It was a bright sunshiny Sunday morning in downtown Phoenix. There was nothing unusual about this day of Sabbath. Church bells were ringing all over town and church goers were hustling about in their finest Sunday go to meeting clothes to their chosen houses of worship.
As Phoenix was the Territorial capitol, inhabitants of the city had gotten used to the appearance of their governor in their midst on Sunday morning as his carriage brought him and his family to the First Presbyterian Church of Phoenix every week. This week was no exception. And like every other week, little attention was paid to his entourage, which consisted of his carriage pulled by a double team of matched black horses. The horses all wore purple plumes on their heads and their harnesses were adorned with inlaid silver trimmings. The driver and his attendant were dressed in splendid tight fitting tailored black suits and high top black hats.
There were usually two advance riders dressed in black broadcloth suits riding ahead of the carriage and two more almost identical riders at a distance behind the carriage.
What was different this day, and didn't seem to be a noticeable change, was that, there were two more riders, just like the others, riding alongside the carriage on each side of it. Also, inside the carriage, was another man. A young man dressed in a high fashion black suit; Matt Starr, United States Marshal.
He sat in the front seat of the carriage riding backward, facing Governor Stanton and his wife, Dolphine. Sitting next to Matt was the governor's daughter, Barbara. She was a pretty girl in her late twenties, with curly, mousy brown hair, half covered by her blue sun bonnet that matched her expensive gown. She had hooked her arm into Matt's and was smiling contentedly. Matt noted the look of approval on the girl's mother's face, across from them. Dolphine was an elegant looking lady. It was amazing how much Barbara looked like her. Matt couldn't help but think that when he looked at Dolphine, he was seeing Barbara some years down the road. And the way things were looking these days, just maybe, he might be around to see that metamorphosis happen.
At first Matt had been uncomfortable with Barbara's apparent interest in him. He had been sent on an assignment to protect the governor. So far there had been two attempts on his life; once while Matt was on the job and once before, which had prompted his assignment. There was no known reason for the attacks, nor were there any suspected culprits.
For three weeks he had been Governor Stanton's constant companion and shadow. That meant, being with the family as well.
Barbara took to him right away and he had to admit, that he was attracted to her as well, but he told himself that they were from different worlds and there could never be anything between them. Besides, Kitty Carlin was still on his mind. But the truth was that the same situation existed. They were also from different worlds and a life for them could never be.
As days wore on and turned into weeks. Matt became more comfortable with Barbara's attentions and he began to relax. He found himself enjoying her company and laughing together often. One time they came close to an embrace, but Matt caught himself. He had momentarily forgotten about Kitty. But, a sudden sense of false shame sent him off to sulk by himself until he realized that his job was to be with the governor and his family and not off by himself.
He tried to be standoffish with Barbara, but it didn't work. Barbara managed to get him to smile and laugh again and the next time the moment was right, Matt Starr gave in. Kitty Carlin was forgotten.
Dolphine, smiled slyly as if victorious. Somehow, Governor Hugh Stanton did not seem all that pleased.
Matt could still see these same feelings of acceptance on the part of Dolphine and tolerance on the part of Governor Stanton as they rode along the street to church.
He wasn't that much concerned about their feelings at the moment. His job came first and although he was a capable lawman, a job like this always made him nervous. Whenever there was an unseen, unknown killer at large, it was always a great challenge. You never knew if you were dealing with a nut case or a cool calculating professional. In either case, you didn't know what to expect or when to expect it. All you could do would be to plan ahead and expect the worst.
He had provided more guards than usual. He had sent advance scouts into town to check out possible ambush sights and look for suspicious characters lurking about.
It was a nice morning and the governor and his wife had insisted on having the carriage top down. Matt tried to dissuade them, but they were emphatic about it and were used to having their own way. This made Matt even more uneasy, worrying about a sniper from a roof top or other high vantage point.
He had put extra men out to cover these areas. His eyes scanned the roof tops and occasionally, he spotted a man giving him the high sign that he was in position and all was fine.
Although this was somewhat reassuring, he knew his precautions were far from all encompassing. His hope was, that since it had been more than two weeks since the last attempt on the governor's life, perhaps the danger was over. Perhaps, with two failed attempts, the perpetrator had given up. But, somehow, Matt was sure that was just wishful thinking.
One more thing disturbed him more than all the precautions they had taken out here in the street. What if the danger was inside the church itself?
Not only would it be a threat to the governor and his family but to everyone else. Within the confines of the church walls, flying bullets could ricochet and do horrendous damage.
Matt cringed at the thought of guns in church. He hated the fact that he carried twin pistols in dual shoulder holsters under his coat and a nub nosed thirty eight police pistol in his pocket.
Four of the rider guards that had accompanied the carriage into town would take up guard duty with rifles on the steps of the church; two on each side of the entranceway. Two others would precede the governor's family and Matt through the entranceway, into the church. Two more would follow them in and take up positions just inside the doorway.
Care had been taken that everyone else had already arrived and had been seated before the governor arrived.
There was the usual respectful standing and applause as the governor made his entrance. He waved and smiled gracefully, as the well practiced politician that he was, and gave no indication of any possible imminent danger.
Matt and his guards carefully scanned the crowd for any indication of a possible threat.
The first two guards took up their appointed positions, one on each side of the altar at the front of the church after seating the governor's family. Matt Starr took the outside seat in the pew.
A few minutes later, the room darkened as the guards at the back pulled the church doors closed. The congregation began to settle down and a hush came over the church as the pastor appeared from the wings of the altar and stepped to the pulpit. He opened the large bible that was already placed there, raised his arms and said, "All rise, please."
The services went well with no trouble and it seemed that no danger was about to happen within the confines of the church. So far so good. The next hurtle was to see the governor and his family safely out of the church and home. Matt was almost about to feel relieved but he knew better.
As was custom, the governor and his family would be escorted out of the church first, before the rest of the congregation. The governor again, waved to them as he made his exit and the congregation graciously waited their turn.
Sunlight streamed into the church as the guards opened the doors and ushered the governor's family through. Matt was in the lead, directly in front of the governor. The two guards stepped in close behind. The other two guards had caught up with them and stepped out through the doorway, fanning out to form a foursome on the top step of the stairs leading to the entranceway.
Barbara, Dolphine, and the governor were standing on the next step down. Stanton was holding his bible in his left hand at chest level and Matt Starr was standing directly in front of him as a shield when it happened.
The impact was felt first. An ominous buzz passed over Matt Starr's shoulder and close to his ear,
then the sound of the shot echoed across the street. Governor Stanton fell backward into the guards behind him, his knees bending, his legs buckling beneath him, his tall frame falling to the ground. It was the guards who kept him from plunging with an impact. They were able to catch him and let him down easy without further trauma.
Matt's usual reflex would have been to go for his gun, but this time, he left it to the others. His main concern was for the women. With one swift movement, he pushed both women down and sideways, hopefully out of line of fire as the guards went into action.
It was bright daylight, so no muzzle flashes has been discerned to give away the position of the shooter, but from the direction of the sound of the shout and puff of powder smoke, they had zeroed in on a spot on the roof behind a false front of the mercantile across the street.
The guards opened up with a barrage of rifle fire, peppering the top of the false front. Streams of sunlight poured through the holes. There was no return fire. Only silence. Then a body in a black suit pitched forward off the top of the roof and fell flat on his front in the street.
Three of the guards ran out to him, still keeping their rifles ready; keeping an eye on the body while still watching the roof tops.
One of the guards reached the body and turned him over. He called back. "He's one of ours. We didn't shoot him. He's been shot in the back."
That probably meant the shooter was gone, Matt thought. He left the women and jumped over toward the fallen governor.
He was still alive. He had been lifted up by the shoulders. His hands still clutched his bible at his chest. Blood oozed between his fingers. Stanton's face twisted in pain. Then he laughed and coughed. "Just got the skin between my fingers. Bleeds like a sucker. The bullet's in my bible. I was holding over my heart. Bet I'll have a good bruise though. Guess the Lord was sure looking out for me, this time."
"Looks like he took better care of you than I did," Matt said.
"Then what the hell do I need you for?" Stanton grinned.
Chapter Five
The Return of Wildcat Kitty and the Cyclone Kid Page 6