna join me, Doc?”
At hearing the excitement in the judge’s tone, David sighs and shakes his head resignedly. “Why not?”
Judge Logan laughs, slaps the young doctor on the back and leads him toward the stairs, so they can put up their bathing gear.
John and Joey look at each other, then laugh.
An hour and a half later, the four of them are sitting around a table, enjoying their own drink of choice. John with his Guinness, David and Judge Logan with their lagers, and Joey with her sarsaparilla.
They spend a comfortable hour just swapping stories, before Judge Logan bows out, claiming advancing age, needing to seek his bed.
The younger members of the party finish their drinks and head upstairs as well. With a final wave, John bids his young friends a good night. John enters his room, closes and locks his door. He sits on the edge of his bed, mulling over what all has happened today. Without realizing he’s doing it, John falls into a deep sleep.
Chapter 51
John has been at Ft. Sill now for ten years. Things have been mostly quiet. Red-Feather and Heart-of-Falcon have been married most of that time. Silver-Moon and Aisling’s friendship has deepened into their being adopted sisters, much to the chagrin of the Lonargans.
Lt. Col. Walters has promoted John to Sergeant Major. Originally, he offered John a field commission, but the younger man turned it down saying of all things he is not a gentleman. Recently, John has been out with a troop, helping to suppress an uprising in the Arapaho nation. John is riding next to Red-Feather as they ride back into the fort. John looks to Sheridan’s porch and sees the general himself lounging in a rocking chair, smoking his pipe, drinking a glass of tea, as he watches the sunset.
After the troop cools down their horses and puts them into their stalls, John and Red-Feather head over to and greet the general. John salutes the man, Red-Feather nods in greeting.
Sheridan looks at John and in a very familiar voice, demands, “Why do you still deny Me, John? WHY?!” He punctuates each questi
on with a bang of his pipe on the chair.
He continues to demand of John, until finally John yells, “What? What is it of me that you want?”
Sheridan stares at John a moment longer. Blood starts seeping from his forehead, as if slashed. He demands, “Why do you deny My existence? WHY?”
Chapter 52
John wakes to a pounding on the door of his room. He hears a voice call out, “Marshal? Marshal John? Are ya ‘wake, yet?”
John rubs his face. “What? What time is it? Where am I?”
“Marshal! Ya be needin’ ta wake, don’ ya know!”
John can now identify the distinctive voice of Joseph Mallory calling out. John groans in response to the yells. He looks at the ceiling, seeing the fiddleback spider. It’s staring at John once more. He becomes instantly awake and alert. The spider raises its front legs, then skitters away, across the ceiling. Finally, after several seconds of heavy breathing, John yells “What?”
“Sorry, Marshal. You asked fer a wake up call at five ‘o tha clock.” Joseph’s voice sounds aggravated. “Kin ya come ta tha door?”
John swings his feet of the bed, realizing he had accidentally left his boots on. He groans as he gets up, stumbles his way to the door, unlocks it, and swings it open.
Joseph is standing in the hallway, offering the obviously grouchy, half-asleep town marshal a cup of coffee. “I been tryin’ ta wake ya fer more t’han ten minnits now.” He shakes his head. “Ya are a hard one ta wake, ya are.”
John takes the steaming cup and drains it in one swallow. He nods in appreciation. “Yeah, haven’t been sleeping too well lately. Thanks.” He hands the empty cup back to the older Irishman. Joseph turns to leave and John asks, “Is David up yet?”
Joseph nods. “He was first. I expect he’s gettin’ hisself some food a’ready.”
John sighs and nods. “Yeah. I should do that as well. Is Sean already up and rarin’ to go?”
Joseph nods, eyes clouded with uncertainty. “What all are ya wantin’ him ta move fer ya?”
“He didn’t tell you?”
Joseph shakes his head in response.
“Huh. Odd. It’s just the Guinness casks, some crates of dishes, lanterns, some oil, and a crate of guns with ammo.”
The older man nods. He looks at John, expression discerning. “Are ya sure ya are awake now? Not gon’ back ta sleep any time soon?”
John smiles. “Yeah, I’m sure.” He rubs his face, wishing for more coffee.
Joseph nods, waves bye, and heads back downstairs.
The middle-aged marshal goes back into his room, locks the door and starts getting all his stuff ready to go. He’s glad he never really unpacked anything from his bags.
After making sure he can leave at a moment’s notice, he heads downstairs for breakfast. When he gets to the dining-room, he sees the judge, doctor, and U.S. Marshal all sitting around a table, laughing at a joke.
John walks up to the table and everyone goes silent.
David asks in a voice filled with concern, “Are you alright?”
John looks at his young friend. “I guess. Why do you ask?”
“We were all awakened by your screaming a little while ago. I was gonna go wake you, but Joseph convinced me to let him do it.”
John nods. “Yeah, I guess I’m ok. It’s the same problem with dreams I have been having for awhile now. I don’t know what to do about them, just that they are keeping me from sleeping as well I can.” His voice sounds defeated, even to himself.
David shakes his head. “I have some ideas, but you don’t wanna hear them. I will just continue to pray you will find peace.”
Both Joey and Judge Logan nod in agreement to the statement.
John is stunned. He doesn’t care that they are talking to their fairy tale about him. He is surprised that it matters to them so much, they are doing something they believe will work. He nods and says, “Thank you. Not that it will do anything, but thank you nonetheless.”
The twinkle in David’s eye is mysterious as he says, “You never know. I believe it will do you some good, so let me keeping doing it and let’s see what comes about.”
John sighs and seats himself at the table. He shakes his head. “Whatever. So, what were you guys laughing about?”
Judge Logan goes back over the story of how Jason was inducted in the Army, and how the entire series of events was a parody of errors. By the end of the story, John is laughing hard enough he is crying.
He takes a moment to catch his breath and wipe away the tears from his eyes. “That has got to be one of the funniest stories I’ve ever heard.”
Over the next half hour, they enjoy an easy companionship over their breakfast. At the end of the meal, Sean comes up to bus the table and asks, “So, how do you want to handle the shipping of that equipment?”
John finishes the rest of his coffee in one swig, sits there a moment and replies, “Well, I’ll need to pay you for it anyway, so what about you coming to the bank with me, getting the money, going to the store, and having me vouch for you?”
The look on Sean’s face is one of that being the last thing he expected in response. He stares blankly at John a moment, then smiles and says, “Um, sure. If ya don’ mind.”
John smiles at the young man’s reaction. “Well, you need the money to rent the buckboard, don’t you?”
Sean nods. “Aye. Normally, I gotta con-vince someone I need tha money up-fron’.”
John nods. “I understand. I figured you would like that.”
Sean nods, thinks for a second, then says, “Gimme a sec, an’ I’ll head over t’here wit’ ya.” He heads back to the kitchen with the dishes.
David sighs in contentment as he leans back. “I can’t wait til I can get back to Denver. This is the longest time I have been away from Bekah, since we started walking out with each other.” He shakes his head ruefully. “I am missing her sorely.”
John smiles at his young friend. “Oh, you know what they say. ‘Absence makes the heart grow fonder’. You’ll be okay, I expect.”
David’s smile is wan as he says, “My heart is fond enough of her. I don’t like missing her is all. I know I will be okay, I just don’t like feeling like this.”
John laughs in genuine pleasure. “Well, then, I guess we better hurry up and get back, so you two love-birds can see each other again, huh?”
David’s sigh is disconsolate.
Sean walks up and says to John, “Okay, Marshal. I’m ready any time ya are.”
Chapter 53
Three and a half hours later, John, David, Joey, and Judge Logan are all standing in front of the registration desk, checking out. Sean approaches from the dining-room, carrying a small bag of food that travels easily.
Judge Logan points to John and David, then says in a serious tone to John, “Make sure you two are here to provide your testimony against those prisoners. The case against them will not stand otherwise.”
John nods, shakes the older man’s hand, then turns to Joey. “I hope to see you again, Marshal.” He gives the young woman a sly wink.
Her smile is like the rising sun on an otherwise dreary day. “Oh, you can be sure you aren’t gonna get rid of me that easily.”
John smiles in return. “Good. I’ll be looking forward to it, then.” He shakes her hand and turns to leave. At the door, he turns and waves bye to the two friends he recently gained.
He’s followed outside by David and Sean. As they exit, John sees his and David’s horses tied to the hitching post in front of the building, where they’d left them. Next to the horses sits the wagon Sean has rented. John walks over to the wagon, making sure the guns and ammo are secured properly.
With the heat of the day starting to rise, John is glad they haven’t left the horses tied up like this for very long, no more than a half hour. Poor things would be roasting if they had left them there any longer. He looks to Sean and says, “We are gonna ride on ahead. Are you sure you’re gonna be okay with going to Denver alone?”
Sean pats the fully loaded repeater rifle hidden under the seat of the wagon. “If I get inta more trouble t’han t’his kin handle, I’m in a place I shouldnae be.”
John laughs. “Fair enough. I expect we will be seeing you in Denver tomorrow or the day after then.”
Sean waves an acknowledgment of the statement, mounts the wagon and guides the team over to the general store, to load up all the equipment.
John and David ride out of Norman at a canter. While on the road, John considers everything that has happened in the last few days. He has the feeling this is just the beginning of the trouble. He’s surprised at how Norman is so immured in his memory now.
They ride in to White around noon. David motions toward the General store, with a slight, older woman sweeping out front. Both John and David tie their horses to the hitching post out front.
The woman is moving stiffly, as if she was either recently injured, or is suffering from arthritis. She sees the two men approach and stops sweeping. Her posture stiffens and she points to David. “I told you to never come back! She isn’t here, so, if you don’t leave right now, I’ll call for the Marshal to remove you!”
David levels his gaze at her. “You know, as it so happens, I have brought the Marshal with me.”
John smiles and opens the right side of his vest to reveal his badge. “So, what was this about calling the Marshal?”
“This man keeps insisting that a girl we had him check out several months ago is still with us. She ran off some time ago. We don’t know where she went, but he won’t accept that as an answer. Now, I’ve told him he’s trespassing, but he refuses to leave,” she replies, her tone one of complete exasperation.
John can see by her expression that she’s hiding something. He stands there a moment, then crosses his arms. “The easiest way to get him to go away, is to prove it to him she’s gone. Would you allow us to search your house for her?”
The woman’s face goes bright red and she calls into the store, behind her, “Richard!”
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