No Less Than the Journey
Page 31
He missed Anabelita, of course, but he also found himself thinking of the baby who had never known life outside its mother’s womb.
In the days preceding Anabelita’s tragic death he had begun imagining what it would be like to have a son to whom he could teach the lessons needed to grow up into a man of whom his parents would be proud. To share with Wes the everyday things he himself had once known.
Or perhaps the child would have been a girl, someone to take his hand in absolute trust when the world seemed too large and beyond her understanding. A daughter for him to watch over as she learned lessons of life from her mother.
Wes had tried to tell something of his thoughts to Aaron, but the US Marshal had his own grief to cope with and, besides, he had witnessed too many deaths of those close to him.
Aaron’s reply had been to say, ‘America has not surrendered easily to civilised settlement, Wes, it has needed to be won and the price paid by men, women, children and even unborn babies has been high. By the time this country is secure the numbers of those sacrificed will be as uncountable as blades of grass in a Kentucky paddock.’
His words had made a great impression upon Wes until one rainy day when it was not possible for him to go out of the mansion, he had limped his way to the Denver Councillor’s library and there found a book of Walt Whitman’s poems on a shelf.
Remembering his time in Lauraville and the poetry that Tessa had been reading there, Wes took the book down. Leafing through it, he came upon a line in one of the poems that made him think of what Aaron had said to him, and of his own thoughts about the loss of Anabelita’s unborn baby.
In words that Wes could never have emulated, the poet implied that in the scheme of things a blade of grass is no less important in its way than the stars in the heavens.
Somehow, for reasons that Wes did not even attempt to understand, the words gave him comfort and a feeling that, in spite of Aaron’s implied explanation that such sacrifices were acceptable in a new country like America, he was right to grieve for the loss of his and Anabelita’s unborn child.
While Wes was still confined to the house with his wounded leg he received a delegation from the mayor and councillors. They offered him the vacant post of Chief of Police, to succeed the late and little lamented Chief Kelly.
Astounded, he at first declined their offer outright, but when they persisted he agreed he would think about it, more with the intention of getting rid of the unwanted delegation than of giving their offer serious consideration.
He wished Aaron had been able to advise him how best to turn down the offer without offending the Denver dignitaries, but Aaron was in Kansas, giving evidence against Vic Walsh.
Ira Gottland had recovered sufficiently to be questioned by Aaron and, aware that he faced being hanged for past activities, he had been eager to broker a deal with the United States Marshal.
Aaron refused to offer Gottland any sort of deal. The most he would promise the outlaw was that when he came to trial, the judge would be informed that Gottland had ‘co-operated’ with the Federal authorities – but only if the outlaw leader disclosed all he knew of Vic Walsh’s criminal activities and associations.
Aaron knew that such co-operation was unlikely to save the outlaw from the hangman’s rope but, desperate to save his skin, Gottland agreed.
Armed with Gottland’s statement, Aaron had gone to Trego, where Walsh was being held by Sheriff Murray and taken the dishonest Cornishman to Kansas City where he handed him over to the US Marshal stationed there.
Walsh would be taken on to Washington to await a decision on where, and under which name he was to be tried.
Returning to Denver, Aaron found Wes in the garden of the councillor’s house using a stick to support himself as he exercised along the well-kept paths of the impressive Denver mansion.
Exaggerating his own war wound limp, Aaron greeted him with, ‘You know, Wes, you get more like me every time I meet you, but it’s good to see you up and about again.’
‘I’m not sure that any similarity between us is a good thing, Aaron – certainly not for me. Folk are beginning to see me as a possible substitute for you. To be honest, I’m flattered, but I couldn’t fill your shoes and have no intention of trying.’
When Wes disclosed the offer made to him by the Denver mayor, Aaron said, ‘Don’t underestimate yourself, Wes, you’ve done a great deal more than many of the State Marshals I know … but you could do a whole lot better than being Chief of Police of Denver, so I hope you turned it down?’
‘I told them I’d think about it,’ Wes explained, ‘but I was just being polite. I don’t want the job.’
‘What do you want, Wes? Have you finally decided that mining isn’t for you?’
‘Yes. To be perfectly honest with you, Aaron – and I hate to say this – you’ve given me a taste for upholding the law. I believe it’s really worthwhile work, especially here in America, where the foundation is being laid for a new and potentially great country. At the end of his working life as a United States Marshal, a man could look back on what he’s achieved and say, “I’ve done something that’s made a difference to people’s lives, both now and in the future”.’
Giving Aaron a wry smile, he added, ‘Trouble is, I’m not at all sure I’m happy with the thought of being a target for every man who carries both a gun and a grudge against the law.’
Looking decidedly smug, Aaron said, ‘I find what you’ve said very interesting, Wes … very interesting indeed. If I understand you correctly, you’re saying you’d like to take a major part in seeing that the laws of the land are upheld, without putting yourself up as a target for every two-bit Western gunslinger out to make a name for himself.’
‘That’s about the strength of it, Aaron, but such work doesn’t exist.’
‘I’m not so sure about that, Wes, all parts of America aren’t like the Territories – and you’ve already done more than most to clean up this part of the country. I’d like you to speak to someone you’ve met before. He heard I was in Kansas City and came along to see me. I think you might find what he has to say of some interest. He’s in the house talking to the councillor right now. I’ll go and fetch him.’
While he was waiting for Aaron’s return, Wes sat on a garden seat thinking about the conversation he and Aaron had just had. Until now he had never seriously thought about what he really wanted to do with his life, but he did believe that ridding the world of the Denton gang and others like them was really worthwhile – and he greatly admired Aaron for what he was doing.
While he was thinking he was looking down into a garden pool in which a number of fish were swimming. Hearing a sound, he looked up and was surprised to see David Connolly, the young man he had last seen at the house of Senator – now Governor Schuster, of Kentucky.
‘No, don’t get up,’ the young visitor said, as Wes struggled to rise to his feet, ‘How is the leg?’
‘It’s coming along fine,’ Wes replied, ‘The doctor says that when it’s fully healed the limp should hardly be noticeable.’
‘That’s good,’ said David Connolly, ‘You did a wonderful job up there in the Rockies … you and Aaron.’
‘It was highly satisfying,’ Wes conceded, ‘but you haven’t come here to talk about that. Aaron said you had something to say that might interest me.’
‘I sincerely hope it will,’ David Connolly said, ‘but it is partly to do with what happened in the Rockies. Do you know that I’m married to Sophie Schuster now?’
‘I didn’t, but it comes as no surprise, you two make an ideal couple. Congratulations.’
‘Thank you, Wes. I am living at the Schuster mansion helping to manage the Governor’s estate – you’ve been told he’s Governor of Kentucky now?’
‘Yes, Aaron told me. He’s well pleased about it.’
‘So is everyone in Kentucky, my father-in-law is a popular man who has the welfare of Kentucky very much at heart. He is trying to gather men around him he believes will be abl
e to help him do his best for the State – and that’s why I am here, Wes.’
Puzzled, Wes could not think what he could possibly do for Kentucky, but David Connolly was still talking, ‘Governor Schuster met with Marshal Berryman in Kansas some little while ago and sounded him out about becoming the US Marshal in Kentucky. Marshal Berryman declined because he’s been sent out here to the Territories at the special request of President Grant, but he and my father-in-law had a long talk about what the position entailed and Marshal Berryman left him mulling over a suggestion he made. When news of the annihilation of the Denton gang broke and he learned of the part you played in it, he made up his mind. Governor Schuster has sent me here to ask you to come to Kentucky as United States Marshal for the State.’
For a few moments Wes was absolutely speechless. When he eventually had his voice back, he said, ‘I know next to nothing about the law. I couldn’t take on something like that!’
‘The last marshal knew nothing at all about the law. Not only that, he was so politically biased that his law protected less than half the residents of Kentucky. Governor Schuster knows you have no political affiliations and you’ve proved your courage and respect for the law. Besides, Marshal Berryman has promised to teach you all you need to know – and says it will be far more than he knew when he was appointed a United States Marshal. You have created a very favourable impression in Kentucky for the manner in which you and the Marshal dealt with the Denton gang, Wes, and Governor Schuster has already broached the subject of your appointment with the President. I might add that a number of Kentucky’s leading families were present at Harrison’s funeral and they are proud to boast of their meeting with you. It would be a very popular appointment, Wes.’
Still recovering from the astounding offer, Wes said, ‘I think I ought to tell you that the main reason I was so determined to bring the Denton gang to justice was because they killed someone I was very, very fond of….’
‘You mean the croupier from the Missouri Belle?’
When Wes nodded, David Connolly said, ‘I remember her too – as you well know. She was a fine girl, Wes, the way she died would have roused me to doing something about it – but smashing the Denton gang is not the only feat you’ve performed on behalf of law and order since coming to America. Let me go back to Kentucky and tell Governor Schuster you accept his offer, Wes. You will never regret it – and I don’t think he will, either. He is a good and honest man who will return all the support I know you would give him.’
Wes and David Connolly were still talking together when Aaron returned some time later. Greeting Wes, he said, ‘Well, have you thought over what David has had to say to you Wes?’
‘I’m still thinking good and hard, Aaron – but you’ll remember I was never keen on taking a deputy marshal’s badge.’
Aaron’s expression showed disbelief, ‘You’re turning down Governor Schuster’s offer?’
Aware of Aaron’s very real dismay, Wes said, ‘Well I must admit a full marshal’s badge is more tempting than that of a deputy – and this leg of mine is never going to be well enough to let me climb up and down a mine shaft ladder … so I reckon I might give it a try….’
During the celebrations that followed his announcement Wes let it be known that he had no intention of forgetting his mining roots, nor the memory of the uncle who had brought him to America from England. He would ensure that the man who had taught him his skill with a handgun would be remembered too. The United States Marshal’s badge that he would wear was to be specially made for him from silver ore he himself took from the Rocky Mountain mining claim that had once belonged to Peter Rowse, and was now owned by Old Charlie.
It was an item he would wear close to his heart in the years that lay ahead.
About the Author
E.V. Thompson was born in the East End of London, but after his family home was destroyed during the Second World War, moved to Oxfordshire. E.V. Thompson has been a sailor, policeman, airline detective, chief of Civil Aviation Security, floor sweeper, hotel detective and a civil servant. He now writes full time. E.V. Thompson has had a vast number of short stories and articles published in newspapers and magazines and broadcast on radio in many countries and he has presented numerous radio series on BBC Radio Cornwall and overseas. E.V. Thompson currently lives at Trebartha on Bodmin Moor.
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THE VAGRANT KING
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BEN RETALLICK
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FIRES OF EVENING
BROTHERS IN WAR
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Copyright
© E.V. Thompson 2008
First published in Great Britain 2008
Paperback edition 2010
e-book 2010
ISBN 978 0 7090 9145 5
Robert Hale Limited
Clerkenwell House
Clerkenwell Green
London EC1R 0HT
www.halebooks.com
The right of E.V. Thompson to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988