“That could cause a problem with some of the church socials,” said Ty. “I think our ladies are planning a lawn and archery party in May. There will probably be music and lots of whoops and hollers during the archery contest.”
“That kind of noise doesn’t really bother folks.” Carmichael tapped his fingers on the arm of the chair. “Especially if they don’t go too late. But the music and dramas at the Tripoli are immodest at best. I hear some of them are downright indecent. I walked by this afternoon and heard a loud joke that made me blush.”
“Whew! It must have been a bad one.” Nichols chuckled at the chance to get back at his friend.
“Then we need to be specific.” Ty scribbled some thoughts on a notepad. “What about the fine?”
“It needs to be big enough to do some good.” George White leaned against the back of his chair. “Say not less than twenty-five dollars and not more than two hundred.”
“That should do it. How should we word it?” asked Ty.
They discussed various options, finally settling on one that seemed to cover all the necessary points. Ty read it back to them:
Any person operating within the corporate limits of the city, who helps or in any way is concerned in keeping a house or business where indecent, loud, or immodest musical, dramatic or theatrical performances are given, in a manner calculated to disturb the inhabitants of the city, shall be determined guilty of a misdemeanor if found guilty in the Recorder’s court and shall pay a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than two hundred dollars for each offense.
“I think that covers it,” said Carmichael. “Especially if he’s cited every time they have a performance.”
“All in favor of this ordinance, say aye.” Ty scanned the group, noting that all were in agreement. But to make it official, he needed to ask, “All opposed?” None of them were. “The ordinance is passed and the city clerk will post it in the next edition of the paper and have the sheriff put up fliers. I’ll also have Sheriff Starr advise Red Mulhany about it so he has a chance to settle things down on his own. If I get the chance, I’ll talk to Red, too.
“That brings up another concern.” Ty set the pencil on the table. “We have to hire a town marshal. We have to approve a salary large enough to hire someone good and keep him.”
“Why should we spend the money?” asked Smith. “The sheriff is doing a good job.”
“We’re overworking him. If we aren’t careful, he’ll leave. He can’t handle everything in town and two counties by himself. You know what happens when he’s out of town.”
“Yeah, you fill in for him.”
“Well, I’m not going to anymore.” Ty knew he was issuing an ultimatum, but the council had to fulfill their responsibilities.
“What’s the matter, Ty? Too busy with your new lady friend?” asked Nichols.
“If I was steppin’ out with a lady like her, I wouldn’t want to be spending my time playing marshal, either,” said Carmichael. “Besides, Ty is right. The sheriff doesn’t even have a deputy right now. He’s busy just keeping the peace. One man can’t do that twenty-four hours a day. We don’t have anybody to follow up on collecting fines or making sure people comply with the ordinances.”
“Like cleaning up their privies,” added Talbot. “Some parts of town are starting to stink now that the weather is warming up.”
“Or making sure the taxes are paid.” Ty was encouraged that they at least saw the need.
“I recommend we set a salary of fifty dollars a month,” said Nichols.
“That’s only ten dollars more than the last one. We have to pay a salary comparable to what other towns are paying, enough to hire and keep a good marshal. I’ve lost track of how many we’ve had.”
“Think it’s around five or six,” said Smith.
“How much do you think we should pay him?” Carmichael was more generous with the funds than some of the others. “I’m thinking it will take at least eighty a month to get someone good.”
Nichols shook his head. “That’s too much money.”
“We pay Thompson forty a month to keep up the streets. Seems to me that eighty isn’t too much for a marshal. Probably not enough. Talking to people about their outhouses and dogs isn’t all he’ll do. I sure wouldn’t walk into a saloon and break up a fight for less than that.”
“I agree,” said Smith. He pulled out his pocket watch. “I think we should bring it to a vote. Eighty a month for a marshal. Advertise in the paper. We need folks to be assured that our town is safe. Otherwise new people won’t move in, and some of the ones already here will move out.”
“I second the motion,” said Carmichael.
“I’m not sure advertising is such a good idea,” said Ty. “We’ve tried that before and didn’t have much luck. What if we make up a list of men we believe would do a good job and then talk to them to see if anyone is interested?”
“I can think of a couple of men who would be good,” said Carmichael. “And who might take on the job for the right pay.”
They discussed several possibilities and made a list.
“Ty, I think you should be the one to talk to them. Since you’ve helped the sheriff numerous times, you have a better idea what’s involved.” White glanced around at the others. “Having been a Texas Ranger doesn’t hurt, either.” He grinned at Ty. “In fact, I think we should put your name at the top of the list.”
When the others laughed, Ty joined in. “Sorry, George. You’d have to up the ante about ten times to get me to play that game again.”
He waited a minute or two before calling for the vote. Everyone but Nichols voted for it. “Motion passed. I’ll start at the top of the list, since we put them in order of preference. Is there anything else?”
“We have people driving too fast across the creek bridge,” said Nichols. “My brother Henry said they’re going to shake it apart if they don’t slow down. He should know. He’s a bridge engineer in St. Louis.”
“How fast can they go?”
“He said nobody should ride or drive faster than a walk across it. We’d have to put up a sign on both sides of the bridge advising people of it.”
“What about a fine?” asked Ty.
“Five dollars. That should make people slow down.”
“All right. Frank, do you want to put all that into the proper motion?”
“Yep. I move that no person be allowed to ride or drive faster than a walk across the creek bridge subject to a fine of five dollars if they break the law. And that a sign be posted on both sides of the bridge stating the ordinance.”
“I second it,” said Carmichael.
“All in favor?” Ty noted that everyone agreed.
“All opposed? Let the records show that the ordinance passed with a unanimous vote.”
“Frank, will you see that the signs are posted?” When the alderman nodded, Ty continued, “Be sure and bring us the bill for your expenses.”
Ty looked at Talbot. “Do we have anything that needs to be paid?”
“Only one item. Sheriff Starr has turned in a bill for thirty-six dollars and seventy-five cents for board for the city prisoners at the county jail.”
“They’re feedin’ those boys too good,” muttered Nichols.
“Have to if you want them to work on the streets to pay off their fines.” Ty was getting tired of Nichols’s stingy streak.
“I move we pay it.” White yawned. “There was plenty in the treasury at the last meeting, even after we approved bills.”
“I second it.” Carmichael stifled a yawn. “Let’s vote before we all fall asleep.”
Ty called for the vote, which passed. Even Nichols approved of it. “Anything else?”
One by one, they shook their heads.
“Good. Talbot, I trust you’ll see that there is a write-up of the meeting in the paper as well as the ordinances posted for the next couple of weeks?”
The city clerk nodded as he penned the details of the bill for Ransom.
“Meeting adjourned. I’ll see you in two weeks unless something urgent comes up.” Ty stood and stretched his back as the aldermen left. He pulled his watch out of the vest pocket. Nine-thirty. They’d done pretty well with the time. His concentration hadn’t wavered a bit. Which was more than he could say for the rest of the day. He waited until Talbot wrote out the check for the sheriff, then added his signature along with the clerk’s.
“You want to give that to Sheriff Starr?” asked Talbot.
“I’ll drop it by on my way home. If he’s not in the office, I’ll give it to him in the morning.” Ty stood by as the clerk packed up his things, then blew out the lamp. They walked out together, with Ty locking the door behind them.
“How soon will they start building the new courthouse?” asked Talbot.
“They’ve been working with an architect for the last couple of months. Cade said they would advertise in the Dallas and Fort Worth papers, as well as the Gazette. He’s hoping that one of the local builders will win the job, but they have to seek bids from several places to make sure they get the best one.”
“Do we have to wait for the courthouse to be finished before we start on city hall?”
“Nope. As soon as they transfer the land over to us, we can start selling bonds or whatever we decide to do to raise the money.”
“Exciting times, Mr. Mayor.”
“Yes, they are. Good night, Jim.”
“Evenin’.” Talbot went in the opposite direction, shaking his head when he walked past the Tripoli.
Ty stopped by the sheriff’s office, but evidently Ransom was out making his rounds, so he headed on home. When he was across from the Barton Hotel, he automatically looked up at Camille’s window. A dim light shone through the curtain, and he wondered what she was doing. Probably getting ready for bed.
That was not a good direction for his thoughts. He forced himself to think about some of the goods he needed to order for the store. That lasted maybe all of a minute.
Lord, it sure felt good to kiss her yesterday. I know I shouldn’t have. But I don’t think she minded. He laughed quietly. “No, she didn’t mind at all.” He absently turned up his street, barely noticing who was still up and who wasn’t until he reached Cade and Jessie’s.
He could see Jessie sitting on their front porch in a rocking chair, lamplight shining through the window. When she waved, he walked quietly across the yard, taking the chair next to hers. “Kids asleep?”
“Yes. Brad is tired from school. It takes him about a week to get used to the routine again. Thank goodness Ellie has a couple of friends her age or I’d be worn out from trying to keep her busy. She can’t wait until next fall to start school. I hope she likes it as much as she thinks she will. Did you have a council meeting tonight?”
“Yes. They finally voted to pay a decent salary for a marshal, so maybe we can get some help for Ransom. You think Quint might be interested?”
“I don’t think so, but you can ask.” Jessie’s brother, Quintin, had been the one to infiltrate the gang of cattle rustlers the year before. If it hadn’t been for him, they might not have caught them. He normally worked for Cade at the ranch and had hightailed it back there as soon as he could after the trial. Being considered a hero made him uneasy. “Did you see Miss Dupree today?”
“No. But I saw her yesterday.” He wasn’t about to tell his sweet sister-in-law too much about what happened. “In fact, I took her out to dinner.”
“My, my. Is this becoming a real courtship?”
“Maybe.”
“Well, she certainly seems nice. Though I expect it’s not easy for you. After I met Cade and was so drawn to him, I felt guilty sometimes because I hadn’t cared that way for my first husband. I know it’s not the same with you because you loved Amanda so much.”
“It’s a little different, but the guilt is the same. I wonder how I can be so attracted to Camille when I loved Amanda with all my heart.”
“I didn’t have the privilege of knowing your wife, but from what you’ve said and what Cade has told me about her, I don’t think she would want you to go through life alone.”
“No, she didn’t. She told me so the night she died.” Sadness and pain lay heavy on his heart. “Even at the end, she was thinking about me and my happiness.”
“Because she knew she would soon have peace and happiness, while you would be left with the pain and sorrow. I’ve known both, Ty, and like your Amanda, I wish you happiness and love.” She sighed heavily. “Sorry. After I put the kids to bed, I get melancholy without Cade. I’ve been trying to figure out how we could have a school close to the ranch, so we wouldn’t have to stay in town.”
“There aren’t enough young ’uns out that way to make it worthwhile. Maybe you could hire a tutor. We could build him—or her—a little house at the ranch.”
“I thought about that. But Brad and Ellie need to be with other children. Cade will be here tomorrow night.”
“He doesn’t like to be alone any more than you do.”
Jessie laughed softly. “And he’s not shy about telling me.”
“Nor me. Gripes about it all the time.” Ty laughed with her. “Miss Dupree talked to Mr. Hill at the paper yesterday. She is now his business partner.”
“Well, that’s exciting. Has she worked in the newspaper business before?”
“No. But she has experience with accounting and such. She went around and collected most of the paper’s back advertising debts.” Ty grinned, relieved that they had shifted the conversation to a more cheerful subject. “Charmed those tightwads right out of their money. Most of them, anyway. Now, she’s going to concentrate on bringing in more advertising.” He yawned loudly. “Sorry. I think I’d better hit the bedroll. Morning comes early.”
“Yes, it does. Thanks for stopping by. Even a few minutes chat helps.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Try to do it more often. ’Night.”
“Good night. Sleep well.”
He merely nodded. He hadn’t slept well since he met Camille Dupree. He doubted tonight would be any different.
Chapter Twelve
Ty stopped by the sheriff’s office early Wednesday morning and asked him to tell the Tripoli’s owner about the new ordinance.
“The council finally agreed to a decent salary for a marshal, so maybe we can hire a good one.” Ty handed him the check for the prisoner’s board.
“Who do you have in mind?” asked Ransom, tucking the check in a drawer. He leaned back in the chair and propped his feet up on his desk.
“Quint is at the top of the list.”
“Figured as much, but I’m hoping he’ll turn you down. I’ve already talked to him about becoming my deputy. He’s still studying on it.”
“Just between you and me, I’d rather have him helping you,” said Ty. “We have a list of some others who would probably be fine as marshal. But I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather have as deputy sheriff.”
“But you still have to offer him the marshal’s job.”
“Told the council that I would. Quint will make up his own mind anyway. We also passed an ordinance to keep the bridge from being jarred apart. No one can go over it faster than a walk.”
“You mean I’m supposed to arrest the kids if they run across it? What if somebody’s late for school?” Ransom almost managed to keep a straight face.
“Not kids—horses.”
“How am I going to arrest a horse?” He was grinning outright now.
“Point your six-shooter between his eyes and haul him off to jail. Or let him haul you. Frank’s putting up signs at the bridge.”
“English?”
“Yes.”
“We’ll have a problem if it’s a Spanish pony.”
Laughing, Ty shook his head. “You’ve had too much coffee this morning.”
“Just starting on my third cup.” Ransom picked up the coffee, watching him over the rim of the cup. “What’s Miss Dupree’s connection to Nate Flynn?”
<
br /> Ty wasn’t fooled by his friend’s casual demeanor. “Her father used to work with him.” The half-truth came far too easily. That bothered him. “She’s known Nate and Bonnie since she was a kid.”
“Well, next time you leave her over at their place at night, you might want to hang around to walk her back to the hotel. She came back by herself Saturday night. It wasn’t a problem because I ran into her when she reached downtown, but next time it might not work out that way.”
“I assumed Nate would walk her back.”
“She said he intended to, but he had to go to the saloon for a while and didn’t get back before she was ready to leave.”
“She’s moving in with Mrs. Simpson today, so that should take care of it for the most part. I’ll keep an eye on her anyway.”
Ransom laughed and shifted his feet to the floor. “I have no doubt about that. Given the way she handled Cline, I expect she can protect herself, but I don’t like to take chances.”
“Neither do I.”
Ransom’s smile faded. “She’s not the fragile lady she appears to be. I expect having her daddy working in a saloon might have something to do with it. Was he a bartender?”
“No. Professional gambler.” Ty waited for Ransom to pounce on that, his friend’s thoughtful expression troubling him. “They owned a Louisiana plantation but lost everything in the war.”
“So her father turned to gambling. He certainly wasn’t the only Southern gentlemen to earn his living that way.”
“Nor is she the only Southern lady to have plenty of backbone.”
“True.” Ransom grinned as he stood. “You and Cade seem to take a likin’ to that type of woman. Reckon I would, too.”
“Can’t see you with a simpering, clinging vine.”
“Me, either. I’ve mastered spotting them. They swoon, and I make my getaway when they hit the floor.”
Ty knew better. Ransom would catch them, set them in a chair, then hightail it. “I’d better get on over to the store.”
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