John shakes his head. “I need to get back to Denver. We have too much going on out there for me to be cooling my heels here in Norman for too long.”
The major nods his understanding and waves at John in dismissal. “Okay. See you tomorrow, then. These men and I need to speak in private. You are dismissed.”
John nods and motions to Capt. Richards, indicating he would like to speak with the officer later.
Richards nods in agreement and says with a broad grin, “I’ll see ya at the hotel later. I’m in the mood for Irish food anyways.”
John leaves the office and rides back towards the hotel. Now that he’s successfully checked in with the army officers, he has nothing, really, to do until Joey gets in town.
Chapter 62
Paul greets John warmly and takes the reins. John notices David and Rebekah’s horses are already in their stalls.
As John leaves to go over to the hotel, Paul says, “Oh! I almost forgot. I saw that man that was carrying the twin to your gun recently. He’s a deputy marshal.”
John stops dead in his tracks and turns slowly to face the gigantic stable owner. “I’m sorry, come again?”
“Yup. Came through a few days ago, said something about needing to deliver wanted posters. Never did get his name, though.”
The bitter taste of disappointment fills John’s mouth. “Well, at least you remembered to keep an eye out for him.” He shakes his head. “Thanks for letting me know.”
Paul acknowledges with a wave and disappears into the stables with John’s horse once again.
John crosses the street and enters the hotel. As he does, he is assaulted by some of the most sumptuous smells he has ever encountered. He approaches the front desk and asks Joseph, “What’s going on here?”
Joseph’s smile is wide as he says, “Sean set up a betroth-al part fer David an’ Rebekah. Laura’s doin’ a special lunch fer t’hem ‘n t’heir close fuhreinds. O’vosl’y ya’re invited. T’hey’re in t’here a’ready. Ya might wanna go on in.”
John waves his thanks to the Irishman and goes in to the restaurant. He sees David and Rebekah sitting at the usual table, backs to the door, heads bowed close to each other’s, talking quietly.
John steps up to the table and says in a low voice, “I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”
Without looking away from Rebekah, David says, “Of course not, John. We’re just discussing plans for the wedding.” He turns to look at John. “Did you have a productive meeting?”
John seats himself and quietly explains what happened in the lieutenant’s office.
At the explanation of the tribunal, David snorts and shakes his head in derision. “That’s the army for ya. Do you think you got your name cleared, though?”
“Think so. I didn’t want to tell him the reason that idiot attacked me in the first place.”
David looks at John curiously and asks, “I forget, what was the reason?”
“During the war, I killed his brother.”
“Oh? I don’t recall you telling me about it.”
Over a sumptuous lunch of steaks and potatoes, and the proceeding three and a half hours, John recounts in Cherokee many of the details of his involvement in the war. He finishes his narration, explaining how he and Josh were eventually banished from the ‘Nations for the role in the burning of Lawrence.
Rebekah listens intently, clearly understanding most of the narration. At several points, a look of understanding dawns on her beautiful face. John forgot she was being taught her fiancé’s native tongue.
It’s the middle of the afternoon, when John is finishing up the story, that Joey walks in with Capt. Richards.
Nodding towards the pair, John says to David and Rebekah, in Cherokee, “Marshal Blackwolf and Capt. Richards are here. Just behind you.”
John is finishing his warning just as the pair approaches, and the older town marshal sees a strange look in the young federal marshal’s eyes.
She cocks her head and says, “Afternoon, Marshal. What is this about us being behind them?”
John looks at the young woman in surprise. He asks in Cherokee, “You understand the Cherokee?”
With a mysterious yet uncertain smile, Joey nods.
John studies his young friend’s face. He sees the uncertainty plainly written on her face. He motions around the table and asks in English, “Would you two like a seat?”
Joey nods and pulls a chair away from another table.
Capt. Richards looks at the table and says, “Isn’t it gonna be a little tight with me sitting there?”
David and Rebekah share a look, then scoot in closer to each other, freeing up a side of the table. David smiles and motions to another chair, indicating he should sit down.
With a knowing grin, the captain sits down. “So, it looks like Maj. Arbuckle’s decision in taking over the trial wasn’t well received by Judge Logan.”
Joey snorts. “In fact, they’re still arguing about it. Tomorrow is gonna be interesting to say the least.”
John sighs and rubs some of the exhaustion from his eyes. “Well, what will happen will happen, I guess. First thing’s first. David, do you want the honor?”
David nods. “Marshal Blackwolf, this is my fiancé, Rebekah Morris. She owns the Denver Outlook Hotel. Bekah, my love, this U.S. Marshal Joe Blackwolf.”
Joey tips her hat. “Ma’am.”
Just then, Brigit walks up and asks, “Hello, gentlemen. Can I get ya something to drink?”
Capt. Richards smiles and says, “Beer.”
Joey orders Sarsaparilla.
John holds up his drink, indicating he would like another Guinness.
Brigit nods and leaves, heading back to the bar where the liquor is kept.
John looks at Joey. “So, where’d ya learn the Cherokee?
Joey shifts uncomfortably in her seat a moment. She looks around at the other people sitting at the table. “I hope everyone here can keep quiet about what I’m going to say?”
Everyone around the table nods and Joey seems to steel herself before saying, “Jahleesee, my grandmother, is Cherokee; Pa is half. I was raised here in the unassigned lands.” She shrugs. “I don’t noise this about, but Jahleesee taught me some of the tongue. It’s come in handy from time to time in my days bounty hunting.”
John nods and smiles. “Well, at least there’s that.”
Brigit comes back with all their drinks and hands them to their respective owners. “Can I get you folks something to eat?”
David says, “These are a couple of friends. Would you be able to get them set up with a plate of Laura’s special lunch each?”
Brigit nods and bustles off toward the kitchen quickly.
John clears his throat and looks at Joey. “She’s working here obviously. It sounds like she might be one of the Jacobson’s victims.”
Joey sighs and shakes her head. “I think we need to see what happens tomorrow before we start making a case against that family.”
John nods. “So, how have things been up north? You’re stationed out of Guthrie, right?”
She nods. Her eyes take on a far away look for a moment and she says, “Things are pretty quiet, actually. We’ve had our share of claim jumpers, robberies, and drunks, but nothing as exciting as you have been having down here.”
John snorts expressively. “Well, other than reports someone keeps attacking Shawnee and Chickasaw in the area, nothing else has been going on. I was hoping we could wrangle a troop of cav to check into it.” He looks pointedly at Capt. Richards.
Richards clears his throat. “If I had command of the garrison, I would in a heartbeat, but I don’t. Maj. Arbuckle has control and isn’t likely to give it up any time soon.” He shakes his head. “In fact, nothing short of a miracle will give me full command of the troop here. Even if Arbuckle is killed, the army will give the command of the troop over to Col. Wilson at Fort Reno.”
John shakes his head. “I wasn’t suggesting we kill anyone. In fact, I wou
ld prefer not killing anyone I don’t have to. You said Col. Wilson. That wouldn’t happen to be Lawrence Wilson, would it?”
Richards nods. “Yeah, Lt. Col. Wilson out of Ft. Sill got promoted to colonel about three months ago and transferred up to Ft. Reno.”
John looks at the captain curiously. “Who was commander out there before Wilson?”
“Your old friend, Col. Watkins. Right around the time of the landrun, he retired and went into the Marshal’s Service.” He motions toward Joey. “In fact, young Marshal Blackwolf here, was most likely sworn in by him.”
Joey nods curtly. “Yeah. You know Marshal Walters, John?”
John smiles. “I served under him for years out of Ft. Sill and Ft. Cobb. Of all the officers I served under, he was the one I enjoyed working under the most.” He holds up his hand forestalling Richards’ comment. “Yours truly was an exception. You weren’t my C.O., you were a greenhorn I was assigned to teach.”
David, Joey and Rebekah burst into laughter.
Capt. Richards smiles and asks, “Was I really that bad?”
John’s smile is malicious. “You were wet enough behind the ears you didn’t need to take a bath for the first six months you were in the west.”
Another round of laughter.
Capt. Richards joins in. “Okay. Okay. I get it, you’re right. Ten years out here is a lifetime, isn’t it?”
“Absolutely.” John holds his drink up in a salute. “Here’s to the next ten being a lot easier.”
Everyone holds up their drinks and says a chorus of, “Here, here!”
Sean and Brigit walk up, carrying a plate of food each. As they approach the table, Sean says, “Well! Hello, t’here, Marshal! Kiptin! T’his is Brigit. She’s aworkin’ ‘roun’ here for awhile, til she gets back on ‘er feet.” He gently sets the plate of food down. He motions towards Joey and Capt. Richards, then says, “My dear, t’hese ta gennelmen are U.S. Marshal Joe Blackwolf, an’ Kiptin Richards of tha U.S. Cav-alry.”
Joey tilts her hat and says, “Ma’am.”
Richards smiles encouragingly and says, “Pleased to meet ya, ma’am. I don’t know if you know this, but the family you’re working for are some special folks. “
Brigit blushes and quietly says, “Don’t I know it.”
Sean flashes the beautiful young woman a charming smile. “Ma mam made a special dinner ta cele-brate David an’ Rebekah’s betroth-tal. If’n ya like it, ya kin leddar know. I’m a certin she’ll be likin’ tha comments.”
Everyone at the table nods enthusiastically, indicating their pleasure with the meal.
The rest of the meal goes quietly, with Joey filling everyone in on many of the things happening around the area she lives in. She explains about a provisional territorial government going up in Guthrie and how that town seems to be becoming the political center of the territory.
John is surprised that all the politics are happening in Guthrie, not Oklahoma Station, but whatever works.
Joey explains Oklahoma Station is on the Northern California Road, but Guthrie is the true crossroads for the tribes to go through.
After an hour of conversation, Capt. Richards excuses himself back to the garrison, saying he needs to make sure the major and judge haven’t killed each other, yet.
Once he leaves, John explains to the young marshal about his jurisdictional concerns and the task he has been given with tracking down Jeff Jacobson.
Joey shakes her head, saying unless John wants to become a U.S. Marshal, he can’t leave his jurisdiction, except to testify in court.
John grudgingly concedes, admitting he doesn’t want to be a U.S. Marshal, simply because of the politics. He asks Joey about what she thinks they need to do about the person attacking the local tribesmen, and she says that he’ll have to mention it to the judge when next he can.
Her voice is morose as she says, “Just like the army, we can’t make a move without order from on high.”
John shakes his head. He knew legalities were sticky, but really? Once again, he longs for his days as a sergeant major, not being involved in the strategy of law. “So, I guess this means we have to make our cases tomorrow after all, eh?”
Joey nods. “I’ll do what I can, but I don’t know how much that will be. There’s not a lot of us marshals around. We’re actually spread quite thin.”
John rubs his jaw-line deeply in thought. “I don’t know what it’s gonna take to bring those animals in. We may have to turn bounty hunter after all.” He smiles at Joey’s wide grin.
Suddenly, her face takes on a serious look. “Of course, I wouldn’t be able to approve of anyone going rogue like that.”
David glances between the two and grins wide. “I believe we need to go home as quickly as possible. I think Red-Feather would like to know if you’re going to abandon him to go on the road.”
“Well, we do have a trial—”
“Tribunal,” Joey interjects.
“Okay, fine, tribunal to go through first.”
John sees Judge Logan entering the restaurant from the hotel. John motions the older man over to take the chair that the captain recently vacated.
“Judge. Come on over, we were just talking about tomorrow.”
As he sits heavily in the chair, Judge Logan motions to Brigit indicating he was ready to be served. He sighs deeply. “Tomorrow. That’s gonna be an interesting day.” He shakes his head. “Looks like we’re moving forward with the tribunal.”
John nods. “I’d expected that. Since the ‘Nations lost their rezzes, the cav has been chomping at the bit to get their power back.”
Judge Logan nods in agreement. “I get the feeling this is just the beginning of a play for power again.”
“You think so?” John’s look is a study of concern.
Logan nods once again. “The provisional government can’t fight the army just yet. The major knows it.” He motions toward Joey and says simply, “Our presence here is troublesome for the major, to say the least.”
“Yeah?” John smirks. “Well, the major seems to be quite the hot-head. I would prefer you guys being here to help back me up.”
Both Joey and Judge Logan look pleased at John’s comment.
John looks seriously at the judge and asks, “What do you think our chances of being able to go investigate someone attacking the local Chickasaw and Shawnee is ?”
“Honestly? I don’t know. Currently, there’s only five marshals throughout all the Indian Territory. There’s only fifteen deputies as well. Marshal Blackwolf here, is the only one local, and he’s been ranging through the entire unassigned lands. We’re having to do more with less than you might think. Trying to tie up one of the marshals, or a deputy for an investigation like that might cause us more trouble than it’s worth.”
John is unable to believe, he just has to say, “I can see what you’re saying. In other words, we might have to ask the army for help in this case, then.” He shakes his head.
“Perish the thought. I don’t want to validate anything the army is trying to do here.” He shakes his head. “Fort Reno has been exerting pressure on everyone in Guthrie.”
“Pressure to do what?”
“Give positions of power to the army. They don’t want a civilian governor here, but a military one.”
“Oh, that’s really not good.” John stares off in the distance a moment. “Has someone told Washington? I mean, they don’t want the army in control out here, do they?”
“We’ve sent several telegraphs, but haven’t heard anything yet. We can only hope they do something about it, sooner rather than later.”
John’s not really surprised by this revelation, but is something more akin to annoyed. The military has had control in this area for close to sixty years now and they’re not likely to give it up any time soon. He’s been here the better part of thirty years, and can’t imagine living anywhere else. He shakes his head. “Now that the depressing part is over. I need another drink.” He motions over to Brigit for anoth
er Guinness.
Chapter 63
Three hours later, while David and Rebekah go out for a walk in Norman, John has the pleasure of showing Joey the new plumbing setup.
He smiles at her exclamations of pleasure as she soaks in the tub. He spends the hour standing guard, leaning against the wall, arms crossed, watching the door just beyond the partition. While she is in the bath stall, John and Joey amuse themselves swapping stories from their past. John frequently smiles at the young woman’s wit.
After having spent the better part of an hour soaking, Joey steps out of the stall, dressed, but her hair is still down. Just as she asks John if he thinks the major will truly hang all those men the next morning, the door to the bathhouse opens and in steps Brigit, carrying an armload of dirty laundry.
John uncrosses his arms and clears his throat meaningfully. “Hello, Brigit.” He hears Joey gasp.
“Who else is in here?” Brigit demands.
“It’s just me and Marshal Blackwolf. Why do you ask?” John looks at Joey, who is busily putting her hair under her hat.
“No, I heard a woman’s voice. Who is it?”
Joey steps around the partition, once again in her guise as the marshal. “Ma’am, you must have misheard. I promise you, we were the only two people in here.”
Brigit shakes her head vehemently. “No. I know what I heard.”
Hoping to forestall any further arguments, John says, “If you don’t believe us, you can check for yourself, after all.”
Without setting the laundry down, Brigit searches throughout the bathhouse. Not finding anyone else, the young woman confronts the two marshals once more, saying, “I know I heard a woman’s voice. The only other women who should be in here are Mrs. Mallory and Rebekah. So, who was that woman I heard?”
Joey says, “I’m sorry, ma’am, but we’re the only two people that have been here. I don’t know what woman’s voice it was you’d heard.”
Brigit starts trembling and tears pool in her eyes as she looks around wildly. “I know I’m not hearing things. Am I?” She rushes out the door going back into the main part of the hotel.
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