Slow John

by Petit, C. J.

  He pulled his Stetson back on his head and continued walking to his office, keeping the man in sight.

  The rider, Clyde Meadows, had ridden in from Alkali and was looking for Slow John Flynn. He didn’t know that John was now the sheriff, and spotted John as he neared his office. He was debating about asking the lawman where he could find Flynn, but decided he’d head to the saloon instead, so he turned his Morgan mare to the saloon and stepped down. It wasn’t a long way to go.

  John had watched him go into the saloon and was curious what his business was, to he headed that way. He stopped outside the saloon and examined his horse. She was a Morgan mare, he guessed around six years old, black with four white stockings and a white slash down her nose. It still didn’t make any sense to him why a man like that rode a horse like this, and a mare to boot.

  Clyde Meadows walked up to the bar and ordered a beer.

  The bartender, Lonely Carter slid the brew to him and accepted the nickel payment.

  “You know this feller, Slow John Flynn?” he asked Lonely Whitacre.

  “Of course, I know him. We all know him.”

  “Well, I’ve kinda been searching for him, you know. I hear all these stories about how he killed a dozen men in gunfights.”

  “That’s about right.”

  Clyde snickered. “Sounds like he’s tellin’ tall tales. Ain’t nobody shoots that many without gettin’ himself hit a few times. And this story about him scarin’ a man to death. That’s plum loco.”

  “I know he killed six in one afternoon a couple of months ago, and he’s not a man to toot his own horn, either.”

  “So, where do I find this famous pistol shooter?”

  “I wouldn’t call him that, Mister. I’d call him Sir or Sheriff when you turn around.”

  Clyde was taking a long draw when Lonely mentioned that Slow John Flynn was behind him. He glanced at the mirror behind the bar and saw a tall man standing near the batwing doors, a star prominently displayed on his chest.

  Clyde kept the beer mug in his hand, so he didn’t trigger anything too early and slowly turned to see Slow John Flynn face-to-face.

  John had stepped into the saloon and seen the tall, gaunt man at the bar, and caught the glance in the mirror before slowly turning. John took a peek at his holster and noticed that his hammer loop was already off. The man had the look of the new breed of men that were beginning to appear in different towns in the West. Some called them pistoleros, others used gunmen or gunfighters to describe the type. They made their living as gun-carrying bullies who offered their skills to the highest bidder, without worrying about the law or the morality of what they did. John had never met one before, and had no idea how good this one was. He’d rather just have him ride out of town, but one thing he did know about these men, that their pay was dependent on their reputation. For him to back down against a small-town sheriff would damage that reputation for good.

  John didn’t think this confrontation would end well.

  John began a slow walk toward the man who was staring John in the eyes. All the other patrons in the saloon watched the confrontation, some moving off to the sides.

  Before John could say anything, Clyde said, “Are you Slow John Flynn?”

  “I’m Sheriff Flynn. What can I do for you?”

  “I heard all these stories about you and thought I’d come by and see you for myself.”

  “Well, here I am in all my glory. I just like to introduce myself to visitors and see if I can be of any assistance.”

  Clyde was getting ready to hurl an insult at John, or just to announce his intention to meet him in the street and kill him, but there was something in the sheriff’s eyes that made him hold off until he got a better read.

  “Well, Sheriff, I heard that you killed some feller just by scaring him to death. That’s kinda hard to believe, ain’t it?”

  “I thought so at the time, but Billy Bannister’s problem was that he was already half-drunk, and he thought I was dead. Then, he felt guilty for things he did, so I just scared him into drinking himself to death. Now, my brother was a bit different. He thought I was the devil and ran so hard to keep me from taking him with me, he just ran into the Missouri River.”

  Clyde hadn’t heard that story, but the sheriff’s calm delivery made it believable.

  “You were trying to kill your own brother?”

  “I made a mistake when he was here with those other six men that attacked my parents’ farm outside of town. I had him in my sights and didn’t shoot him because he was my brother. I had to correct that mistake.”

  Clyde licked his lips.

  “What about them others that they claim you killed.”

  “The other ten all made stupid mistakes. It was shameful, but had to be done. So, what can I do for you?”

  Clyde was a bit unnerved by the sheriff’s nonchalant attitude, the casual way he dismissed killing ten men, without bravado, and even seemed embarrassed by it! He suddenly decided he was lucky he hadn’t challenged the man.

  “Can I buy you a beer, Sheriff?”

  “Sure. What’s your name, anyway?”

  Clyde relaxed and replied, “Clyde. Clyde Meadows.”

  John walked up to the bar and Lonely slid a beer to John, who tossed him a nickel.

  “So, Clyde what brings you to North Platte? It seems to be a bit out of anyone’s way.”

  “Just passin’ through on my way to Cayote.”

  “I came that way on the way in. I’ve got to ask why a big man like you is sitting on that small Morgan mare.”

  Clyde smiled. “That’s kinda bad, ain’t it? I need a taller horse, but they’re just too damned expensive these days. I was able to get the mare cheap because she was so small.”

  “Well, Clyde, I have a few that you could look at, and I wouldn’t mind trading you for the mare. I’d even throw in twenty dollars.”

  “Really? Why? She’s too small for you, too.”

  “I just got married a few weeks ago, and never found a wedding gift for my wife. That little mare would make her happy.”

  “Well, Sheriff, let’s finish these beers and go take a look at ‘em!” Clyde replied, feeling downright glad that he hadn’t done anything stupid.

  John and Clyde quickly finished their beers, and Clyde turned to leave, while John took a second to wink at Lonely, who grinned at the sudden twist in the expected outcome.

  Clyde couldn’t believe his luck. The sheriff not only didn’t challenge him, he offered to swap a real horse for the mare and give him twenty bucks, too!

  When they got outside, Clyde unhitched the mare and led her down the street as John watched her gait and checked her lines. He liked everything he saw, from her tail to that white slash down her forehead. She had a smooth, effortless motion and quick, intelligent eyes. When they reached the jail, Clyde took one look at Cross and whistled.

  “That is one handsome boy you’ve got there, Sheriff.”

  “His name is Cross and we’re good friends. Go ahead and tie off the mare next to him and we’ll go and look at my horses. It’s only a few hundred yards away.”

  Clyde nodded, the smile still plastered to his face as he tied off the mare.

  John and Clyde took three minutes walking to the house and passed by as they made their way to the corral behind the barn. Bow was the only horse in the barn, leaving six out in the corral. John was pretty sure he’d take a tall bay gelding that had belonged to Handy Lewis.

  Clyde saw the six animals, and as John expected, focused on the bay.

  “Can I have the bay?” Clyde asked, wondering if the sheriff hadn’t been pulling his leg.

  “You can. Let me get a bridle on him.” he replied as he pulled a bridle from the corral gate, opened it and walked up to the gate with Clyde right behind him.

  After the bridle was put on the bay, John handed the reins to Clyde and then tossed him a double eagle, which he caught in mid-air.

  They left the corral and returned to the sheriff’s offi
ce, and Clyde eagerly swapped his rig from the mare to the tall bay gelding. Once the change was complete, Clyde thought he’d press his luck, seeing how it was already going so well.

  “Say, Sheriff, how good are you with that pistol?”

  “Oh, fair enough, I think.”

  “You ever been shot?”

  “Nope. I almost got hit by the man who used to ride that bay. Honestly, I don’t know how he missed. He hit my Winchester’s stock and blew it right out of my arms.”

  Clyde’s eyes widened, and he asked, “You still got the rifle?”

  “Sure, come on in and I’ll show it to you.”

  Clyde followed John into his office and John pulled the Winchester from the wall and handed it to Clyde who marveled at the hole.

  “How’d you not get hit?”

  “I have no idea. Right after I picked the rifle back up, I held it like I was going to shoot it and looked through the hole and saw my arm. I couldn’t figure it out.”

  Clyde handed the rifle back to John who put it back into the rack. Then, Clyde dropped the whole idea of having him demonstrate his skill with the pistol. He was already thoroughly impressed with Slow John.

  So, Clyde shook John’s hand told him he was going to head back to Alkali on his new bay, so they walked back outside, Clyde stepped up and wheeled the bay to the west, and waved as he rode away.

  John had to admit to himself that the whole Clyde incident turned out much better than it could have; nobody died, and he had the beautiful mare for Kate. He untied the mare and led her down the street to Mo’s livery.

  John walked the mare into the barn and before he could shout for Mo, the liveryman walked in from the back corral.

  “What do you have there, Slow John?”

  “I just traded for the mare, but I need her brushed down until she shines, and her shoes checked. I want to give her to Kate.”

  Mo grinned and nodded. “I can see that. She’s a perfect ride for your lady. I’ll have her ready to go in an hour with new shoes.”

  “Thanks, Mo. I’m going to head back to the office.”

  An hour later, John led Cross to the livery where the mare was waiting. Mo Martin had done a spectacular job making her coat look like mirror. John paid the three dollars and led both horses out into the summer sun, and as he walked, he couldn’t help but admire the small horse. She and Cross looked like they belonged together, just like the two humans that would ride them.

  He reached the house and tied off the two horses before hopping onto the porch and walking into the house. He only took a second to figure out where Kate was, but as soon as he heard her sewing machine whirring busily, he headed to the hallway and stuck his head in the room.

  Kate had her head over the material as she finished a long seam and when she stopped, she looked up and saw John smiling at her.

  “Home early, Sheriff? I hope you aren’t expecting any special favors.”

  “No, Ma’am. I’m just trying to keep my beautiful wife happy.”

  “Then I can expect special favors after all.” she replied with a grin.

  “I’m sure I can grant you those special favors later, Mrs. Flynn, but I needed to make amends for an egregious oversight on our wedding day.”

  Kate looked at him curiously. “I don’t seem to recall anything that you forgot.”

  “I never bought you a wedding gift. I had looked for just the right thing for you but couldn’t find one. So, I just found it and I want to present it to you.”

  Kate set aside her sewing and walked over to John. She put her arms around his neck and said, “I don’t need you to buy me anything.”

  “I didn’t buy it, Kate. But it was just what I was looking for.”

  Kate sighed, released John and took his arm. “Very well, Mister Flynn.”

  John walked with Kate across the main room, opened the door and they stepped out onto the porch. Kate looked to her left and spotted the mare. She turned quickly back to John, kissed him quickly and trotted down the steps and across the six feet to the mare. After a minute of rubbing the horse’s neck and nose, she looked back at John with wet eyes and smiled without saying a word.

  John finally walked beside her and rested his left arm across her shoulders.

  “Wherever did you find her, Slow John?” she asked breathlessly.

  “I’ll tell you when we go back inside. So, do you have a name for her already?”

  Kate laughed and replied, “I do. I was hoping to get my own horse that suited me, and she’s perfect. I’m going to call her Stitch.”

  John asked, “Stitch?”

  Kate held back a giggle and said, “Well, when you swapped from Arrow to Cross, you had to match your gelding’s name to match Bow. I’ve been trying to come up with a name that would go with Cross, so I came up with Stitch.”

  “You mean that my giant, powerful horse is going to be linked to sewing?”

  “Sorry, Sheriff, it’s the price you pay for being nice to me.”

  John gave his wife a kiss and the issue of finding a wedding gift for his Kate was laid to rest.

  After the two horses were returned to the barn and John unsaddled and brushed down Cross, he and Kate returned to the house where John explained to an astonished Kate how he came into possession of Stitch.

  Even while fireworks were exploding in the sky that night, Kate and John were creating their own fireworks inside their house as John provided Kate with her special favors.

  _____

  On the 14th of July, both sets of parents chaperoned Ian, Eliza and little Mary Catherine to Omaha for their wedding and Mary’s baptism. Kate watched the happy couple leave and managed a few minutes of baby-holding time on the train platform, and finally kissed her goddaughter goodbye as the travelers all boarded the eastbound train.

  John held onto Kate as the train left rumbled away and knew it was going to be a difficult time for his wife again. She had been so good trying to diminish the impact that her cute niece had on her, but that last hurt was still there. All the other ghosts had been quelled by the love that John had showered on her constantly. She truly did appreciate everything that John did for her, but in a way, it made her disappointment worse, because she wanted to have his baby so badly that every kiss, kind word or bit of silliness they shared, made it feel like she was denying him the greatest gift she had to offer.

  The gift of Stitch had been so perfect and proof that he knew her so well and still loved her so much, and yet, in her mind, she was failing him.

  After the train had disappeared over the horizon, John put his arm around Kate’s waist and they walked back to the house. As Kate looked at their nice house, she said to herself that no house can be a home without a child. She knew that there were children available for adoption, and that it may become necessary, but she wanted one from Slow John. She wanted to be able to look into the baby’s eyes and see her husband.

  John had expected Kate to be upset after watching her niece leave, and he had been trying to come up with some way to change her mood, but nothing tickled his imagination. But, he thought, then again…

  After they had finished dinner, John helped Kate clean the dishes and pans, which he tried to do as often as possible, and they returned to the table for coffee and tea.

  As Kate sipped her tea, still silent and deep in thought, the subject no mystery to John.

  “Kate,” John began, “I know you’re still worried about not conceiving, but have you ever wondered if the worry or possibly the fear is the reason?”

  Kate took a sip of her tea and looked at John.

  “John, I wasn’t afraid or worried when I was married to Phil.”

  “No, but did you want to have a baby with Phil?”

  Kate had to think about it. “No, I didn’t. I was so disappointed right from the start, I began to think about ways to get out of the marriage.”

  “So, my love, when you were married, you hated the idea of becoming pregnant, then you were frightened and disgusted. Now, wit
h me, you’re worried and almost desperate to have a baby. I think if you just relax, forget about babies altogether and just enjoy yourself, it will be much better.”

  Kate shook her head, “But John, I enjoy myself immensely.”

  John smiled at Kate and stood, took the teacup from her hand and took her hand, leading her to the bedroom.

  Kate had a smile on her face as she happily followed John into the room. He began kissing her, as he usually did, and then as she was beginning to feel the early rush, John began undressing Kate. Even though it was sooner than usual, she enjoyed feeling his fingers touch her as he removed her dress. She began undressing John quickly to catch up.

  When they were reduced to nothing but skin, John picked up Kate and laid her on the bed, looking down at her as she gazed up at him with desire in her eyes. Then, things changed quickly.

  John leaned down slowly, and Kate anticipated his touch as his fingers reached out to her waist. She closed her eyes and suddenly popped them back open as John began wiggling his fingers onto her sides. She broke into uncontrollable laughter as John tickled her sides. She was writhing not in passion, but trying to avoid his active fingers. Tears were flying out of her eyes as her head snapped from side to side, and she rolled back and forth on the bed. Kate couldn’t stand it much longer and John suddenly stopped tickling her and just began kissing her and grabbing her. She responded immediately and just five minutes after he had started tickling her, they were both covered in sweat and lying on the bed. Kate stayed on top of Slow John looking down into his eyes.

  “What was that, John?” she asked between breaths.

  “That, my wonderful wife, was my unconventional way of getting you to keep your mind away from anything but what I was doing to you. I wanted you to forget about everything until we joined together. Now, Sweetheart, you can forget about your worries forever.”

  Kate arched her back and looked down at John. “Are you telling me that I just conceived?”

  John kissed her on her nose. “Didn’t you feel the difference? I did, and I believe that in nine months, you’ll have our baby.”

  Kate looked into his eyes and was surprised to see that he was serious. Then, she laid back down on John and sighed. She recalled how she felt and admitted that it did feel different. How did he know? The more she thought about it, the laughter and the sudden completion, she thought John was right. This was so different and so special. Kate, wanting to believe it so badly, suddenly shifted into full belief that she had just conceived a baby.