Hardcase Law

by Neil Webb

  ‘I did.’ Latimer moved aside easily and opened the door. Barr eased his guns in their holsters and stepped out onto the sidewalk, giving Latimer a keen glance in passing. Latimer shut the door, damming the noise of many questioning voices. ‘I am Frank Latimer,’ he volunteered. ‘Cousin of Aggie here. I’ve just got in from Idaho, and it seems I was a mite too late. I found my uncle and my cousin dead, and a killer shooting at Aggie.’

  He gave an account of what had happened at the Porter place. Barr came back in and stood listening. Aggie sat down on a padded seat near the sheriff’s desk and covered her face with trembling hands. Latimer, as he talked, could see her eyes glistening from behind her splayed fingers. When he had finished, he licked his dry lips, and a silence ensued. Latimer looked keenly from one grim lawman face to another. The sheriff’s pale countenance seemed bloated, his strained blue eyes bulging in their dark-circled sockets. Walker, the kid, had an expression of admiration on his thin features. Barr turned away stolidly and looked out of the window at the milling crowd on the sidewalk, one hand brushing the thick black moustache bunched under his fleshy nose.

  ‘There’ll surely be hell over this,’ Sheriff Walsh said softly. ‘This may be the incident that will bring it all out into the open, Barr. You’d better take those six carcases to the mortician. Get back here as soon as you can. Walker, go down to the livery and get a buckboard. Pick up Doc Colehan and take him out to the Porter place and pick up that injured gunman.’ The deputies went out and Walsh sat looking at Latimer. There was a quizzical light in the old man’s eyes. Aggie sat up and wiped her eyes. Walsh turned to her, and the expression in his eyes softened.

  ‘I’m right sorry for you, Aggie. Your Pa was a good man. He warned all of us that this was coming.’ The sheriff uttered a long, shuddering sigh. ‘I don’t know what will happen now. I kept Stott’s men pretty well under control here in town. But they’ll take some holding now. What are your plans, Latimer?’

  ‘I’d much rather know what you’re going to do, Sheriff. You’ve got evidence that this Kenton Stott, whoever he is, have let his riders commit murder. Why don’t you get out a warrant for his arrest and send a posse for him?’

  Walsh sighed again. Then he laughed uneasily. ‘It ain’t as simple as it seems,’ he said. ‘Despite the fact that Buffalo Springs has a sheriff and two deputies, it hasn’t got much in the way of law. That ain’t on account of the way we handle it. It’s the way things are around here. This town is mostly quiet, but the law doesn’t stretch much outside the town limits, especially in the direction of KS range.’

  ‘That means one of two things, to my way of reckoning,’ Latimer said tensely. ‘Either everyone is afraid of Stott, or else the sheriff and his office are sitting in the big man’s saddlebag.’

  ‘That’s about the size of it,’ Walsh agreed. ‘Me and my two deputies can’t handle the situation alone. But most of the men who should do something about KS are married, with kids at home. They won’t take a chance of being killed while Stott holds off them.’

  ‘Well Stott has finished holding off, it seems,’ Latimer said softly. ‘So what happens now?’

  ‘You’d better get out of town. There are always some KS riders in Buffalo Springs, and if they hear what’s happened to those men outside then your life won’t be worth a plugged nickel.’

  ‘I’ll take a chance on that,’ said Latimer. ‘It ain’t against the law in this town to kill in self-defence is it?’

  ‘Not when you’re shooting KS gunnies,’ Walsh replied. ‘Do you plan on staying in Buffalo Springs?’

  ‘I do. I want to see Kenton Stott stretching a rope for what happened out at the Porter place today. If he wasn’t there personally, then he gave the orders, and if he doesn’t hang I’ll go out and gut-shoot him.’

  ‘You must be mighty handy with those shooting irons, Latimer. I’m going to need some more help around here, that’s obvious. I mean real help. Barr is alright and so is Walker. But I’d like to have a man in my office backing one of my stars who can knock off four Stott riders when he has to. This trouble has been a long time coming to a head. Looks like you got here just in time. You seem to be a man who likes to live dangerously. How’d you like to work as a Deputy? A badge would give you a little protection in town and a lot of authority in the County.’

  Latimer gnawed a thumbnail. ‘Give me until the morning, Sheriff. I’m played out right now. I’ve done a lot of travelling in the past week or two. I’ll come looking you up after breakfast in the morning. Now I figger I ought to get my cousin Aggie into the Hotel. She’s had it rough today.’

  ‘Sure, and you’d better go out the back way. If I were you I’d keep out of sight till the morning. If those KS riders come looking for you — ’

  ‘I can give a good account of myself,’ Latimer cut in. ‘Come on, Aggie.’ He went forward and helped the girl to her feet and she swayed against him. He put a long arm around her shoulders and supported her. They went to the rear door and let themselves out.

  Installing Aggie into the hotel and hiring an adjoining room was soon done. Latimer stripped, washed and dressed himself in a clean black shirt and black pants, and then cleaned his Colt meticulously before going to Aggie’s room and knocking at the door. When the girl answered he stood stock still for a moment after she had invited him in. She had cleaned herself up, and was wearing a creased but very feminine dress of some dark material which she had brought from her tragic home. A smile flickered across his hard features and he felt a little warmth flow into him. She returned his smile with a wan attempt of her own, and he entered, closing the door with a spurred heel.

  ‘Let’s go down and eat,’ he suggested. ‘You want some diversion to take your mind off what’s happened today.’

  Latimer took the girl to a restaurant, and all around them, as they ate, they could hear the buzz of excited conversation. The story of the six dead gunmen was on every tongue, and Latimer was astounded by the many different tales going around. But he was alert and tense despite his easy manner, and could sense an undercurrent of fear throbbing through these townsfolk. It affected all of them, and was so strong and apparent that Latimer could almost taste it.

  The whole town was in fear, he thought, and was sickened by the knowledge that a handful of tough gunmen could paralyse a whole community of decent, law-abiding folk. Disgust for Stott and his killers, and for the frightened townfolk, filled Latimer as he pushed back his chair and rolled a smoke.

  The restaurant was nearly empty when the street door opened and a small, oldish man, dressed in city clothes, entered. He paused on the threshold, looked around carefully, and threaded his way through the tables until he stood beside Aggie.

  ‘Hello, Aggie,’ he greeted, his sharp brown eyes studying Latimer while he spoke to the girl. ‘Is this the cousin from Idaho?’

  ‘You’ve spoken with the Sheriff?’ Latimer enquired.

  ‘Yeah. I’m Pete Denton, a newspaperman, and you’ve provided me with the biggest news item in weeks.’

  ‘Well stick around and maybe you’ll get some more,’ Latimer said. ‘I don’t see why a big rancher should get away with murder, or anything else for that matter, just because he owns about half of God’s Creation. This Kenton Stott has got to be slapped down.’

  ‘He will sure take some slapping,’ said Denton. ‘But it could be done. How about filling me in with a few details of your background? I want to do a good piece on you in tomorrow’s edition. I’d like to have a photograph for the front page. There are so few public-spirited citizens in Buffalo Springs that when I come across one I go all out to make him an example for the other folk to follow. But it’s no dice. I’ve had no luck so far.’

  ‘No pictures of me,’ Latimer said. ‘Those KS riders will get on my tail soon enough, without you presenting them with a face of me on your front page. I’m going to have a very tough fight on my hands when Stott gets around to trying to slap me down.’

  ‘I admire your nerve,’ said Denton. ‘Do
you plan on staying long in town?’

  ‘That depends upon Stott, doesn’t it? I haven’t made any plans yet. But Stott has pulled down Porter fences and run Porter cattle with his own. The law should have something to say about that.’

  ‘Not much hope of that,’ the newspaperman retorted.

  ‘Well I’ll have a lot to say if anything happens around me.’ Latimer spoke sharply, his eyes glinting. ‘I’ll kill anyone who tries to lay a hand on me.’ He set his jaw pugnaciously. ‘I don’t even take kindly to threats.’

  ‘I hope to see you around some,’ said Denton. ‘Good luck to you, Latimer.’

  The newspaperman turned away. He was halfway to the door when two cowboys walked in. The newcomers paused in the doorway, their eyes flickering over the diners. One recognized Aggie. Latimer saw it in the man’s face, and as the man nudged his companion, Latimer eased himself forward in his seat. Denton turned and walked back to their table. Latimer admired the newspaperman’s nerve, for he was not wearing a gunbelt. Most of the diners present must have recognized the two gunmen, because their chairs clattered and meals were hurriedly left.

  ‘Stott’s men. Be careful,’ Denton warned needlessly.

  ‘Take Aggie out of here,’ Latimer ordered. ‘See her safely back to the hotel, Denton.’

  Latimer got to his feet and moved swiftly sideways to put the still seated Aggie out of the line of fire.

  ‘Hold it right there, mister,’ called one of the approaching gunmen.

  Latimer halted. His right hand was relaxed at his side. He watched both men closely. Two hard killers, he thought bleakly. Well he knew how to deal with them.

  ‘I figure you’re Latimer, who killed some KS men today,’ said one of the two.

  ‘That’s me,’ Latimer agreed. ‘What’s it to you?’

  ‘Curse you!’ yelled the man who had spoken first, and the next instant his hands were flashing to his twin Colts.

  Latimer’s teeth snapped shut and his lips firmed. His right hand moved in a blur of speed. His Colt leaped into his hand so fast that no eye could follow the movement. He triggered a single shot before his opponent’s weapons cleared leather. Then he swung the muzzle of his gun, but the second gunman had not moved. Latimer’s eyes flitted back to the first man.

  For an instant the gunman stood as if transfixed by the bullet that had smacked into his heart. Both his elbows were bent, his nerveless fingers holding his long-barrelled Colts half clear of his holsters. Then he bent a little and sagged before sprawling forward to flop heavily upon his face.

  The echoes of the deafening shot faded and silence closed in. No one moved. Then Pete Denton cleared his throat and spoke, and the tension dissolved.

  ‘That makes another one,’ Denton declared. ‘Do the same thing every day for a week, Latimer, and Stott will be the only gunman left on the KS.’

  Latimer did not take his eyes off the remaining gunman, who stood staring at the body of his dead companion.

  ‘What are you going to do?’ Latimer asked, now holding his Colt with the muzzle pointing to the ground. His cold eyes bored into the shocked eyes of the KS rider.

  ‘I ain’t got orders to tangle with you,’ the man blustered, bluntly. ‘I don’t want no trouble.’

  ‘You’ve got some sense,’ said Pete Denton, moving towards the door. ‘I’ll inform the Sheriff’s office as I pass, Latimer. Keep up the good work. Perhaps your habit of killing Stott’s men will prove to be infectious.’

  The newspaperman went out. He left the door open, and Barr, the big deputy, came in. He relieved the surviving Stott rider of his weapon, then turned to the body on the floor.

  ‘Is he dead?’ Barr asked.

  ‘I always shoot to kill,’ Latimer said grimly.

  Barr nodded briefly. ‘What happened?’ he demanded.

  Latimer told him, and the big deputy gnawed at his bottom lip.

  ‘You could bring a lot of grief to this town, Latimer,’ he said. ‘Kenton Stott ain’t gonna like this.’

  ‘The town should be able to take care of itself.’ Latimer shook his head slowly. ‘I reckon, too, that Stott has done a lot of things that the people of this town don’t like. This kind’ve evens up the score.’

  ‘I’ll get the undertaker to clean up this mess. He’s one man who will be sorry to see you go.’

  ‘Who says I’m going?’ Latimer grinned. ‘I think I like it around here, though I reckon it’ll be quiet in the close season. See you in the morning, Barr. Give my regards to the sheriff. Come on, Aggie. I think you’ve had enough excitement for one day. I hope they’ve got locks on the doors in the hotel.’

  ‘We’ve got locks on our doors,’ said Barr, as he herded out his prisoner.

  THREE

  Buffalo Springs came awake early the following morning. Latimer had breakfast then walked along to the jail. In the sheriff’s office Walsh was already at his desk. Barr and Walker were present, and they greeted Latimer respectfully when he entered.

  ‘You’ve certainly stirred up this town,’ Walsh said. ‘I heard a lot of talk against Stott this morning. Never known anything like it before.’

  ‘There ain’t any Stott riders in town,’ said Barr. ‘It ain’t natural. They’ve all gone home. Stott always has kept two, three riders in town. But now they’ve gone. It ain’t a good sign, Sheriff.’

  ‘Those men out there making more talk is a good sign to me,’ Walsh said. ‘I’ve waited years for this. Latimer, your uncle wouldn’t have died yesterday if his warnings could have stirred this town like your actions have done. Now what about the job I offered you last night? Have you thought about it?’

  ‘I thought a lot about it,’ Latimer replied. ‘I’ll take it. I’m willing to be a deputy. I want to see Stott brought down for what he’s done to the Porters.’

  ‘You’ll get your chance at that,’ said Walsh. He took a deputy star out of a desk drawer, and after swearing Latimer into office, flicked the shiny emblem of the law into Latimer’s ready hand. Latimer pinned the badge to his vest front. He nodded to himself, and an undefinable emotion filled him deeply. He looked down at the star, then up at the watching sheriff.

  ‘Now what?’ he asked.

  ‘This,’ said Walsh, picking up a paper from his desk. He held it out to Latimer, who took it. ‘This is an order from the Judge for Kenton Stott to appear in court to attend the inquest on his riders and an inquiry into the death of the Porters. Do you think you can deliver this into Stott’s hands?’

  ‘I’ll sure as hell try,’ Latimer said, looking at the paper. He scanned the writing on it. ‘The inquiry is for Wednesday. That’s tomorrow. Sure. I’ll ride out now and call on Stott.’

  ‘It won’t be as easy as that,’ growled Barr. ‘I’ve tried several times to get into KS to see Stott. He’s got too many riders on his payroll. You won’t get to him.’

  ‘I won’t lose anything trying,’ said Latimer. ‘Can you give me directions how to reach KS headquarters?’

  ‘I’ll do better than that,’ Walsh told him. ‘Walker can ride with you to Stott’s boundary. Just deliver the order to Stott, then come back to town.’

  ‘Right. Perhaps you’ll go to the livery and saddle our horses, Walker,’ Latimer said. ‘I want to go tell my cousin Aggie where I’m heading, and not to expect me before supper.’

  ‘I don’t think we’ll ever see you alive again,’ said Barr.

  Latimer grinned and walked out of the law office behind the excited Walker. He was wondering if he would get to Stott, and, more important, if he could afterwards get back to Buffalo Springs.

  When they left town Walker filled Latimer with a wealth of details concerning the County and its inhabitants. It was a four hour ride to the nearest KS fence. When they reached it, Walker reined up.

  ‘There’s the fence,’ he said tensely. ‘I’ll stay on this side. Do you want me to wait for you to show again?’

  ‘No. You may have a long wait.’ Latimer chuckled harshly. ‘Go back to town. How far is it
from this fence to Stott’s headquarters?’

  ‘I’d say two hours ride. He’s got his buildings built in a big natural basin. You can’t see them until you overlook the hole. If the trail from the gate there didn’t lead straight to the place you wouldn’t ever find it.’

  ‘I’ll follow the trail then.’ Latimer rode to the gate, bent and unfastened it, and thrust it open with his boot. He rode through, allowed the gate to swing shut, and then refastened it.

  ‘Hold it a minute,’ Walker said sharply. ‘There are two riders coming this way. We’d better stick together in case they want trouble.’

  Latimer kneed his mount around. He watched two riders coming at a gallop towards the gate. His fingers eased his Colts in their holsters.

  ‘Don’t buy into anything unless they start trouble or look like shooting,’ Latimer warned. ‘Let me hear what they’ve got to say. These will be some of Stott’s prowler guards I guess.’

  The newcomers slowed and halted their mounts a dozen feet from the immobile Latimer backed against the gate. They were gunmen; hard-faced, narrow-eyed, nervous-handed, and they were primed for trouble; eager to deal it. Latimer figured that this little incident, gunmen capturing a trespasser on Stott range, had occurred many times before. He waited.

  ‘Can’t you read the notice nailed on the gate?’ snarled one of the men.

  Latimer jerked a thumb at the silver deputy badge pinned on his chest. He pushed the tip of his tongue between his dusty lips before he grinned.

  ‘Can you see this badge, mister? If you don’t know what it is, I’ll tell you. It’s a Deputy Sheriff’s star, which means the wearer is a lawman. I’m a lawman, and this badge carries more weight than you’ll notice.’

  ‘Lawman!’ The two gunnies exchanged amused glances. ‘There ain’t no law on KS range except what a man carries in his holster. I hear they’ve got law of some sorts down in Buffalo Springs, but it doesn’t amount to much.’

  ‘It didn’t,’ snapped Latimer, ‘but now I’m around there’ll be a difference.’