Posted by The Black Knight on December 25, 2000 at 17:36:31:
Chapter 3
It was three days before anyone in Red Gulch heard from Jess Hawkins again. Sheriff Luke spotted a lone figure in the cemetery as he rode out of town. Luke stopped his horse and tied the reins on the
gate. Jess stood in front of a grave with Tiffany Parker on the head stone.
"A lot of people in town objected to puttin' a breed in here." Luke said.
"I didn't expect them to like it." Jess said.
"Doc said you shouldn't even be alive after what Paskel did to you." Luke said.
"My skull is thicker than that." Jess said.
"I know I have tried givin' you orders before, remember." Luke said.
"How did a town elect an ex-calvary man Sheriff anyway?" Jess asked.
"It was either me or Robertson's man, Paskel." Luke said.
"I don't suppose that you bothered to tell them that your last name is Hawkins?" Jess asked.
"The fewer people that know we're brothers the better." Luke said.
"What was Tiffany's problem with Robertson anyway?" Jess asked.
"You would have to ask Brannigan that. She spent most of her time with those people out there at that church." Luke said.
"Without Paskel behind him I imagine Robertson will fold." Jess said.
"No, men like Paskel aren't hard to find. If you're gonna kill a snake you shoot it in the head." Luke said.
"So I have your permission to shoot him." Jess said.
"No, if you do that I'll have to put you in jail." Luke said.
Jess walked back to his horse and mounted it.
"I'll have to make sure that you don't see me." Jess said.
Luke shook his head as he walked back to his horse. Jess rode off toward Red Valley.
One hour later Jess pulled his stallion to a stop outside of a large crudely built building with a cross on the top. This was obviously the farmers' church. From the sounds of singing inside Jess
knew that it was Sunday. Jess had never had much use for church or for anything that came from them, but if the Reverend Brannigan was who he thought he was he wanted to talk to him. Jess untied his holsters and unfastened his gunbelt. He put it in his saddle bags
then removed an older revolver from his bedroll. He slipped the revolver in his boot and pulled his pant leg down over it. He walked up to the door, took a deep breath, and walked in. He removed his hat
as he went in the door. Several of the members of the church turned around as he came in. The person most affected by his entrance was the man at the podium in front. He was an older man with graying hair. His skin was drawn and tan and his hand were calloused from
work. The minute he saw Jess he lost his composure and looked like he had seen a ghost. Jess nodded toward him and slid into the back pew. As soon as the song was through the man at the podium stammered out a
dismissal wiping his brow several times with a handkerchief. As the members filed out Jess waited outside the door. Rebecca Brannigan came out then the man who had been at the desk.
"I assume that you are the Reverend Brannigan?" Jess asked.
"Yes, I'm Joshua Brannigan and this is my daughter Rebecca." the man said.
Brannigan looked at one of the women nearby.
"Would you take my daughter home, Missus Baker?" the Reverend asked.
"Father, what's wrong?" Rebecca asked.
"Don't worry, Ma'am, I'll see that your father gets home in time for dinner." Jess said tipping his hat.
Rebecca rolled her big brown eyes as she walked away. Brannigan hurried Jess around the corner of the church.
"What are you doing here Hawkins?" Brannigan asked.
"You're the intelligence officer, why don't you tell me?" Jess asked.
"That's in the past. I'm not the same man now." Brannigan said.
"That's what Tiffany Parker told me." Jess said.
"I told you that if you went looking for trouble you would get yourself or someone else hurt." Brannigan said.
"She came on her own. What do you know about Robertson?" Jess asked.
"I'm not a spy anymore Jess." Brannigan said.
"Are you what you look like?" Jess asked.
"Yes, I cannot help you." Brannigan said.
"I'm not even going to claim that I understand why, but I won't ask you to go against what you believe." Jess said.
"Come by again some time, Jess. You need the Lord too, we all do." Brannigan said.
Jess huffed as he swung up into his saddle.
"The next time you come, take the gun out of your boot." Brannigan said as he walked toward his horse.
Jess shook his head as he rode off. Nearly a mile down the road he came across an over turned buckboard. Beside the buckboard lay a young man. He had been a large man, hardened from long hours on a
farm. A large bullet hole in his side had ended his life, and probably had caused the wagon to overturn. He pushed the buckboard back over on its wheels. He walked around the buckboard when he heard
a moan. A young woman lay curled up beside the horses. Jess knelt beside her when he recognized her as Missus Baker from the church. Jess rolled her over on her back and saw why she had been curled up.
A small bullet wound, probably from a rifle, was bleeding slowly just below her ribs.
"Where's Miss Brannigan?" Jess asked.
"Th-they took her." Missus Baker gasped.
"Where's Doc Carter's office?" Jess asked lifting the young woman.
"Town...by the Saloon." Missus Baker grunted as he lay her in the buckboard.
Jess tied his horse onto the back and lay a blanket over Missus Baker. He got into the seat and flicked the reins. He checked on her several times during the thirty minute ride back to town. Sheriff Luke met
him outside the Saloon.
"Robertson is back. He took Rebecca Brannigan and killed Baker." Jess said.
"From the looks of it Missus Baker ain't gonna do much better." Luke said.
"Shut up and help me get her up to the Doc." Jess said.
Jess lifted her upper body and Luke lifted her legs as they carried her up to the doctor's office.
"You're lucky you got her here when you did." the heavy set old man said.
"Let me know when she wakes up." Jess said.
"Yeah, but until then, get out." Doc Carter said.
The gunfighter and the sheriff left the doctor to his work. Luke looked over at Jess as he checked his guns.
"You're not planning something stupid are you?" Luke asked.
"Of course not, just a little raid on Robertson's ranch." Jess said.
"Do you really think you'll do any good alone?" Luke asked.
"Of course not, but then I do have the law on my side this time." Jess said.
"I can't back you up on this." Luke said.
Jess reached into his coat and pulled out a badge.
"U.S. Marshall, how did you get that?" Luke asked.
"A lot of work, and a few friends that we still have left in the government." Jess said.
"You're a professional gunfighter." Luke said.
"Makes for good cover." Jess said.
"Where does Brannigan come into this?" Luke asked.
"He wrote to the war office and asked for help." Jess said.
"Naturally they picked you." Luke said.
"How many deputies do you have?" Jess asked.
"Just two and even they're not crazy enough to go up against Robertson." Luke said.
"Looks like it's just you and me." Jess said.