Undead at Sundown

by McCabe, R. J

  ‘It’s wrapped up and out the back of the house as I didn't want to bury him until you had chance to say goodbye.’

  Jack looked out of the window and then put a fist to his mouth and bit down on it. Bill thought the man looked like he could burst into tears but knew he wouldn’t, not there in the saloon.

  ‘What killed him?’ he asked after a few moments, still looking passed Bill and through the window.

  ‘He was stabbed, twice’ Bill replied. ‘Once in the chest and once in the back’

  ‘Who you think did it Sheriff?’ asked Jack his tone still not giving anything away.

  ‘I don’t know but theres somethin' else you should know.’

  Jack held up a hand. ‘No more, not yet, I need to go and see my boy. You stayin' at the Watts place?’ Jack said, his eyes still distant.

  ‘Yeah, It’s my place now,’ replied Bill.

  ‘Okay Sheriff. It was good to meet you. I would appreciate it, when you’re done feelin' sorry for yourself and downin' whiskey, if you could find who killed my son.’

  With that Jack got up off his stool went and spoke to one of his men who rose and followed Blackwater out of the saloon. The rest of his men stayed where they were.

  It was around half an hour before Jack returned. Bill watched him come back into the saloon, and noticed Blackwater looked a little unsteady on his feet. Jack went to the bar and ordered a drink, downed it, then ordered another. He then got two more and walked over to Bill.

  ‘I thank you for tryin' Sheriff.’ Jack said, this time looking him in the eyes. ‘My son was not well liked mainly due to the fact he had a crazy way about him and he often did things I sure didn’t agree with but I suppose he had his reasons. The world has changed since I was young and I guess he was doin' things in a way he thought they needed doin' and he was a feared man because of it but no matter what else he was, he was my son who some bastard has taken him from me and I swear I'm gonna find who did it but I might need your help there Sheriff. Are you willin' to help me?’

  Bill cleared his throat before answering. ‘If a man is killed, then it’s my job to find out who did it, so I guess I will be helpin'.’

  Jack nodded. ‘You said earlier that there was somethin' else. What was that somethin' else?’

  ‘The doctor took a look at him and said there’s a chance the injuries may have been caused by more than one person.’

  Jack looked a little surprised. ‘Is that so? Looks like I'll be ridin' out to the railway camp in a little while to see if I cant find out who might of wanted to do somethin' like that to Joel, or more to the point, who had the fuckin' balls.’

  Bills face turned a little grim. ‘You haven't been to the camp yet then huh? Well, I’m afraid you wont be gettin' any information from the people there.’

  Again on Jacks face came a look of surprise. ‘And why might that be?’

  Bill recounted to Jack what he had seen when he rode out to the camp with Ken.

  ‘A whole camp of folks gone?’ Jack said, eyebrows raised. ‘Sheriff theres around sixty men thereabouts on that camp. Where in gods name do that many people vanish to? You must be mistaken.’

  ‘Jack you aren't askin' me anythin' I haven’t asked myself. I could call in to Austin and get some people down here but I wanted to talk to you first, see if you had any ideas on what could be goin' on. You told me that Joel had a lot of folks upset but who would have the kind of manpower and grudge strong enough to make that many people disappear? And trust me Jack, there are well and truly disappeared.’

  ‘I've been havin' trouble in that camp since the thing was started. It’s been from those god damned Apaches. They started off by just intimidatin' the workers but then things started goin' missin' durin' the night, horses disappearin and shit. I heard that Joel rode into their camp with just two men, went into the chiefs tent and killed the chiefs son right there into front of him. It’s a tall tale and I haven't had chance to get it confirmed. I was hopin' to see Joel and find out how the hell he did it but more to the point why he did it. Killin' the Iron Dog’s son was a very bad move. Those Apaches may act all noble as hell but they can be bought just like everyone else and thats the way you win them over, not by killin' the fuckin' heir to the tribe or what ever they call it. He messed up there and it looks to me like the rest of the people in that camp have had to pay for his mistake.’

  Bill thought on it for a moment. ‘I suppose the Apaches seem the most likely but where the hell would they of put all of those people?’

  ‘That Sheriff, is what I intend to find out.’

  ‘You gonna ride out there Jack? I know you say these guys are the best but eleven of you versus a whole Apache settlement?’

  Jack smirked. ‘Sheriff, I've got balls the size of grapefruits and the thought of ridin' in there and puttin' an end to as many of those savages as I can before they get me doesn't bother me in the slightest. However, I’m not stupid. I can get two hundred men down here two days from now.’

  Bill nodded, ‘That sounds like better odds, though time may not be on our side when it comes to the lives of those missin' folks.’

  ‘Well, it’s unfortunate what has happened to them, that I can’t deny Sheriff and if I can manage to save any of their lives or get those people back once I get in there, then that will be a great thing but my main aim is to find the bastards who killed my son and make a real fuckin' example of them and if it does turn out is was those filthy bastards then I'm gonna to fill the camp full of lead and burn the place to the ground.’

  Bill nodded. ‘Well, whilst you’re here I would appreciate it if you can keep me informed of anythin' you hear about what went down there.’

  ‘And the same goes to you Sheriff.’ Jack replied.

  ‘Of course.’ Bill said before standing up. Bill then held out his hand.

  ‘Its good to finally meet you Jack and I'm sorry you caught me lookin', Well, a little unprofessional.’

  Jack took the sheriffs hand. ‘You bein' three parts to the wind is the least of my concerns but I will say this. I’ve seen many things in my time and you sure ain’t the first sheriff I've spoke to who’s been starin' into the bottom of a bottle. This is a good town and you seem like a good man. As long as you control your drink and don’t let the drink control you then you are gonna be just fine here I reckon.’

  Bill placed his hat on his head and headed for the door.

  ‘Sheriff?’ called Jack. Bill turned.

  ‘I'll be comin' by to pick up the body of my boy later. I want to make sure I see him off in the right way.’

  ‘No problem,’ Bill replied and walked out of the saloon.

  18

  It had been a few hours since Bill left the saloon and he had cleaned himself up and changed in to some fresh clothes.

  He was siting at his desk in the sheriffs office when Ken walked in looking very tired but being the dutiful man he was, he had still turned in. Bill liked Ken, he was a man of simple thinking, old school but his values were solid. Ken knew good from bad, right from wrong and Bill knew he would step into what ever shit might come their way if Bill asked him to and those were the traits he needed from his deputy.

  The sun would be down soon and Bill hadn’t seen or heard anything from Blackwater or his men. Bill had been pleasantly surprised at meeting Jack, he could sense that the old business man could be a ruthless son of a bitch, he had a hardness to him but he seemed like a fair man. On one hand the sheriff had only met him once so it was maybe a little naive to form on an opinion from one meeting but he had told the man that his son had died, and at that moment surely none could hide their true self. He had seen the hurt in Jack’s eyes, that inner steel helping him get through it. The man had been hurting but his general demeanour had not changed. Bill thought Jack blackwater was kind of an okay fellow.

  Bill got up from his chair and walked towards the doorway looking out on the street. Blackwater’s horses were all tied up outside Gina’s place but there was no sign of the men. The f
irst hint of sundown was beginning to show in the sky and within the next hour or so it would be fully dark.

  Bill turned and walked over to the jail cell, the body of the mountain lion lay as still as when they had place in there. He couldn't believe the change in the creature. How the fuck had it taken so many shots without going down?

  ‘How you feelin' Ken?’ Bill asked

  ‘Like a boot full of dog shit,’ replied Ken.

  ‘Things are lookin' pretty quiet around here today so if you want to get yourself home.’

  ‘Nah I’m okay,’ said Ken. ‘Things were lookin' quiet last night until that big ugly cat bastard come roamin' into town. Ill stay here keep you company.’

  ‘Maybe a few hours sleep would do you good,’

  ‘Like I said Bill I'll sleep plenty when I'm dead, and most likely tonight when I get home but right now I got things on my mind, things that I can’t seem to figure out. There’s somethin' in the air around here sheriff, somethin' bad. I was born here, I know how the air is meant to feel, and right now it feels, well all wrong.’

  Bill thought Ken was being maybe just a bit of an old romantic and he didn't believe the old man really knew how the air in Sundown felt anymore than he knew who was the Queen of England but he did agree that something didn't feel right. He decided not to indulge the deputy though. This was a time for fact and logic not gut instinct.

  ‘Well, suit yourself.’ Bill said and returned to his chair.

  Ten minutes or so later Gina walked through the door and Bill, at the sight of her, sat up straight in his chair and suddenly became a little self-conscious of how rough he might look.

  Gina looked at the men, her father and then Bill.

  ‘Hello Daddy, Sheriff.’

  ‘Gina,’ Bill replied in the coolest voice he could summon up.

  Gina then looked back at her father, her hands went to her hips and her head tilted to the side as if regarding Ken.

  ‘Jeez daddy, you look like shit. Maybe you want to get your self home and get some sleep.’

  ‘There’s nothin' like blood to make you feel good about yourself ay Bill?’ Ken said, before looking back at his daughter.

  ‘Did you just come over here to tell me I looked awful, or did you come here to hit on Sheriff Bill over there?’

  ‘Daddy! Stop your wafflin' goddammit!’ Gina said, her cheeks a little flushed. ‘I came over here to check the law in our town is holdin' up okay. Myself and the girls saw that thing that came into town last night, watched you put lead into it and saw it keep gettin' up as if it was possessed by the devil himself.’

  ‘Yep, he was a tough mother fucker.’ Ken replied.

  ‘I don’t know where you got that phrase from’ Gina said ‘But I would thank you not to use it around me. Its awful’

  ‘Aaah stop being such a fairy’ Ken said grouchily ‘I bought you up tougher than that Gina. Anyhow if you don’t like what you hear then maybe don’t come over here. This is a man’s place where man things go down and we act like men and do….Man stuff and that.’

  ‘Daddy stop talkin' out of your ass. I can see you are in a hell of a mood so I won’t be talkin' to you until you get some sleep.’ Ken grunted and she turned towards Bill.

  ‘So Sheriff, did you manage to find out what bought that horrible creature to our town?’

  ‘Now would you be referring to the mountain lion, or to Jack Blackwater?’ asked Bill.

  ‘Oh, Are you in a similar mood to my father? Gina asked. ‘Maybe you could use a little shut eye too Bill.’

  ‘I’m a little tired but I got too much on my mind at the minute to sleep and may I say you look lovely today as always Miss Murphy.’

  Gina’s cheeks reddened once again. ‘Thank you Sheriff, that’s very kind.’

  ‘No problem, now if you wish to know why that four legged pain in the ass came down here to the town, then why don't you ask him?’ said Bill, a small smile on his lips.

  ‘I don't follow’ said Gina.

  Bill pointed to the cell behind Gina and she turned around. When she saw the beast lying on the cell floor she grimaced a little but she didn't shrink back. Bill imagined at that point many women would have overreacted by squirming or covering their mouths in shock at the sight of the grotesque creature but Gina’s reaction was subtle, real and he liked that.

  ‘You got him to confess yet'?’ Gina said still looking at the thing.

  Bill laughed. ‘No, he’s not sayin' much.’

  Gina smiled. ‘Really though, why are you keepin' that thing anywhere near you, it’s dead as a doornail’

  ‘Gina, I agree with that diagnosis’ replied Bill.

  ‘Die nose what?’ said Ken

  ‘To be honest,’ said Bill looking at the animal. ‘I don't rightly know why I have him in there. Im waitin' for someone to come and have a look at him to see what the hell was wrong with it.’

  ‘Well, that explains why you still have it but it doesn't explain why you have it locked in a cell does it?’ Gina’s eyebrows raised as she asked the question.

  Bill noticed how cute it made her look. He paused before answering.‘Well, I don't want anyone getting too curious and tryin' to put their hands on it. I'm not sure what kind of disease that thing had but it didn't look right to me with it’s lumps and bumps all over the place.’

  Gina nodded seemingly satisfied with this explanation, Bill however was not, he felt this wasn’t the only reason he had locked the beast away.

  ‘Have you seen anythin' of Blackwater and his men?’ asked Bill.

  Gina thought for a second. ‘Well, as far as I know they are still in the saloon they have been comin' over to our place two at a time, the girls are pretty much tired out.’

  ‘But they are behavin' themselves?’ It was Bill’s turn to raise his eyebrows.

  ‘Yes, Sheriff, it has to be said they have been true gentlemen.’

  Bill nodded.‘Good, that’s one less thing to worry about.’

  There came the sound of footsteps on the boards outside before Trent, the Apache who worked for Blackwater, came into the office. He was a big man at around six feet three inches and broad with it. His long black hair was tied back in a pony tail and his face looked like it was carved from stone.

  ‘Sheriff?’ the big man said looking down at Bill.

  ‘Indeed I am, how can I help?’

  ‘Mr. Blackwater needs to speak with you.’ Trent’s expression not changing, his tone was serious.

  ‘Didn't Jack think to come over here and see me himself?’ the sheriff asked.

  The man didn't reply, he tilted his head slightly and eyed the sheriff, Trent was not a man for games.

  ‘Well,’ continued Bill realising he was not going to get a reply from the big man.

  ‘I guess I better go see what he wants,’ and with that began to rise from his chair. It was at that second that he heard a growl and thought for a moment that it come from the big Apache. Bill looked at him but the man was already turning away, as was Gina and they were looking towards the cell.

  ‘What the fuck?’ said Ken already on his feet also looking towards the cell, his eyes wide.

  Bill walked around from behind his desk, as the two people standing in front of him were obscuring his view. He looked into the cell, to see the body of the big cat was rocking slightly, making strange sounds. It looked as though it was waking up, twitching here and there. Then it’s eyes opened and the pupils were pure white. Drool began to leak from the side of its mouth onto the floor. Bill looked outside on to the street, no longer was the sun setting but dusk was giving way to the night sky and it was as if the creature was reacting to the change.

  ‘I thought you said that thing was dead sheriff?’ Gina said with a slight tremble in her voice.

  ‘Believe me, it was dead alright,’ replied Bill.

  ‘How the hell can this be Bill?’ Shouted Ken. ‘That thing was stone cold dead last night when we put it in there and stiff as a vicar in a whorehouse.’

  B
ill didn't answer, he had no answer, he only stared at the beast which was seemingly coming back to life, getting up onto its paws, shoulders hunched, breathing laboured and then, in a split second, it was trying to get at them, its mouth snapping, teeth bared.

  Bill, Gina and Trent all moved back as the beast hit the bars. Bill took out his revolver and placed the other hand across Gina’s stomach ushering her backwards, she moved back and Bill fired three shots through the bars into the beast. Blood, fur and skin flew out of the creature and it slammed into the wall at the back of the cell but in a second it was back at the bars spitting and biting.

  Bill was about to fire again when Trent put his hand on top of the Bill’s gun and slowly pushed it downwards and at the same time, with his other hand, he was taking out his own pistol. The big Apache’s expression gave almost nothing away but then Bill noticed concern in the man’s eyes. The man pointed his gun so the end of the barrel was just an inch from the beast’s rabid, biting face and then he put a bullet straight into the beast’s skull. The big cat flew backwards once again, but this time it did not return to the bars, instead it lay still.

  ‘Damn, I think that did it,’ said Ken still standing behind his desk.

  ‘No,’ said the man. ‘Must finish it. Give me the keys,’ he said not looking away from the creature.

  Bill took the keys from his desk draw and placed them in the big hand of the Apache. Trent unlocked the cell door and slowly approached the mountain lion. He placed his gun back in his holster and then reached around to his back and produced a knife, the biggest knife Bill had ever seen. He knelt down by the creature and with both hands raised the blade above his head and waited.

  For a moment the room was in complete silence. Bill, Ken and Gina tensely watched and waited in anticipation for the Apaches next move. The beast twitched and then suddenly lifted its whole head off the floor but before the beast could try and stand, Trent bought the knife down in an arc, slicing cleanly through the creatures neck. Its head fell to the floor, followed by the body a second later. Blood jetted out from the stump of a neck and finally it was still.