Ride Away

  Blue looked at Tritt. “Tritt, perhaps you’re right. It was an attempt to catch your witness in another lie . . . and it did. We were certain your client was lying and that changes everything, doesn’t it.”

  “I warned ya,” Judge Pence said, but with almost a gentleness.

  “Your Honor, we have two witnesses to testify about our whereabouts two days ago, when this robbery was supposed to have been committed.” Blue looked toward the front of the restaurant. “My brother, Deed, was visiting the Forsyth stage station yesterday. He has helped them during the fall. The station manager is here to so testify,” Blue said. “And I was visiting our neighbors, the Sanchezes, to discuss how we might get rid of the awfulness of Agon Bordner and his gunmen. Mr. Felix Sanchez is here, along with his oldest son, Taol, and his foreman, Cliente. I can bring them forward now or later.” He paused and added, “I don’t know where our brother, Holt, is. For all I know he may be at our ranch. I do know he wasn’t with us in the bank two days ago. Nor were we.” He glared at Hixon. “And so does Hixon.”

  A murmur ran through the crowd that Judge Pence ignored. He pointed at Tritt. “This is a hearing, not a trial. I have no problem with not keeping with procedure. If you agree, Mr. Tritt.”

  The prosecuting attorney was annoyed. This wasn’t how the hearing was supposed to go. Bordner had told him this was going to be easy. Behind him, Dixie Murphy was making comments about shooting the two Corrigan brothers and leaving. He was beginning to think that made sense.

  “Your Honor, I would prefer to stay with accepted procedure.”

  “As ya wish.” He glared at Tritt, then at Bordner. “But I must advise ya that I am already inclined to dismiss this hearing for lack of evidence. And to charge yer first witness with perjury.” He looked back at Tritt. “Are we clear . . . Tritt?”

  “Of course, Your Honor, but I believe you will understand the seriousness of the matter if we are allowed to continue.”

  “I wasn’t finished questioning your witness, Tritt,” Blue declared, his fingers poised on the table.

  This time Judge Pence chuckled out loud, spit into his can to help regain his composure, and said, “Please continue, Mr. Corrigan.”

  “Thank you. Before we go any further, Hixon,” Blue said, staring at the nervous banker, “When did you hire slick stuff here?”

  Hixon was startled and glanced at Bordner adjusting a gold ring on his pinky finger. His cigar was stuck in the corner of his mouth sending a curl of smoke around his massive head. He didn’t appear to be listening.

  Shrugging his shoulders, Hixon answered, “Uh, I hired him yesterday.”

  “The day after the bank was supposedly robbed. That right?”

  “Yes, that’s right.”

  Blue’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Tell me then, how that happens. Tritt is from El Paso. That’s a long way from here.”

  Hixon hadn’t expected that. The crowd blurted “Ahhh” in unison.

  Tritt folded his arms. “If it pleases the court, I was in town on business this week. Other business.”

  Spinning around, Blue asked, “What other business would that be, Tritt?”

  The prosecuting attorney ran his hand along the top of his head. He hated being called Tritt without the respect of Mr. Tritt and that the Corrigan brothers were not intimidated by his very presence. His eyelids blinked rapidly.

  “My business is confidential and of no concern to this court.”

  Judge Pence leaned forward. “This court wants to know. It seems a bit contrived for ya to be hyar. Remember, Mr. Tritt, I know yer record and it mostly smells.”

  From his table, Bordner stood and yelled, “This is ridiculous. I hired Mr. Tritt to work on a railroad opportunity I am considering. He’s been staying at my ranch the last week. Satisfied?”

  After spitting into his can, Judge Pence snarled, “Sit down, Bordner. I didn’t ask ya. But it is interestin’ that nobody around here seems to know anything without checking with ya first.”

  “We’re finished with this witness for now, Your Honor, but we reserve the right to call him back,” Blue said.

  Looking at his notes, Tritt told J. R. Peterson, the teller, to take the stand. A small man in a tight paper collar, he stood, holding his hat, in the middle of the room. He hesitated and said, “No. I’m not. This is stupid. No one tried to rob our bank and Hixon knows it. I’m leaving town.” He turned and rushed for the door.

  Shields was livid; he jumped up to go after the frightened man.

  “Don’t try it, Shields,” Deed snapped. “You aren’t that good.”

  For an instant, the sheriff considered going for his gun; Deed wasn’t armed.

  “What’s the matter, Shields? I don’t have a gun. This is a perfect chance for you.” Deed stood with his arms outstretched.

  Shields licked his lips and glanced around. Both Rangers were holding their guns on him. Without saying another word, he returned to the prosecution’s table.

  Judge Pence reinforced the command and asked Tritt if he had any more evidence to present. Tritt turned to Bordner, shrugged, and said he did not. Blue was asked to present his witnesses and he called Atlee Forsyth and then Felix Sanchez to the stand. Smiling at Deed through her testimony, Atlee declared that Deed was at the station and Felix declared that Blue was at their ranch when the robbery was supposed to have happened. She looked radiant, wearing Deed’s pink scarf around her neck and a tailored tweed suitcoat and skirt.

  Stunned, Tritt asked that the witnesses’ testimony be dismissed because they were not worthy and because they were friends of the Corrigans.

  Disgusted, Judge Pence said, “Their testimony is valid. Contrary to Mr. Hixon’s.”

  Blue decided to press further. “Your Honor, it is clear we did not rob this bank. I want to take advantage of this courtroom situation and present evidence of a much more sinister nature. If it pleases the court.”

  Pence grinned. “I’m listening.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  Blue Corrigan pointed at the sulking attorney. “Let’s take a good look at all this. Slick here was hired by Agon Bordner and brought to town last week for this hearing only. Bet on it. Bordner owns the bank, hired Hixon, and had him make up this tale about us robbing the bank.

  “Bordner also owns the general store and tried to force the Sanchezes and us out by refusing our business. He took ownership of the biggest ranch around here in a shady way,” Blue continued. “To continue with Bordner’s attempt to own everything around here, I would like to call Mr. James Hannah to the stand.” He motioned toward the front of the restaurant.

  Bordner growled, “This isn’t a hearing. It’s a joke.” He stood up and brushed the ashes off his suitcoat.

  “Sit down. I’ll decide that, Mr. Bordner,” Judge Pence declared. “I’m sure y’all will have an opportunity to speak your piece.”

  James Hannah appeared from the crowd at the front of the restaurant and ambled to the witness chair. After being sworn in, he straightened his glasses.

  “Mr. Hannah, would you please tell the court of your involvement with Mr. Bordner?”

  “Be happy to,” Hannah shifted in the chair so he could see the fat man clearly and glared at him. Only Deed seemed to notice he was wearing a shoulder holster under his suitcoat.

  “Bordner tried to hire me to kill Deed Corrigan,” Hannah testified. “He was afraid of him and none of his men wanted to tangle with Deed. From firsthand knowledge, I can tell you they were smart not to try. The offer was five hundred in gold. I didn’t take the job.” He folded his arms for emphasis. “They tried attacking his ranch when the men were gone and that didn’t work. I was there. This fake robbery was the only way they could figure out how to bring down Deed and his brothers. It isn’t going to work either. The fat man underestimated them again.”

  The courtroom exploded in a fury of voices. Judge Pence banged his gavel and banged it more to try to bring the room to silence.

  “Thank you, Mr. Hannah.” Bl
ue held up a sheet of paper. “This telegram is from the governor of New Mexico stating that Agon Bordner is wanted for murder and cattle rustling there. So are Bordner’s henchmen, Macy Shields, Rhey Selmon, Sear Georgian, and Willard Hixon.”

  Waving his arms, Bordner shouted, “This is ridiculous! I am not on trial here. I have never met this man before. I am leaving. Come on, Dixie, let’s get out of here. I’m hungry.”

  “Yes, you are, Bordner . . . and you aren’t leaving.” Deed snapped. “Neither are you, Dixie.”

  Bordner’s mouth opened and his cigar fell on the floor. He couldn’t bend over to get the smoke and asked Dixie Murphy to retrieve it for him. Snorting, the cattleman leaned over and retrieved it. Bordner looked at the cigar and threw it back to the floor. Dixie grunted.

  Blue turned back to Hixon, sitting at the table. “You are still under oath, Hixon. Did you fake the loan that the Regans were supposed to have signed? Be careful what you say. This nightmare is all over, but you might save yourself from hanging—if you speak the truth.”

  Hixon looked down at his hands.

  “I asked you a question, Hixon. I expect an honest answer.”

  Sitting up straight, Tritt growled. “You don’t have to answer that.”

  “No, you don’t. Slick here is right for a change. But if you’re smart, you will. Look at me,” Blue demanded. “You are involved in a scheme that killed innocent people. In a few minutes, I’m going to bring in a boy who survived the Bar 3 attack and he is going to identify who was involved. Another witness will nail Bordner himself and his men to that terrible crime. You can listen to slick or you can help yourself stay away from a rope.”

  Across the table, Bordner demanded that Hixon remain silent. Dixie reinforced it with a threat.

  Blue laughed. “Isn’t it interesting, Hixon. They don’t sound so tough anymore, do they?”

  In a small voice, Hixon cracked, “Y-Yes, I-I faked the loan. I-I didn’t know anybody w-was going to be killed. H-Honest.” He looked up and his eyes were welling with tears. “Stay away from me, Shields.”

  “What about the Merefords and the Hansons?”

  “R-Rhey and his bunch killed them. Made it look like Indians did it. Like they did at the Bar 3 and took back the money Bordner paid them for their places.”

  “Thank you, Hixon. May God have mercy on your soul,” Blue said.

  Judge Pence banged his gavel. “I rule Blue, Deed, and Holt Corrigan are innocent of robbing the bank. I question that it was ever robbed.” He shuffled this robe and drew his long-barreled revolver, cocked, and aimed it at Bordner. “I also order the arrest of Agon Bordner, Rhey Selmon, Sear Georgian, Willard Hixon, and Macy Shields to be held for a hearing on charges of the murders of the Regan family and the families of the Merefords and the Hansons, and deceitful gain of the Bar 3, H-5, and the Roof-M.” He looked toward the front of the restaurant. “Rangers, do your duty. I request the Sanchezes to get their guns and help with this task. You are hereby deputized.”

  Tritt waved his arms. “But . . . but—”

  “Shut up, Tritt,” Judge Pence shouted. “You’re done here.”

  Felix, Taol, and Cliente went to the pile of guns; Silka followed to get his sword.

  As the two Rangers stepped forward with their guns drawn, Bordner pulled a hidden gun from his coat pocket. Murphy and the Bar 3 men drew their concealed weapons.

  “Drop your guns, Rangers, or you die. You, too, Judge,” Bordner declared. “And you bastard Corrigans are going to die now. You’ve caused me too much trouble.”

  The Rangers dropped their guns and raised their hands.

  Instead of complying, Judge Pence fired and clipped Murphy’s shoulder. Murphy spun and fired back, blasting splinters from the judge’s table as he turned it over and ducked behind the heavy surface. Judge Pence peeked over the table and fired again. Three other men fired at the gray-haired magistrate, missing.

  A wild-eyed Tritt ran toward the kitchen but was stopped by the restaurant owner brandishing a shotgun. He held up his hands and began crying.

  Bordner turned toward Deed, smiled, and cocked his revolver. “Good-bye, Deed Corrigan.”

  Deed’s hand dropped behind his shirt and drew his throwing knife. The blade hit Bordner in the heart so quickly the fat man didn’t react until it struck deep. Bordner’s gun went off, slamming a bullet past Deed’s head and into the restaurant wall. Bordner groaned and grabbed the knife to withdraw it as his shirt turned crimson. Deed rushed him and slammed his opened right hand down against Bordner’s gun-holding wrist and grabbed the gun with his other hand, yanking it upward and free. A thunderous blow across Bordner’s face with the gun in his fist followed. The fat man crumpled to the ground, knocking the table and his chair over as he fell.

  At the same time, from the witness chair, Hannah pulled free his Smith & Wesson .44 Russian revolver and fired three times, hitting Shields and a tall Bar 3 gunman. He tried to move to the judge’s table for protection. Gunshots from the other Bar 3 gunmen hammered Hannah and he collapsed.

  Blue withdrew the derringer from his boot, fired, and missed as the wounded Murphy and the rest of the Bar 3 gunmen headed for the door, brandishing their six-guns. The courtroom was wild with fear. Townspeople dropped to the floor, hiding behind chairs. One woman stood and screamed. Three men ran out the restaurant door.

  Deed stalked the fleeing gunmen firing Bordner’s gun. From the other side of the restaurant Silka, Felix, Taol, and Cliente closed in with their retrieved weapons. Deed and Taol put four bullets into Murphy as the cattleman fired at Felix. The crooked cattleman stumbled to the floor. The blond-haired outlaw with the strange eyes stared at the dead Murphy, then spun toward Deed firing as he turned. Deed emptied his gun into the outlaw. The outlaw’s gun fired into the ceiling and dropped from his hand as he fell.

  The rest of the Bar 3 gunmen were stunned, except for the scar-faced cowboy. He swung his gun toward Deed. Silka flew in and drove his sword through the man.

  Suddenly it was over. Felix Sanchez commanded, “Drop the guns.”

  Scared by Silka’s deadly attack, the gunmen dropped their weapons and raised their hands. With the help of the Sanchezes, the two Rangers led them away to the jail. Blue walked over to the massive body lying on the floor. He felt for a pulse. There was none. He pulled Deed’s knife free, wiped the blade on the fat man’s suit and pushed it into his belt. Agon Bordner and his dream of the Crown Ranch were dead.

  Throughout the room, people began to stand, talk, and leave.

  Along the front of the restaurant, Deed saw Atlee and went over to her. She hugged him tightly. “Oh, Deed, I was so scared.”

  “It’s all over now.”

  “I love you, Deed.”

  “I love you, Atlee.”

  From near the doorway, Silka started to go to Deed, then saw their embrace and stopped. He smiled, touched the brass circle worn around his neck and muttered a Japanese blessing of love.

  Judge Pence walked from behind the table, returning his gun to his shoulder holster and shook hands with Blue. “Well done. I was hopin’ ya’d git the job done. Jason Regan was my cousin. I knew it was dirty work that got their place. Been trying to find a way to bring down that big bastard ever since.” He shook his head and explained that the Rangers also suspected Bordner’s gang of robbing stagecoaches, using knowledge of money shipments from his bank ownership, but couldn’t prove it.

  “Wish we’d known that earlier.” Blue rubbed the sleeved stub of his left arm.

  “Like I said, we didn’t have no proof,” Judge Pence said. “Say, I’d sure like to see that telegram.”

  “Sure.” Blue stepped to the defendants’ table, retrieved the sheet of paper, and handed it to him as he walked to the slumped figure near the judge’s table. “I’ve got to check on James.”

  Deed and Atlee hurried to Blue, who was holding Hannah’s head and talking softly to the badly wounded gunman. Hannah stared at him with glazed eyes.

  “Stay with u
s, James,” Blue encouraged. “We’ll get a doc in here.” He looked up at Deed. “Get some water from the kitchen. And some towels.”

  “Sure.” Deed went to the kitchen with Atlee following.

  “I-I’d rather have some w-whiskey,” Hannah stammered. “Tell R-Rebecca that I’m sorry we aren’t going to get to K-Kansas.”

  “Don’t be silly, James. You’ll be up and around in no time.”

  Breathing heavily, Hannah took hold of Blue’s arm. “You think because I’ve been hanging out with Deed some of his luck has come my way?”

  Blue smiled and nodded.

  Hannah shut his eyes, then blinked them open. “Just in case, the rest of Bordner’s money is in the hotel room. In the dresser. Third drawer. F-For Rebecca.”

  “Okay. But you can get it yourself when you’re up and about.”

  Returning from the kitchen, Deed had a bucket of water and Atlee was carrying towels.

  Deed looked toward the front door and said, “Doc’s here.”

  Dr. Sandor hurried toward Hannah, looked at all the people milling around, and grabbed the closest two men, saying, “Take him to my office immediately. I will save him.”

  Wide eyed, Rebecca came running into the restaurant just as the two men were carrying Hannah out. Sobbing, she asked the doctor if he was still alive. Reassured she grabbed her husband’s hand and went with him to the doctor’s office.

  Meanwhile, the gray-haired magistrate walked over holding his tobacco spit can, almost giddy, and declared, “Thar’s nothin’ on this so-called telegram. It’s blank.” A grin was working its way onto the corner of his mouth until he saw Hannah being carried out.

  “Is yer friend gonna make it?”

  “He is a good friend and Doc said he’s going to make it,” Blue said and murmured a blessing. He stood and turned to Judge Pence. “You’re right. Holt told us where Bordner came from and we took a chance.”

  Judge Pence laughed. “How about that thar witness who was going to incriminate Bordner?”