Jake

by Cynthia Woolf

  “Thanks, Doc. We’ll drop them off. See ya later,” said Becky.

  “Goodbye, Becky. Try not to kill anyone else.”

  “As long as they don’t try to kill me first, you got a deal, Doc.”

  Jake stood by and let Becky do the talking. He didn’t know who he could trust, the doctor included. Rather than give a false name, Jake preferred to remain quiet. Besides, the doctor could figure out who owned the Discovery #9 and who Jake was with a trip to the mercantile.

  It wasn’t a secret that Liam had bought the claim from Lily Sutter. Or that he was there with his two brothers, but until the Wanted poster and the bounty hunters showed up, no one had a reason to suspect two fugitives from the law were now residing in Deadwood. Jake would bet he and Zach weren’t the only ones on the run, now living in Deadwood.

  Doc suddenly looked at Jake. “Who are you young man?”

  Jake held out his hand. “Jake. Jake Anderson, sir.”

  “Well, Jake, our little Becky seems to have taken a liking to you or you wouldn’t be here. I’d appreciate it if you’d watch out for her. Lord knows her father doesn’t.”

  Jake cocked his head. “You know Billy Finnegan, sir?”

  “Call me Doc, not sir. And yes, I know Billy. Anyone who’s ever been in The Gem knows Billy. Loud mouth, asshole drunk and general all round wastrel.”

  “That about covers it,” said Jake.

  “Let’s go, Jake, we got work to do.” Becky kicked at a stone, clearly uncomfortable with the talk about her father and anxious to leave.

  “All right.” He held his hand out to the doctor again. “Pleased to meet you and thank you for your time.”

  Doc seemed taken aback by Jake’s manners. “The pleasure is mine.”

  Jake took a set of reins from Becky and they continued toward the graveyard. The undertaker, Ezra Blake, had an office and workshop near there.

  When they reached the large building, they heard hammering coming from inside.

  Becky walked to the door and pounded. “Mr. Blake. It’s Becky Finnegan.” She opened the door of the workshop. They passed through the doorway into a single large room with several sets of saw horses holding three coffins. A man was hammering nails into a fourth box. Each coffin was about six feet long and two to three feet wide.

  The room was big, probably thirty feet long and twenty feet wide. On the walls hung all manner of wood working equipment. Saws of every shape and size, planes, hammers, alls and T-squares for squaring up the coffin sides.

  Besides the saw horses, there were two large tables in the room and work counters along the long walls. A potbellied stove in the corner of the back wall provided heat. Tall windows let in light supplemented by oil lamps on the counters.

  The man, who Jake assumed was Mr. Blake, was short and balding with tufts gray hair sticking out here and there. A jolly look about him made him the least likely looking undertaker Jake had ever seen. He looked more like St. Nicholas. As soon as he saw Becky he broke into a wide smile.

  “Why Miss Becky, how are you today?” His smile faltered. “Are you here about Billy?”

  “Oh, no, Mr. Blake, my da is still alive and kicking.”

  “I’m sorry…I mean….”

  “Don’t be. I hope the day will soon come that I’m here to have you bury him and put everyone out of their misery, but it’s not today.”

  Jake noticed a help wanted sign in the window to the right side of the door. He wasn’t surprised. He thought Mr. Blake’s business was probably brisk.

  “Help wanted?” asked Jake. “What do you pay?”

  “One dollar a day plus room and board. Are you interested?”

  “Not right now but if the gold claim doesn’t pan out, I might be.”

  “Until then, what can I do for you?” he set his hammer down on the table where he’d been attaching the sides of one of the coffin’s to the base.

  Jake had never been in an undertakers office before. Even when his parents died, the parson made all the arrangements. A shiver when up his spine. It was creepy being in a room full of coffins in all manner of finish. Some complete, some just started and hopefully, all empty.

  “Doc told us to bring two bodies down to you. We had to kill ’em when they tried to ambush us, me and Jake,” said Becky who seemed totally unaffected by the caskets around her. “This here is Jake Anderson. He and his brothers bought the Sutter claim.”

  Jake stepped forward and offered his hand to the older man. “Pleased to meet you, sir.”

  “Ah, yes, Sutter.” Blake held his sawdust covered hand out to Jake. “I buried him you know. Poor Miss Sutter, alone now just her and her little girl. Very sad.”

  “Yes, well, what do you want us to do with these bodies?” asked Jake.

  “Let’s go take a look at them. I need to measure them for the casket. Who’s going to pay for the buryin’?”

  “The town should,” grumbled Becky.

  “I am,” said Jake and he flipped a twenty dollar double eagle gold piece to Mr. Blake. “This should cover it.”

  Blake shook his head and smiled. “This is Deadwood, young man that will pay for one of them.”

  Jake nodded and got another gold coin from his pocket. “Fine. Here you are.”

  “Thank you. You can help me put the men in the coffins.”

  They all walked outside to where the horses stood tied to the hitching rail. Mr. Blake went to each man and lifted his head before measuring them for the boxes. “Looks like one regular and one wide coffin.”

  Jake helped Blake put the bodies into the rectangular pine boxes.

  When Blake would have propped them up for display outside the office, Jake said, “I’d be obliged if you didn’t display these two. I’ll give you another twenty dollars to bury them right away.”

  Blake thought about it a moment before he nodded his head. “All right. I’ll see the holes dug and they’ll be buried tomorrow.”

  Jake handed over a third gold coin. “Much appreciated.”

  They left the bodies with Mr. Blake and rode the horses to the livery to sell them and the saddles. The horses were not prime horseflesh but were still strong, serviceable animals. Jake managed to negotiate a price of fifty dollars each for the horse with saddle. It wasn’t what they were worth but it was another hundred dollars for Becky’s escape fund, as he called it.

  After the livery, they visited every place they could think of that might have Wanted posters, including The Gem, where they looked for Billy but didn’t find him. From there they went to the newspaper office and the freight office. They struck pay dirt at the freight service. New posters had arrived for the sheriff. Mr. Finch, the owner, said Becky could have them if she wanted. Since there was no sheriff, he was just going to throw them away.

  She grabbed the parcel, thanked him and went out to where Jake waited, leaning against the side of the building facing the street.

  “I’ve got them,” she said excitedly, joining him.

  They walked around the side of the building into the alley and found some privacy. Becky opened the package and took out the posters. They found the one for Jake quickly. It was the same as the one the bounty hunter had and offered a bounty of $1000, if alive. The last poster they came to was for Zach. It was the more dangerous of the two because it said ‘Wanted, Dead or Alive’ with a bounty of $500.

  Both bounties seemed unusually high. Mayor Green must really want to talk to Jake before he had him hung for the murder of his daughter, Elizabeth.

  “We’ve got to get these to Liam and Zach. Let’s go.” Jake took the posters stuck them back in the brown paper wrapper and shoved it in the back of his pants, under his coat, safe from prying eyes.

  CHAPTER 8

  “Liam. Zach,” called Jake as they reached the outskirts of the camp. He didn’t want to get shot by accident.

  “Here,” said Liam, as he ducked out of his tent. “What did you find out?”

  “See for yourself.” Jake handed the package of posters
to him.

  Liam took the parcel and saw the two posters for Zach and Jake on top where Jake had left them. “There’s coffee and beans with cornbread that should still be hot, if you’re hungry.” Liam nodded toward the campfire then began to read the posters.

  “Starving,” said Jake and Becky together.

  Jake got cups, plates, and utensils from the cook tent and they dished themselves generous portions of the food. He liked that about Becky, she ate like a person should. Not the tiny portions that could barely keep a bird alive, like Elizabeth and her mother did.

  He hadn’t thought about Elizabeth in a long time. Pretty much since he met Becky. And now wasn’t the time to start thinking about that part of his life. This was his life now and he better keep on his toes if he wanted to continue living it. Those bounty hunters had proved that to him.

  After they finished eating they went to the Finnegan camp and were surprised to find Billy there. He should have still been at The Gem getting drunk. Instead he sat calmly by the fire. Sober. He wondered what Billy was going to try next.

  “What are you doing here?” asked Jake, when they got close to Billy.

  “I live here. What’s your business? Sniffing around my daughter, keeping me from raising her as I see fit,” spat Billy.

  “She’s a grown woman and you abused her, but not anymore because if you do, I’ll see it’s the last time you raise a fist to anyone.”

  Billy turned red and the vein popped out in his forehead. Jake struck a nerve but Billy didn’t say anything. Instead he turned to Becky, “Pack yer things. Yer leaving.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Don’t sass me, girl. Yer leaving” His Irish brogue was more prominent the angrier he got. “Yer new husband will make ya mind him even though ya don’t mind me. You think I was bad, wait until Winters gets hold of ya. He’ll take the starch out of ya.”

  “Husband? What are you talking about? I’m not married and I’m not getting married.”

  Billy looked away. “I got the gold and already spent it. You belong to Edgar Winters now.”

  “You sold me?! To that old lecher? How could you?” Becky yelled at Billy and pushed him away from her.

  “I needed the money and he had it.” Billy said, no remorse evident.

  Becky burst into tears and went into the tent. Jake had had enough. He lifted Billy by the front of the shirt and sent his fist into his face. He landed on the ground next to the camp fire. Jake advanced on him, picked him up and sent another blow into his stomach and a second one into his face.

  Billy got back up, wiped the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. “You can beat me as much as you want, you can even kill me but it isn’t goin’ to change the fact that Winters’ owns Becky now.”

  Jake went into the tent where he found Becky on her cot crying. He sat down next to her and took her into his arms, holding her while she cried.

  “I always knew he didn’t love me, but I thought if I was good enough, worked hard enough, he’d change his mind,” she said between sobs.

  “That’s never going to happen, sweet girl. But he can’t sell you. It’s illegal.”

  She grimaced. “You, of all people, know the law has nothing to do with Deadwood. He can do as he pleases.”

  “Then we’ll fix it so he can’t sell you. We can run away. Go someplace else far away from Billy.”

  She laughed. A sad, mournful laugh. “We can’t go anywhere with that bounty hanging over your head.”

  “Then, we’ll,” he grasped for a solution. “We’ll get married. If you’re already married to me, he can’t sell you to Winters.”

  She was quiet for a long time. So long that he thought she hadn’t heard him.

  “Becky?”

  “You would do that for me?” she sniffled and wiped her nose on her sleeve.

  “Yes. Anything. But it won’t be easy on you, I’m still a wanted man.”

  She wiped the tears away with her hands. “All right, let’s do it before I change my mind.”

  They walked out of the tent and went over to Buster. Jake saddled him while Becky put the bit in his mouth and buckled it on.

  “Where do you two think yer goin’? Winters will be here soon to get Becky.”

  “You deal with it old man. Becky isn’t going anywhere but with me.” Jake climbed on behind Becky and they took off down the trail.

  Billy called after them, “You can’t do this. I tell ya she’s mine to do with as I see fit.”

  Becky and Jake galloped past the Anderson claim and on into Deadwood ten minutes later. They went directly Reverend Smith’s tent. The canvas structure was big. One of the biggest tents Jake had ever seen outside a circus. He lived there with his daughter and held his services in it during the winter.

  “Reverend, you have to help us. We want to get married,” said Jake.

  The Reverend smiled broadly. “Wonderful. When would you like the special day to be?”

  “Now.”

  “Now? But young man, there are no witnesses and you have no family here.”

  “How many witnesses do you need?”

  “Well, my daughter Eleanor can be one witness, so we would need one more.”

  “Wait here,” said Jake. He went out to the street, talked to a man walking by and they both came back into the tent.

  “Will this man do?” asked Jake.

  “Hello, Mr. Swearengen,” smiled Becky. “Would you mind being a witness to my marriage?”

  “Does Billy know about this?” asked Al Swearengen, owner of The Gem.

  “No sir. Billy sold me to some miner. If I get married he can’t sell me and he’ll have to give the miner back his money.”

  “Who was the miner?”

  “Edgar Winters.”

  Swearengen guffawed. “I’d be delighted to put both those men in their places, so I’d be happy to witness your marriage. Who is the lucky groom?”

  Becky had mentioned Al Swearengen to Jake before. He was supposed to be a complete reprobate but he was available and it seemed willing to help them.

  “Jake Anderson.”

  “Well, Jake, I’m going to witness this ceremony of yours and then I expect not to see Becky in my place again. She’s bad for business.”

  “You can count on it, sir.”

  “Very well then,” said Reverend Smith calmly. “Take your places. Jake and Mr. Swearengen on my left, Becky and Eleanor on my right.”

  Eleanor Smith, the Reverend’s daughter, walked solemnly toward them. She was tall and slender with brown hair. When she smiled, she was lovely.

  “Come, Becky, stand with me.” Eleanor took her by the hand and positioned her farthest from the Reverend.

  Al and Jake took their positions and the Reverend began. “Dearly beloved. We are gathered together to witness the marriage of this man, Jake Anderson to this woman, Becky Finnegan….”

  The next thing he knew, the Reverend was asking about a ring.

  “We don’t have a ring,” said Becky.

  “Yes, we do,” said Jake and he pulled a simple gold band out of his pocket.

  Becky shook her head, “No, Jake, that was for Eliz…”

  He took her hand and put the ring on it, “Now it’s for you.”

  “By the power vested in me by the Lord Almighty and the Dakota Territory, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

  Jake bent down and gave her a chaste kiss on the lips.

  “Thank you, Reverend,” said Jake, handing the preacher a twenty dollar gold coin. He held his hand out, “Mr. Swearengen, thank you. I promise Becky will never be in your place again.”

  “Good. Now I can’t wait to see Billy’s face when he finds out what you did. Or what his face is going to look like when Edgar Winters gets done rearranging it for him.” Al laughed and walked out of the tent.

  “Miss Smith, thank you also for being our witness,” said Jake.

  “Not at all Mr. Anderson. I often witness the nuptials my fa
ther performs.” Jake thought she might break shaking his hand she was so stiff. She stood there like there was a pole down her back.

  Jake took Becky’s elbow and steered her out of the tent and back to where Buster waited, hobbled, because there was no hitching post.

  “Now we’re going to go get your things and move them to my tent. You’re never to go near your father after this. Understood?”

  “Yes. I don’t want to go anywhere near him.” She shivered and Jake didn’t think it was with excitement. “To think he would actually sell me. I guess I’m lucky he hadn’t done it before,” she said sadly. “I knew he was a bastard, but I was sure he loved me. I was wrong. I was just another possession to him. One he could sell if he wanted to.”

  Tears welled in her eyes. Jake opened his arms and she ran into them, burying her face in his shoulder. “Some bride I make. I can’t even do my own wedding right.”

  “What would you have different?” he asked, rubbing her back gently while her sobs subsided.

  “I’d have done it in a real church and I’d have worn a dress,” she looked down at herself, “or at least a clean shirt and pants.”

  Jake laughed and put her at arm’s length, holding her by her shoulders. “We just escaped Billy’s machinations and you’re worried about what you wore. When I’m exonerated for Elizabeth’s murder, I’m going to get you the fanciest dress you want and marry you in a church like you want. Deal?”

  She nodded. “Deal.”

  They climbed onto Busters back and returned to the Finnegan camp to get Becky’s things. She’d remembered to take her money stash with her before they left, afraid that Billy would find it.

  When they got back to camp, Billy was gone. Her things were pulled out of the tent and tossed to one side. He’d been searching and would have found her money had she not taken it with her. There was a hole dug in the ground where she kept the box with the money in it.

  Together Becky and Jake gathered her belongings, including her cot. Jake didn’t think she’d like sleeping on the ground like he did. He was used to it and it didn’t bother him anymore but the ground was damned uncomfortable if you weren’t accustomed to it.