Doing Time In Texas, Book 3

by James E Ferrell

  Passing through the cemetery a new stone stood out among the stark grey stones of yesteryear. Stopping abruptly, he blinked his eyes before he turned around. From his pocket he verified the name on the stone as the name of his client. “There must be a living junior somewhere,” he thought. No dates had been engraved, just the name. ‘Was this grave new or just reserved?’ George pondered.

  Leaving the cemetery, he knew this would be hard to explain to a Judgejudge, but he would have to do just that. The letter explained he was to appear before the county Judgejudge and present all the evidence that he would be receiving in the mail on behalf of his client. The intrigue was too much for an anxious green lawyer, but he would have to wait for the next letter.

  C9 - Suspicion

  Saturday morning movement along the streets of Huntsville usually got off to a slow start. Doc Mueller stood behind his office window surveying the street. The information Lightfoot had given him had made him edgy and suspicious. This morning he needed to get out to the cabin and check on his patient as soon as he could. Stepping from his office he glanced down the street. His car stood against the curb where it always was... minus a hubcap. It sat ready for the frequent calls he received from the local farms. Farm and ranch accidents were common and that prompted him to be ready at all times. This morning he was eager to get out to the Baker’s. He had expected a knock on his door in the middle of the night, informing him his patient had died. Such realities prompted him to always have a death certificate laying on his desk half filled out. Doc loved to be wrong when he predicted the death of someone gravely ill or injured. Maybe the patient was taking a turn for the better. He dearly hoped so.

  “What’s the hurry, Doc?” a voice behind him asked as he opened his car door.

  Hoping the shock on his face was not apparent, Doc replied, “I didn’t realize I was in a hurry! How are you doing today, Bart?”

  “Doing okay, but I heard a rumor that the couple on the old Water’s place was missing and some say they were burned up in the barn fire yesterday!” Bart stated a little too enthusiastically.

  “What? I sure hope you're wrong, Sheriff! Where did you hear that?” Doc asked.

  “You know how things get started. The Baker’s new car is sitting in the ruins and with all these reporters around town the rumor mill is in high gear!” Bart stated.

  “I don’t want to even consider that, Bart. This is shaping up to be a good day. I just want to check my expectant mother and head for the lake this evening,” Doc replied.

  “Plan on doing some fishing, are you, Doc?” Bart asked.

  “Saturday is the day I unwind, Sheriff. Fishing is the prescription I prescribe for myself!” Doc said with a smile.

  “Where you headed today, Doc?” Bart asked.

  “Going out to the see Ann Stewart. She is due in a few days. You sure are asking a lot of questions, Bart. What’s on your mind?” Doc returned the favor of questions.

  “Nothing, I guess! Just making conversation. I will let you be on your way,” Bart stated. The squeal of tired old brake shoes signaled the arrival of Silas and Ellis, turning the heads of both Doc Mueller and Bart.

  “The sheriff is with Doc, Ellis! Don’t say anything about the car in the rubble!” Silas said. The two got out of the truck and walked over to where Doc and the sheriff were standing.

  “Good morning!” Silas said. “It’s going to be another hot day!”

  “What are you two up to this morning?” Doc asked.“We’re headed to the depot to check with Benson and saw you two standing here. I need some more liniment for my horse, Doc. That stuff sure did the trick. Her limp is much better!” Silas replied.

  “Silas, I am supposed to be a people doctor not a hoss’ doctor. If it did some good, I think I have about a half bottle of that liniment left. I’ll go get it for you. I use it on my knees once in a while,” Doc said.

  The two watched Bart as he headed down the street and entered the barber shop. Returning to where Silas stood Doc asked, “Silas, what was that all about?”

  “Doc, we’ve been doing cleanup around the Baker’s barn making sure all the barn structure was completely burned. Guess what is sitting in the middle of the rubble and ashes?” Silas asked excitedly.

  “I guess it would be the Baker’s fine automobile!” Doc replied.

  “How did you know that?” Silas asked.

  “It seems Bart knows about the car,” Doc said.

  “How could he know? We just found it this morning!” Ellis said.

  “Well, it is a point to remember,” Doc said.

  “I hope you are not going to tell me they were in it when it burned,” Silas said.

  “Well now! I guess you two will have to be told, especially now, but if this gets out you may be the death of the Bakers!” Doctor Mueller filled Silas and Ellis in on what had happened and asked that they find Cage to let him know they knew of the Bakers.

  ααααααα

  At the cabin, Cage sat his coffee cup on a tree stump beside the cabin and said, “Lightfoot, I’m going to see if I can find Beaver Watson. Tell the Captain where I’ve gone when he gets here. Watson may be a help understanding this puzzle!” Brushing by Doc Mueller, he hardly remembered to speak.“Where is that boy going in such an all fired hurry?” Doc asked.

  “He is a regular Sherlock Holmes,” Lightfoot said. “Off to follow a possible clue.”

  C10 - The Eye of an Eagle

  The wolf stood perfectly still testing the air. His eyes were glued to one spot in the forest. The scent was alarming, and it signaled his system that all was not well with this man. Completely concealed, he watched the figure through the forest. This scent had been on the trap that had hurt him years ago. His instinct cautioned him to avoid this human. In the underbrush undetectable by anyone except the wolf, Judd lay on the cool moist ground watching the cabin. He had followed the doc out this morning and had enjoyed stalking him through the woods. Raising his binoculars, he rested his elbows on the ground below the tree trunk that lay across the forest floor. Before him, a small cabin in the dense forest was almost undetectable. Sitting in a swing talking to the pretty blonde girl was a ranger. The cabin door opened, and he saw another ranger emerge. Words were exchanged with others in front of the forest cabin before the younger ranger headed down a well-worn trail through the woods. A moment later two men came out of the cabin and headed for the house where the barn once stood. He sighted around the cabin letting his binoculars cover different figures. For an hour Judd watched the cabin. This was exciting and spying on these people without their knowledge was great fun. Concealed beneath the fallen tree trunk, his gaze returned again and again to the small window on the side of the cabin. The doctor passed before the window moving about the room, but it was too small to get a good view of the room. Rubbing the sweat from his eyes he rested his chin on his arms.

  The cabin door opened and out on the porch the black-haired girl that was supposed to be dead emerged. ‘So, the woman is still alive. This should cause Bart some real heartburn. In the cabin the good doctor must be attending the man he had shot,’ Judd thought. This was getting sticky. For some quick money he had jumped in over his head. Now he was in this mess along with Ed and Bart and neither one he trusted. He needed a look in the window in the worst way. The adrenalin began to flow as he eased himself down through the brush in an effort to see what was on the other side of the cabin wall.

  “The fresh air will do you good, Bonnie! Go over and sit in the swing,” Doc said. On the backside of the cabin Judd heard Doc talking as he eased himself from the woods and made the few steps to the side of the cabin. Blocked from sight at the front of the house, Judd stood against the log wall listening to the conversation in the cabin. Quickly he made identification of voices: the blonde girl’s voice and Doc Mueller. Moving to the edge of the rear porch he suddenly dropped to the ground just as the rear door of the cabin opened and the doctor stepped out. Quietly Judd rolled under the edge of the porch and lay looking up t
hrough a small crack in the boards.

  Walking to the end of the porch, Doc Mueller stood just inches above Judd. From under the porch Judd could make out Doc’s back and the back of his head. Slowly he eased a long knife from his boot while above him Doc considered what he could possibly do for the man inside.

  Everyone was hoping and praying, but it was obvious to Doc, Willy was not getting better. Taking a drink from the water bucket on the porch he turned and re-entered the cabin. For a minute longer, Judd lay still before he eased himself from under the cabin porch and looked in the window of the cabin.

  Laying on the bed was the man he had shot. His color was bad and no doubt he was in a bad way. A large bandage covered his chest. This was all the information he needed. It was time for him to get away from here.

  A few seconds later he ran quietly through the deep woods, stopping only long enough to take a last look in the direction of the cabin. The black-haired woman sat in a swing as several men and an older woman who looked a lot like her came up to the front of the cabin. He had left not a minute too soon as men began to move around the cabin.

  ααααααα

  “I was almost caught! I dropped down and crawled under the cabin porch before Doc saw me! You two have let this thing get out of control and you brought me into a bad situation!” Judd said. “I can tell you your man hasn’t talked to anyone yet. He’s in a bad way!”

  Wringing his hands, Bart paced back and forth in Ed’s office while chain-smoking as the three talked. “How could they have gotten out of the barn?” Bart asked.

  Ed stood on the side of his office leaning against the wall. He was uncomfortable with Judd in the room. Judd didn’t put a high value on life and didn’t have the capacity to be scared. He had been deadly in the army and tales of his sniper exploits were legendary in the bars around Huntsville.

  “I bought in this game late. How much money did you boys get for the trucks?” Judd asked.

  “We were double crossed. The people we were selling the trucks to stole the trucks from us at gun point. They took the trucks and all but a few thousand of the money,” Bart replied.

  Judd interjected, “If you want me to help, you better cough up some of that money.”

  “Correct me if I’m wrong, but you are in real deep right now, right?” Ed asked.

  ααααααα

  Mending The Past...Bubba stood back and watched Edsel wipe dust from the stone. Puzzled he wondered why they had set the monument days before without a name or date.

  “Edsel, I don’t get this some a-tall. This is our prettiest stone. Why wait till now to put the name and date. We could have done that before we delivered the stone, beings his dead date says he was already dead,”

  “There is just no way of figurin’ peoples. No date for his born but a date for his dead,” Bubba said. Wiping the dust from his hands he looked at the name Edsel had just engraved on the stone. I knows’ one thing for sho’. I’ve done some fishing on the Trinity with young Shane Thomas Taylor and he is too young to be over on the dead side!”

  Edsel hooked his thumbs in his bib overalls and rocked back on his heels. Bubba had seen this look and knew the little Frenchman was about to say something important.

  “Bubba, a man, he comes into this life all shiny and brand new, but life is full of trouble and woes and de shine gets knocked off real quick. A body never knows how it will turn out for himself, don’t you know,” Edsel said.

  Bubba considered the name on the stone and said, “You reckon Taylor died all scared like…or does you reckon it happened like Uncle Joe looking forward to being rid of the pain? Me, I’m just a tryin’ not to think about dead….Life has too much of worryin youself down witout’ worryin bout’ the dead side!”

  “That be true, Bubba, but we all has to deal with the dead side. We sho got it comin,” Edsel said.

  “Yes, we sho nough do!” Bubba replied.

  C11 - Days of Confusion

  Walking into the candy store Cage had a thoughtful look on his face. Grady watched him from the other end of the counter and asked, “What’s on your mind this morning?”

  “Grady, I have been all over town looking for someone. If he left town, he must have walked. The bus line didn’t sell him a ticket and he hasn’t bought a used car!” Cage replied.

  “Who exactly are you looking for?” Grady asked.

  “Two weeks ago, a fellow was released from up the street, but it doesn’t appear he left town. He is not staying in the boarding house or over the diner!” Cage stated.

  “You should have come to me two weeks ago! I could have saved you some steps. That sounds like Beaver Watson you are looking for!” Grady stated.

  “How did you know that?” Cage asked.

  “He came in here straight from the prison gates…must have heard about my apple pie and vanilla malted! A real likeable fellow; hope he is not in any trouble,” Grady said.

  “I need to talk to him. Where did he go?” Cage questioned.

  “I sent him to Benson at the rail yard…Watson said he wanted open spaces from now on and was planning to stay right here in Texas,” Grady responded.

  Neither man had noticed the woman and little girl that had entered the store and now stood behind them. Clearing her throat, she said, “I couldn’t help from hearing your conversation.” They both turned to see a lady holding the hand of a small child. The little girl eased behind her mother and held tight to her hand. Setting her suitcase down she said, “I’m Shelby Watson here looking for my husband. We just arrived on the bus; he will not be expecting us.” Looking at the star on Cage’s chest she shuddered and looked frightened. Clutching the little girl's hand, she asked, “Has he done something wrong?”

  Seeing the stress on her face Cage quickly said, “No, Ma’am! I just need to talk to him concerning a man he knew while in prison.”

  “Please! Sit down, Mrs. Watson. I will send my clerk to retrieve your husband. He has an apartment above a furniture business down by the rail yard,” O’Hara said. It was early Saturday morning and coffee drinkers began to come and go. Grady busied himself with the customers for a few minutes. He noticed the little girl looking at all the candy in the candy case. “You know I make most of the candy you see there. Would you like to watch me make some candy?” he asked gently.

  Bright-eyed she walked back to the candy room where an employee was stirring a pot of candy that was cooking. Pouring the hot candy on the large marble table Grady proceeded to tell her how the candy was made.

  Walking behind the counter, Cage poured coffee for several people along the counter. Pouring himself and Shelby a cup of coffee, he walked over to her table and asked, “Would you care for something to eat? They make a good sweet roll here for breakfast.”

  “No, thanks,” she said nervously twisting the wedding band around her finger. They talked pleasantly for a few minutes and Cage made her feel a little more at ease. It wasn’t long until a lanky man entered the candy store and walked over to the table. Cage spoke politely and walked into the candy room to watch the process. Grady had Katie Watson’s complete attention as he worked the candy on the table.

  “Beaver, we came as you requested. I bought the tickets as soon as I received the money you sent,” she said awkwardly.

  Beaver stood at the table fidgeting with his hat. “I’m real glad you came. I have been beside myself since you answered my letter,” he said.

  “There was nothing to keep us in Chicago and we needed a change,” Shelby stated.

  “How is she? Is she okay with me? Does she remember me?” Beaver asked regarding his daughter Katie.

  “She never stopped talking about you. When I figured she was over you and had forgotten you, she would ask when you were coming home. The years have been hard on me. I came here out of desperation, not out of love. I want you to know that right up front. We were running out of hope and needed a change…you offered me the only one. It has been a struggle to get by…everything we own is in this suitcase,” Sh
elby Watson stated flatly.

  Beaver sat down and laid his hat in the chair beside him. Looking at the little girl mesmerized by the art of making candy, he wiped his eyes and said, “Shelby, whatever time I have left on this earth I will dedicate to righting the wrong I have done to you and Katie. The war mixed me up and made me hard and then the alcohol finished the job. I’m not making excuses, but prison made me see what a dope I have been. You don’t have to love or care for me. I just want to make things as good as I can for you and Katie”.

  “Why is the man with a badge looking for you, Beaver? When I came in here, they were talking about you,” Shelby inquired.

  “I have done nothing wrong, I paid my debt to society and it will stay that way. I will never disgrace you again,” Beaver said. The two stepped over to the candy room where they stood watching Katie fully engrossed in the candy making process.

  “At this point we have to have a candy taster. I used to use Cage but he has grown up now so he can’t be a candy taster anymore!” Cage protested loudly and Grady added, “Katie, only a child can be a good taster. So, I need a little kid just about your age to take over the candy tasting job. How about it? You get paid for tasting candy with free tickets to the movies for your whole family. Do you want the job?”

  Squealing with delight she jumped up and down.

  O’Hara laughed, “I take that as a yes. Now remember this is a very important job! We can’t afford to make bad candy. If it’s bad you have to tell me. Okay, you are the new taster and Cage has to find himself another real job. You ready to try a taste?”

  Beaver motioned to Cage from the doorway as he and Shelby returned to the table. “Ranger, I done my time and I’m square with society,” Beaver said.

  “I’m not here to hassle you, Mr. Watson. I just need to know about Willy Baker. You knew him in prison. I need to know what you can tell me about him. I understand you were his only friend,” Cage stated.