Thank you for your continued support and comments. I realize the last couple of chapters and this one are dialogue heavy and I hope
nobody minds reading the episode. Dear Nancy tried to eliminate some of the dialogue but only succeeded to add more to the chapter. It seems this episode
just wanted to be put down on paper. I can't tell you how many times both Nancy and I have watched the episode getting the words just right. We hope!
Well now that Maggie is out of the picture, at least for a little while, shall we see what else Heath has to say? Enjoy. Cathy
Town Of No Exit
Long Ride Ahead - Chapter 23
Charles Fredrickson stepped quietly into the sheriff's office followed by Mary Hardy. He raised an eyebrow at the silence that greeted his entrance. His raised eyebrows quickly furrowed into a frown as he took in the sombre disposition of his patient."Is everything alright here?" he asked worriedly as he crossed the room.
Heath lifted his head and smiled tiredly at the doctor. "Yeah, fine Doc. Ol' Nick's just letting off some steam. Ya best get in ta yer patient."
Doctor Fredrickson studied the young blond cowboy critically for a minute before nodding his head. "Call me if you need me. Come along Mary."
Mary walked past the assembled group offering a smile of encouragement to the family and glaring darkly at the two men sitting opposite the Barkleys. She nodded to the sheriff in passing. "Ye been missed in the kitchen John laddie, this past week. Ye come past in the morning and I'll fix ye a proper breakfast. A strapping lad like yeself needs more than coffee to start the day."
Victoria smiled knowingly as her sons all smirked and John Emerson blushed crimson as he stammered his reply. "Yes Mary."
Satisfied with his answer Mary followed the doctor through the door. She was no stranger to the cells, having helped both the doctor and the sheriff on numerous occasions in the past with prisoners, male and female but the forlorn figure dressed in black took her breath away. "Saints preserve us." She hurried past the doctor and gripped the locked cell door. "John Emerson ye open this door right this minute."
"There's no need to shout Mary, I'm right behind you and..." The rest of the conversation was lost to the Barkleys as the connecting door to the cells was closed behind the sheriff.
Samuel Harrison cleared his throat, "If you're ready Heath, I'd like to continue."
Heath took a deep breath and nodded. "Yeah sure, Judge Harrison."
"Alright Heath," Samuel smiled encouragingly, "as I asked earlier, did Conway or Brown offer any proof to the charges against you?"
Heath glanced quickly to his right as the echo of the final word died before springing to his feet and making a dash for the saloon doors. His bid for freedom was foiled by the Englishman who thrust out his arm, causing him to trip and fall into a table and some chairs. Heath felt himself lifted to his feet and then…nothing.
Heath frowned; the images and words were blurred as though he were seeing and hearing them through a black shroud.
He couldn't remember retaking his seat in the chair but he was there once again and the 'trial' was still going on around him. Conway was talking, "Brutal… savage…guilt by degree… vermin…highest calling of man... MURDER.".
Heath tried to refocus his thoughts, fought to remain calm, the memories strong.
"Heath Barkley is this your bill of sale?"
"Yes."
"Nevada Merchants and Farmers Bank, giving credit to the Barkley Ranch." Is that your ranch?"
"My family's."
"How many acres is it?"
"Thirty thousand."
"How much is it worth, all of it?"
"Enough."
"There you are your Honour, a flagrant example of trying to bribe the court. I recommend the defendant be fined two thousand dollars or hung."
"Conway tried ta use the bill of sale for the horses as proof that I tried ta bribe the court but there was never any proof
ta go with the charges.
He…" Heath swallowed as he felt the bile rise in his throat. "He said I should pay two thousand dollars or… or be hung."
"And Mr. Brown, your 'judge', is that when he agreed that you should hang?" Harrison looked over at Brown, not Heath as he asked the question. Brown answered for the blond.
"I never said to hang him." It was said weakly, but it was the only defense he could raise at that point.
Heath jumped in, said, "He said something about studying a…a motion of some sort." Heath smiled weakly as he felt the comforting hands of his mother and brother grip him, conveying their continued support.
"Did he ever say you were guilty or pass sentence on you?"
Heath looked at Brown before answering simply, "No."
Harrison's face became hard as he glared at Brown again talking to Heath, "Am I given to understand that without ever finding you guilty or passing sentence on you, Judge Brown allowed Conway to hang you?" The words, Judge Brown, were said with contempt, not missed by Brown, who looked down.
Heath raised an eyebrow as the two girls began cheering and clapping.
"Let's hang him."
Heath was prodded to his feet and led from the saloon. Once out in the street he took advantage of the open space. He pushed Haunch over and swung his arms around connecting with the Englishman's stomach, knocking the man over. Taking advantage of his sudden attack, Heath dashed down the street to the accompaniment of a single shot. Heath ran. He had no idea where he was going, he just ran. He fell into a coil of wire, picked himself up and ran some more, right into the waiting arms of Brown and the Englishman. Heath spun around to return the way he had come. Haunch was there, shovel in hand.
"Haunch wanted ta hang me."
Nick made to stand but felt a strong grip on his shoulder and sank back into his chair without a word. He had to content himself with glowering darkly at the black eyes staring vacantly back at him.
"They were takin me ta the jail. I tried ta escape, made a run for it but there was no where ta go and I couldn't get ta the horses. Was runnin in circles till I eventually ran back in ta them. And a shovel." He added ruefully, "Next thing I remember is waking up in a cell."
Heath looked out the small jail window and watched as Maggie refreshed herself in the horse trough in front of the jail. He could see the key hanging from its loop on a nail driven into the porch upright.
"Maggie, I've got a beautiful pearl stick pin, it was hidden in my shoe. You can have it if you want."
"Well let me see it."
"Come here."
"If you got a pearl stickpin you'd show it to me. You haven't got one."
"Yeah get the key and come inside."
Maggie laughed gaily, enjoying the flirt. "Boy do you think I'm dumb. I must look like the dumbest girl since Fanny Applesauce."
Heath revealed the stickpin; Maggie gasped and hurriedly lifted the key from its nail. She reached out for the stick pin as Heath reached for the key, each grabbing their desired object. Heath hurried across the small cell and tried the key in the door.
"I…I bribed Maggie with a…" Heath looked sheepishly at Audra and a blush began to colour his cheeks. "A pearl stickpin I bought for you Sis," Audra returned her brother's smile. "I tried to get her to come into the cell, thought I could get out. But she wouldn't. Instead she said she'd give me the key ta the cell. But it wasn't the right key." Heath sighed heavily. "Should have known they were only playing with me."
"That's it, that's it ducky, use the key. Use the key. What's the matter love, is it the wrong key? Aw now. Well now you didn't think we'd be hanging the right key up on a hook out here did you?
Disgusted with the man's game Heath threw the key out the window and lunged at the man, trying to get to him through the bars.
"I'll kill you."
"You're a nasty fellow you know? You'll kill me will you? You'll do that? Well just for that you're not getting out. Not til we have to hang you."
"You gonna kill me for forty dollars?"
"Well now, we wouldn't kill you for forty dollars. Now would you like me to tell you why? I'll tell you. You see they're all daft, all of them you know."
Brown was a lawyer and town judge. He made a quarter of a million dollars in the mine before they had to close down. He put it all back in to keep them going poor fellow you know. And Haunch, well Haunch is…he worked for him you know, he was the bailiff and the hangman. And Quita, I told you about her, she rode with Benito Juarez but she had one battle too many and Maggie, poor darling, she entertained the miners one after the other and finally one day they found her running up and down the alley outside making noises like a bird. But you see I'm really the only one who's not balmy. I'm a Sergeant Major, Fifteenth Fusiliers in her Majesty's Army. I trod the boards once too you know. But at present I'm wanted for a small thing called desertion and murder. You know there's not many places far enough away a man can go when he's wanted for murdering an officer of her Majesty's Army."
"So what's the point of all this?"
"Well everybody's entitled to a full life don't you think? And they enjoy it. I invent the games and they play it. Now Brown he's the judge, he's entitled to full honour and dignity. Haunch…Haunch has got a kind of religious turn to him you know. Maggie, now she'll be playing a variety of parts as I'm sure you'll see. Er, Quita, she keeps up her interest with the horses. But they're all mad you know every last one of them, But I take care of them and they take care of me. It's kinda like a…a business but very little profit in it though because, well because we haven't hung too many yet."
Heath's head snapped around and he glared at the two defendants. "It was a game, just a stupid game."
"I'm sorry Heath; you'll have to elaborate on that."
"After Maggie gave me the key, Conway came along and was standing outside the jail watching me. He started goading me, I lunged at him through the bars and threatened ta kill him." Heath shrugged, "I was fed up with his stupid games. Asked him if he was goin ta hang me for forty dollars." Heath closed his eyes. "He said they weren't hangin me for the money, then he started tryin ta explain all of them ta me."
"What did he say son?"
The family edged forward on their seats curious to hear other excuses Conway had given. For Victoria though, it was a chance to have Brown's story verified. Heath searched his mother's face and she gave him an encouraging smile.
"He was tryin to justify their behaviour. He said Brown was a lawyer and judge. Made a quarter of a million from the mine and then put it back in when the mine went bad. Lost the lot. Haunch worked for him as his bailiff and hangman. Quita was hidin. She was one of Benito Juarez's gang, an Maggie…well she was a…" Heath paused, "she was the entertainment for the miners until…well..." Heath trailed off as he stared at the closed door to the cells.
"And the man Conway. What did he have to say about himself?"
"Ya know I still didn't know his name at that point." Heath shook his head, "He tried ta tell me he was the only sane one among them. Said he was a Sergeant Major in the Fifteenth Fusiliers and he was wanted for desertion and murder of an officer."
Brown sighed as Nick exploded beside his brother. "Is that it, that's all he said?"
"No Nick," Heath sighed, "there was more."
"Like what?"
"I asked him what the point of it all was and he replied that everybody was entitled ta live a full life, except me I guess. Said he invented the games and they all played and enjoyed them. It was like they all had roles. Brown was entitled ta respect cause he was a judge. Haunch was the religious figure, when he wasn't hangin me."
Audra stifled a gasp that made Heath drop his head. "Sorry Sis," he mumbled. The strong grip on his shoulder gave him the strength to continue. "It was Quita's job ta look after the horses and Maggie, she was supposed ta play a variety of roles, but I guess she wasn't playin. Ta her everythin was real."
"And what of Conway, what was his role?"
"It was his job ta take care of them and they took care a him. He likened it ta a business, a not very profitable one cause they hadn't hung too many."
"He said that Heath? He said they hadn't hung too many. He inferred they had hung others?" Samuel's voice held a note of urgency to it.
"That's what he said Judge."
Brown leapt to his feet. "Hearsay. That evidence is inadmissible. You know that. You can't take his word that that's what Conway said Samuel turned and glared at Brown.
"Sit down Mister Brown. You can be certain that I am aware of the law." With Brown seated again Samuel turned back to Heath. "What happened next Heath?"
"Later that night Quita came ta see me."
Heath rose from the hard cot when the girl Quita entered the jail. "Senor I want to talk to you. Will you talk to me?"
"What about?"
"I want to go away."
"Look lady your girlfriend's already played the game. What's yours?"
"No senor. I want to go away from here. I will help you."
"Oh. Well go find the key and unlock the door."
"I can't. Conway has it."
"Well what other game can we play?"
"I'm not playing a game. I have to get away from here. I'm going to have a child. Please senor I have no place to go. Nobody."
"Who's the father? Conway?"
"No senor. A man who came here. He was killed. I can't raise my baby in this place. Please."
"If you're telling the truth there's a sheriff in Dorado. Go tell him"
"I would go to prison. I know you don't believe me but you have a family. You could help me.
"Will you get me a gun?"
"I can't. Conway would kill me."
"Alright I have a brother meeting me in Dorado. His name is Jarrod Barkley. He's there now. Go tell him. He won't hurt you."
Heath watched Quita leave the jail, collect the paint and ride out, headed towards Dorado.
"She told me she wanted ta leave Ocatillo Wells because she was having a baby. Said it belonged to a man who had been killed."
"By Conway?"
"I don't know Judge, she never said, but then she never was pregnant ta begin with. It was just a story she made up ta
make herself feel better.
Anyway I asked her ta get the key and let me out or get a gun. She refused saying Conway would kill her. In the end I sent her here ta find Jarrod."
"I should have done more." The words were quiet and remorseful and barely above a whisper but they carried to Heath.
"Wasn't your fault Jarrod. Was nothing you could have done, she chose her own path."
"I know that Heath but the thought still isn't easy to bear."
"Yeah, I know how ya feel Pappy."
Samuel turned to Jarrod. "So the girl rode here, to Dorado?"
"Yes Judge Harrison. The hotel clerk recognized the horse she was riding as belonging to Sam De Cova. He yelled for help, but she rode out before anyone could stop her."
"And no one followed her?"
Jarrod shook his head. "If only she had mentioned Heath's name, or my name, or even just Barkley…if only I'd paid more attention to her." He shook his head with the memory of seeing the woman. "No Judge, she was gone before we could get the sheriff and at that time I didn't know that Heath needed my help."
"So the hotel clerk can identify the girl as riding De Cova's horse?"
"Yes Judge Harrison."
"Alright, thank you Jarrod." Samuel nodded curtly at Jarrod before returning his attention to the pale faced blond. "Heath are you alright? Do you want us to call a break?"
Heath reached for the mug of water with a shaking hand. After gulping down several mouthfuls and taking a deep breath he shook his head at the judge. "Want ta finish it now Judge, then it's done."
"Alright Heath if you're sure. Please continue."
Heath was led from the jail, handcuffs still locked around his wrists and a rope tied around his waist. Maggie stood outside, dressed in mourning black from head to foot.
"Now don't forget we're not going to hang you. We're doing what's called a Governor's reprieve. At the last minute we get a telegram from the Governor. And in the telegram it says you're going to be pardoned. Don't forget that now."
Not having any other choice, Heath followed the procession through the streets of Ocatillo Wells. He watched as Maggie, playing the role of the grieving widow this time to excess, was roughly thrown to the ground by Brown. Haunch ignored the scene being played out as he recited Bible verses and pulled Heath along behind him by the rope.
"Redemption in his holy blood. Amen."
Heath climbed up onto the tray of the buggy, Conway's words ringing in his ears. "Governor's reprieve.."
Heath shook as words and images of his ordeal blurred together.
"Five dollar fee… knot tight… let justice be served… carry out the sentence.
"What about the reprieve?" Heath called as the noose was slipped over his head and fitted snugly around his neck. Conway pulled a folded sheet of paper from his pocket. "Just a minute now, just a minute. It says here there will be no pardon from the governor." Conway laughed maniacally.
"You said it was a game!"
"They hung me." The words were barely audible.
"I'm sorry Heath but you'll have to speak up."
Heath focused on the Judge because he couldn't bear to look at any of his family. "They hung me Judge." His hands would have reached for his neck save for the fact that his mother was still holding one and Nick had grasped his other hand as he spoke.
"They were all present at the hanging son?" Harrison asked gently.
Heath closed his eyes and nodded. "'Cept for Quita, she hadn't come back yet. Brown told Haunch there was a five dollar fee and ta make sure the knot was tight. Then he told him ta carry out the sentence. Maggie was wailing and beggin them not ta hang me."
"And what was Conway doing Heath?"
"It was supposed ta be a game." Heath closed his eyes, swallowed hard as the memories flooded his mind, along with the pain and the fear he'd felt. After a respite, he continued, " Conway said they weren't really goin ta hang me; it was somethin called a Governor's reprieve, a game. He had a telegram from the Governor claimin I would get a pardon and he told me not ta forget the reprieve. Haunch put the rope around my neck and I called out askin about the reprieve." Heath took a deep breath. "Conway read out the telegram and said I wasn't getting a pardon and then he…laughed. It was…he was crazy…like he was possessed…then he picked up a stone and threw it at the horse. I felt the buggy move under my feet then I was hangin, then fallin." Heath sighed and slumped in the chair, head resting in his hands as his body shook with sobs.
Harrison leaned back in his chair allowing Heath and his family time to regroup after the blond's harrowing account. The family left their seats and grouped around Heath offering silent strength and courage by their touch alone for no words could ever be deemed adequate to convey their feelings for what the blond had just described. Samuel looked across the desk and met the sad grey eyes of his friend; he smiled apologetically in reply to her unasked question and shook his head. There were still more questions to be asked and he knew that the young man would not stop now, even if his family persisted, no matter how much they wanted it. He had realized early on that this was Heath's call, his way of usurping the power these people had had over him and he could no more begrudge the boy this chance than could his family.
Mumbling to his right turned Harrison's attention away from the family and on to the two prisoners. He was surprised to see a mixture of relief and sorrow in the brown eyes of a man he had once admired as a tough and no nonsense judge. He knew first hand that the life of a judge was not an easy one. His own life had been fraught with misgivings, the greatest being the loss of his wife when she could no longer take his long absences away from the home. He closed his eyes for a moment as he remembered that instant when he stepped through the front door of his house after a long and difficult case and knew that his life had irreparably changed. There was no welcoming odor of dinner cooking, no welcoming hug, no Kitty.
"Redemption in his holy blood. REDEMPTION IN HIS HOLY BLOOD. REDEMPTION IN HIS HOLY BLOOD."
Brown reached out a hand and gripped Haunch's arm tightly in an effort to silence his words as Nick Barkley leapt to his feet. Haunch smiled thinly at the dark haired rancher scowling menacingly at him before falling ominously silent. Haunch's black gaze sent a shudder through Nick's body as he regained his seat at the silent request of the firm grip on his arm. For Heath…
Harrison waited until the family had retaken their seats and then turned sympathetic eyes on the blond. "Heath, can you tell me who cut you down?"
"Not sure, Conway, I think."
Samuel Harrison raised an eyebrow at the confirming nod from Brown. "Conway hung you and then he cut you down."
Heath shrugged, "Like I said, it was a game."
Harrison shook his head in disgust, finding it difficult to comprehend the man's actions and the reasoning behind them "What happened next Heath?" he asked gently.
"The rope went slack, dropping Heath to the ground in an undignified heap. His hands immediately going to the noose around his neck, Maggie's ramblings behind him having little meaning as he gulped in lungfuls of air.
"My poor, poor darling, oh they saved you, you're safe."
"Well your Honour the reprieve did come through. It was just a bad case of misreading on my part. The man's not to be hung at all. His case will be taken under advisement by the Judicial Court of Appeals."
"Hangman assist the bailiff in returning the prisoner to court."
"Yes your Honour."
"Here, I'll give a hand here myself."
Heath was lifted to his to his feet by Haunch and Conway, still gagging from the few moments of hanging.
"You're a lucky man, mate there. Governor's pardon coming through like that. You could have been hung you know. You know I almost got myself hung once. The commanding general sent down my release at the last possible moment. Don't you ever let a thing like that happen to you. There you are young fella, there you are, almost as good as new."
"Come along honey, you just come along with me, you're alright now."
Heath squinted, his eyes meeting Quita's where she sat on the pinto on the other side of the square. Their eyes met and Quita shook her head.
"Conway said it was a mistake on his part and I wasn't ta be hung. Bad reading he called it. They pulled me ta my feet, Haunch and Conway and then…then Conway said he'd almost been hung himself but the general released him at the last minute and then he told me not ta let it happen ta me. Quita rode in about that time without Jarrod."
Jarrod dropped his head with a sigh, "I'm sorry Heath."
"You're not responsible for Conway's perverse mind Jarrod."
"Y'see, in here, on this floor, in here I matter, I…I exist, I…I rule."
"He saw the game as his way of been in charge."
"How could anybody do that to another human being?"
"That was his game Sis, re-enactin what happened ta him, because he could."
"But then wouldn't the victims report him to the sheriff in the next town?"
Heath swallowed and his eyes narrowed as he studied his sister's demeanor from under hooded lids. She may be an innocent but she wasn't naïve so her question surprised him. She knew what Nick and the sheriff had found in Ocatillo Wells. She knew what the prisoners had intended for him, what they had done to at least one other unfortunate traveler. Audra, like him, had always believed that there was good in all men and women but now that ideal had been blown from the water to lie in a gasping heap at their feet. Was this her way of denying the fact that her perfect world wasn't so perfect after all? He couldn't bear the thought that his sister could follow down the same road as Maggie.
"Honey, you know they never intended to leave any witnesses to their activities," Jarrod moved around the chairs to squat beside his sister. He took her hands in his and searched her face for acknowledgement of his words. He sighed softly when she nodded her head imperceptibly.
