A Bad Place To Be

by John Hansen

  With his hands behind his back, Josh struggled to get to his feet. He was dizzy and his head throbbed terribly. All eyes were on him to see if he could get up on his own, but not a word from the crowd. This was a fact not lost on Hollis or his deputies. The crowd’s reaction, or lack of, had restored a feeling of security in Hollis—at least for the moment anyway. Finally, Josh regained his feet. He was wobbly but standing. “Let’s go, Tex,” said Hollis impatiently. “I reckon you know the way.”

  And so Josh staggered down the main street of Bear Creek flanked by the sheriff and his deputies. People on the street stopped to stare, and those inside hearing of the procession came out to gawk as well. There was finger pointing and cringes from those on the side of the street favored with a view of the blood on the right side of Josh’s face. While on the ground the dried horse manure and dirt in front of the Blue Bird had adhered to the blood, making it look worse than it was. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity to Josh, the shameful little parade ended at the jail. The manacles were removed and he was shoved into the one and only cell. Josh collapsed on the bed; the pain in his head was excruciating. He closed his eyes tightly and clenched his teeth in an effort to ward it off, but it did little good. And then, as if things couldn’t get any worse, Hollis said: “Tex, I wanna know what you did with the gold that you stole from Leroy and Edgar. And I’m ah-tellin’ ya right now I ain’t a patient man, so you best be tellin’ me here pretty damned quick what you did with it.”

  Josh managed to sit up on the bed. “You’re an idiot, Hollis,” said Josh with as much anger in his voice as he could muster. “I ain’t got any gold. You need to be talkin’ to your friend Edgar about that. He’s double-crossing you and your deputies kinda the same way you’re doing them with the gold that ya’ll stole from Marshal Johnson. I got a letter right here in my pocket that says you killed the marshal out in Chokecherry Canyon.”

  “You’re full of shit,” snapped Hollis. “That marshal didn’t have no gold with ‘im.”

  Josh could see the doubt and the early beginnings of anger in the deputies’ eyes. “You’re a liar, Hollis,” replied Josh. “That was the plan all along, that the marshal would carry the real gold for Stevenson and Stevenson would replace it with fool’s gold. Your boys robbed the wrong man but you didn’t.”

  “Alright, Hollis,” said the smaller, more hotheaded deputy. “I’m not likin’ what I’m hearing. What’s the real story here?”

  In between the throbs of pain, Josh was taking some satisfaction in seeing the focus shift to Hollis. Maybe, thought Josh, Hollis will turn out to be so rotten and corrupt that his own men will do him in. However, it soon became evident that this wasn’t going to be the case. Hollis could see that he’d been discovered and lying would only cause more anger and doubt.

  “OK, Jake,” said Hollis reluctantly to the smaller deputy, and then with some defiance in his voice he continued. “Yeah, the marshal had some gold with him.”

  “How much?” interrupted Jake.

  “I don’t know, a lot,” said Hollis. “But here’s the deal. I know we said that we’d split everything that came our way, but it was me that had to kill a United States marshal to get this, not you guys. I’m the one that’ll swing for this. And besides that, Buster Kregg figured out what went on here and he tried to kill me for this gold. So, I figured since I was taking all of the risk, that all of the gold should be mine.”

  Jake was not impressed. “Sorry, Hollis, but it don’t work that way. We had an agreement, so unless you divvy up with me an’ Eddy you could find yourself on the wrong side of the dirt come mornin’.”

  “Just remember, Jake,” countered Hollis quickly, “you don’t know where the gold is at.”

  “Well, I’m thinkin’ that you’re gonna take me there right quick,” replied Jake in a threatening tone.

  “Be dark ‘fore we get there,” said Hollis. “It’ll have to wait ‘til mornin’.”

  Jake pondered this for a moment. It was nearly dark and not knowing where the gold was at, he had little choice but to do the things the sheriff’s way. Jake sighed heavily. “Alright, Hollis, we’ll go in the morning. But I promise you, if you try and cross me in any way, you’ll be sorry. Just remember, I know where that pretty wife of yours lives.”

  “Don’t push your luck, Jake,” snarled Hollis.

  Jake flashed a devilish smile, but then his expression changed to one of mutual concern. He nodded towards the jail cell and Josh. “What are we gonna do with him?”

  Hollis was quiet for a moment and then he said: “After we get back tomorrow we’ll see if we can’t persuade him to be a little more talkative about the gold he stole. How bad he hurts will be up to him, but if he thinks he’s hurtin’ now, that ain’t nothin’ compared to what it could be. Today was just a little warm-up, but I’m thinkin’ we’ll get him and Edgar in the same room and we’ll see who’s tellin’ tall tales.” And then Hollis laughed.

  Jake turned to face the cell where Josh sat on the bed. There was no sign of compassion or doubt of any kind in his expression. “You know, we could do him like he done that poor ole Leroy fellar. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, huh? Yes sir, we could save the court the trouble of havin’ to try this scoundrel and just dispense some justice our own damned selves.” And then he laughed in a demented sort of way, but stopped abruptly as if he were once again considering the brilliance of Hollis’ plan. “Yes sir,” he said as he slapped his leg gleefully, “it’d be cheap justice at that.” And then he laughed again.

  “First things first,” said Hollis.

  Josh closed his eyes and lay back on the bed. It was pointless to argue with these men. Jake’s moral depravity was the equal of Hollis’, and Eddy, the big pudgy deputy, seemed oblivious to the caliber of men that he had aligned himself with.

  “Alright then,” said Jake in a tone that suggested he had usurped control of the situation from the sheriff. “We leave at first light. Thataway most of these pilgrims here in town won’t be any wiser that we’re gone, just in case some of ‘em get the urge to break the deputy out.”

  Hollis had a stern if not angry look on his face. “First light it is, Jake, but just remember who’s in charge here.”

  Jake looked at Hollis contemptuously. It was obvious that he was having to restrain himself when he said simply: “Sure, Sheriff.”

  And then Eddy, who had been left out of the discussion as he so often was, said with a twinge of resentment in his voice: “What about me?”

  “You,” said Hollis, quickly reassuming his leadership role, “will be guarding the prisoner tonight.”

  “Well, okay, Sheriff,” he said in an almost whiny voice, “but I ain’t had no supper.”

  Hollis sighed and then said: “Alright, I’ll swing by the Bluebird on my way home and ask Mabel to fix you a plate and bring it over.”

  “Much obliged, Sheriff,” replied Eddy.

  “Not a problem, Eddy,” said Hollis, “but just you remember, I’m countin’ on you to hold down the fort here.”

  “You can count on me,” replied the pudgy deputy.

  “I am,” said Hollis in a serious tone. “I mean it ain’t like anybody in this town gives two pinches a owl shit about this guy anyway, but ya never know.”

  It had been close to an hour since Hollis and Jake had left when there came a knock on the front door of the jail. Eddy, who had been reading a dime novel with his feet propped up on the sheriff’s desk, swung his feet to the floor and went to see who it was. There was an assortment of good smells coming from the other side of the door, but heeding the sheriff’s admonishment he looked through the window to the side of the door before opening it.

  “Hi Eddy,” said Mabel cheerfully. “The sheriff said you was gettin’ a mite gant over here.”

  “Yes ma’am, that’d be a fact,” replied Eddy as he stepped to the side so Mabel could bring the tray of food in.

  Mabel walked to the sheriff’s desk and set the tray down. “I asked the
sheriff if he wanted me to fix a plate for your prisoner but he was dead set against it so I didn’t,” said Mabel as she looked at Josh.

  “Well, he’s the boss,” said Eddy casually as he sat down and began to cut into the steak on his plate. “You don’t want to get crosswise with him.”

  “Oh, I know,” replied Mabel. “I saw his mean side with this poor fellar ya got locked up in here, and I don’t want any part of that. These old bones of mine break a lot easier than they mend.”

  Eddy slurped up a big mouthful of the hot coffee that Mabel had brought and then went back to eating.

  “How’s the coffee?” asked Mabel.

  “Good,” said Eddy.

  “I’m glad you like it. I was afraid that I’d made it too strong,” replied Mabel.

  “Nope, just right,” said Eddy as he slurped up another mouthful.

  “Well, okay then, Eddy,” replied Mabel as she turned to leave. “If you’ll just leave the front door unlocked I’ll drop back by in a little bit and pick up the dirty dishes. Maybe bring you a second piece of that apple cobbler.”

  “Oh, yes ma’am, that would be grand,” replied Eddy in between bites of steak and potato.

  And with that Mabel started for the door. “I’ll see you in a little while, Eddy. Remember to save some space for that second piece of cobbler.” And then she quickly added: “Don’t bother getting up, Eddy. I’ll let myself out.”

  Eddy’s mouth was full and he mumbled something that was indiscernible to both Mabel and Josh. He swallowed, partially clearing his mouth, and then he had some coffee, drinking more liberally this time in an effort to clear his throat. He set the cup down and yawned heavily. “Oh man, gonna be a long night,” he said quietly to himself. And then he took a few more bites of his food but paused again to have some more coffee, thinking the caffeine would help keep him awake. He finished that cup and was struggling to cut another bite of steak when the room began to spin. Eddy knew something was wrong. He attempted to push back from the desk and stand, but it was to no avail as he tumbled out of his chair onto the floor.

  Josh had been lying quietly, watching the progression in Eddy’s behavior, and now opportunity appeared to be knocking but he was helpless to take advantage of it. He stood and went to the cell door. He could see the keys lying on the corner of the sheriff’s desk, but from where he was at they might as well have been hanging on Hollis’ belt. If only Ma would come back, maybe she would help him. Josh looked at Eddy; he was deathly still, but for how long? And then Josh caught his breath. There was someone at the front door. “Oh please God,” he said to himself, “not Hollis.” From where he was at he couldn’t see the front door, but he heard its distinctive squeak as it opened and then quietly closed. Suddenly, as if she was an apparition, there stood Ma. She quickly assessed the situation and grabbed the keys off of the desk.

  An overwhelming sense of relief swept over Josh. “I guess I don’t need to tell you how glad I am to see you,” he said.

  “Laudanum works wonders,” said Ma with a chuckle as she inserted the key into the cell door.

  Josh gave Ma a sly but painful grin. “I kinda figured something was up with Eddy’s supper when he was having trouble staying awake, but he wasn’t about to quit eatin’.”

  Ma laughed. “No sir, that’s Eddy alright. He’ll probably be sleepin’ for most of the night but you better skedaddle. The livery man’s got your horse saddled and ready for you. You can trust him and probably a lot of other folks here that have had their fill of Hollis.”

  Josh stepped out of the cell and started across the room to a shelf where his gun belt was located. He moved gingerly, almost staggering at times; once there he had difficulty strapping his gun on.

  Until then, Ma hadn’t realized the seriousness of Josh’s injury. “Are you sure you can ride?” she asked with concern in her voice.

  Josh grimaced as a wave of pain and dizziness came over him. “To be right honest, Ma, I’m havin’ a little trouble gettin’ my legs and eyes to work the way they’re supposed to.”

  “Maybe it’d be best if I just hid you out here until you get your wits about you,” said Ma.

  “No, Ma,” replied Josh, “you’ve done enough already. Besides, if Hollis can’t find me here he’ll go where he figures I’ll be, and that’s where Sarah is at. I’m thinkin’ he might threaten to kill her if I don’t tell him where this gold is that he thinks I have.” Josh paused as another surge of dizziness and nausea hit him, causing him to grab hold of the corner of Hollis’ desk to steady himself. “I got no choice, Ma. But I’ll be alright if I can get to my horse—he’ll get me there.”

  Ma shook her head and heaved a sigh filled with doubt. “Well, boy, I don’t see how you’re gonna do this, but if you’re so all-fired dug in on the idea I hope you’ll at least let me help you get down to the livery.”

  Josh managed a weak smile. “I’d be much obliged.”

  And with that Josh and Ma exited the back of the sheriff’s office. Josh towered over Ma, but with his left arm resting across her shoulders, it was just enough to help him keep his balance. They kept to the trees and brush behind the houses along the main street of Bear Creek. It was slow going but eventually they reached the livery. The smithy had Thunder saddled and ready to go.

  “Thanks, Ma,” said Josh as he stood next to Thunder. “I don’t know if I can ever repay you for this. You saved my life.”

  “Ah fiddlesticks, you best get outa here.”

  “What about you?” asked Josh with concern in his voice. “Ain’t you afraid Hollis will come after you?”

  “I’m thinkin’ he’s gonna be more concerned with nailin’ your hide to the barn door than roughin’ up an old lady,” replied Ma.

  “I hope you’re right,” said Josh, and with that he bent down and gave Ma a kiss on the cheek.

  Ma blushed. “You better get going.”

  Josh pulled himself up onto Thunder. The walk from the jail to the livery had actually seemed to help his equilibrium some, but he was by no means back to normal. Once in the saddle, he paused momentarily to assess how he felt. It wasn’t good but it’d have to do. Turning his upper body slightly, he looked down at Ma standing in the shadows of the lantern light coming from the big open doors of the livery. Josh raised his right hand in a gentle wave good-bye and then set out for Lester’s.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  It was the beginning of the moon’s phases—not much more than a sliver of light—but the night sky was cloudless and the stars which seemed to go on forever were doing their best to make up for the moon’s shortcomings. Nonetheless Josh took his time, allowing Thunder to go at his own pace and hopefully avoid stepping in a badger or ground squirrel’s hole as they skirted around the town in the hills surrounding it. Thunder had been Josh’s horse the entire time that he’d been in the cavalry. They’d been through a lot together and the bond between them was strong. It’d been a stroke of luck that shortly before his discharge, the Army had deemed Thunder too old to be of further service and put him up for sale. Josh, of course, was at the auction and paid nearly two month’s wages for him. And so it was, on this mostly dark night, Josh was looking out for the both of them.

  Josh’s head still ached terribly, but the wound caused by Hollis clubbing him with his pistol barrel had stopped bleeding. He supposed that he could take some comfort in this, but it was still going to be a long ride to Lester’s place. Under other circumstances, it might have been almost pleasant riding at a leisurely pace with the stars overhead. For a time he fantasized about Sarah being there to share the experience with him and more, but all too soon that was ruined by the recurring pain in his head. The night wore on and the travel had become easier once he had intercepted the road going south. He had mixed feelings about the darkness. It required him to go slower, but at the same time he questioned whether he could stand the additional stabs of pain in his head that the jostling of riding at a quicker pace would cause. On the other hand, the darkness was his friend,
allowing him to travel covertly.

  The night had finally given way as Josh started down the ridge above Lester’s cabin. There was no sun yet and the light was poor, but Josh could see an unorganized column of blue smoke gently surging from Lester’s stovepipe. There would be hot coffee soon and maybe bacon and eggs. He could taste it now. It would be good to see Lester and Rufus and Sarah—especially Sarah. As odd as it may sound he liked the way she looked early in the morning in her men’s pants and shirt and her hair in somewhat disarray. It gave her a look of innocence. He had missed her—more than he’d realized until just now.

  The solitude of the birds singing was disrupted by Rufus barking wildly as Josh neared the cabin. Lester was the first to emerge with rifle in hand. He was followed by Sarah. And even though Josh was still about fifty yards away, the expressions of happiness and relief on Lester and Sarah’s faces were gradually being replaced by concern. Josh wasn’t wearing a hat as he usually did, and there was something about the way that he was sitting in his saddle that just didn’t seem quite right. And then Sarah saw it: the caked blood and dirt on the side of Josh’s head. Instantly, she began to run towards him. Josh reined Thunder in and dismounted as he turned to look down the road as a somewhat out-of-breath Sarah stood before him. Her eyes and her body language were desperate to touch him, to put her arms around him, but she respected the barrier that Josh had seemingly insisted upon before he had left. “Oh Josh, you’re hurt bad,” said Sarah in an almost sobbing voice. “What happened to you?”

  “Had a run-in with the law in Bear Creek,” replied Josh humbly.