Love Child

by Roy Clinton

  “John, you seem like you know a lot about the law. Are you a lawman?”

  “No, sir. I was once the marshal of Bandera but by training, I’m an attorney.”

  “Well, John. That’s really good news. I’m so glad you came in here today. Hold up your hand.”

  “What?”

  “John this is an easy thing to do. Just hold up your hand.” John lifted his left hand. “Not that one. I need your other hand.”

  John painfully lifted his wounded arm and had a feeling he was going to regret his visit to the judge.

  “Do you solemnly swear you will faithfully execute all the duties of district attorney of Laredo, Texas, to the best of your ability, so help you God? Now say, ‘I do.’”

  “But Judge, I can’t prosecute Holloway. I’m the one who brought him in. And I don’t even live in Laredo.”

  “That don’t matter. You don’t have to reside in our fair city.”

  “But Judge—I mean Snookey. I protest. This simply is not right.”

  “Well, our district attorney is down in Mexico for the next two weeks so we need a stand in. You’re it. Now I need to hear you say ‘I do,’ or I might need to find you in contempt of court.’”

  John sighed deeply and shook his head. Knowing he didn’t have any other choice, he said, “I do. But judge, I want to go on record as saying I protest this appointment.”

  Snookey smiled broadly. “I’m glad to have you as a member of the bar in Laredo, John. I forgot the best part. You get a salary of one dollar a day.”

  “Thank you, Snookey. If it’s all the same to you, I would like to donate my salary to the city of Laredo. But, your honor, if Richie is not in town for the trial, I’m going to move for a postponement.”

  “You can make the motion if you want to. But we are goin’ on with the trial in the mornin’. Sheriff Lasiter can testify. And the schoolmarm saw Holloway runnin’ away. You have enough evidence to get a conviction. My own sainted mother could get a conviction with that evidence.”

  John turned and walked out of the office. He stood on the boardwalk, out front, wondering how he had gotten himself into such a mess. As he moved toward the hotel, he saw Slim and Richie walking toward the sheriff’s office.

  “Slim! Richie!” shouted John as he hobbled toward his family. “When did you get to town?”

  “We got in late last night,” said Slim. “We got a room hopin’ we’d see you this mornin’. What happened to you?”

  “Holloway and his gang shot me up and left me for dead. I’ve got Holloway in jail. I’m so glad to see both of you. The trial starts in the morning. I just came from the judge’s office. He has ordered me to be the prosecutor.”

  “What!” exclaimed Slim. “How can he do that? Especially since you got bushwhacked by Holloway.”

  “I’ve just gone round and round with the judge. His head is set. I don’t see as I have any choice.”

  “What happened to the rest of Holloway’s men?” asked Slim.

  “They didn’t take kindly to me tryin’ to serve a citizen’s arrest. They’re buried in Nicksville.” John turned from Slim to the young man with him. “Richie, I’m glad to see you. How are you doin’?”

  “I’m fine, John. But I’ve got kind of a queasy feeling in my stomach. Just being back in Laredo brought back a lot of memories. Not all of them bad. But it reminds me of how lost I felt after I buried Ma.”

  Slim slipped his arm around his son and pulled him close. “Richie, oh how I wish we could bring your mother back. But I want you to know, you have family now. I’m always here for you.”

  “I know, Pa. I’m just sad….” His voice trailed off as he thought about the great void in his heart.

  “Slim, I think I’d like to have some breakfast. Have you eaten yet?”

  “Not yet. How about it, Richie? You ready to eat?”

  Richie’s face brightened. “Yes, I’m ready. I’ll be glad to eat something more than Pa’s cooking.”

  Slim smiled at his son’s gentle jab at him. Together the three of them walked into the hotel dining room and were greeted by Joseph Cotulla.

  “Slim!” shouted Cotulla from across the room. “How are you doing, old friend?”

  “Joseph! It’s so good to see you. How long’s it been? Nine years? You were just a young pup then.”

  “And I thought you were such an old man,” laughed Joe. “I’m thirty now. And the older I get, the younger you look.”

  Slim laughed, “Funny how the passin’ of a few years changes our perspectives. I want to introduce you to my family. This is my son-in-law, John Crudder.”

  “Joe and I are old friends now,” said John. “He and his men took care of me after I was shot up by Holloway. And I’ve had many meals in his dining hall. Slim, it looks just like the one on the H&F.”

  “I told you I liked that building, Slim.” Joe smiled as he told Slim about the construction and how he copied just as much of it as he could remember after seeing the H&F Ranch.

  Slim put an arm on Richie’s shoulder and spoke to Joe. “And this is Richie. His mother was Marie. Joseph Cotulla, I would like for you to meet my son, Richie Hanson.”

  “I’m pleased to meet you, Mr. Cotulla.”

  “What a polite young man,” said Joe. “I am so glad to meet you, Richie. Your father loved your mother with all his heart. When we were on the cattle drive from down in Mexico to Kansas City, Slim talked about how much he missed your mother. It had been about seven years since she told Slim she couldn’t marry him. And he didn’t know anything about you. But every day he talked about his love for your mother. I have to tell you, I got plenty tired if it. When we got to Kansas City, I was a happy man. Not just because the cattle drive was over but because I didn’t have to hear the same stories from love-sick Slim.”

  Slim smiled at the memory. “He’s right, Richie. I didn’t have but a few short months with your mother but I loved her with all of my heart.”

  A tear came to Richie’s eye. “I’m glad. I never knew why my father was not around. Ma never talked about you. I thought you had abandoned us but she told me that was not true. When I asked her what happened, she said she would tell me when I was older. But she never got around to telling me about you. And she never talked about her family. I know she had a younger brother but I never met him. We went to see them once but her mother wouldn’t even let us get out of the wagon. She said mean things. Ma was hurt but she taught me it was not right to hate.”

  “I’m glad she did,” said Slim. “Hating others is not right. Your mother raised you to be a fine young man. I’m sure she was very proud of you.”

  Richie wiped his eyes and said, “I’m hungry. Are we going to eat or what?”

  All of the men laughed, grateful Richie had given them a way to move on in their conversation. Each ordered steak and eggs, a hotel favorite. The meals were served with tortillas, refried beans, and salsa picante.

  When their meal was finished, they continued talking and laughing. John excused himself saying he had to prepare for the trial and meet with potential witnesses. Slim and Joe stayed in the dining room and continued to visit. Richie said he wanted to walk around town and see some friends.

  When he left the hotel, Richie mounted Laredo and rode him down to the house where he was raised. He was surprised to find the front door open and several people inside. There were two women who were cleaning and moving furniture to the porch.

  Richie swung down and walked up the stairs onto the porch. A large man wearing a black frock coat with a white shirt came out to meet him. Richie immediately recognized his mother’s landlord.

  “Mr. Bradshaw. What’s going on?”

  “Hello Richie. I’m so sorry about the death of your mother. She was a fine woman. A very fine woman.”

  “Thank you Mr. Bradshaw. But what are you doing with our furniture?”

  “Well, Richie. I’m sorry to say that we are going to sell it to pay the debt your mother owed.”

  “What debt? I
know she always paid the rent on time. I know because she always gave the money to me and I brought it to you in your office. Don’t you remember?”

  “Now, now, Richie. You don’t have to get huffy with me, young man. I agree that your mother paid the rent on time. But there is the fact that the rent hasn’t been paid in two months. I even came here to see if I could help. That’s when I found out that your mother was—that she was—that she died.”

  “She was murdered, Mr. Bradshaw.”

  “Yes, yes. As I was saying, I came here and found out about your mother and you were nowhere around. I have waited all of this time and no one has come forward to pay the rent. I have no choice but to seize the furniture and prepare the house to be rented by someone else.”

  “You have no right!” shouted Richie. He watched as a lady was swooning over the sewing machine his mother had used. “That belongs to my mother! Leave it alone. It is nearly brand new. She just got it.”

  The lady was stunned and backed away from the machine.

  “You just wait ’til my Pa gets here. You’ll wish you hadn’t messed with Ma’s things.”

  “Your Pa?” Bradshaw backed up a couple of steps and considered what Richie had said. “I didn’t know you had a pa—I mean I never met your father.”

  Richie swung up onto Laredo and rode hard back to the hotel. He ran inside the dining room and yelled. “Pa! Come quick. Someone’s trying to steal Ma’s things.”

  Slim and Joe came out of the hotel following Richie. “They are at my house just down the road. Please hurry before they steal everything.”

  Richie mounted Laredo and rode quickly back to his house. As he passed the sheriff’s office, Sheriff Lasiter and Crudder came outside to see what the commotion was all about. They watched Slim and Joe running after Richie’s horse. John joined in with the running men. They had yet to saddle their horses so they ran as fast as they could. Meanwhile, Sheriff JD swung up and quickly caught up with Richie.

  When Richie and the sheriff arrived, the woman was once again back inspecting the sewing machine and Bradshaw was helping her move it to a waiting wagon.

  “What’s goin’ on here?” demanded the sheriff.

  “He’s stealing Ma’s sewing machine and all of her furniture. He said she owed him money. But that’s a lie.”

  “Now, now, son, let’s calm down now,” said Bradshaw.

  “I’m not your son. Here comes my Pa now. Pa, this man is stealing all of Ma’s stuff.”

  “Now mister, I don’t want you gettin’ riled like this boy here. But I’ve got every right to her things. She owes two months back rent.”

  “I order you to stop this immediately,” said John. “There has been no due process. If you’re owed money, we’ll find out soon enough.”

  “My name is Bradshaw and I own this house. And who are you, sir? And what gives you the right to order me to do anything?”

  “My name is John Crudder and I’m the district attorney. Are you going to stop this immediately or do I have to go get Judge Moore and bring him down here? Or better yet, would you like for me to order Sheriff Lasiter to put you in jail?”

  “Well, I…I…uh…I…well. I’ll stop. I just needed to have things explained to me.” Bradshaw looked like he was on the verge of tears.

  Crudder walked onto the porch so he could face Bradshaw. The overdressed man looked down on John. “Now Mr. Bradshaw, why do you say Marie Hanson owes you money?”

  “Because I haven’t been paid since she died. I’ve got a right to take the abandoned possessions and sell them to satisfy her debt.”

  “Mr. Bradshaw, you sound like a heartless, moneygrubbin’ skinflint to me. How much are you owed?” asked John.

  “Fifty dollars,” said Bradshaw. “The rent is twenty-five dollars a month.”

  “Here’s your fifty dollars,” said Slim as he selected several bills from his pocket. “Now when is the rent due again?”

  “It will be due next Wednesday,” replied Bradshaw.

  “Well if we need the house after next Wednesday, I’ll be back to settle up with you. Meanwhile, you get off the property ’cause you’re trespassin’. One more thing before you go. Have you taken anything out of the house?”

  “Just some of the furniture. That’s all.”

  “Well, you better go and round it up and get it back here now,” said Crudder. “Otherwise I’ll swear out a warrant against you and get the sheriff to arrest you.”

  “I’d be more than happy to arrest him,” said Sheriff Lasiter.

  “No please, sheriff. I’ll get the furniture all back. I know right where it is. I had just sold it.”

  “Is that right?” asked the sheriff. “How much did you get for it?”

  “Well, I got seventy-five dollars for it.”

  “So let me get this right. You already got more than was owed you and you were trying to get more. Is that right?” asked Crudder.

  “Yes, but you understand I was just doing what I thought was the right thing to do.”

  “You have an interesting way of conducting business. I think the District Attorney’s office will be looking further into your business practices.” Crudder stepped closer to Bradshaw. “You have until next Tuesday at noon, to have all of your business records brought by the District Attorney’s office.”

  “Bradshaw,” said Sheriff Lasiter, “I’ve heard the order given to you by District Attorney Crudder. If you don’t comply with this order, you’ll be arrested.”

  With those words, John, Slim, and Abe, turned to go. Richie and JD took the reins of their horses and joined the group walking back to the hotel. They walked in silence for several minutes. Then Richie started to giggle. As they neared the hotel, his giggling became louder. Finally the group stopped and stared at Richie.

  “Richie, what’s so funny?” asked Slim.

  “I was just thinking how great it is to have a family like you all. And I was thinking I’d bet Mr. Bradshaw wishes he had never even owned that house.”

  The rest of the group joined in the laughing and together they walked into the hotel. Joe said, “Richie, I wish I had a family like yours too!”

  Chapter 24

  Tuesday morning, Richie came down from his room to find Abe, Slim, and John in the dining room. They were drinking coffee but had not yet eaten. Presently, Sheriff Lasiter joined them.

  “Howdy, Richie. Men,” said JD. “I could sure use some coffee.”

  “Me too,” said Richie. “Sorry I slept so long. The ride must have taken more out of me than I realized.”

  “Sit down, son,” Slim replied. “You didn’t miss much. We’re just getting’ ready to start on our second cup.”

  “John,” said the sheriff, “when will my testimony take place?”

  “Right now. I think I’m gonna start with you after my opening statement.”

  “What about me?” asked Richie. “When will I testify?”

  “I think you will be the last to testify. After JD gets off the stand, I’m gonna call the schoolteacher and then I’ll call you.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  The trial began Tuesday morning promptly at nine o’clock. Both attorneys gave their opening statements and then John moved on with the state’s case against Holloway. Crudder called Sheriff JD Lasiter to the stand. His testimony was quick and precise. After he was cross examined, John called his next witness.

  “Your honor, the state would like to call Miss Amelia Carpenter.” The schoolmarm got up from her chair and made her way to the front of the courtroom. When she arrived at the witness chair, the bailiff approached her and held the Bible in front of her.

  “Please place your hand on the Good Book and swear to tell the truth.”

  “Yes,” said Miss Carpenter. “I’ll tell the truth.” She turned to the judge and said, “You’re honor, I never swear. I don’t think it is proper. Besides, many of my students and former students are here today. What would they think about their teacher swearing?” Then she looked at the sheriff. “And J
D you know, I never swear but I always tell the truth.” JD just nodded in agreement.

  “Miss Carpenter, dag nab it. If you won’t swear to tell the truth, how would you feel about promising to tell the truth? Would that be all right with you?”

  “Yes, that would be fine your honor. I can do that.” Then looking the bailiff in the eye, she straightened her back, lifted her right hand high and said, “I promise to tell the absolute truth here today.” The bailiff began to turn away when she added, “And I promise to tell the absolute truth every day.”

  Judge Moore rolled his eyes and said, “That’s fine Miss Carpenter. Please take the stand.”

  As she was getting situated, John stood and walked in front of the witness stand. “Miss Carpenter, what is your occupation?”

  “I am the headmistress of the Laredo Public School. A position I have held for the last twenty-eight years.”

  “And Miss Carpenter, did you know Mrs. Marie Hanson?”

  “Yes, I did. In fact, the school is right across the street from where Mrs. Hanson lived. She used to bring cookies to school regularly. And sometimes I would go over and have tea with her while the children were at recess.”

  “And do you recall seeing and hearing anything unusual on the morning of December twentieth of last year?”

  “Yes, I do. It was a Saturday afternoon and I was at the school getting my classroom ready for the next term. We had already dismissed for Christmas break and I wanted to have the room prepared for when the students came back in the New Year.”

  John tried to move her along a bit. “And what did you see and hear, Miss Carpenter?”

  “Well, I had the door open so it could air out some. That was because several of the boys had snuck in there the evening before to smoke their cigarettes. They knew I would be in on Saturday and they knew I forbid them from smoking.”

  “That’s fine, Miss Carpenter. So the door was open, can you tell us what happened?”

  “I heard a gunshot, that’s what. I know it was a gunshot. It was so loud. I walked to the door and looked out. That’s when I heard Richie, (she pointed) that’s Marie’s son, Richie Hanson scream. Then I saw a mean looking man run out of the house and get on a grey horse and ride away in a hurry.”