Shadow of the Gallows (11 page)

In a fury, Allan Drake strode away from the livery stable. He’d made a fool of himself and he didn’t like that. Reggie was the fool in the family not him!

He’d threatened Amy, his darling Amy, hurt her, been bested by a kid and worse, much worse, blurted out that he loved Amy. He knew she loved him back, even though her face had expressed surprise at his words, but that was only because the kid was there and she felt unable to reveal her feelings in front of him. Of course, sooner or later he would have had to tell her so they could be married. But he certainly hadn’t wanted to do it in such a way in such surroundings, or with someone else present. He’d imagined they would confess their love for one another in the hotel dining-room or in the shade of some cottonwoods. Somewhere nice!

His only excuse for his actions was that he was so het up by Tom Steadman escaping justice that he couldn’t help himself. Well, he grinned, not justice exactly because Steadman was innocent. But after all
the hard work he and Reggie had done, Steadman should have hanged. That way it would be over by now. They could have moved in on Bannister’s land and he could move in on Amy.

Now it had all gone wrong. How to put it right?

Fred Warren drew his sons away from the plaza into the relative quiet of one of the side streets.

‘We’re going home,’ he declared.

‘Oh, Pa, no!’ a chorus of disagreement from Peter and David.

‘Yeah. Things might get ugly. I don’t want any of you caught up in a fight that ain’t nothing to do with us.’

‘It is to do with us,’ Peter objected. ‘It’s about Steadman who killed Ralph Bannister.’

‘You heard what the marshal said. Steadman might be innocent. If he is then he shouldn’t be hanged for something he didn’t do. And if he’s guilty, Jackson has promised he will hang eventually.’

‘If you can believe Marshal Jackson!’ Peter said derisively.

‘Well, I do. Don’t you want the real killer caught and punished?’

Peter and David glanced at one another; of course they did. And while they were certain of Steadman’s guilt, others obviously weren’t. Who was right?

‘Martin needs to get home.’ Warren looked at his middle son, who still looked white and ill. ‘And your ma will be worried about us all.’

‘I want to stay,’ Peter said. ‘Don’t worry, Pa, I’ll keep out of trouble I promise. I’ll stay away from the
saloons. But I need to know what’s happening. Pa, I know you didn’t like Ralph much and I know he could be ornery when he liked but dammit he was my friend. I owe it to him to keep an eye on things and make sure that someone is brought to justice for his murder.’

‘It might be a few days before Jackson hears anything from the judge. Where will you stay?’

‘I can sleep in the livery stables. I’ll be all right. I’ll be careful and I’ll come home as soon as everything is worked out.’

Warren could see his eldest son had made up his mind and reluctantly he admitted that Peter was too old to be made to obey his father. Peter was no longer a boy, he was a young man and should be treated as such.

‘What about you, David?’

‘I’ll go with you and Martin, Pa.’ David wanted to see justice done, but he had no wish to wait around in Newberry with nothing to do. And he liked his home comforts too much to want to sleep in a stable! ‘You don’t need me, Peter, do you?’

‘No.’

‘All right. Let’s get the buckboard. We’ll see you later, Peter.’

Peter stood and watched them go.

‘You did what?’ Reggie looked at his brother with incredulous eyes. ‘You damn fool.’

‘OK, OK, don’t go on.’

It had taken Allan sometime to track down his brother. He’d started in the brothel. Of course he
wasn’t interested in any of the girls who worked there because his heart belonged to Amy. To his surprise Reggie wasn’t with any of them. He wasn’t in Chadwin’s saloon either, probably because that was full of farmers. Eventually he’d found him in the First Choice saloon, a place Reggie usually shunned as too refined. Reggie was drinking alone, with most people giving him a wide berth.

Allan had bought them both whiskey and then confessed.

‘You’re always telling me to be careful and now look what you’ve done.’ It wasn’t often Reggie got the upper hand with Allan and he was determined to make the most of this. At the same time he was worried. They were so close to success and Allan’s actions might mean a setback.

‘Look, I’m sorry. I never meant it to happen.’ Allan bashed a hand down on the table. ‘And while I know she’ll forgive me I certainly never meant to hurt Miss Mallory. But it happened and it can’t be undone.’

Reggie nodded. He decided to say no more; Allan could be pushed so far and no further. ‘The question now is what shall we do?’

‘Perhaps there’s nothing we need do.’

‘What d’you mean?’

‘I admit I was upset but I’ve been giving it some thought.’ With whiskey warming his stomach Allan was becoming braver and more confident by the minute. ‘Just because I told Miss Mallory how I felt it doesn’t really mean anything, does it? I love her. How is anyone, any of these dumb townspeople, going to
connect that with Bannister’s death and Steadman’s hanging?’

‘You don’t think they’ll suspect we’ve been
responsible
for all that’s been happening around here?’

‘Reggie, I ask you. Can you see Marshal Jackson coming up with the truth? Or Cobb come to that? How can we get into trouble for my one mistake?’

Reggie thought about that and agreed. As far as he was concerned he and Allan were cleverer and sharper than any other person in Newberry. He smiled.

‘What about Steadman? I’d like to see him dead.’

‘Me, too, but he ain’t here. He could be anywhere. We’ll find him eventually and then he’ll die. But in the meantime let’s have another drink and then get on home.’

‘OK.’

Feeling better, Allan watched Reggie go up to the bar. He might have made a fool of himself but Amy would soon forget about that and come to love him. They were meant for one another. And he was determined that they’d soon be together.

It wasn’t long before Jackson decided the streets were empty enough for Neil and Amy to leave town. Most people had either gone home or drifted down to the saloons. Amy was pleased. She was anxious to be on her way before Greg came back to the
jailhouse
and tried to stop her going.

‘We’ll be safe enough’ she said, thinking Jackson still had doubts. ‘Come on, Neil.’ She left the
jailhouse
before the marshal could change his mind.

Together they walked quickly down to the livery stable. Neil caught up two horses from the corral and Amy help him saddle and bridle them. They mounted and rode out into the street.

‘Lead on, Miss Mallory.’

Her heart lifting, she would soon see Tom, Amy urged her horse forward.

‘Hey, look.’ Reggie Drake nudged his brother. They had turned the corner by the feed and grain store, just as Neil and Amy rode away. ‘Who’s that with Miss Mallory? Where are they off to?’

Allan recognized the kid who had interfered in his talk with Amy. His eyes narrowed. ‘They’re going to wherever it is that damn Cobb has got Steadman hidden.’

‘Do you think so? How do you know?’

‘I don’t
know
for sure, but I bet I’m right.’ Allan’s heart twisted with hate and anger. Wherever his Amy and the kid were going they shouldn’t be riding along together, alone. It wasn’t right. The kid would have to be punished for it. ‘Reggie, this could be our best chance to settle everything.’ They could kill Steadman and Cobb, and the damn kid, and then he could comfort Amy. ‘Let’s follow them. Seize our chances.’

‘Now you’re talking!’ Reggie slapped his brother on the back. ‘You wait here, watch the direction they take, while I go and get our horses.’ He broke into a run.

Peter Warren was obeying the promise he’d made to
his father not to go down to the saloons. He was sticking close to the jail because he thought that was where the answers to who had killed Bannister and what the law was going to do about it would be. When Neil and Amy came out he decided to follow them. He saw them ride out of town and the Drake brothers hurrying after them. He was worried. What were the Drakes doing? He didn’t know much about the two brothers but as they were ranchers he didn’t trust them. After some deliberation he went back to the jail and told Marshal Jackson what he’d seen.

‘Damn!’ Jackson swore several times. ‘Are you sure?’

Peter nodded.

‘When was this?’

‘’Bout thirty minutes ago. Perhaps longer.’

‘And you’ve only now decided to tell me?’

Peter went red. ‘I didn’t know what to do. I’m sorry. Do the Drakes mean them and Steadman harm?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Why?’

‘Why do they mean them all harm? Because, Peter, they’re the damn murderers!’

Jackson paced round his office a few times, wondering what to do. Cobb was a good man,
probably
able to handle most every situation, but he
wouldn
’t expect that the Drake brothers would be
following
along after Neil. And the three men might feel hampered by the presence of Amy Mallory. He made up his mind.

‘I’ll have to go after ’em, see if I can warn Cobb
and Steadman before the Drakes find out where they are.’

He went to the door and opened it to be confronted by a short, sturdy man with bristling beard and bristling eyes, whose whole body bristled with anger.

‘Judge Bowyer!’ he said in a faint voice.

‘Jackson!’ The judge barrelled his way into the office.

‘How did you get here? We haven’t received a telegram.’

‘That’s because the damn line is out. I’ve had to ride here by horseback, something I haven’t done for years, because of the seriousness of the situation. Yes, Mr Jackson, the seriousness of what you’ve agreed to do. Bellington’s might be a good detective agency but its detectives aren’t above the law. And neither are you. So, now, I want to know why you’ve flouted my decision! The decision of the court. If you can’t come up with a good enough reason I’ll not only have your badge, I’ll fling you in jail!’

‘But I was just going….’ Jackson said helplessly.

‘You’re not going anywhere before you explain yourself! If you can.’

Jackson knew better than to argue. Judge Bowyer had a reputation for doing exactly what he said. His position as marshal was already in jeopardy from the town council without annoying the judge even more than he already was. He turned to Peter. ‘Will you ride after Neil and Miss Mallory?’

‘All right.’

‘They’re at Simmons Creek. And, Peter, don’t let
the Drakes see you and don’t do anything yourself. Just warn Cobb if you can.’ Jackson watched him hurry away, thinking that there was no way Peter would catch Neil and Amy up in time.

‘You ain’t strong on not doing anything are you?’ Steadman said with a grin as Cobb yet again checked the time on his watch then walked to the door of the shack to look out at the empty landscape. ‘It’s surely something you should have learned by now.’

‘Well, I haven’t,’ Cobb said shortly. He was in a bad mood. ‘I keep wondering about what’s happening in Newberry and thinking of all the things that can go wrong.’ He came to a halt and stood rigid in the doorway.

‘What’s up?’

‘It damn well looks as if something has gone wrong already. Here come two riders. One of them’s Neil. Who’s that with him?’

Steadman elbowed him out of the way. Then he smiled. ‘It’s all right, it’s Amy.’ He smiled again as Amy saw him and waved. ‘Perhaps it means something has actually gone right? Perhaps they’ve heard from the judge or….’ He stopped in mid-sentence. ‘What’s that?’

‘What?’

‘Over there.’ Steadman pointed towards the hills. ‘I thought I saw some sort of movement.’

‘Hell yes!’ Cobb’s sharp eyes spotted two more riders, coming up fast, unseen and unheard by either Neil or Amy. ‘Hell, it’s the Drakes!’

‘Oh God! No.’

‘Neil!’ Cobb yelled in warning. ‘Watch out! Get off your horses!’

Neil was startled but he’d worked with Cobb long enough now to act quickly and then ask questions. Even as there was the bang of a gun he was pushing Amy out of the saddle and jumping down after her.

‘Who is it?’ Amy asked, from where she had fallen. ‘What’s happening?’

‘I don’t know. Keep down.’ Neil flung himself on top of her, shielding her body with his own.

At the same time two riders galloped towards them. With a sinking heart Neil recognized Allan and Reggie. How had he not known the two men were following them? He’d stared at their trail several times but the Drakes must have kept well back and kept to the little cover there was. Now they were here! And he and Amy were trapped out in the open.

Reggie was the one doing the firing. The bullets landed all round them with spouts of earth and grit. Neil glanced towards the shack. Steadman was running towards them but he’d never make it in time to help. Cobb emerged from the doorway, rifle in his hands. Neil looked back at the Drake brothers. Would Cobb shoot in time? He was a good shot but he was quite a distance away. He might miss.

Then Allan shouted, ‘Mind Amy. Don’t hurt Amy.’

A little way away Reggie pulled his horse to a halt and shot at Steadman instead.

Steadman skidded to a halt and Amy screamed as he dropped to the ground.

‘He’s not hurt,’ Neil told her, hoping he was right. He took advantage of the lull in the shooting to draw his own gun. He sent several shots towards Allan and Reggie.

‘Amy, darling, come to me,’ Allan called. ‘You know you love me.’

‘Go to hell,’ she called back. ‘I don’t even like you! It’s Tom I love. And always will.’

Allan raised his hands and screamed out with horror and fury. ‘Nooo! Amy, no!’

Laughing wildly, knowing his brother wouldn’t stop him again, Reggie dug spurs into his horse’s sides and rode towards Neil and Amy, firing as he came.

‘Amy!’ Steadman cried, leaping to his feet.

In the shack’s doorway Cobb levered the rifle, raised it and aimed carefully.

Even as Reggie was bearing down on Neil and Amy, would ride right over them, Cobb fired. The bullet struck Reggie in the chest, knocking him
backwards
out of the saddle. With a surprised look on his face as if he couldn’t understand how this was happening to him, he landed with a heavy thump near Neil. He moaned several times before he died.

‘Reggie!’ Allan yelled. He dismounted, his face and voice turning ugly. ‘Amy, if I can’t have you no one else will.’ He clawed at his holster, then looked
down in surprise. It was empty.

‘Looking for this?’ Amy pulled the man’s gun out from where it was still stuck in the band of her skirt.

‘Don’t shoot! Please. No.’

‘Don’t,’ Neil said, grabbing at Amy’s arm. ‘There’s no need.’

She struggled away from him, raised the gun … but suddenly Steadman arrived. He bashed into Allan Drake, drew back his arm and punched the man so hard on the jaw that Allan was knocked out completely cold. With a cry, Amy dropped the gun and jumped up, running over to Steadman.

‘Tom!’

‘Are you OK? All of you?’ Cobb raced up.

Quickly he made sure Reggie was dead then went over to Allan, securing the still unconscious man’s hands behind him with handcuffs.

‘Yeah.’ Somewhat shakily Neil got to his feet. ‘I think so.’

‘What happened? Why are you here? What did Drake mean?’

‘About Amy? He thought he loved her. That was the main reason he wanted to blame Steadman for shooting Bannister.’

‘Of course.’ Cobb smiled. ‘I said there was more behind all this than water rights!’ He glanced across at Steadman and Amy who were hugging one another as if they’d never let go. ‘Oh hell, now who’s this?’

Another rider was galloping towards them.

‘It’s Peter Warren,’ Steadman said. He stepped away from Amy, ready for trouble from the young farmer.

Peter called out a greeting and jumped from his horse. ‘I’ve been trying to catch you up,’ he said breathlessly to Neil. ‘To warn you about the Drakes following you. But I lost my way.’ He glanced at Reggie who lay dead on the ground and then at Allan who was sitting up, groaning. ‘Are they really the ones killed Ralph?’

Cobb nodded.

‘I’ll get you for this, all of you,’ Allan moaned. ‘I’m better than all of you. How dare you. I’ll never be found guilty.’

‘Oh shut up,’ Steadman told him. ‘You’ve lost. Accept it like a man.’

‘Where’s Jackson?’ Cobb demanded. ‘Why didn’t he come after Neil and Miss Mallory?’ The marshal knew the area well, he wouldn’t have become lost.

‘Sir,’ Peter turned to him, ‘he couldn’t.’ He grinned.

‘Why not?’

‘Because when I left him he was trying to explain matters to Judge Bowyer.’

‘The judge has actually arrived in Newberry?’

‘He’d just ridden in.’

‘Thank God.’ Cobb was relieved.

Bowyer must have got his message and decided to act upon it.

‘He wasn’t very pleased.’

‘Then we’d better get on back and help Jackson.’ Cobb looked at Steadman and Amy who were once again hugging close and at Allan who looked both furious and close to tears. The man certainly had lost everything: ranch, brother and Amy.

‘Neil.’

‘Yes, sir?’

‘You and Peter fetch the horses. We’ll load Reggie on one and Allan on another. Go back to town. Sort this out once and for all.’