The Western Justice Trilogy

by Gilbert, Morris

  Her father joined her soon and said, “You know, I’ve been thinking. You need to buy some new clothes. There’s a dress over there I seen when we came in.”

  “I don’t need a new dress.”

  He grinned, took her by the arm, and led her over to where a dress was laid out on a table. “That would suit you.”

  Raina reached out and stroked the material. “It is fine,” she said. “Too fine for me.”

  “Daughter, nothing’s too fine for you. I want to buy it for you.”

  “I don’t have anywhere to wear fancy clothes to.”

  “Well, we’ll find a place. Why don’t you go try it on?”

  Raina stroked the material again, trying to make up her mind, when suddenly Aaron and Lottie Jordan entered. She braced herself, for Jordan had been outspoken in his rage against her father. She saw that he was wearing a gun as most men did, and this troubled her.

  Aaron stopped and said, “I want to talk to you, Vernay.”

  “Well, you’re talking.” Pa was staring and keeping his eyes fixed on Aaron Jordan.

  “I got something to say all right, and it’s mighty hard for me.” Aaron shrugged, moved his feet around, and twisted his neck.

  Suddenly his wife said, “Go on, Aaron, say what you need to say.”

  “Well, all right, Lottie.” Aaron swallowed hard and said, “I want to tell you that I’ve been wrong about you, Ed. I acted like an idiot, and I’m sorry. I hope you’ll overlook it.”

  At once Pa smiled. “Of course, Aaron. Since we’re going to be neighbors, let’s be good ones.”

  Lottie went over to stand beside Raina. “Are you thinking of buying this dress?” she said while the men continued to talk.

  “Pa wants me to have it, but it’s too fancy for me.”

  “Oh, I don’t think so. A woman needs fancy clothes once in a while.” She hesitated and then said, “I hear you had a bad time during the raid.”

  “I did. I really did.”

  “Was it when you heard that Ty was killed?”

  “Yes, it was a hard time for me.”

  Lottie hesitated then said, “You two were pretty close, weren’t you?”

  “Very close. We went through some hard times together. You know, I think that makes a bond that’s not easily broken.”

  “I think that’s right. I hear it’s true of soldiers who go through battle together. They never forget it. Well, what are you going to do about Ty?”

  Raina stared at Mrs. Jordan. “I don’t think I’ll do anything.”

  The men joined them then, effectively ending their conversation.

  Aaron said, “I heard about this barbed wire that some stockmen use.”

  “Yeah, I’ve heard about that. We don’t need that, Aaron. You know how to handle cattle and keep ’em in place, and sheep don’t wander all that much.”

  “Well, we’ll work on it. You ready to go, Lottie?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  The two left, and Raina turned to her father and said, “Let’s buy our supplies and go home.”

  “Well, why don’t you just go for a walk. I’ll take care of the supplies. I’ve got the list you gave me.”

  “No, I’ll help.”

  The two went through the store, and Max Thornton put their purchases into boxes and helped load them up. They were about to get into the wagon when Raina heard her name called.

  She turned to see Ty, who came up and stood before them. He removed his hat and said, “It’s good to see you. Come down for supplies?”

  “Yes, and I wanted to see you.”

  “Well, here I stand.”

  “I want you to come out for the service Sunday.”

  “I’ll sure do that. I was planning to anyway if I wasn’t out on assignment.”

  “Come to the house early. We’ll have a meal cooked after the service,” Raina said. “You can come and join us.”

  “I’ve never turned a good meal down yet, Raina.”

  They said their good-byes.

  Raina looked back and saw him standing there, and there was something pitiful about him, for he was a confused man.

  “You know, Pa, we’ve talked about God chasing a man. I never was comfortable with that. I thought we had to chase after God.”

  “I think it works both ways. He chases us first, and when we find out about it, we set out to catch Him. I think God found Ty out there on the prairie when he was dying, but Ty’s not sure yet. But we’ll just keep praying that he will be.”

  Leoma Jordan stopped abruptly. She had come into town with her parents but had separated from them when they went after the needed supplies. She had other plans and headed out to find George Fairfax.

  She was walking down her third street when she saw George headed toward her. He was not looking up but seemed to be in deep thought.

  “Hello, George,” Leoma said. She saw him look up, and there was an uncertainty about him that she was not accustomed to.

  “Good to see you, Leoma,” he said.

  “I’m just going down to get a cup of tea. You Englishmen like tea. Come and go with me.”

  “I’ll be glad to. I’m tired of my own company.”

  The two walked down the boardwalk until they got to the restaurant. They went in and soon were drinking their tea.

  “You seem troubled, George.”

  “I guess all of us have some worries.”

  “It’s not like you to let it show like that. What’s the matter?” Fairfax took a sip of the tea, put it down, and then picked the cup back up and turned it around nervously between his hands. He seemed reluctant to speak, but finally he said, “Well, I got some news from home.”

  “It must be bad news if it troubles you like this.”

  “It is. My brother died. He was younger than I am.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that, George. Were you close?”

  “Not as close as we could have been.”

  “Will you go to the funeral?”

  “No, it takes too long. He’s already been buried.”

  “Will you go back to England now and take over?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve never been so confused. What my family wants me to do is to marry and produce more male heirs.”

  Leoma did not really understand this system, but she felt compassion for the man. “I’m sorry, George. I wish I could help.”

  “Well, I wish somebody could. I don’t want to marry a woman I don’t love. You made a joke once,” he said, “about our getting married. Or was it a joke?”

  Leoma remembered the remark. It had been made as part of a joke, but she saw he was serious. “You need to marry an Englishwoman who is used to nobility and things like that.”

  Fairfax kept his eyes fixed on Leoma. Suddenly he said, “I don’t want to marry a woman just to be sure a legal requirement is met. Were you serious about marriage when we talked?”

  “George, I’m serious now, but I’d hate for you to make a mistake. Don’t you see if you made a mistake, the woman you would marry would have made a mistake, too?”

  “I guess I can see that. I’ve made my share of mistakes. Marriage is for a lifetime.”

  Leoma hesitated then said, “I have an idea. Why don’t you come back to the ranch with me? It’s quiet out there. We can take long rides. Have long talks. You can think about your future.”

  Fairfax straightened up, and some of the heaviness lifted from his face. “Yes, I’d be glad to do that. When shall we go?”

  “I’m ready now. We can follow my parents. They should be finished getting what they needed.” Leoma took his arm and led him toward the store.

  Ty entered and came to stand before Heck Thomas. “Mason said you wanted me.”

  “Got a job for you. Doesn’t amount to much. Somebody’s got to go out and arrest Chester Swan.”

  “Who’s he?”

  “Oh, he’s sort of a small rancher, got a few cattle, raises some grain. But he’s had a feud over land boundaries with a half-breed named Charl
ie Ten Deer. They never have gotten along. I got word that Swan took a shot at Ten Deer.”

  “You want me to arrest him?”

  “Well, I don’t know, Ty. The man’s never been in trouble. He’s kind of sullen, but he’s a good man. Don’t really arrest him, but I need for him to think you might. Just bring him in.”

  “So, it’s sort of an arrest then?”

  “Yes. His hot temper might give you some trouble. I can scare some sense into him, I’m pretty sure.”

  “I’ll go right away, Heck.” Ty picked up some supplies, went to his horse, and saddled him. As he rode out, his mind was on his own troubles. He looked up at the sky and saw the clouds like huge bunches of cotton slowly drifting across an azure sky and tried to pray, but the words wouldn’t come. “I wonder if everybody has as much trouble trying to pray as I do,” he muttered. Then he continued his journey. He rode for an hour and then came into an Indian trading post. He found White Eagle, who ran the trading post. They had become friends over the last few months.

  “Hello, Ty.” White Eagle was coppery-skinned and trimmed down so that there was not an ounce of fat on him. “What are you out for today?”

  “Oh, got a little job to do.”

  “Are you married yet?”

  The two had a joke about marriage. Both were single, and they all but made a bet about which one of them would marry first.

  “No, not yet. How about you?”

  “No, but I can give you some advice.”

  “What’s that, White Eagle?”

  “Don’t marry a woman that’s taller than you are.”

  “Well, that’s not likely. Is that the only advice to the lovelorn you can give?” He liked the Indian very much. “I got to go pick up Chester Swan.”

  “Well, he’s a grumpy cuss. Got a good Indian wife though. Two kids. What’d he do?”

  “Nothing much. He’s having a fuss over some boundary with Ten Deer.”

  “Well, he’s always having a fuss with somebody. You be careful.”

  “I’ll do that. Pick up some more advice for the lovelorn.”

  Ty left the trading post and rode for another hour. He had been watching the clouds roll, and from time to time he saw a band of pronghorn and once a dark-colored wolf that was unlike anything he had ever seen. The wolf had a rabbit between his jaws, and he took one look at Ty and wheeled and ran away. “I don’t want your dinner,” Ty said.

  For some reason at that moment he thought about Gale Young’s death, and the thought grieved him as it always did. I’d give anything if I could have saved Gale. His life was all planned out. He never got to do any of it. Could happen to me. The thought sobered him, and by the time he reached Swan’s property, he was depressed.

  He rode up, and Swan got to his feet and came out of the house. His wife was with him, holding on to his arm. Ty heard her say, “Don’t go out there. You’re drunk.”

  Then Ty saw that she had two small children hanging on to her skirt, but Swan shook her off. “Leave me alone, Dawn.”

  “Leave that gun here.”

  It was then that Ty noticed that Swan had a rifle in his hand.

  “I’ve got to keep this gun. That stealin’ Ten Deer might creep up and shoot me.”

  “He’s not going to shoot you.”

  “What do you want, Marshal?”

  Ty stepped out of the saddle and said, “I just came to talk a little bit, Swan.”

  “I ain’t talkin’ to no marshal. Get off my land.”

  Then something happened that caught Ty completely off guard. Swan, without a word of warning, lifted the rifle and fired. The bullet knocked his hat off, and he pulled his gun quickly and aimed it right in the middle of Swan’s chest. He didn’t fire, for he saw Swan pull the trigger, but the rifle wouldn’t fire.

  “Please don’t kill him!” The woman got in front of Swan, standing between him and Ty. The children were hanging on to her, and both of them were big-eyed with fear.

  Ty holstered his gun and came up with disgust. He reached out and took the rifle from Swan. “You’re a sorry excuse for a man, Chester Swan,” he said with disgust. “I could have killed you.” Swan sobered up when he saw that Ty had his gun, and he knew he had come close to being shot.

  “I’m going to tell you what I’m going to do with you, Chester. Heck Thomas sent me out here to bring you in, but you’ve got a good wife here, and people say you are a good man when you’re not drunk. You sober up and you go in by yourself. The judge will like that. It’ll show you’ve got a little sense. You tell the judge you were wrong to pull a gun on Ten Deer. Don’t tell him about trying to shoot me. Tell him you’ll make it right with Ten Deer, and he’ll give you a chance to do it. It’s the only way out for you, Chester. Otherwise you’re going to go down.”

  “Listen to him,” Dawn begged.

  Swan dropped his head as he was still swaying. “Okay, Marshal, I’ll do as you say.”

  “Do it then,” Ty said. “You make sure of it, Mrs. Swan.”

  “Yes,” Dawn said. “He will do it. I promise you.”

  Ty got into his saddle and rode away. He was headed back to town, but something came to him, and he headed toward the sheep camp. He suddenly stopped his horse, removed his hat, and began to pray. Lord, I don’t know how to pray. I’m not eloquent. Never was. I’m asking You to do something to me. Tell me what to do.

  He got off his horse and walked slowly, continually asking God to help him. When the night came, he still had no peace.

  By the time morning came, he had stayed up most of the night begging God to help him. And as the sun came up over the eastern hills, he knew suddenly what to do.

  He stepped into the saddle and spurred the horse forward. When he got to the sheep camp, he saw Raina hanging clothes on a line.

  She saw him and came at once to where he was. “What are you doing out here, Ty?”

  “Came on a job, but that’s not my news.” He took her by the arms and said, “I’ve been praying all night, and I’ve given my heart to the Lord.”

  Raina was excited. Her eyes glowed, and she said, “I’m so glad, Ty. What are you going to do now?”

  “I also heard from the Lord about what He wants me to do, and I’m sure now that God wants me to be a preacher.”

  “My dad and I both thought that would be your decision.”

  “But what I came to tell you is, Raina, that I love you.” He pulled her close and kissed her, and for the moment they were the only two people on the planet. When he lifted his head, he saw the joy in her face and knew he had done the right thing. “The only thing is, we can’t marry for a long time.”

  “Why not, Ty?”

  “I’ve got to save money. I’ve got to go get some training somewhere. Either go to some preacher who will help me or go to some Bible school. Either one would take money.”

  She reached up, pulled his head down, and kissed him again. “I love you, Ty, and God has brought you this far. He’ll take us the rest of the way.”

  CHAPTER 27

  Judge Isaac Parker sat back in his chair and studied the man in front of him. “Well, Ty, I think I saw this coming. I just wish I had a hundred more like you.” He smiled and shook his head. “Are you absolutely sure about this?”

  “Yes, Judge, it’s got to be.” Ty took the badge off his vest pocket and handed it to Judge Parker. “I appreciate you giving me the work, but I’ve got to move on.”

  Parker studied the badge in the palm of his hand. “Well, I hate to lose a good man, but I think you’re making the right choice. What are you going to do specifically?”

  “I’m planning to be a preacher.” Ty grinned. “Judge, you have no idea how ignorant I am about so many things. I’ve got to learn the Bible. I’ve got to learn how to work with people. I’ve got to change my whole way of life. So I think I’ve got to go get some training at a college somewhere.”

  “Good for you, Ty,” Parker said. “I wish all my marshals ended up with lives like you’re after, but the
y won’t. Are you going to marry that young woman?”

  “No, Judge, at least not right away. Not until I have something to offer her.”

  “Well, you probably got as much to offer her as I had to offer my wife.”

  “I doubt that, Judge. You had a good education, and you knew where you were going. I’m setting to sea in a sieve it seems like.”

  “Don’t be an idiot, Kincaid. That young woman loves you. She’ll be right with you every step of the way.”

  “Well, good-bye, Judge. I’ll let you know how this story turns out.”

  “Be sure and do that. My wife and I have grown interested in your life. We’ll be praying for you.”

  “Good-bye, Judge.” Ty left the office, went at once to the stable, got his horse, and rode out of Fort Smith.

  All the way out to the sheep camp, he was thinking about what would happen to him. He had always had very little planning in his life, but now he had a whole new world of decisions to make, and it troubled him. He knew he was embarking on a voyage that held mystery and wonder, and more than once he prayed, Well, God, You’ve got to help me with this. I can’t do it by myself….

  “Well, I did it, Raina.”

  Raina had seen Ty coming. She took him inside the small house. “What have you done?”

  “Handed my badge in to the judge. He was real nice about it. I know he hates to lose a man, but he said some nice things.”

  “Well, you had to do it,” Raina said. “Now what?”

  “Well, that’s the problem,” Ty said. He sat at the kitchen table drinking a cup of black, bitter coffee. He sipped it and said, “Kind of funny to be drinking hot coffee on a hot day like this.”

  “Tell me what you’re going to do.”

  “Well, I’m out of work.”

  “You’ll find something. What are you going to do next?”

  “Why, Raina, I’m studying new ways to tell you how I love you.”

  She laughed suddenly, reached over, and took his hand in both of hers. “Good. I like that. I want you to tell me every day that we’re married that you love me. Will you do that?”