Good Day for a Hanging (Book Two of the Western Serial Killers series)

by Hestand, Rita

  "We have a suspect. But proving it will be hard. This man tends to cleanup his messes well. I don't want to make any more arrests until I'm sure. For one thing it won't hold up in court without some solid proof."

  The mayor nodded. "You are right about that. Where are you headed now?"

  "To the outlying ranches. Someone was killed last night and I gotta find out who…"

  The mayor turned white faced. His normally blood-shot eyes and face paled in the sunlight. "Another one?"

  "Yes sir, another one. I've got to catch him, and soon. I've got to find something that will nail him to it."

  "Is there anything I can do?"

  "Pray that I do…" Jim frowned down at him.

  "If you need anything, anything at all, let me know. I'll have it for you." The mayor promised. "I owe you that much."

  "Thanks…Johnny and Robert are at the jail. If anything comes up around here while we are gone, get word to them. They can handle it. They are duly sworn in." Jim informed him.

  "Alright, I can do that."

  "We'll be back." Jim said and they rode off. "As soon as we can. I hate to be out of the office that much right now, but I can't catch him in there. If the suspect we have in mind is the right one, then it amounts to traveling a bit."

  "You can't tell me who it is yet?" The mayor asked.

  "No…not yet. Like I said, we have to gather some proof first, before we make an arrest. If it was as simple as just arresting the man, I'd have had him in the jail way before now. But, we aren't operating with a regular criminal."

  "Good luck…" The mayor called to them as he turned to the small crowd and began to explain what Jim had told him.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Laying a Plan

  "Where we headed first?" Smitty asked.

  "I thought we stop off at McCarthy's place, since he and Turner are very familiar with that piece of property. As close as they are, they might have a better chance of finding something for us." Jim answered as they rode along the trail.

  Jim was rolling a thought around in his head when Smitty asked.

  "You'd think they would be in the biggest danger, since the land comes up to their properties." Smitty reasoned. "And you'd think one of them might have stumbled upon whoever did this…"

  "What gets me, is when we settled their fighting about it, neither one of them would go near the place now. No wonder whoever is doing this is getting away with it, he's had almost complete privacy." Jim muttered.

  "So do you think any of the ranchers can spare us some men to watch the place?"

  "I don't know, maybe. If not, we'll have to watch it ourselves. But he won't be killing any longer for a while. He doesn't strike that often."

  Smitty nodded. "So we'll have some time to get back and let Rusty and Fred go?"

  "Yeah, that's my hope, anyway."

  "It's sure getting colder. Do you think the weather might stop him?"

  Jim shrugged. "Who knows. Depends I guess on why he's doing this."

  Smitty nodded.

  Both of them pulled their jackets closer and shivered a bit.

  The McCarthy ranch was quiet, but there was smoke coming from the chimney, so Jim wasn't hesitant to ride up. Mary Sue was throwing some wash water out the back door, and he waved at her.

  She smiled and came running alongside the house.

  She was dressed in a gingham dress, and her hair was pulled back with a ribbon. She looked beautiful as usual.

  "Your father home, Mary Sue." Jim asked.

  "Actually, he rode over to the Turner place late yesterday. I guess he got to talkin' too long and stayed the night. I expect him any time now." She wiped her hands on her apron and watched them dismount.

  "He shouldn't be running off and leaving you alone…" Jim protested as he walked beside her.

  "It's just over to the Turner place. He said it was business, so I guess it was important. He'll be home directly. Come on in, I'll fix us some coffee." She offered.

  Smitty glanced at Jim and Jim's face became very serious. There was a silence between the men that hung in the air.

  "Did he say he was spendin' the night?" Smitty finally asked the unasked question.

  Mary Sue shrugged. "Well no, but often times he goes over to talk to someone and ends up staying the night. As long as it's just one night, I don't panic…" She smiled sweetly. "He's a grown man for goodness sake."

  "But he knows about the murders. I told him to stay close to you…" Jim warned her.

  Mary Sue must have heard the concern in Jim's voice as she looked rather startled at him. "But…there's no need for concern, is there…I mean…he just went to Turner's place."

  "I sure wish he hadn't done that." Jim mumbled.

  Mary Sue purposely turned to her coffee pot and began making coffee. Her movements were jerky at first, and then she turned around and they saw her tears.

  They'd scared her witless, with their suspicions.

  "I'm sorry," Jim said and pulled her into his arms. "I didn't mean to alarm you…"

  "I didn't even stop to think about those murders…" she cried. "I plum forgot. Dad never talks about it. It just slipped my mind."

  "Don't panic. Maybe he did just stay over there." Jim consoled.

  Smitty came closer too, the concern on his face was not reassuring as Mary Sue stared from one to the other.

  "Oh God…I hope he's alright."

  The words they feared the most came out of her mouth and made the scene a reality.

  They sat silently at the table for a long while before anyone spoke.

  But the sound of footfalls on the porch brought a welcome relief when her father turned the door knob and strode into the kitchen.

  But from the looks of him, something was very wrong. He looked pathetic standing there. He was out of breath and white as a sheet and bent over.

  "Daddy, what's wrong?" Mary Sue cried, going straight into his arms.

  "I'm glad you're here Jim…" He began as he cradled his daughter in his arms. "Sorry I didn't get back sooner girl, but…what I found over at the Turner place kept me busy."

  "What you found?" Jim asked as something crawled up his neck and made him sense the dangers.

  "It was Turner. When I got over there, there wasn't a sound to be heard. The dust didn't stir. His men…not a one of them around. I went inside, but I didn't find anyone. I walked the property pretty much, and found him out in the cornfield…like the others you told us about." Mr. McCarthy said. "I don't know what made me turn around and look at that scarecrow but I did, and that's when I seen him. Hanging from that cross…no legs or arms…"

  Smitty hung his head. Jim cringed, feeling the guilt of not checking it out before he rested.

  "Turner's dead…like the others…" Jim said, his voice devoid of emotion.

  "That's the size of it. I never seen anything like it. I don't know what happened to his men. But I couldn't find no one around. I must have sat there in the cornfield until dark. I just couldn't move. I figured I'd just lay down on his porch and rest a while, I guess I went to sleep because I woke from the mornin' sun. "

  Jim realized that McCarthy was in a state of shock.

  "Mary Sue, we need to get your father into town, let the doc check him out." Jim said as though action was the best thing right now.

  Smitty nodded, "I'll hitch the wagon up for you Mary Sue."

  McCarthy looked from one to the other. "I don't need a doctor."

  "I'm afraid you do. Now let's don't argue and let me do my job." Jim said with the voice of authority.

  McCarthy nodded after seeing Mary Sue concerned face. "Alright…I'll ride in with you then…"

  Jim couldn't get over how shook up the old man was. And Mary Sue was barely holding herself together.

  They had solved the mystery as to who was dead, Jim concluded. There was nothing to do but get them into town and get some help out here.

  "Smitty, take them into town. Release the doc and Fred. Let the doc check him o
ut. And get them a room at the hotel for the night. I don't want them out here alone right now."

  "What are you fixing to do?" Smitty asked.

  "I'm gonna get some help, take a look at the Turner place and find someone to watch the lean-to." Jim said matter-of-factly. Where he got the strength to figure it all out no one was sure, but he was in control.

  "I'll be back out to help, as soon as I get them settled."

  "Good…" Jim nodded.

  "Saul would probably help you out, Jim." Smitty said before they rode out of the yard.

  "That's where I'm headed. Aside from Jed, he's got the most men and he's familiar with the place." Jim said.

  Smitty looked at Jim, "You gonna be alright?"

  Jim cleared his head and nodded. Then rode off for the Evans Ranch.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  McCarthy's

  "He's in shock Mary Sue," the doc proclaimed, and wasted no time in finding the medicine he needed to give to her. "Make him take this twice a day and rest. If he isn't better in a day or so, bring him back so I can check him out again."

  "He's going to be alright, isn't he doc?" She cried.

  "With plenty of rest I'd say so. But sometimes it takes a little time. You just do exactly as I say and make sure he gets some rest."

  "I will, thanks." She tried to smile.

  Smitty took her to the hotel and they made sure that her father laid down, took his medicine and Mary Sue sat up with him.

  "Are you going back out there?" Mary Sue asked.

  Smitty nodded, "As soon as I can, yes."

  "Be careful Smitty…" she laid a hand on his arm. "I'm scared for the two of you…"

  "We'll be fine, don't you fret, but thanks for worrying about me." Smitty smiled at her. "I don't think I've ever had anyone worry about me before."

  "You've been so kind to me and daddy." She smiled at him. "I will worry, so let me know when you get back and everything is okay…"

  "Just make sure he rests. I'll check up on you when I get back."

  Mary Sue pulled him by the hand, and leaned to kiss his cheek. Smitty had never been kissed and he blushed.

  "I care about you Smitty…" she whispered.

  "That's real nice…yes ma'am, real nice." Smitty smiled back.

  The warm feeling that surrounded Smitty made him stand a little taller and warmed his insides. Mary Sue had never acted like she knew he was alive, until today and it shocked him. Smitty never had a girlfriend before, but he was certainly rethinking that now.

  "What you and the Sheriff are doin'…well, it's mighty brave of you…" She had told him before he left.

  Smitty smiled at the notion that maybe there was hope yet. He'd liked Mary Sue a lot, but she was so pretty he never thought she'd give him the time of day. Maybe she was in some sort of shock too.

  But that little kiss didn't feel like shock…he smiled to himself.

  Johnny and Robert manned the jail, Doc went back to his office. But when Smitty went back to the office to pack up his gear once more, Fred was still there.

  "I thought you'd be gone by now." Smitty said as he began packing his saddle bags again. "What's the matter did you grow fond of that cell?"

  "I want to come with you…" Fred announced.

  "With me?"

  "That's right. I got to thinking how bad things were for the two of you and how hard you've worked to solve this. Maybe I can help. Maybe I can help figure things for you. After all, I'm a butcher…"

  "Well," Smitty scratched his chin. "You might at that. Alright, get your horse and meet me outside. I want to get a move on."

  "I won't be long…" Fred smiled.

  But Smitty had to admit when Fred stopped long enough to thank Johnny and Robert, it impressed him. He never realized what a caring man Fred was until now. Maybe he'd never give Fred a chance, for that he was sorry, but good things were happening to him today, and he had to pinch himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming. But one thing he did know, when the chips were down, the really good people came out of the woodwork.

  Smitty was glad to have Fred with him.

  He saw Mary Sue staring out the window at him and waved.

  His heart did a quick flip flop. He'd been hit by the love bug, he reckoned.

  Half the town watched Smitty and Fred ride out of town when they heard that Turner had been killed. Everyone congregated to wave them off.

  ~*~

  Jim reached Evan's ranch a little after noon. He'd put off going to the Turner place alone. This case was getting him down, and he knew it. Facing the death was one thing, facing the way it was done was another.

  Saul and his wife were sitting down to eat when he knocked at the door.

  Mrs. Evans greeted him with a smile as Saul walked out to shake his hand.

  "Jim, didn't expect to see you for a while…"

  "I got some bad news Saul…" Jim said looking from Saul to his wife.

  Saul's face changed to alarm. "What's happened?"

  "Turner!" Jim said. One word and both of them knew what had happened.

  "You don't mean it…" Saul's wife shook her head.

  "I'm afraid so…"

  "Come on in here and sit down. We are about to eat and you can join us." She offered.

  "Thank you ma'am." Jim said, his words dull and lifeless. He took his hat off and washed up at her basin then joined them at the table. Lately he'd just been going through the motions of life, but one glance in her mirror told him he needed to straighten himself up.

  Before they ate, Saul offered a prayer up, mentioning his neighbor with a crack in his voice.

  "When did you find out?" Saul asked passing the potatoes.

  "This morning. Smitty and I rode out to the McCarthy's place. Mary Sue was alone, she said her dad had gone over there last night and hadn't come back. When he did, he was in a state of shock from what I could tell. So I had Smitty drive them into town in their wagon."

  "I'll swan, then McCarthy found him?" Saul asked.

  "Yeah…said he couldn't move for a long while, just sat there in that cornfield, staring out over the rows of corn and the silence. When he did get up, he went to the porch and collapsed. He made it home this morning. He looked pretty shook up, Saul."

  "What can I do to help?" Saul asked without Jim having to say a word.

  Jim smiled sadly. "Smitty and I knew you'd help."

  "You doggone right I will. Just tell me what I can do. This is getting serious. Three ranchers and the hands too. We gotta catch him…"

  "My sentiments exactly." Jim nodded.

  As they ate they formed a plan. Jim needed someone who could keep an eye on the area where the killer was working. He needed a couple or three men, he told Saul. "Unfortunately life goes on, and I got a town to worry about too. So I can't be out here all the time. But I can spell you a bit. Until something happens."

  Saul nodded. "I'll get the others around to help out. After all, he's after ranchers it looks like. No one in town has been hurt, right?"

  "No one so far, no."

  "This is getting very personal Jim. We are all concerned. Even if he don't come back for a while, we can switch up riders to keep an eye out. We'll need some kind of plan to contact each other. We are all sorta wide spread."

  "We need some kind of relay plan in case he does come back. I don’t' want anyone else killed. I think it might be best to use two men at a time, making just acting like they are riding fence or something so it don't look funny if he should see."

  "Tw would be better. No tellin' what could happen with just one man out there, alone."

  "Yeah, that way if they do spot something one of them can ride out and get some help. The way he cleans up after himself, it isn't like he's gonna do it and run. He spends some time doing it right."

  "Have you told Turner's family yet?" Mrs. Evans asked, her head hung, her expression sad.

  Jim shook his head. "I haven't had the time to get back to town. Smitty is on his way out here too. He had to release the do
c and Fred as I arrested them."

  Mrs. Evans nodded. "Well, I could ride into town and let them know…"

  Jim glanced at her, "That would be a big help."

  She looked at him and smiled. "It's best this way, woman to woman kind of thing. Besides, I know her pretty well, and she is going to take it hard. You men don't handle tears too well…"

  "That’s a fact." Saul said.

  "You said you arrested the doc and Fred Myers? Did you think they did it?" Saul asked.

  "No, but the town did…"

  Saul shook his head. "Lynch mob?"

  "Yeah…almost. I don't know what I would have done without Johnny and Robert being there to settle the Mayor and his upright citizens down."

  "You’ve had your hands full, haven't you?" Mrs. Evans shook her head.

  "It's pretty much what I expected." Jim smiled at her.

  "They were all murdered the same way?" Saul asked.

  "Every one of them."

  "You got any idea who it is doing this?"

  Jim hesitated. Knowing Saul he'd defend Elmer to some extent. "I think so, Saul. But I can't be for certain. I think it's Elmer…"

  Mrs. Evans shrieked.

  Saul's expression grew serious. He got up and paced the room. "You got any proof?"

  "No…"

  "Hunch?"

  "Yeah. I don't have proof, nor motive…just some strange gut feeling." Jim admitted. "Smitty and I rode up there not long ago. Elmer just seems a little strange to me."

  "But Elmer…" Mrs. Evan shook her head. "He's such a sweet and gentle man."

  "He seems that way, yeah. But you have to understand, the man that did this is off their nut. And I'm afraid Elmer fits that description to some extent."

  "He is a might different." Saul admitted. "And he's operating out at that lean-to?"

  "Yeah, we are almost positive of that."

  "Well…that does make a little bit of sense. He'd have to have somewhere close to do his work and bring the body back…wouldn't he?"

  "That's what I figured. Has he used that place before to butcher for you?"

  "I always took my meat to him."