The Last Buckaroo (13 page)

With
that, the gallery erupted in window rattling cheers.

Judge
Samuels pounded them to silence one more time. 
“
Sheriff,
put that man under arrest for the murders of Lester Kingsley and Clyde Banyon! 
We
’
ll
hold the trial on Wednesday and hang him on Friday.
”

“
The
man has a wife and kids, Jethro,
”
the s
heriff
said.

“
Okay,
then we
’
ll
give Striker life and send him to Terryville.  An ex-deputy sheriff ought to
get a grand welcome there.
”
 
Judge Samuels then slammed his fist
to make it official and left the bench.

“
Serves
him right,
”
Katie said and stood to hug
Woody. 
“
You
are one crafty man, Mister Clampett.  What you did here today was nothing short
of miraculous.  However, it probably would have gotten you disbarred where I
came from.
”
  She laughed.

“
Well,
then thank God this isn
’
t where you came from,
little lady,
”
Clampett
said and moved on to some people nearby, who were waiting to congratulate him.

“
Oh,
Yancey, we did it!
”
Katie said gleefully and kissed him on
the cheek.  She then allowed him to pull her in for a long hug. 
“
What
will you do now?
”

“
I
’
ll
need to get away from here for a while, Katie
…
 
I need some time alone to get my head together.  It takes the wide open spaces
for that.
”

“
Okay,
”
she said, clearly disappointed. 
“
But
you will be back?
”

“
Count
on it,
”
he said, and abruptly
walked away.

Katie
watched him leave by the side door, most likely to avoid the crowd.  Now she
wondered if she
’
d ever see him again.

CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN

With
mixed emotions, Katie walked the few blocks to the tavern.  Entering she
discovered the place packed to the walls with people.  As she worked her way to
the bar she noticed some of the customers were female, a rarity for this
place.  The automobile could be the reason for that
 — 
city
folks getting out to the country.  Knowing not what else to do with herself she
stepped behind the bar to give Wanda a hand.  There was an abundance of dirty
glasses so she went right to work washing them up.

“
Oh,
God, thank you,
”
Wanda came up to her and said. 
“
So
your man was found not guilty.  I
’
ll
bet you
’
re
feeling super about that.
”

“
Well,
yes, I am.  But I don
’
t know where you got
the notion Yancey was my man.  He
’
s
just a good friend, Wanda.
”

“
That
’
s
not what I heard.
”

“
Well,
you don
’
t
see him here anywhere, do you?
”
Katie said, disappointedly.

“
Where
is he then?
”

“
Rode
out, I guess.  I suppose he got a horse somewhere.
”

“
Well,
that
’
s
a bummer,
”
Wanda
said and went back to serving customers.

An
hour later, Ralph Longley appeared before Katie at the bar.  He handed her an
envelope. 
“
Yancey asked me to deliver that
…
it
’
s
money for the lawyer.  I have Helmer
’
s
suit over at the hotel.
”

Katie
opened the envelope to see if there was a letter
 — 
no
such luck. 
“
Where is he, Ralph?
”

“
Rode
north, is all I know.  I sold him my old gelding.  I
’
m
thinking of buying a car anyway.
”

“
He
didn
’
t
happen to say when he
’
d be back?
”

“
No,
but he left some of his things in the tack room.  I suppose he
’
ll
be back for that someday
…
 
Oh, he did say he put an extra twenty
dollars in the envelope
 — 
for
you.
”

“
He
must have drawn his money from the bank?
”

“
Now
you
’
d
have to ask his banker that.  All I know is he had a big wad on him.  I saw it
when he paid me the fifty dollars for old Barney.
”

Katie
spotted Woody Clampett by the door, towering over the group of people that
surrounded him.  It seemed he was a popular man in town now.  She shouted
“
Woody!
”
and waved him over.

“
Thanks
,
Ralph,
”
she said, even though
there wasn
’
t much gratefulness in her heart at
the moment. 
“
Can I get you a beer?
”

“
May
as well.  I don
’
t expect there
’
ll
be any new customers, now that the trial is over.
”

She
drew Ralph the beer, sat it before him, then saw Woody had almost made it to
her. 
“
I
see you have a following already,
”
she said and handed
over the envelope.

“
Yes,
Katie.  It seems that way,
doesn
’
t
it?
”
 
He pulled the money from the envelope and quickly counted it. 
“
You
’
ve
made a mistake
…
there
’
s
twenty extra here.
”

“
Keep
it
…
you earned it.
”

“
Oh,
I couldn
’
t. 
It
’
s
me who should be paying you,
”
he said. 
“
Without
your help, Katie, I doubt we would have won.
”
 
He shoved four ten
dollar bills into her hand and closed her fingers around it.

“
Knowing
you, Woody, I
’
m sure you would have found a way,
”
Katie said and
laughed.  No doubt the man was a mind reader the way he manipulated Kermit
Striker
…
either that or a good guesser. 
“
Thank
you,
”
she said and put the
money in a small invisible pocket in the dress, at the waistline.

“
Now,
I need to talk to you about working for me full time,
”
he said, displaying a
hopeful grin.
 
“
Of
course it would mean you
’
d need to move to
Terryville.
”

“
Oh,
that does sound exciting, Woody, but I couldn
’
t. 
Thank you anyway.  I don
’
t want to leave here
just yet.  Besides, I
’
d miss the tavern.
”

“
Well,
if you change your mind
…”

“
I
won
’
t,
”
Katie responded
quickly.  She wanted to be here if Yancey ever returned, although she cautioned
herself about getting her hopes up. 
“
Let
me buy you a whiskey.
”

“
Just
one.  I
’
ll
need to go while there
’
s plenty of daylight
remaining.  Those lights on that Packard aren
’
t
far reaching enough for the way I drive.
”

Katie
poured the whiskey and sat up a water chaser along with it.  She
’
d
learned today, at the noon break from court, that
’
s
the way he liked it.

“
Here
’
s
to you, girl,
”
Woody
said, winked and threw back the shot, quickly following it with several
swallows of water.  He then saluted and backed away.

“
Be
sure to come around whenever you
’
re
in the area,
”
Katie said
, and returned
the salute. 
Ever the charmer
, she thought.

“
You
just try and keep me away.
”
 
He turned to work his way back
through the crowd, which took a while, with all those in the room that seemed
to want to shake his hand.

“
I
’
m
happy he worked out for you,
”
Ralph said.

“
Yes,
and I
’
ll
be forever grateful to you for recommending him to us, Ralph.
”

“
I
’
m
glad it turned out the way it did,
”
he said.

“
Me
too,
”
she said, and immediately
became lost in her thoughts
…
how it could
have been
…
 
How
it should have been! 
“
I
’
m
going home.
”
 
She
smiled to Ralph, walked to the end of the bar and went on out through the rear
door.  She would take a hot bath and turn in early.  Tomorrow things would be
back to normal, after a long and tormenting week
…
 
But what was normal? 
That would take some thought
…
 
It seemed, lately, every day was
different.  Each new one seemed to surprise her with something
…
be it good, or be it bad.

CHAPTER
NINETEEN

After
the huge day at the tavern the day before, Katie had plenty of time to sweep up
and mop after opening at noon
 — 
before
the first customer arrived.

Normally
she wouldn
’
t have to do that of a morning
because she always cleaned up the night before.  As it were, though, Wanda had
left her an enormous mess.  Poor Wanda!  Katie supposed she
’
d
become anxious to leave at closing time with some newly seduced guy and simply
put her personal desires ahead of duty.  That was a decision Wanda could make without
giving the matter a second thought.

The
so-called customer seemed to be having difficulty deciding if this was the
place he really wanted to be.  He loitered at the door for the longest time
before Katie stopped washing glasses to ask,
“
Can
I help you?
”

“
I
thought maybe Sheriff Preston Ames was in here.  I see his car is parked out
front.
”

Katie
had plenty of time to look the man over.  For one he was old, maybe seventy but
surprisingly his hair and cookie duster mustache were mostly dark brown.  He had
deep crevices in his face and a creased black Western hat on his head.  He was
tall but not terribly so
 — 
and
slim
 — 
and
hunched a little.
 
“
Have
you tried the eatery next door?
”

“
I
have,
”
he said and turned to
grab another look outside. 
“
He
’
s
not there.
”

Now
the man was beginning to make her nervous, and she moved down to be closer to
the end of the bar. 
“
Maybe you ought to
check across at the hotel.
”

“
I
’
ll
just wait here, if you don
’
t mind, ma
’
am.
”

“
Suit
yourself,
”
Katie
said and dipped to see if the shotgun was still where she
’
d
put it last
…
it
was. 
“
I
’
ll
just take this can of trash out to the barrel in back, then.
”
 
She glanced and saw the
man was fixated on the street.  It was then she got the courage to put the
sawed off double barrel in the thirty gallon copper can and proceeded to drag
it to the rear door.  Once outside she removed the gun and dashed between
buildings to get to the main street.  Anxiously then she looked both ways. 
There were few traveling the dusty thoroughfare, as opposed to yesterday when
it was a snarl of both automobile and horse traffic.

The
s
heriff
’
s
Model T was nearby, parked facing the sidewalk, just as the stranger said. 
Then it dawned on her.  Often the sheriff will stop at the eatery, eat his noon
meal, and then walk back to the jail with the baskets containing prisoner
meals.  But why hadn
’
t the man checked at
the sheriff
’
s office?  Perhaps if he had, he
would
’
ve
found Preston there.

Now
she began to wonder if it wasn
’
t just her.  She
was a bit out of sorts after the excitement of this past week: Clyde, the
trial, Lester Kingsley, and then Yancey leaving so abruptly.  Perhaps she
should get back inside.  The man must think it awfully strange she was gone so
long.  After all, she hadn
’
t seen a gun,
but then he was wearing that type of duster some automobile drivers wore.  No
telling what he had under it.

Taking
a chance of being seen, Katie peeked around the corner of the building to her
right.  It was the one that housed the tavern.  And sure enough the stranger
was still there, she could see the brim of his black hat protruding beyond the
doorway.  Then as she was watching it disappeared
…
he
’
d
obviously stepped back inside.  And then she saw why; the sheriff had just
stepped from his office and was coming up the sidewalk on the opposite side of
the street.

Katie
laid the shotgun in the narrow space between the buildings and stepped out onto
the sidewalk.  Feverishly she waved her arms, trying to get Preston
’
s
attention.  His eyes, however, were on the automobiles coming and going. 
Finally in a panic she just walked out into traffic, putting a hand up to the
automobiles as she walked.  It had always worked for her before, why not now?

When
she reached the center of the street she expected to do the same on the other
side, but the sheriff had spotted her and was having none of it. 
“
You
stay right there, Katie!
”
he yelled, throwing up a hand.
 
“
You
’
ll
get yourself run over!
”

“
I
’
m
wearing a dress, Sheriff!  Nobody wants to run over a woman!
”
she went on across
 — 
cars
braking to a stop as she did.

“
Damn
you!
”
he said when she
reached him. 
“
Must you always antagonize
…”

“
Shut
up
,
Sheriff, and listen!  There
’
s a man over at
the tavern on the lookout for you.  I don
’
t
know why, but I think he
’
s trouble.
”

“
What
does he look like?
”
 
Concern immediately consumed his face.

“
Brown
hair, old weathered face, tall, slim, big black hat
…
 
He
’
s
wearing a duster.  I
’
m thinking he may have
a gun under it.
”

“
What
kind of gun?
”

“
I
don
’
t
know, Preston.  Maybe a pistol, like you have on.  He looks scary
 — 
there
’
s
no expression to his face.
”

“
You
stay here, Katie.  I
’
ll go have a look.
”

“
No
don
’
t,
Sheriff,
”
Katie
screeched. 
“
I have a bad feeling about this
…”

“
I
said I
’
d
handle it!
”
he
snarled. 
“
Now do as I say!
”

Katie
walked on up the sidewalk, all the while watching Preston Ames making his way
across the street.  When she got to a place across from the old horse tank in
the center of the street, she crossed to it.  From there she could see without
being in any danger.  If a shootout should occur, she could always duck behind
it.

With
the sheriff coming, the man in the tavern stepped out onto the sidewalk and
seemed to be waiting.  The sheriff continued on across the street and
approached him.  Ten feet from the stranger he stopped.  They faced each other
for what seemed a long while.  Then in a flash the sheriff was all over the
man.  He forced him into the tavern wall and before long came away with a large
pistol.

Katie,
her heart thumping wildly, went the rest of the way across the street and saw
the sheriff pushing the man up the sidewalk in the direction of the jail.  She
picked up the shotgun between the buildings, ran to the back and reentered the
tavern.  To calm herself she went back to washing glasses.

Twenty
minutes later Sheriff Ames entered the tavern and walked directly up to her. 
“
Misses
Peck.
”

“
Sheriff,
”
Katie returned,
noticing Ames was having some trouble looking at her.  His eyes were all over
the room.

“
I
want to thank you for the warning,
”
he said. 
“
But
I can
’
t
help but wonder why you did it after all I put you through.
”

“
Gee,
I don
’
t
know, Sheriff.  Maybe it
’
s because you
’
re
one of the good guys.  I mean, I don
’
t
agree with your methods, but in your heart, I have to believe you
’
re
a decent man.
”

“
I
am a decent man, Katie.  Would it be too much to ask, after all that
’
s
happened, we at least remain civil toward one another?
”

“
I
was hoping we could become friends, Sheriff?  I don
’
t
do civil well.  With me it
’
s either sweet
cream or sour milk.  I guess I
’
m not equipped
with an in between.
”

“
I
suppose we can give it a try, if you want
…
 
I
don
’
t
have many.
”

“
Oh,
I think you have more than you know.  Friends, then
…”
 
Katie extended a hand.

Preston
took it for a firm grip just as a renegade tear appeared in one of his eyes,
and his pinched lips loosened some.

“
So
who was that guy?
”
Katie asked.

“
Just
an old has been gunslinger from the old days looking to put one more notch in
his gun before he dies.  Or maybe he just wanted to die
…
whichever.  They come from time to time.  The last one was two years ago.  I
had to put him down.  He wouldn
’
t take no for an
answer.
”

This
gave Katie a chill up her spine that caused her to stiffen.

“
His
name is William
‘
Willie
’
Balfore.  You may remember him as The Dawson Kid, if you were ever a reader of
dime novels.
”

“
What
’
s
a dime novel?
”
Katie
asked.

Ames
glared at her as if he was trying to remember what era he was in at the
moment. 
“
You never heard of a dime novel,
Katie?
”
he laughed. 
“
I
’
ve
got several boot boxes filled with them.  I
’
ll
bring a few, if you
’
re interested?
”

“
I
’
d
like that,
”
Katie said
, and she smiled
warmly.

A
silence fell over the room for a long moment as each were deep in thought.

“
Yancey
’
s
gone,
”
Katie
said.

“
He
came by
 — 
picked
up that little derringer and some clothes he left in the cell.
”

“
Well,
I
’
m
sure glad he didn
’
t leave any reason to
return,
”
Katie said, with a
healthy measure of sarcasm.

“
He
’
ll
be back.
”

“
What
makes you so sure?
”
 
Katie brightened.

“
A
coon dog on the hunt never strays far from the scent, Katie.
”
 
He turned toward the door, listing a little to the left
 — 
looking
older now.  His long white hair shifted from side to side as he walked.

“
Preston
…”
she called after him. 
“
Get
back here
…
 
You
need to explain that!
”