The Widow's Touch (A Whimsical Select Romance Novella) (10 page)

“I don’t think there will be a person
left in town once your trial starts today,” Jonathon said, and he slammed the door shut to their outcries for Eloda’s hanging.

Eloda thoroughly looked Jonathon over.  Again, he hadn’t slept. 
His dark eyes wore an expression of sadness, and she prepared herself for the worst.  If he made it through the day without collapsing, she’d be greatly surprised. If she had a better chance at winning her case, she’d had been more concerned how it would affect her trial.  But whether Jonathon was standing on his own two feet or was laid out on the floor of the court, she was already damned to die by the hand of the town.

“You’re not going to get her to court that way,” he said to Jack, thumbing his hand at the front door.  “Back door is b
locked as well.  Alleyway is overflowing with people.”

“It’s the only two options,”
Jack stated, and opened his arms and displayed the obvious.

             
“Being the last day of the trial, they’re thirsting for a hanging,” Jonathon said, disgusted.  “She’ll never make it to court in one piece.”             

“I have an idea,” Jack said, and he held a wicked smile.

“You’re not planning on shooting them, are you?” Eloda asked, alarmed.

“
Although I have a notion of taking up your idea, it’s not my intent,” he winked.  “Can you get me some mourning clothes and sneak them in here?” he asked Jonathon.

“
Splendid idea,” Jonathon said.  “Who’ll be the trick to deceive them?”

             
“Well, considering Frank has been jawing on like a woman, I think he’ll suit our needs rightly well.”

“Any chance we can place him in my stead for the hanging too?” Eloda asked
with a mischievous smile.

“It’s
a thought to take into serious consideration,” Jack chuckled.  He turned to Jonathon.  “Frank should be watching the front.  On your way back, tell him to come in and I’ll tell him of the plan once he’s in here.”

Jonathon nodded his head and left
, and Jack locked the door behind him.

“I’ll see to it you get to court
safely before I meet up with my men,” he said, relenting from his earlier plan.

“Will you be gone long
?” she asked, fretfully.

“I hope not.  We’ll need to get back here before the
townspeople return.  I don’t want the citizens to know what’s going on until I have my men deputized and a set plan in order.”  He reached over and wrapped her into his arms.  “I know it’ll be hard and you’ll be frightened by the entire town at court, but by everyone flocking there and out of the streets, it’ll afford me the time to prepare for whatever outcome may arise by a verdict.”  He lowered his head and kissed her softly on the lips.  When he pulled away, he closed his eyes in wariness.  Upon opening them again, he fixed a deep and passionate stare upon her.  “You need to trust me.”

Touching her lips to his, she said
with all the weight of her heart behind it, “I do. I trust you completely, Jack.”

            
 
It was finally over.

Duped twice by
the ploy of Frank being Eloda, the townspeople were delayed at court while she and Jack made their way back to the jailhouse.  It was unusually quiet when they arrived, and when they entered the sheriff’s door it felt like they had reached a military base.  Guns and ammunition were piled high against one wall and explosives lined the other.  Two men stood in the room with deputy badges donned on their jackets.

“Ma’am,” the
y said in unison and tipped their hats to her, which she politely nodded in return.

“That’s Benton and Sam,” Jack s
upplied.  “They’re going to help watch over you while you’re in here.”

From the corner of her eye, Eloda inspected them clo
sely and concluded they were likely brothers, as their resemblance to one another was strong.  They had matching red hair, and their unusual green eyes demanded notice by their uncommon hue and brightness.  Both donned buckskin jackets and they wore black, knee high boots with their brown trouser pants tucked tightly within.  From their accouterments, it looked as though they were prepared for war.  Individually they wore on their person, either by hand or belt, a Winchester, Bowie knife, two six-shooters, and four cartridge belts which two were slung across their chests while the other two wrapped around their waists.

“There are eight more men on the rooftops and four on the ground watching the gallows,” Jack
provided.  He walked to Eloda and held her hand.  “Don’t worry about the guns, it’s only a precaution.”

The town
soon became aware that they were deceived and it was proved by the shouts and hollers that bellowed through from the other side of the door.  Stepping in front of Eloda, Benton and Sam set ready for a fight if the mob should burst through the door.

“I feel like
a trapped animal in here,” Eloda said, frightened, and she paced back and forward across the stone floor.  “Once the verdict comes in, I’ll need to go out there again.  They’re not going to fall for Frank portraying me another time.”

“When the time comes, I’ll have my men shoot off some warning shots to clear the way.”  Jack
approached her and held her firmly by the shoulders.  “I’m not going to allow anything to happen to you, and neither are they,” he said, and Jack nodded over his shoulder towards the two men who stood as her guards.

“
We already know the verdict.  There’s truly no reason to return and hear them say the words or see them revel over it.”

“
So Ellen held firm with the prosecutions account of Shultz’s death?”

Eloda nodded her head.

“And what of McCrady, did he stay with his testimony?” Jack asked.

             
“Yes,” she said, and Eloda rolled her eyes heavenward.  “It’s doubtful his testimony was helpful in their convicting me, but he did add some well-needed amusement to relieve the intensity of the courtroom.”

“I figured as much,” he smiled.

“That scoundrel even had the nerve to ask the judge if he could recreate the scene,” she said, exasperated.

“I’m surprised they didn’t grant his request,” Jack said
, and Eloda silently agreed.

“Jonathon said he’d return
once a verdict has been rendered,” she added. “Considering they have already decided their judgments before the trial began, he reckons they’ll be calling us back soon.”

Jack turned to the wall that housed the guns and ammunition and appeared to make a mental account of its contents. 
Eloda touched his sleeve and looked pleadingly into his eyes.  “Jack, promise me that you’ll not allow this to turn into a gunfight.”

“The men are h
ere to contain the crowd if the people continue being disorderly,” Jack said.  “If they force us into a fight, we’ll fight, but the men know only to wound and not kill.”

Louds thumps banged against the
front door and Eloda startled.  Jack cautiously answered the door with his pistol drawn, and Benton and Sam stood guard with their Winchesters ready.  Jonathon forced himself apart from the people at the doorway who grasped his coat and prevented him entrance.  Jack used the butt of his gun and forced the men to let him go.  Once inside, Jonathon breathed heavily as he smoothed down his jacket and adjusted his vest. 

“The verdict is in,” he said, breathless
ly.  “Hopefully they’ll soon disperse in hopes of a good seat in the courtroom,” he added.  “Otherwise, they’ll tear you from limb to limb if you go out there now,” he said to Eloda.

“Where’s Frank,” Jack asked.

“They nabbed him as soon as we left the courtroom and he’s been hurt.”

“Bad?”
Jack asked and concern etched his brow.

“
Scraped and bruised up pretty badly.  Someone roped him and dragged him through the road a good three hundred feet before they realized it wasn’t Eloda.”  Jonathon looked at her and he sorrowfully frowned when she inadvertently allowed her shock to show.  “Some men in the crowd took him over to Doc Cannon’s office.”

“This
continues to worsen,” Eloda sighed, woefully.

“That’
s not all of it,” Jonathon rushed out and walked to Jack.  “Did Eloda have you draw up a will for her?”

Jack nodded.  “Yes, why
would you ask about that?”

“Frank must have seen it because he told them boys out there that Andy is her
main beneficiary, and now that they know she’s taken a shine to the boy, they’re holding him to make sure she doesn’t escape the gallows.  If she doesn’t show, they say they’ll hang him in her stead.”

“Damn,” Jack fiercely exclaimed.
 

“Don’t let them hurt him, Jack!” Eloda cried
, and she ran to him, pale and agitated.  “He’s only boy.”

“Sam,” Jack called over to his newly appointed deputy.  “Make your way out to the men and tell them to keep a watchful eye for
the boy.  He’s an overly thin, brown-haired youngster who’ll be easily spotted in tattered, ill-fitted clothes.  They call him The Bastard.”  He looked at Eloda thoughtfully before he spoke to Sam again.  “Tell them this is no longer an undertaking to keep the peace,” he said, and Jack’s eyes shadowed over frighteningly when he scowled.  “They want a fight, we’ll fight.”

Eloda closed her eyes and slowly nodded her head in agreement.  Taking the boy had crossed the line and the town would reap what they had sown. 

“There are innocent people out there,” Jonathon said, and a stunned expression struck his face.  “Many are just lingering for curiosity’s sake and conversation,” he defended.  When Jack wasn’t unsettled by his statement, Jonathon continued, loud and angrily, “Women and children are out there, Jack!”  Walking to him, Jonathon grabbed Jack by his upper arms and held him with an iron grasp.  “They have a right to be warned of what’s coming.”

Jack regarded him a few moments, and with a slight amount of reluctance, nodded.  Eloda knew Jack’
s rage matched her own, and she wouldn’t have faulted him had he chosen otherwise.

“Benton, cover me,”
Jack said, and he made his way to the door.  “Jonathon, grab a firearm and cover Eloda.”

Eloda ran to Jack and stopped with suspended breath.  She wanted to tell him
that she loved him, just on the awful chance he’d go outside and not return.  But it was no time for matters of the heart, not in a man’s eyes.  Instead, she reached for his hands and squeezed tight.   Looking into his eyes, she conveyed what was in her heart and not able to speak aloud.

“Be careful,” she finally said, and in return he offered no expression other than strong determination beneath his furrowed brows
.

Jack checked his gun
s and strung another cartridge belt over his head and across his chest.  With a nod of warning to Jonathon and Benton, and his pistol drawn, Jack opened the door to the mob.

The crowd tried to force their way inside
and yelled and swore their distaste for the woman within the jailhouse.  When there was no chance to peacefully restrain the multitude, Jack raised his gun and shot it into the air.  The people stopped and quickly formed an opening between themselves and the sheriff as he stood in the doorway of the jailhouse.  Others fled and had taken the gunshot as enough warning to walk away altogether. 

“
This ends now,” Jack shouted.  “I have deputized fourteen men today and they have been given the authority to keep the peace in this town at any cost they deem necessary.”  The crowd raised their arms and began shouting their objections.  For a second time, Jack shot his pistol into the air.  “This is not a debate,” he bellowed.  “You will disperse and go home.  Those of you who remain will be considered a threat to the peace and will be shot dead.”

“How dare you threaten us,”
shouted the preacher who led the people in the march against Eloda.

“Sir,” he said, scathingly, “
You have threatened and enticed this crowd into killing Eloda Timmons before she was even indicted.  As the sheriff, and a man, I see that as reprehensible.” he shouted at the entire crowd.  “And what manner of man abducts a boy for assurance he receives blood from a woman?”  When no one spoke, he finally shouted, “Go home, all of you! There will be no hanging today,” he finally said to them.

Jack looked down the road
where two of his men stood in front of the gallows.  They both tipped their heads forward and relayed to Jack each had his attention.

“
Burn it!” he ordered to them.

“No,” a
large man fiercely bellowed from the other side of the road as he exited Sally’s Diner.  The man who wore short, aging blond-grey hair was her husband Shultz’s brother.  He had Andy pressed threateningly against his front with a gun aimed at his head.  Eloda ran to Jack and looked over his shoulder for a better view.  Andy looked horrified and visibly quaked when the man gripped him tighter around his neck which he used to restrain him.