He needed to figure out what to do with the body. He rode back to the Perkins place and the first thing he saw was the scarecrow. His mind began to work. He'd spook the world with this scarecrow. No one would figure out what he'd done until the body had rotted. And the birds had picked him clean.
When he got the idea, he wrestled with it in his mind for a while. He'd cured meat for Sadie, hung it up in the rafters of the smoke house. He'd butchered every kind of animal until his skill with a knife was unsurpassed. And the few ranchers that had observed his work first hand trusted him. He made sure of that. He'd trim the fat off their meat and that made them happy.
He felt as though he was most unappreciated man in the world though around Sadie. And he longed to shut his sister up.
Even though he hated his sister off and on, Elmer knew what she did here was important. No one starved in this part of the country, as Sadie had spent her entire life seeing that the community had something to eat. He looked up to her most of the time. They called her a God-fearing woman.
Still, she also didn't know what lengths Elmer would sink to in order to bring home that meat.
Ranchers had gotten stingy, they wouldn't sell for three dollars a head. No one would. So stealing became Elmer's job. He had to have it, to go on living. Otherwise Sadie would make him miserable.
Frank looked at him now. "What you been up to Elmer?"
The old man was nosey.
"Hunting for my sister."
"That must keep you pretty busy." Frank laughed.
"Yeah…"
"It's getting pretty cold out there these days, I imagine the game ain't so plentiful now."
"It's hard to find anything, that's for sure."
"You're a good brother, Elmer. I hope Sadie appreciates you." Frank smiled at him.
Elmer grimaced. Sadie never appreciated anything, just like his Ma. When his Pa ran off the second time, she expected eight year old Elmer to provide for the family. He'd somehow lost his childhood. Learning to snare animals and butcher them became his life. He hated it. After his father died from a jealous husband's bullet, they buried him, and then his mother had took him to her bed a time or two, and Elmer had learned the art of making love to a woman. His mother learned him well. But no matter how many times he pleased her, he would face her wrath the next day. He didn't understand it. She had made him go to bed with her. Then the next day she'd be upset that he was there. Pushing him out and yelling at him.
He loved his mother, just like Sadie, and he hated her too.
Finally, Elmer quit going to her bed at all. He kept busy.
That's when Sadie and him started sleeping together, when his mother decided to take a lover. Sadie would comfort him in the darkness and as he grew older the comfort had somehow turned to love.
Sadie was a much better lover than his mother and he enjoyed it. Sadie enjoyed it too. They were a lonely couple all their lives, so they clung to each other.
But now things were different. Sadie had religion and Elmer had nothing.
That is until he planned his first big kill…he had to admit, his new idea was much more interesting. He'd never been so creative in his life.
"You going to the barn dance this weekend?" Frank asked breaking Elmer's memories.
"Hadn't planned on it." Elmer replied as Sadie sat another bowl of stew in front of him and smiled.
"Why not, you're young, not so bad to look at. I'd think the girls would love to dance with you."
"I don't dance." Elmer barked, making Frank back off.
Elmer glanced at Frank with a frown. Girls didn't like him, never had. Only Sadie had liked him and he was satisfied. Frank was just trying to get a reaction out of him. Elmer never had a girlfriend, and in his youth, he hadn't wanted anyone but Sadie, now things were different. Sadie had the café and he had….nothing except his secret.
He glanced in the cut out window to the kitchen at Sadie. She had aged, but then, so had he. He still wanted her, for he missed their closeness at times. The way she used to pet him, kiss him, make love with him made his manhood hungry for more.
He finished his meal then got up and went to his bedroom. There it was, the jagged quilt, Sadie had sewn herself. The lines were not straight and he knew how much Sadie put stock in a clean and neat home. He evened the stripes and smiled. She'd be very pleased with him, and she'd give him another kiss.
For a moment he eyed her, did she want him again? Content that he had done better, he went out to the old smokehouse where he worked on chopping the meat and preparing it for Sadie to cook. This meat would have to be chopped up very fine. Sadie would be pleased and he could enjoy the fact that she wasn't nagging him.
And tonight, would be special again for Elmer as he cherished her loving ways with him, when she was pleased.
She would pretend to be asleep, so she wouldn’t be guilty of permitting him the privilege, and he could do everything he wanted with her. Sadie wouldn't have to feel guilty for letting him have his way, and he could enjoy the warm love-making. And tomorrow he'd feel better.
Chapter Seven
Doc's Accused
"We demand you arrest the doc," Bill Taylor pushed back his hat and eyed Jim with nothing short of anger. The town council stood staring at Jim with firmed lips and frowns. They had already tried and convicted the doc, without a shred of evidence. Jim knew it was coming, he just didn't think it would be that soon, nor come from the intelligent side of the towns people.
"On what charge?" Jim asked his frown aimed at the man who demanded such a thing.
"Murder of course. You might not want to face this, but he's the only one that could have done it. He's a doc. He'd know how to dismember someone, easily. We've all come to the same conclusion that he's the only one that could have done it." Bill said confident that he had every right to accuse Rusty Peters of murder. The councilmen behind him all seemed to agree.
"Where's the evidence?" Jim asked, putting his hands on his hip as a challenge. "What do I tell the judge when I bring him up before him. That you think he killed Perkins?"
"Well…we don't need any. He's the only man that could have done such a job on Perkins and his men, even you have to admit that, Sheriff. It's got to be him. Only a doctor could so precisely cut the arms and legs like that. And then to drain the blood…"
"Not true, Bill. He isn't the only man that could have done this. He might be one, but not the only one."
"What do you mean? You suspect someone else?"
"No, not yet. I haven't found any clues. And believe me, I've been looking, thinking, working on it. We aren't dealing with a sane person. But a clever one, no doubt. Whoever did this covered his tracks. He planned it out in his head. Although he or she has to be crazy, they have a working mind. Look, all the ranchers have men that butcher for them. One of them could have done it. Someone with a real grudge maybe. Most cattlemen know how to dismember, butchers, even a woman can cut up a chicken."
"You aren't seriously considering a woman, did this are you?"
"No," Jim nearly smirked. "But women do cut up chickens every day, it is possible that a woman could have done this."
Taylor glanced at the other members of council and frowned. "Could she hang him on the cross too?"
"It's not likely, unless she had help." Jim answered.
"Sheriff we demand you do your duty and arrest the doc."
"My duty is to find the real killer. I've told you already that I'm working on it. You bring me one piece of evidence that the doc did it and I'll arrest him." Jim promised pushing his hat back on his head and giving all of them a discerning look. "Until then, leave the doc alone."
"But we don't have any evidence…"
"Exactly my point. Neither do I. Now gentleman if you will excuse me I'm gonna ride out and check with a few more ranches. I cannot arrest anyone without some proof. Find the proof, I'll arrest them."
It had been two weeks since the murders and no one else had been killed. Perhaps it was someone who had i
t in for Perkins. Could have been a stranger that rode in and rode out quickly. But who was the big question.
Jim wanted to ignore the fact that the doc did look the most likely. He knew the doc didn't do it. The doc was not crazy. And only a crazy person could have done it.
He rode out to the McCarthy ranch that same day. Mary Sue was in the kitchen getting the mid-day meal for her father when he knocked on their front door.
Mr. McCarthy answered the door, with a slight frown on his face, his displeasure was obvious. "Morning Sheriff. What brings you out here?"
Jim tried to remember that McCarthy was not a friendly sort of man, and that he was way too protective of his daughter. Although Mary Sue was a looker, Jim had no personal interest in her in years.
"Why Sheriff, come in, just fixing some lunch for dad, come on in and eat with us." Mary Sue offered.
"I can't. I'm working right now and…"
"Well, you have to eat." She insisted.
"You might as well, she's got her mind set." Mr. McCarthy shot his daughter a warning sign.
"I guess you are right, thank you." Jim said and joined them at the table.
Mary Sue was a dandy cook and Jim was glad she offered despite the fact that he was on duty. Besides, at a dinner table, it was easier to start a conversation.
"So, has there been any trouble out this way?" Jim asked waiting for Mr. McCarthy to offer any information.
"Everything is the same. No trouble. 'Course there are rumblings of who did this to Perkins. And several have said they didn't like the man. I wasn't fond of him myself."
Jim eyed Mr. McCarthy for a moment. "That's right, you weren't too fond of him, were you. You got in a fight with him not long ago, in fact. Am I right?"
"He swung the first blow. I was defending myself. I won't lie, I didn't like the man, he was stingy. Naw…that isn't the word for him, he's greedy."
Jim chuckled then nodded, his face patronizing. "Did he have a lot of enemies?"
"His fair share. None of us liked it when he decided to take his cattle up north to Montana. When he broke with the Cattlemen's Association. Up until then we'd been pretty united. But when he broke with us, there was a lot of talk about Perkins and what he was doing."
"But you could have sold yours to the north too?" Jim offered.
"Naw…it's too long a drive, you lose too many cattle on that kind of drive. I didn't see the point. No one did. No one but Perkins."
"So he broke with the Association, do you think that could have had some influence on his demise?" Jim asked.
"Don't know. Everyone was upset with him, but not so much they'd kill him."
Although Jim had been courteous, his glance hardened on the old man.
"About the cattle thieving. How come I'm just now hearing about it from the ranchers?" Jim's demeanor changed to the seriousness of the question.
McCarthy shrugged. "Weren't that big a deal, Sheriff. Only a few head were missing at a time. When this happens, and it does happen nearly every year, we figure it's either wolves or the Indians tryin' to feed themselves. Less ruckus we make the more peaceable they are."
Jim nodded, his frown turned on himself. "That makes sense. Actually, you are the first person I've talked to who has come out and said things that needed saying. I appreciate your honesty. Tell me…who does the butchering for you?"
"Got a fella from over at Cross Timbers that does it for me. He knows how to cut that meat up and it's always trimmed of the fat."
"What fella?"
"His name…" McCarthy seemed to be trying to remember. "I think he said his name was Elmer."
"Elmer. Why did you go so far to get a butcher?" Jim couldn't stop himself from asking. "We got one in town, Fred Myers does good work."
"Aw…one of the other ranchers mentioned him to me. Said he was fast, clean and did good work. I figured it would be worth the time and money to check him out. Fred Myers is black…don't like blacks myself, don't trust them."
"What's his last name?"
"Can't remember. But as you know Cross Timbers is almost a ghost town since the silver mine played out. Cain't be many Elmer's in the town."
"Well…thanks…"
But before Jim could excuse himself and leave, Mr. McCarthy raised a finger to the air. "He has a sister…Sadie, that runs some kind of café there. They say she feeds the community as times are hard."
"Cross Timbers. How far out is that?"
"Bout thirty miles to the south. You going over there?"
"I might. But first I've got to talk to some of the other ranchers." Jim informed him. "You've been very helpful Mr. McCarthy. This case is giving the town the willies, and the town is ready for me to arrest the doc. Only I don't think he done it."
Mary Sue's head jerked up and she looked at him with probing eyes. "Oh no. He couldn't have done it. I just know it."
Mr. McCarthy sent her a frown. "That's not for us to decide, Mary Sue. If the town's got proof then…he done it."
"But Rusty is not that kind of man, Pa. Why, I seen him nearly cry with Ma Sanders oldest son died in that accident last year. He's too tender hearted."
"A man can fool you girl. You get those notions out of you head." McCarthy bellowed.
Jim glanced at Mary Sue, surprised that she had so much affection for the doc. He smiled. "I don't think the doc did it, Mary Sue. He's good at his job, but he is not a ruthless kind of person. He was astonished as I when we found the body."
She sighed and gave a little smile.
"He could sure cut them up like that. He'd know how."
"Knowing and doing aren't the same."
"I'll leave the investigating up to you Sheriff. You got a hard job. And even if you do catch who done it, you may be in a lot of danger."
Jim rubbed his chin. "I think that whoever did this, had some kind of grudge against Perkins. And killed his men because they saw something. There is no clear motive yet. And I've got a lot of people to talk to. So I better be on my way. Mary Sue, that was a fine meal and I thank you."
Mary Sue smiled.
Jim realized that her father permitted very little talk from her and that he was controlling her. He felt sorry for her, and her life with her Pa.
McCarthy did walk Jim out, and as he mounted his horse, he looked up at him. "I don't envy your job Sheriff. This ain't gonna be an easy thing to figure. But I promise you one thing. No one wants to see anyone else killed like that. So if I stumble on something, I'll report it. You can believe that."
Jim stared down at the man who had always been so standoffish and uncaring about others. It touched him that he offered any help he could.
Jim cleared his throat. "I appreciate that. If it was just a grudge killing, then Perkins and his boys might be the only ones the killer is after. I hope so at least."
McCarthy nodded.
"Keep your daughter close, Mr. McCarthy."
"I'll do that…"
"Thanks and see ya soon." Jim reined his horse and took off for the Taylor place. Bill's brother was a big rancher in the district and he hadn't talked to him yet. Jed Taylor was an big boisterous man who talked bigger than he was and he dreaded going there, but he had to make some inquiries, or he'd never solve this.
As he arrived at the ranch right after lunch, he didn't see many hands around. One fella came out of the barn and he approached him.
"Jed about?" Jim asked.
"He's down at the south pasture."
"Thanks…"
Jim headed in the direction the cowboy pointed. Sure enough Jed was out there watching every move his men made, as they were road branding this morning. Jed was not a trusting kind of man and he oversaw everything on his ranch. Nothing was done without his approval.
Jed was a hefty built man in his fifties. But he was in good shape for his age, Jim reflected.
He spotted Jim and rode over.
"Sheriff, what brings you out here?"
"Need to ask a few questions if you don't mind." Jim answered.
"I'm investigating Perkins death." Jim scrutinized him.
"What do you think I could tell you that would help?"
"I don't know. This is a puzzle I've got to unravel and I need as much information as I can get from everyone. The town is becoming uneasy for an arrest."
"Can you blame them?"
"No, but I can't arrest anyone until I have some proof."
Jed nodded.
He was silent for a while then he glanced over at him.
"I wouldn't want your job, right now."
"Jed, how did Perkins stand with the other ranchers around here."
"What do you mean?"
"Do you know if he had any words with anyone. Anyone mad at him?"
"Everyone was mad at him. He wouldn't co-operate with the Association and he was booted out. It was a fair vote on that. He got a little angry, and some of us did too. Words were flyin' back and forth. But no one wanted to kill him for it, if that's what you mean. We have disagreements all the time, mostly over money. This was no different."
Jim nodded. "Who does your butcherin'?"
"Talbot, he's been with me for ten years, best butcher you will ever find. Why?"
"Where can I find him?"
"He's back to the ranch, he does my blacksmithing too."
"I'd like to talk to him."
"He ain't much on talking Sheriff."
"Is he an angry man, Jed?"
"No…I wouldn't say that. He's a very mild mannered man. He can't read nor write, and he's quite humble. Try not to scare him too much Sheriff, he's the best butcher I've ever had."
Jim chuckled. "Alright, thanks. Oh and….if you do hear of any ruckus or anything you think I need to know, I would appreciate you get word to me."
Good Day for a Hanging (Book Two of the Western Serial Killers series) Page 7