Shadow of the Gallows (8 page)

Reggie Drake rode into Newberry feeling pleased because he’d come up with this plan all by himself. Probably Allan would say he’d be a fool to attempt it and would try to stop him. If he was successful, and Reggie had few doubts on that score, it would stop Allan worrying; when Allan worried he was a real pain. No, once this was done their problems would be over. They could get on with their lives and
important
ambitions. It wasn’t fair they should be held back by anyone, let alone a nobody like Tom Steadman.

Reggie dismounted by the livery stable and led his horse into the corral. He had timed his arrival in town well for it was still too early to put his plan into action. He would have to wait until it was dark and not many people were around the plaza, thus he could visit the brothel first where Madam Josephine’s new girl would be waiting for him.

Amy Mallory came out. She didn’t look
particularly
pleased to see him.

‘Afternoon, Miss Mallory,’ he said, tipping his hat
to her and acting polite. ‘Look after my horse, will you?’

‘How long will you be?’

‘I’ll be leaving sometime this evening.’

‘All right. He’ll be ready for you.’ Amy took hold of the horse’s reins.

Reggie never knew when it was best to keep quiet and now with a wink and grin, he said, ‘Good. I might have to leave in a hurry so keep him saddled and bridled.’ With a spring in his step and whistling a lively tune he walked away leaving Amy wondering what he meant.

‘You don’t mind helping Bob Sparks guard the jail, do you?’ Cobb asked Neil that evening, when they were finishing dinner at the boarding-house.

Neil wasn’t best pleased at the thought but Cobb was so anxious over everything that he said, ‘’Course not. D’you think there’ll be any trouble?’

‘I doubt it. Not with a legal hanging only a couple of days away. But you never know and Jackson was worried earlier because a bunch of farmers was still in town and he was afraid things might get out of hand. Have you finished?’

‘Yeah.’ Neil gulped down the last of his coffee.

‘Let’s go then.’

The stores around the plaza were shut up for the night and the only lights were those showing from the hotel and the marshal’s office. The few people about were heading for the saloons.

‘Mr Cobb, which of the Drakes d’you think shot Bannister?’

‘I don’t know. Unless they confess’ – which Cobb thought unlikely – ‘I doubt we ever will know. Maybe Tom was right when he said they might not have actually done the killing themselves but ordered it done. I reckon it could have been Lucan or Carter. They were quite ready to kill from ambush.’

They were almost at the jailhouse when several shots fired in quick succession rang out, loud and startling in the stillness.

‘Quick!’ Cobb led the way at a run.

A moment later the jailhouse door was flung open and Jackson came rushing out.

‘Someone shot at Steadman!’ he called. ‘Round the back.’

‘Neil, go help Sparks,’ Cobb ordered.

While Neil hurried to do as he was told, Cobb, together with Jackson, raced round the side of the jailhouse past the almost completed gallows.

At the back of the cells was a small exercise yard enclosed by a high wall. As they reached the rear of the jail someone clambered over the wall and jumped down.

‘There!’ Cobb said. ‘Hey you! Stop!’

With a quick glance over his shoulder, the figure took off, heading for the nearest alley. Cobb and Jackson started after him.

‘Careful,’ Jackson warned, as they reached the black mouth of the alley. He peered round the edge. Nothing and no one. ‘It’s OK. C’mon.’

‘Where can he go?’ Cobb asked.

‘Anywhere. These alleys all lead into one another. Watch out!’

A movement up ahead. The flash of gunfire. Followed by shots. Bullets whined by them, slammed into the walls and ricocheted away.

Cobb threw himself to one side. He clawed out his gun, firing back even though he didn’t have a clear target. From opposite him, Jackson gave a little cry and was flung off his feet.

‘You hit?’

‘Yeah,’ Jackson muttered from the ground. ‘Not bad though.’

The firing stopped and telling Jackson to remain where he was, Cobb went in pursuit. But by the time he reached the end of the alley and inched his way round the corner he’d lost sight of the man he was pursuing. He came to a frustrated halt. Whoever it was had gone. He could see no movement and hear no sound. As several alleys opened off this one he realized there was little use in trying to find the man who could be anywhere by now. Or could be waiting in the darkness to shoot at him. Swearing, he holstered his gun and went back to where he’d left the marshal.

Jackson was on his feet and holding his arm. As Cobb approached he said, ‘Did you catch him?’

‘No.’ Cobb didn’t like admitting that. ‘Did you recognize him?’

‘Unfortunately, no. He was too far away and it’s too damn dark.’

‘I think he also had a bandanna pulled up over his face. He was tall is about all I can say for sure.’

‘It could’ve been anyone. At a guess it was one of the farm boys who’re still in town. I’ll go on
down to the saloons later on and speak to them about it.’

‘Want me to come with you?’

‘No. This is town business and I’m town marshal and I can handle it by myself. Not that I expect to learn anything,’ Jackson added gloomily. ‘They’ll all stick together and deny responsibility.’

‘It might have been one of the Drakes.’

‘Maybe.’

‘What about your arm?’

‘It hurts like hell but I’ll manage.’

‘OK. Was Tom hurt?’

‘I don’t know. When Sparks and me heard the shots and realized what was happening I immediately came outside to see if I could catch the attacker. I didn’t stop to look in on Steadman.’

‘We’d better find out.’ Cobb wasn’t sure what he would do if Steadman had been shot dead, except that he’d make sure he discovered who’d done it and make them pay. ‘Get you patched up as well.’

As they emerged onto the plaza, they saw that quite a crowd had gathered in front of the jailhouse, demanding to know what was going on. Sparks was attempting to send them on their way but no one was taking any notice of him.

‘It’s all right, folks,’ Jackson said, stepping up onto the sidewalk. ‘Fun’s over. Someone took a shot at Steadman and—’

‘Hell he ain’t dead, is he? We don’t wanna miss out on a hanging.’

This caused some laughter and shouts of
agreement
.

‘No, he ain’t hit,’ Sparks said, with a little nod of reassurance at the marshal.

‘All of you can go on home now.’ Jackson stood at the jailhouse door. ‘Whoever did it is long gone.’

‘And someone fetch the doctor,’ Cobb added. ‘The marshal has been shot.’

Inside the office, Jackson sat down as if his legs would no longer support him. He took off his shirt. The sleeve was soaked with blood and the wound was still bleeding.

‘I don’t think the bullet is in there,’ he said.

‘No,’ Cobb agreed, ‘but it’s a nasty gash all the same. Go on home after you’ve been down to the saloons. Take it easy. Me and Neil’ll stay here for the night. Make sure nothing more happens.’

‘OK, thanks.’

Cobb went through to the cells where Neil stood guard outside Steadman’s cell. Steadman was pacing up and down, looking both scared and angry.

‘Catch him?’ Neil asked.

Cobb shook his head. ‘What about you, Tom, are you all right?’

‘Dammit all to hell, of course I ain’t!’ the man shouted. ‘Oh, I’m not hit but I’m sure shaken up. Someone wants me dead so badly they can’t wait for the day after tomorrow! Three shots were sent through my window.’

‘They missed,’ Cobb pointed out.

Steadman clenched the bars. ‘That’s hardly the point. I want to know what that damn marshal intends to do to protect me.’

‘You’re not in any more danger tonight. Your
attacker has run off.’

With an effort Steadman calmed down and grinned. ‘I don’t want to die before my hanging. I’ve got quite a speech prepared.’

Neil shuddered. How could he make jokes like that!

Cobb looked at the cell window. It was quite high up and meant that Steadman couldn’t look out
without
standing on tiptoe and then he’d only just be able to see over the ledge. Whoever shot at him from the yard didn’t have any better a view. He must have stood outside, reached up with a gun and fired wildly. He might have been lucky and have a bullet strike Steadman but he had no way of knowing where Steadman was or what he was doing. Whether he even had the right cell.

‘Whoever the attacker was, he was a stupid one. It won’t be too hard to find out who he was.’ And Cobb just bet the marshal was wrong when he said a farmer was responsible and he was right about it being one of the Drakes.

Hair plastered to his head, neck clammy with cold sweat, Reggie Drake rode fast for home. He wasn’t quite as pleased with himself as he’d been on the way into town. He didn’t think he’d managed to shoot Steadman. He certainly hadn’t heard a cry of pain or the fall of a body. Even firing through the cell window hadn’t been as easy as he thought it would be – he hadn’t even been able to see his target! Instead he’d nearly been shot himself. Nearly been caught. Had only escaped by luck.

What on earth was Allan going to say? There were times when Reggie knew he was the fool Allan considered him.

The doctor soon arrived to see to Jackson’s wound. After a quick examination, he agreed that the bullet wasn’t in the arm and, although there was a lot of blood, the wound was little more than a deep graze.

‘It’ll hurt and be stiff for a while,’ he said, after he’d washed and bandaged the marshal’s arm. ‘But that’s all. You’re lucky.’

Jackson sighed in relief. It would be bad enough being shot and out of action at any time, right now with feelings running so high it would be disastrous.

‘Try to take it easy for a couple of days,’ the doctor added in warning.

‘Easier said than done,’ Jackson said with a little frown.

Once the doctor had left and the marshal had gone down to the red-light district, Sparks busied himself making coffee.

‘I think I’ll go pay a call on the Mallorys,’ Cobb said, getting to his feet. ‘They might have heard the shots and be worried. I’ll try not to be too long.’

‘OK.’ Neil hid a little smile knowing that Cobb didn’t like sitting about, doing nothing.

‘And if Sparks thinks he can manage here by himself why don’t you go along to the telegraph office, find out if there’s a reply from the judge? Be quick though.’

‘D’you think the attacker will come back?’

‘I doubt it but I don’t want to take any chances.’

The plaza was again quiet when Cobb went outside. Keeping a careful watch out for any possible ambush he hurried through the dark streets to the livery stable, where a lamp burned in the doorway. Both Greg and Amy were inside. When Cobb appeared, Amy turned to him, her face pale in the lamplight.

‘Oh, Mr Cobb, we heard firing and Greg went to find out what it meant. He said there was an attack on Tom. He’s not hurt, is he?’

‘No, don’t worry. Whoever it was missed.’

‘Thank God.’

‘But Marshal Jackson was wounded.’

‘Oh no! What happened?’

‘We chased the attacker but he shot Jackson and got away from me amongst the alleyways. Luckily Owen wasn’t badly hurt.’

‘Know who it was?’ Greg asked.

‘Not for certain.’

He and Amy glanced at one another.

‘What is it?’

‘Reggie Drake was in town this afternoon,’ Amy said. ‘He arrived about five o’clock and he was acting most strangely. Well, even more strangely than he usually does.’

Cobb tried not to grin. He’d felt sure he was right
when he said one of the Drakes was responsible for the attempted shooting.

‘He seemed excited as if he had something on his mind and he wanted his horse kept saddled and bridled because he thought he might have to leave quickly. He rode away not long ago. I didn’t see him. But Greg did. Go on, Greg,’ – she nudged her brother – ‘tell Mr Cobb.’

‘That’s right,’ was all Greg managed.

‘And was he in a hurry?’

‘Yeah,’ Greg said with a quick nod and added in a mumble, ‘Rode off real quick.’

‘It’s unusual for Reggie to leave this early,’ Amy went on. ‘He usually stays the night.’ She blushed slightly, so Cobb realized that she meant Reggie slept at the brothel, while Greg frowned at Cobb as if he was to blame. ‘And why should he be in a hurry? It’s not as if the girls he associates with are married or have steady boyfriends.’ Another deeper blush.

Cobb nodded to show he knew what she was talking about and that she needn’t say any more.

‘And while I know Reggie likes to drink in the saloon, perhaps play a game or two of poker, he rarely does anything from which he’d have to run away. And how would he know in advance?’

‘Did he say anything to you?’ Cobb asked Greg, who shook his head.

‘But he looked red-faced as if he’d been running, didn’t he?’ Amy urged.

‘Yeah.’

‘But, Mr Cobb, why would Reggie want to try to kill Tom?’ Amy said in an anguished voice.

‘Because I’m sure he or his brother shot Bannister. Perhaps Reggie believed that with Tom dead the whole matter would be over and forgotten and I would just go home.’

‘Why?’ Greg asked.

Cobb took that to mean why had the Drakes killed Bannister. ‘I can think of a couple of reasons.’

‘The land and the water?’

‘Yes, Miss Mallory.’

‘And are they the ones who spread the lies about me and Ralph Bannister?’ Amy asked, while Greg thumped one hand against the other.

‘They must have been.’

‘Well, it wouldn’t be difficult. Just one word in Mrs Penrose’s ear and the news would be all over town. But why?’

‘I’m not sure. Perhaps Tom had upset them and that was one way of getting back at him. And it wouldn’t surprise me to discover that they’re also the ones who managed to start the rumours about the farmers rustling cattle and, on the other side, the ranchers being against the farmers for no good reason. And those about Tom suddenly becoming violent and terrorizing the neighbourhood.’

‘I doubt that would be hard either,’ Amy said. ‘The ranchers and the farmers don’t like one another and would be only too pleased to believe the worst of each other.’

Her brother nodded. ‘See it all the time.’

‘But, Mr Cobb, I can understand them shooting Bannister for his land but these other things—’ Amy spread her hands. ‘What’s behind it all?’

‘I imagine it’s tied up with their ambitions to be the biggest and the best. Cause discontent of all kinds and the resulting chaos would make it easier for them to step in and take over more land. Land that belongs to the farmers and which they feel should be theirs by right. In the case of Bannister’s land and its good water they obviously decided not to wait and so had him shot.’

‘Certainly they both consider themselves
important
, don’t they, Greg? Oh!’ Amy suddenly cried while her brother took hold of her hand. ‘It’s bad enough to know Tom might hang but when you know who the real culprits are and that Tom is
innocent
it’s much, much worse.’ Tears came into her eyes. ‘What will I do without him? You must set him free, Mr Cobb, please.’

‘Bear up, Miss Mallory, I’m hoping there’ll soon be a reply to my message to Judge Bowyer. Hopefully he’ll agree that a new trial can be called.’

But Cobb was doomed to disappointment. When he got back to the jailhouse, Neil gave him a telegram.

‘What does it say?’ Cobb asked, before he
remembered
that Neil couldn’t read or write.

It was from the judge’s clerk. Judge Bowyer was travelling on his circuit and was in between towns. The clerk would leave an urgent message for Bowyer to contact either him or Cobb but he didn’t expect the judge to reach the next town for a couple of days.

By which time Steadman would be hanged.

‘Damn!’

‘Are you going to pay the Drakes another visit?’ Neil asked.

‘I could. But there’s not much point. Reggie isn’t about to confess to trying to kill Tom. Nor, more importantly, to the shooting of Bannister.’

‘Then Steadman hangs?’

Cobb took several turns about the office and then swung back to Neil with an anguished look in his eyes.

‘Neil, I can’t let that happen. Not now. Not when I know he’s innocent and who’s guilty.’

‘So what are you going to do?’

‘I’ve got an idea and I just hope Tom and, more importantly, Jackson will agree to go along with it.’