by Clay, Verna
Rush pushed the smelly jackass-of-a-man outside and into a side alley. He was of medium height and build with unkempt greasy brown hair streaked with gray. His beard touched the top of his chest and had already turned completely gray. Indignation twisted his features and with a sudden surge of energy he almost broke free. Rush jerked him back against the wall of the hotel and said, "Stop struggling or I'll break your damn arm!"
The increased pressure of Rush's grip caused the man to yelp and then stand perfectly still.
Rush said, "How about we start at the beginning and you tell me your side of the story."
With the front of his body pushed against the hotel siding and his face pressed sideways against it, the pitiful excuse for a human said, "Who the hell are you?"
Rush tightened his hold and the man winced. He said with conviction, "I can be your worst nightmare. And just to refresh your memory, you're not questioning me, I'm questioning you. Now answer me!"
The man spat out, "My name is Snell Grimes and that boy is my sister's kid. She died and left me to raise the lazy little shit."
Rush interjected, "If there's one thing I know beyond any doubt, it's that the boy is not lazy. So, Mr. Grimes, it makes me wonder how truthful you are."
A voice from behind the men interrupted their disagreement. "Howdy men. I'm Sheriff Ames and I got word that there was some kind of altercation in the hotel dining room. Now that wouldn't happen to involve the two of you, would it?"
Rush said over his shoulder without loosening his hold on Snell. "That would be us, Sheriff."
Sheriff Ames responded, "Well, how 'bout we take this to my office and see if things can get sorted out."
Rush slightly loosened his grip. "I think that's a good idea."
Snell snarled, "Yeah, let's git that kid back to his rightful home."
Rush wanted to slam the man's head back against the building, but he slowly released him and stepped aside. Snell jerked around to face him just as the Sheriff stepped between him and Rush. With his hand resting over his gun holstered to his hip, Sheriff Ames said, "Now, sir, I been havin' a right nice day up 'til now; don't make me shoot you."
Rush stepped from the alley into the street and half wished the sheriff would shoot his sorry ass. No wonder the kid was running for his life.
Ten minutes later, Rush found himself inside the small office of Sheriff Ames. Although the sheriff had invited Rush and Snell to sit, neither man did so, and faced each other from opposite sides of the room.
The sheriff, a short, middle-aged man with a powerful frame that reminded Rush of a prize bull his father had once owned, pulled out his chair and sat behind his desk in the center of the room. He then removed his revolver from its holster, laid it in front of him, and absentmindedly smoothed one hand down the barrel. It was an intimidation technique that Rush, himself, had used on occasion. With his other hand, the lawman removed his hat and set it on a corner of the desk. He glanced at Snell. "What's your side of the story?"
Snell lifted a hand and scratched the side of his nose with a grimy fingernail. "That boy belongs to me. I been raisin' him fer nigh on two years after his ma, God rest her soul, died of consumption. I give him a roof over his head and food to eat and what's he up an' do. He steals my horse and leaves me high n' dry. He–"
Rush interrupted, "If I was treated the way I saw you treating him, I'd leave your dumb ass, too! I'd–"
Sheriff Aimes picked up his gun and slammed the butt on the table. "Quiet!" He stood, holstered the weapon again, and then walked to the front door and opened it. "Hey, Rex," he called to an unseen person. "Run over to the hotel and find…" He stuck his head back inside the room and looked at Rush.
Rush said, "The boy's name is Chad. He never told me his last name and I never asked. He's a good kid."
Snell snarled, "His name's Chad Cogburn."
Rush said, "He's with Miss Lilah Parker. She can verify my observations of the boy's character."
The sheriff stuck his head back outside. "Rex, go get Chad Cogburn and Lilah Parker at the hotel and escort them back here."
"Yessir," came a respectful reply.
* * *
When a tapping sounded on the door of Lilah's hotel room, Chad, who had returned with her to wait for Rush, lifted scared eyes to hers. "Miz Lilah, I just want you to know that whatever happens, you and Mr. Garrett are the nicest people I ever met—'sides my ma, that is."
Lilah was just as scared as Chad, but tried to look encouraging. She cracked the door as far as the chain would allow and saw a short, skinny, elderly man, with a humped back and wisps of white hair on a mostly bald head, peering up at her. He scratched the white stubble on his jaw and said, "My name's Rex. If you is Miz Lilah Parker, I been sent by Sheriff Aimes to escort ya to his office. He wants the boy to come, too."
Lilah gulped. "Is…is Mr. Garrett with him?"
"Sho nuff is, least wise if he's that big cowboy. So's that onery ol' fart. 'Scuse my language, but it's true."
Lilah glanced back at Chad and he nodded solemnly. "I'm ready to face the sheriff," he said bravely.
The boy's stoic expression only waivered once and it broke Lilah's heart. If the outcome wasn't good for Chad—if need be—she would break him out of jail. There was no way she'd allow him to be incarcerated, or, God forbid, returned to that horrid man. She unlatched the door, grabbed her bonnet and shawl, and held Chad's hand as they followed the old-timer across the street and down the boardwalk.
Before entering the sheriff's nondescript office with lettering across one window proclaiming, "Sheriff Tate Ames," Lilah squeezed Chad's hand and he returned her squeeze.
Rex held the door open and shouted, "Here they is, Sheriff!"
Sheriff Ames, sitting behind a marred, but sturdy looking desk, rose and nodded politely. "Ma'am." He glanced at Chad. "Son." He motioned to two chairs in front of his desk and waited for them to sit. "Thanks for comin' to sort out this mess. I'm Sheriff Tate Ames."
Standing at opposite sides of the small room, Rush and Snell warily eyed each other. Snell pulled a filthy rag from his pocket, blew his nose loudly, and then stuffed the disgusting thing back in.
Lilah felt queasy just looking at the man.
Sheriff Aimes turned his attention on the boy. "Yer name's Chad Cogburn, is that right?"
"Yes, sir."
"And yer ma died a ways back?"
"Yes, sir."
"And this is yer Uncle Grimes?"
"Yes, sir, but not in a natural way. His pa married my ma's ma after she was widowed."
Sheriff Aimes scratched one side of his neck and then the other. "Hmm. Did you take Mr. Grimes' horse, son?"
Chad gulped, but responded honestly, "Yes, sir. He was beatin' the horse…and me. We couldn't take no more, so I figured I'd do me and the horse a favor by ridin' off on her."
Rush started to interrupt and the Sheriff shot him a look that kept him quiet. Snell snickered and the sheriff moved his gaze to the uncouth man. Snell's smile disappeared and he stared at the ground.
The sheriff turned his attention back to Chad. "Do you know the consequence of stealing a horse, boy?"
Chad's lower lip trembled, but he answered truthfully. "Yes, sir. Hangin'."
Lilah thought she saw a smile start to crack Sheriff Ames face, but it disappeared so fast she wasn't sure.
The lawman looked at Snell and asked, "What is it yer wantin' from the boy?"
Snell pushed away from the wall and sputtered, "Hell, ain't it obvious? I want my horse back and the boy returned to his rightful home."
Chad interrupted whatever the sheriff was about to say. "I ain't goin' back with him! You can hang me first!"
The sheriff blew a breath and said loudly, "Quiet!" With a serious expression he asked, "Where's the horse, Chad?"
Lilah could see that even though Chad fought his emotions, his eyes clouded. He said softly, "S-she died a couple weeks back." He sniffed and rubbed his nose with his forearm. "She just never was right after her last beatin'."
> Rush stepped away from the wall. "This has gone on long enough. That man isn't fit to raise animals, much less a child. He's the one who should be hanged!"
Snell also moved away from the wall looking like he wanted to kill Rush.
Sheriff Aimes said loudly, "If either one of you utters another word you'll end up sharin' meals in the hoose gow."
Lilah watched Rush work his jaw, but he remained silent and returned to lean against the wall.
The sheriff tapped his jaw. "Mr. Garrett, since you don't think Mr. Grimes is capable of raising the boy, how about yerself? Are you capable?"
Snell made a noise but didn't voice any words.
Rush said with conviction, "I am."
Sheriff Aimes turned to Lilah. "How 'bout you, ma'am? Are you capable of raisin' the boy?"
"Of course."
He rubbed the stubble on his jaw and asked Rush, "You got a wife?"
Rush knitted his brows together. "No."
"Then if I made you the boy's pa and Miz Lilah his ma, you'd have to git married."
"What!" Rush shouted.
"The solution's simple, Mr. Garrett. You and Miz Parker git married and then I have a real family to turn the boy over to. And I can do that 'cause Mr. Grimes ain't his real uncle. If not, then I have to send him back with Mr. Grimes."
The room became deathly silent and then Sheriff Aimes added, "Oh, and there's one more thing. The boy will have to pay Mr. Grimes for his horse."
Silence reigned again and then all pandemonium broke loose with everyone talking at once. Finally, the Sheriff hit the butt of his revolver on his desk in a loud whack. "Quiet! Or I'll incarcerate all of ya!" He glanced at Lilah and amended, "'Ceptin' you, ma'am."
He continued in the wake of the silence. "Since I'm the judge when Judge Barrymore is indisposed, that's my decision. Take it or leave it."
Lilah glanced at Rush with rounded eyes and then at Chad, whose eyes were as wide as her own. She heard Rush say, "We'll take it."
All the breath rushed from Lilah's lungs and she felt faint. The sheriff was saying something but she only caught the end of his words. "…and Preacher Peed is at the end of this street. After the ceremony's done and papers signed, you can come back here to collect yer son and pay Mr. Grimes one hundred dollars."
Snell blustered, "You can't take the boy away from me!"
Sheriff Aimes said, "I can and I just did, and because you're questioning the authority of a sworn officer of the law, your hundred dollars just became seventy five. Say somethin' else and I'll reduce it even more."
Snell's face turned so red and his eyes bulged so much that Lilah thought he might have suffered a stroke.
The sheriff glanced first at Rush and then Lilah. "Well, time's a-wastin'. What are ya waitin' for?"
When Snell stalked to the door, he was stopped short by the sheriff asking, "Where do you think yer goin'?"
Snell turned eyes overflowing with hatred on the sheriff, but when he saw the lawman's revolver pointed at his heart, his expression turned incredulous and then fearful.
The sheriff said, "Since I'm the law at this end of town, I don't tolerate no drunkenness and I smell liquor on your breath, Mr. Grimes." He motioned with his gun for Snell to step away from the door. The confused man, staring down the barrel of a revolver, didn't argue.
The sheriff opened the door and shouted, "Rex, come in here!"
The stooped old man stepped into the room, "Yes, sir, what can I do fer ya now?"
"Answer me truthful. Did you see that gentleman over there imbibing whiskey this mornin'?"
The man didn't hesitate to answer, "Yessiree."
"Did he overindulge?"
"Yessiree agin."
"Do you swear that that's the truth, the whole truth, and nothin' but the truth?"
"Yep."
"That's all I need. Thanks, Rex. You're dismissed." He motioned his gun at Snell. "Walk to the back, sir. Drunks in my town have to spend three days in my 'private hotel' to think about their wicked ways."
Snell exploded in a rage and started yelling curse words while advancing on Sheriff Ames. Calmly, the lawman raised his pistol and fired toward the ceiling. "Say one more curse word in front of the boy and the lady and you'll become an extended-stay guest in my hotel. I don't cotton to men who beat animals or kids, and I surely don't cotton to drunks spoutin' foul language! Now move yerself to the back or the next bullet will find its way to yer foot!" He pointed the gun at Snell's right foot.
When Snell realized the sheriff meant business, a frightened expression replaced his furious one, and when the sheriff cocked his gun, the man practically ran to the back room.
Chapter 20: Family Ties
When Lilah said, "I do," to Pastor Peed—just about the heaviest man she had ever met—the only picture in her mind was that of Chad's sad face when he'd said he was ready to be hanged. She barely heard Rush say his own, "I do."
A belly laugh that shook the jowls of the pastor jerked her back to the present. Her emotions screamed, What have I done? But her mind responded calmly, You've saved a little boy, that's what.
"You may kiss your bride," Pastor Peed practically shouted, and the one witness, a teeny old woman who had been introduced as Nettie, and who looked like she was about to either die or fall asleep, yawned.
Lilah lifted startled eyes to Rush's when he bent over her. His face descended and she almost puckered her lips for a kiss. He brushed her cheek with his mouth.
The pastor called out jovially, "Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Garrett! Now Mr. Garrett, if you would be so kind as to accompany me to my office, we'll take care of a few particulars." He winked and said, "And maybe have a bit of a toast to your good fortune."
Rush said, "Lilah, I'll be right back."
Before she could respond, Nettie clasped her arm and said, "Honey, I need to have a talk with you that I have with all the gals that Pastor Peed marries. Come with me."
Respectfully, Lilah said, "Yes, ma'am," and followed the tired looking old woman toward the back of the church. She walked so slowly that Lilah was beginning to think Pastor Peed would finish his toast before Nettie had her say.
At the last pew, Nettie practically fell into it, patted the spot next to her, and said, "Take a load off, dearie."
Lilah obeyed.
Nettie lowered her voice. "Now, I know you modern gals know a lot more 'bout life than my generation, but Pastor Peed made me take an oath to counsel all brides."
Lilah leaned closer, intrigued.
The feeble woman placed a thin, blue-veined hand on Lilah's arm and said, "I gots to warn you 'bout the weddin' night and what happens with men."
Lilah jerked her head back. "Ah…ah…"
Nettie patted her arm. "It's okay, honey. Jus' let me do my job then we can both escape this unfortunate business." She amended, "Well, I'll escape. You still gots to go through with the weddin' night."
Lilah glanced toward the closed door of Pastor Peed's office and wished she could join the toast as Nettie began her description of the anatomy of men and women, and the things expected of the fairer sex. By the time Rush exited Pastor Peed's office, the elderly woman had almost fallen asleep and Lilah along with her. The noise of the opening door revived Nettie to a small extent. She patted Lilah's hand again. "Now, don't you feel better knowin' all 'bout men?"
Under any other circumstance, Lilah would have been amused by her anatomy lesson, but being married to Rush and becoming mother to a nine year old boy had her feeling light in the head. She watched Rush approach and heard the old woman mutter, "Oh my, my…it's a good thing we had our talk. I wish you the best."
Rush stopped in the aisle next to their pew. "Are you ready, Lilah," he asked gravely.
She couldn't find her voice so she just nodded.
When they stepped outside the entrance to the church and into the sunshine, Rush placed a hand on her shoulder and turned her to look at him. He looked just as confounded as she felt. He said, "I don't even know what to say."
That made her smile and she responded, "Neither do I." And then she laughed softly.
Her laughter seemed to release the tension in Rush and he joined her laughter. After a time, they were both laughing so hard they had to hold their sides.
Finally, between chuckles, Rush said, "I know a lot of lawmen and judges, I'll see about getting an annulment. But for now…" He shrugged.
A flicker of hurt stifled Lilah's laughter. She said, "Let's get out of this crazy town before the sheriff thinks up something else."
Chapter 21: Heavenly Assistance
Rush waited for Chad to enter the stagecoach and then lifted Lilah inside. On the opposite side, the drivers hauled the last of the trunks atop the cherry-red carriage and then climbed onto the driver's box. One of the men motioned for Rush to lift Tex up. After the dog was placed between the two drivers, the lead one, with arms like tree trunks, grabbed the reins of six horses and waited for Rush to enter the cramped coach. Rush hauled himself inside.
Although he'd hated to part with his horses, he'd sold Rio and Esmeralda to a local rancher with good references. There was no way he would release his faithful steeds to men like Sneed. If the distance had been shorter, he would have followed the stagecoach riding Rio and leading Esmeralda, but two hundred and fifty miles over five days was too much for either horse.
Rush shifted his legs and tried to get comfortable beside the window. Lilah's soft body squeezed up against his had his mind running wild. Although they were married, he had not changed their living arrangement at the hotel, and had no intention of doing so unless circumstances warranted it. He was familiar with the law and knew an unconsummated marriage could easily be annulled. His plans were to get the hell out of Texas, get Lilah to Oregon, and somewhere along the way determine what to do about the boy. Part of him hoped Cooper and Hallie would take a liking to the kid and make him part of their family, but another part wanted to bring him back to the Big G when he returned. As for Lilah, maybe she wanted to become the boy's ma. Damn, Rush. She's already his ma and you're his pa in the eyes of the law. Rush rubbed his forehead to ease a tension headache.