The Western Chronicles
by B L Miller and Vada Foster
43: Abduction
Caleb watched as the sheriff walked down the street and into the little diner. He had seen Rebecca go into the office some twenty minutes earlier and a short time later had seen the two Indians come out. He was reasonably certain there was nobody left inside but his daughter and the half-breed, and she was behind lock and key. He figured he didn’t have much time before the sheriff returned, so if he was going to act, it had to be now. He wouldn’t be able to get Rebecca out of town until the late afternoon train, but he had already found an abandoned house right on the edge of town where he could hide her until departure time. A grin spread over his face as he walked quickly across the street and stepped through the door behind which his reward was waiting.
"Sound’s like John’s back," Josie said when she heard the sound of the outer door.
"He hasn’t had time to get your breakfast. I wonder if something’s wrong? I’d better go check." She had been sitting on a stool right outside Josie’s cell, and she rose and walked to the door. Josie listened to the sounds of the footfalls in the other room and furrowed her brow. It didn’t sound like John’s tread.
"Wait a minute, Rebecca. Don’t go out there…" she began, but Rebecca had already stepped through the door. Josie heard a muffled yelp and the sound of the tin can with Rebecca’s coffee hitting the floor. "Rebecca!" Her heart clutched in her chest as she listened to the sound of a scuffle. She grabbed the bars and screamed again at the top of her lungs, "Rebecca!" But the footfalls had already receded toward the back door of the jail. She heard that door open and slam and then all was silent.
When John came back fifteen minutes later he was greeted by the sound of Josie banging on the bars of her cell with the tin cup that had held her coffee.
"Keep your shirt on! I’ve got your breakfast," he called with a smile on his face. Then he saw the other cup lying on the floor in a puddle of coffee, and he dumped the plate of food on his desk, drew his gun, and ran to the cells. Other than the drunk in the cell next to Josie’s who hadn’t stirred once all morning despite the din, there was only Josie back there.
"John! He’s taken Rebecca!"
"Who has?" He asked, putting his gun back in his holster.
"I don’t know; I didn’t see him. But there was only one person’s footsteps out there."
"It’s almost certainly her father."
"Of course," she said bitterly striking her fist against the wall. "With everything going on I had almost forgotten about him. John, you’ve got to let me go after him."
"You know I can’t do that, Miss Josie. I’ll go after him." She shook her head vigorously.
"You said you had to get the schoolhouse ready before court could begin, John. Let me go. I can track him and get her and come to the schoolhouse by nine. Please – I swear I won’t try to run away; I just have to make sure she’s safe before I go into that court room."
"I shouldn’t be doing this," John muttered as he pulled the key ring off of his belt and walked toward her cell. "I’ll lose my job – or worse – if you don’t show up in court by nine, Miss Josie." He unlocked the door and she sprang out like a cat freed from a cage.
She paused long enough to grasp his hand and pump it a few times. "You have my word, John. I’ll be there by nine; I’ll wait outside while Rebecca comes in to get you, and we’ll act as if you just brought me over from the jail."
"Promise me you won’t kill him."
"I won’t kill him," she said over her shoulder as she stepped out the back door. Under her breath she muttered, "but he’ll wish to hell he was dead when I’m through with him."
A child would have had no difficulty following the tracks of the two people from the jail to a tumble down cabin on the outskirts of town. Clearly she had resisted him the entire way, and as often as not beside the odd indentation left by his unevenly worn boot were the drag marks from Rebecca’s heels. Josie’s anger grew with every step she took, and she was glad she did not have a gun or it would be very difficult to keep her promise to John.
There were no windows in the little one room cabin, but one opening in the wall was covered with oilcloth, so even though she couldn’t see she could hear every sound from within. She crouched silently outside trying to determine from which part of the room the voices were coming so that she could decide whether to go through the door or the empty window frame.
"…knew you were hatchin’ up some scheme with that damned Injun sheriff, and I ain’t gonna run the risk of you doin’ something to free that bitch. I don’t give a damn what you do after she’s safely back in the states and I’ve got my money. Now you stop wigglin’ and keep your hands behind your back so I can tie them."
"Pa, please don’t do this. If it’s money you want I can raise enough to equal the reward, or even more if you’ll just leave us alone. They’ll kill her if they get her back there, and she doesn’t deserve…"
"She deserves every damned punishment they want to heap on her, and more! She’s a murderin’ thief and a defiler of innocent young women. And you," his voice was full of venom as he spoke, and Josie had to force herself to stay where she was, she wanted so badly to rush in there and choke the life out of him. She could almost see the hatred in his eyes as he continued to berate his daughter. "You’re a disgrace to your family and an abomination in the eyes of the lord. You probably egged her on like you done them poor fools she killed back there to home. Oh, yeah, they found the bodies. Figure your girlfriend did them in for their horses and the silver in their pockets."
"They were trying to rape me." Rebecca’s voice was a hiss. Clearly she no longer believed she had a chance of reasoning with the man and she held nothing back. "You’d rather a gang of men rape me than one woman love me, wouldn’t you? What kind of father…"
"I’m not your father!" He said sharply cutting her off in mid sentence. "Your Ma had a roll in the hay with that music teacher right before he up and left town. I may not be the smartest man in the world, but I know how to count to nine, and I sure as hell wasn’t there when she got pregnant with you. She finally admitted it to me when you were a little girl, after we…. Well, it don’t matter, I ain’t your Pa. And since we ain’t blood relations it wouldn’t be a sin if I was to get a little taste of what you been handing out to that Injun, now would it?"
That was as much as Josie could take. She quickly walked several paces away from the building and then turned and ran toward the oilcloth, diving through with her arms straight out in front of her as if she were plunging into water. The oilcloth tore free of the window frame and landed on Caleb who was just beginning to wonder what the commotion was all about. A moment later Josie landed on top of him as well, propelling him to the far wall, which he hit with a loud thump. The air was knocked out of him and he slowly crumpled to the floor still not knowing what hit him. She gave him a solid kick to the crotch just to keep him down, and he screamed like a pig being slaughtered. She lifted up the oilcloth covering his head just enough to see if he was truly out, and satisfied that he was not going anywhere for a while she turned to Rebecca who was tied to a chair.
"Josie, thank God! How did you…"
"No time to explain now. We have to get your fath -I mean him," she said with a sneer, "tied up and gagged before he comes around. I’d just as soon he didn’t know it was me that took him out." Her hands worked at the knots around Rebecca’s ankles as she spoke, and as soon as she was free she began trussing up Caleb’s feet. "Tie his bandanna around his mouth for a gag and help me tie his hands and feet together."
Rebecca did as she asked and within minutes he was lying on his side with his hands and feet bound together behind his back. He would not be able to do much more than turn over onto his stomach. Josie covered him with the oilcloth so that someone casually glancing through the open window frame would not see anything but a heap of fabric in the corner. That should do until the sheriff could come and free him. She took Rebecca’s hand and pulled her in for a quick kiss.
"Follow me," Josie said taking Rebecca’s hand once again and leading her out of the cabin. She skirted behind the buildings when they arrived in town until she was behind the church, which was the closest building to the schoolhouse. She crouched behind a large bush and whispered to Rebecca, "Go tell John where I am. He should be in there waiting for you. Hurry. It’s almost nine."
"Josie, why are you doing this? You’re free; you could run. I could meet up with you somewhere…"
"No. I’m not running any more. I made a promise to John, and I’m going to keep it. Go now… please. I’ll see you again inside. I love you."
"I love you, too." She leaned down and kissed the top of Josie’s head and then walked away without looking back.
Rebecca threaded her way through the people on the steps of the schoolhouse, some of whom looked at her as if to question why she thought she should be allowed in the building, but she carefully avoided looking into any of their faces and simply pressed on. Every seat in the schoolhouse was taken, and people stood against the walls and in the cloakroom. Those who weren’t lucky enough to find a space on the wall sat on the steps of the small building or stood talking in small groups on the school grounds.
John was just inside the door, watching intently for Rebecca to appear. When he last looked at his watch he saw that it was ten minutes until nine, and with every minute that passed his anxiety level rose until he felt certain he was going to collapse from sheer worry. The sight of the little blonde making her way up the steps made him almost want to cheer, and he stepped outside to intercept her.
"There’s a seat for you up front; some friends of yours are saving it for you. I’m going to go get the prisoner now." He deliberately spoke loud enough for those in the vicinity to hear.
"Thank you, Sheriff. Lord knows we need a friend right about now." She emphasized the words "lord" and "friend", and cut her eyes in the direction of the church. John nodded imperceptibly to show that he got the message, and he hurried off in the direction of the jail. He passed by the church on the way, and as soon as he was out of sight of the school, he doubled back and went down the side yard between two buildings and came up behind the church.
At first he thought he must have misunderstood after all, as he saw no sign of the outlaw, but he softly said, "Miss Josie, are you here?" There was a rustling in the bushes and the black clad woman emerged. Relieved, he walked to where she stood brushing off leaves and dirt and a smile lit up his face. "You’ll never know how happy I am to see you," he said sincerely.
"Been kicking yourself ever since you unlocked that cell, have you?" Her tone was light, but the slight flush that appeared on his face told her she was on the mark. She laughed softly. "You’ve been good to us, John. There’s no way I’d put your livelihood on the line, even if I thought I could have made a break for it. The running ends here. One way or another."
He held up a pair of handcuffs and she extended her hands. "Sorry to have to do this, Miss Josie." The teeth on the cuffs clicked into place, but he stopped when they were still comfortable. "Let’s go in the back door of the jail and come out the front," he said. "Try to keep out of sight in the meantime."
"No problem. Let’s go."
44: Judgement Day
As Rebecca walked down the center aisle of the schoolhouse she could feel every eye in the place follow her steps. She kept her eyes on the floor, uncertain what reception she would get from the local populace.
"That’s her friend," a voice whispered from a seat as she passed. "Come to town with the outlaw, she did."
"More than friends is what I heard," a male voice hissed.
"What of it?" A woman spoke loudly, and something familiar in the voice made Rebecca turn toward her. Victoria, Stacey and Elaine sat together, and it was Victoria’s voice that Rebecca had recognized.
"Victoria! Oh, God it’s good to see you!" The women were on their feet, each one hugging Rebecca in turn.
"Couldn’t let you face this alone, could we?" Victoria said with a grin. "You’d best go sit down. Almost time to start this circus. We’ll talk later."
As she finished the short walk down the aisle she scanned the crowd wondering if any of the other people she had sent telegrams to had shown up. She caught the eye of Martha Jane who winked and gave her a thumbs up. A few seats away the mayor of Mason’s Gulch sat talking with Belle Shirley. And in the front row, Horace and Charles sat on either side of Genie. When she reached them, the trio moved apart to make room for the little blonde. She gave Horace and Charles each a quick hug and then sat down. She opened her mouth to speak to her friends but before she could utter a word the room erupted in whispers once again as the outlaw was ushered in.
Josie ignored the stares and whispers and walked proudly across the room with her head high. The shackles on her wrists did nothing to diminish her almost regal bearing. Rebecca’s heart swelled with love and pride as she watched her beautiful lover pass her by and take a seat at a small table in front of the teachers desk that would serve as the judges bench. John sat on one side of her and a short man in a suit and tie sat on the other side. He leaned over and whispered something to Josie, and she nodded. This must be the lawyer Belle said she would contact. She swore that if anyone could get Josie out of this mess, it would be Ira Greenspan. Josie twisted slightly in her seat until she was able to see Rebecca, and she gave her a reassuring smile. Rebecca mouthed the words "I love you," and Josie nodded to show she understood.
"All rise! This session of the Circuit Court of the Territory of Oklahoma is now in session. The honorable Judge Lucas Fellowes presiding." Chairs scraped the floor as the people got to their feet, and the Judge made his way to the front of the room with his clerk trailing behind. The Judge was a tall imposing man with a thick head of steel gray hair. He took his place behind the desk and sat, and the clerk turned toward the assemblage and said, "Be seated." While waiting for the hubbub to die down, Josie studied the clerk and noticed that his mannerisms were effeminate, as was the sound of his voice. She would be surprised if he was not a kindred spirit, and she smiled at him. His face registered shock to have a defendant act friendly toward him, but he recovered his composure and handed a stack of papers to the Judge.
"The first matter before this court is the extradition to the United States of Josephine Hunter, known as the outlaw Josie Hunter," the clerk intoned. "Will the defendant please rise?" Josie and her lawyer stood up. The Judge glared openly at the outlaw making no effort to disguise his dislike of her.
"Sit down," the Judge growled. "This isn’t a trial and there is no reason for the defendant to enter a plea." Resuming their seats, Josie continued to maintain eye contact with the Judge who was finally forced to look away. "I will listen to qualified petitioners with reasonable arguments as to why this person should not be returned to the States to stand trial for her crimes there, and at the conclusion of these proceedings I will make my ruling. Because this is not a trial, there is no prosecuting attorney. I will ask questions on behalf of the people. Is that clear?"
"Yes, your Honor," Mr. Greenspan replied.
"Very well. You may proceed with your argument, Mr. Greenspan. But I caution you; I have no tolerance for theatrics in my courtroom. If your client or any of your witnesses try to turn this into a sideshow I promise it will not help your case any. Do you get my point?"
"Yes I do, your Honor. There will be no theatrics."
"All right. Get on with it."
"Thank you. May I stand, your Honor?" The Judge simply nodded, and Mr. Greenspan rose and turned toward the townsfolk and visitors. "Ladies and gentlemen, I’m sure there is not a one of you who hasn’t heard of…"
"There is no jury here, Mr. Greenspan. You will address your comments to me and me alone."
"I’m sorry, your Honor." Ira looked down at his notes on the table before him, cleared his throat and looked up at the Judge. "Your Honor, my client is not wanted for any crimes whatsoever in the Oklahoma Territory. Furthermore, she has selflessly assisted many people present in this room today – placed her own life at grave risk – in order to preserve the life and liberty of those and other people. The money that she obtained as a result of her career as a train robber was all given to the people displaced by the railroads. She kept none of it for herself. She is not a ruthless cold-hearted killer as the dime novels portray her, but a friend to the less fortunate and defender of the weak. Her actions over the past months show that she is trying to atone for the wrongs she has done, and she should be allowed to continue on the road to salvage her soul."
He paused and the Judge inserted into the silence, "That didn’t make Robin Hood an upstanding citizen any more than it does your client, Mr. Greenspan. I doubt she could redeem her soul if she were allowed to live for a hundred years. If you have no more compelling arguments than that, this hearing is a waste of my time and the taxpayer’s money. I suggest you produce your witnesses so we can bring this farce to a close."
The lawyer had expected the Judge to be unsympathetic to his client based on his discussion with the sheriff, but he had not anticipated this complete unwillingness to be fair-minded. He had hoped that the stories of his witnesses might be able to produce a spark of humanity in the Judge, but it seemed his human kindness was reserved for the fair of skin. "I call Martha Jane Canary."
"…managed to bring in enough medicine to save most of the people who would surely have died without it. She worked day and night to save them too, with nary a thought to herself. Deadwood would have been a ghost town if it warn’t for Josie Hunter." She smiled at Josie as she finished her testimony, and the outlaw mouthed ‘thank you’ in return.
"And where did she get the medicine?" The Judge asked.
"Why, she got it from a snake oil peddler or some such. I’m not rightly sure."
"And was the snake oil peddler outside the quarantine area when she got the medicine from him?"
"I believe he was, but…"
"So she disregarded the quarantine and put an innocent person at risk for smallpox. Thank you, Miss Canary. That will be all. Next witness."
"Well, actually it was the other one…uh, Miss Cameron over there, who volunteered Miss Hunter’s services," Mayor McGregor from Mason’s Gulch explained. "We didn’t see Josie…that is, Miss Hunter, until after I agreed to give her immunity in return for her help in stopping the Caram gang from looting our town."
"If not for your promise of immunity she would have ridden on by and left your town for the vultures, is that it?" The Judge asked with a sneer.
"Oh, I don’t think so. Miss Cameron was quite sure she could get Miss Hunter to help even without the immunity."
"I’m sure Miss Cameron can be very persuasive," the Judge said with a hint of sarcasm. "You can step down, Mr. McGregor. I think I know what was behind Miss Hunter’s heroic behavior in Mason’s Gulch."
"But your Honor, I…"
"Step down, sir. I’ll find you in contempt if I have to ask you again."
One after another the witnesses came forward to tell of the selfless acts and heroic deeds Josie had done, and one after another the Judge found reason to belittle the witnesses and downplay the good things she had done. The Judge refused to allow Rebecca to testify on the grounds that she was not an impartial witness. The lawyer had no choice but to pull his ace from the hole. "I call Mrs. William Howe, wife of the Governor of the Territory of Oklahoma." The Judge’s eyebrows pulled together in a frown as he watched the finely dressed woman make her way to the witness’ chair. He had never met the Governor or his wife, and he would not have recognized her. The daguerreotypes in the paper did not do her justice. He was not pleased to know she was prepared to speak on behalf of the half-breed. It was one thing to know the Governor wanted to hear the case to rule on a request for asylum. It was another thing entirely to have his wife speak up for the outlaw.
"I fail to see how Mrs. Howe can provide a character reference for Miss Hunter since she has not personally witnessed any of the so-called heroic acts this parade of witnesses have described."
"On the contrary, your Honor. Mrs. Howe has known the defendant since she was a youth. And she has a very moving tale to tell of how Miss Hunter tried to help her catch some rustlers."
"And I’m certain it’s a real tear-jerker, Mr. Greenspan. Unfortunately, it has no bearing on this case since it happened before Miss Hunter decided to switch sides of the law. Take your seat, Mrs. Howe."
"With all due respect, your Honor, the events Mrs. Howe wishes to relate to this court were a turning point in the life of this young woman. She was falsely accused of rustling and was hanged for it…"
"Are you hard of hearing Mr. Greenspan? Mrs. Howe’s testimony is irrelevant. Don’t try my patience any further or I will find you in contempt." The icy glint in the Judge’s eye made it clear that he would do exactly that.
Ira was stumped. He shuffled through his notes again, and studied the people in the room to see if there was any tactic or witness he had over looked that might help to delay what was now clearly inevitable. As his eyes passed over Josie he noticed that though she appeared to be calm and stoic, the muscles of her jaw clenched and unclenched in silent rage as she stared at the Judge whose prejudice threatened to end her life. His only hope was that she still had an ace up her sleeve he could use. "Your honor, I request a recess to confer with my client."
The Judge pulled his watch from his pocket and glanced at it before answering the lawyer’s request. It was nearly noon, and since it did not seem likely that they would be able to finish before lunch, he decided to grant the request. He rapped his gavel on the desk before him and said, "This court will stand in recess until two o’clock. Sheriff, remove the prisoner to her cell until then."
"All rise," the clerk lisped. As the spectators shuffled to their feet and began to leave, the sheriff removed the handcuffs from his belt and showed them to Josie with an apologetic look on his face. Wordlessly she held out her hands and he snapped them in place. With the lawyer on one side and the sheriff on the other Josie was escorted to the jail, a procession of concerned friends with Rebecca in the lead following in their wake.
Despite the seriousness of the circumstances, the mood in the jailhouse was almost festive. John removed the handcuffs as soon as they were inside the building, and he did not bother to put Josie in a cell. The friends who had come to support her were clustered around her, hugging her and slapping her on the back. Jane and Belle exchanged a glance as they watched their usually untouchable friend not only allow herself to be touched, but actually seem to enjoy it. Belle shrugged and Jane smiled as they both got in line to collect their share of hugs from the enigmatic outlaw.
Josie had no idea she had so many friends until they were all assembled in one room. She glanced down at the little blonde who never left her side, and realized that if it were not for her most of the people would not be there. Rebecca had peeled away the layers of armor that had shielded Josie from harm, but had kept love away in the bargain.
"Thank you. All of you…for coming here to help me," Josie said. The quiver in her voice betrayed her emotions as she continued, "If I don’t get out of this mess it won’t be because you didn’t try. And I love you for it." Her arm was around Rebecca’s waist and she gave her a squeeze to show that she loved her more than all the rest. The gesture was not lost on Genie, who felt a stab of jealousy to see such closeness between the two women. If not for her father, she knew that it could have been she who earned such adoring looks from the tall gunslinger. She was not unhappy with her life, and in fact loved her husband dearly, but she could not help but wonder how her life might have been if not for that fateful night in the barn. She sighed and then smiled as Josie’s gaze caught her eye. Josie held out her hand to Genie, and she placed her own hand in it. Josie gently pulled Genie until she was against her other side, and put that arm around her waist. Flanked by the two diminutive women, Josie looked like a book between two bookends.
"I hate to take you away from your friends, but I think we need to discuss our strategy," Ira said. "I suggest you folks go get some lunch before court resumes this afternoon, and give us a chance to talk." One by one the people filed to the door after giving Josie words of encouragement. When Genie and Rebecca made a move to separate themselves from Josie, the outlaw pulled them back to her sides.
"These women are my family. They stay with me."
"Suit yourself," the lawyer said with a shrug. He motioned for the women to take a seat on the bench that flanked the sheriff’s desk, and he sat in a chair facing them. "I don’t have to tell you this is not looking good," he said solemnly. Josie raised one eyebrow and regarded him silently. He swallowed hard at the cold glint in the gunslinger’s eyes and averted his gaze, then went on, "Truthfully, I did not expect him to completely ignore the telegram from the governor. The man is committing political suicide, and doesn’t even seem to care. He must have a huge axe to grind with you, Miss Hunter."
"Not with me in particular. I just seem to be the only Indian handy for him to take out his revenge on. A man with such hate in his heart for an entire people should not be allowed to hold a position that wields authority over those people." Her voice was tinged with bitterness as she turned to Genie and continued, "I hope you make sure your husband disbars that bastard, no matter how this turns out."
"Count on it. But we can’t give up hope. I already wired William and told him he had to be here by tomorrow. I haven’t heard back from him yet, but I know he will be here on the afternoon train. We just have to keep the Judge from taking you out on the morning train."
Josie shifted nervously in her seat in the schoolhouse as the lawyer checked his watch for the 3rd time since they had been seated. She raised her eyebrows and he mouthed the words "two-thirty." Knowing the Judge’s eagerness to have this hearing at an end and Josie on her way to the gallows, the outlaw could not help but feel that his lateness did not bode well for her life expectancy. A murmur from the back of the room announced the arrival of someone, and Josie turned in her seat to see the Judge making his way down the center aisle, followed by his clerk…and Caleb Cameron. As the trio made their way past her she could have sworn she was in a brewery, so strong was the smell emanating from their pores. Josie glared openly at the man who had pretended to be Rebecca’s father, and made a tiny motion across her neck with her hand that only he could see, and which left no doubt in the man’s mind that he would be dead if he allowed himself to be caught once again by the outlaw. He gave her a wide berth and sat down in a chair on the far side of the room toward the front.
"All rise," the clerk announced. "This court is now in session, his Honor…"
"Never mind. They know all that," the Judge growled. His speech was somewhat slurred, and his eyes were red rimmed. The clerk opened his mouth to say something then thought better of it and sat down. The rest of the people took that as their cue and resumed their seats. The Judge continued with a baleful glare at the defense table, "Do you have anything more to say before I render my decision?"
"I do, your Honor."
"Be quick about it then."
"Your Honor, I wish to say for the record that this hearing is premature in view of the injunction from the Governor to delay until his arrival. Even if you will not allow Mrs. Howe to testify in regard to Miss Hunter’s past, I request that she be allowed to testify to the validity of the telegram from her husband. And I further…"
"Enough! Madam, were you with your husband at the moment that he supposedly sent the telegram to which defense counsel refers?"
Genie was caught off guard, and her reply was a stammered, "No, I was not actually with him…"
"Then you cannot swear with absolute certainty that he did in fact send a telegram. It could just as easily have been sent by Miss Cameron, isn’t that true?"
"Your Honor, he told me he sent the telegram. We discussed it at length before he did, and I knew exactly what he was going to say." Genie’s cheeks flushed with anger at the effrontery of this pompous ass. She opened her mouth to tell him just what she thought of him when he cut her off.
"Hearsay; inadmissible. Mr. Greenspan, unless you have some new evidence to present, this court would very much like to begin the conclusion of this hearing."
"Your Honor I protest this mockery of a hearing, and believe that you should disqualify yourself from this case owing to your prejudice toward Indians. If Miss Hunter were not a half-breed we would not be sitting here today." The look the Judge bestowed on Ira left little doubt that he held Jews in much the same esteem as he did Indians.
"Your protest is noted." The Judge leaned on his desk and glared first at Josie then at Ira. Josie did not flinch, but the lawyer shrunk down in his seat under the unrelenting hatred coming from the man. With a feral grin, the Judge continued, "And now it’s my turn. I think these good people should hear what Josie Hunter is really like, from Caleb Cameron, the man who was her most recent victim." He turned to Caleb who had alternated between the desire to flee from the room, lest Josie somehow managed to get free, and his wish to see the look on Josie’s face when the Judge told her she had a one way ticket to hell. Since it seemed the Judge had things well in hand and Josie did not appear to be going anywhere, he had stayed. He looked at the outlaw with utter contempt as the Judge motioned him forward.
"Mr. Cameron, will you tell the people how you came to be acquainted with Josie Hunter?"
Caleb cleared his throat several times before he could speak loudly enough to be heard past the first few rows of people. "Uh, she ambushed some poor cowpokes that was trying to court my daughter, and shot ‘em dead. Then she kidnapped my daughter and drug her to hell and gone all over the country. And when I tried to get my little girl back to take her home to her Ma, that Injun beat me to within an inch of my life."
He made sure to turn his head to both sides of the room so that everyone could clearly see the black eye and the cut on his cheek, both courtesy of the outlaw. Josie was certain that the little weasel had not seen her, but she could not be sure he had not heard her voice before falling into unconsciousness. Josie shot a glance at John to try to convey to him that she would not allow him to be implicated for her release if the Judge delved into that. The look he gave her in return showed that he was not as confident as she appeared to be. But then he shrugged; he had known when he let her out of the cell that this could happen, and had been willing to take the risk. Both of them turned their attention to the front of the room once more, where Caleb had finished showing off his wounds to the audience and had continued to speak.
"But the worst of it is that this…this…sick and twisted pervert has taken my innocent little girl and turned her into an abomination in the eyes of the lord, just like herself." Josie grit her teeth to avoid saying something that would not serve any purpose but to worsen her case. She thought if she had to listen to that sanctimonious hypocrite use the phrase "abomination in the eyes of the lord" one more time, she would rip his tongue from his mouth and shove it up the flap of his longjohns. Caleb’s eyes skirted over Josie’s as he spouted his well practiced venomous diatribe, and quickly moved away as the look in her eyes made his heart clunk in his chest like the last hard apple in the bottom of the barrel. His voice was not quite so strong as he continued, "Won’t be no decent, God fearing man want to have nothin’ to do with the likes of Rebecca now that she’s been tainted by that outlaw. She should pay for what she done to my family. And I aim to see that I get the reward that is due me for havin’ to take care of this worthless girl for the rest of her unnatural life."
The Judge scowled at Caleb for the embellishments he had added to the rehearsed script they had discussed in the saloon while sharing a drink…or four. Nevertheless, he felt that the exposure of the outlaw for her crimes against nature itself should help to sway public opinion away from her and prevent the Indian-lovers in the community from doing anything to prevent him from carrying out his plan. He could tell that morning as he looked over the crowd that the prevailing opinion was that she had redeemed herself and should not be forced to go back and stand trial for her crimes. He hoped they were not so quick to overlook her unnatural behavior as they were her crimes. To get Caleb back on track, he asked, "And when did Miss Hunter inflict these injuries on you, Mr. Cameron?"
"Why, today. This mornin’..."
Ira shot to his feet and spoke without waiting to be recognized by the Judge. "That’s absurd, your Honor. Miss Hunter has been behind bars for five days. She could not possibly have done what this man claims she did." In truth, he believed Josie capable of nearly anything, including getting in and out of jail without anyone knowing it, but he kept that opinion to himself.
Before the Judge could reprimand Ira for his outburst, Rebecca had also leapt to her feet. Turning toward the crowd instead of the Judge she said quickly, "It wasn’t Josie that hit him; it was a man from town, a stranger to me. The man heard me screaming for help when he," she pointed at Caleb accusingly and then continued, "was trying to rape me…" The lie came effortlessly to Rebecca's lips, even though lying was as foreign to her as breathing water would be. She knew then what Josie meant when she said the Judge would assume Rebecca would lie to protect her. But the man whom she had called Pa for all her life knew Rebecca for an honest person, and the look on his face clearly showed that he had not seen Josie, but had merely assumed that it had been she who had come to Rebecca's rescue. That look was not lost on the Judge either, as he watched the credibility of his only witness crumble into the chalk dust on the floor.
"You’re out of order!" The Judge bellowed, but Rebecca went on.
"I left with Josie because she was kind to me. She protected me. That man never had a kind word for me, and beat me for every imagined wrong…"
"I’ll cite you for contempt if you don’t sit down and be quiet, Miss Cameron."
"These people deserve to know the truth! You can cite me, but you can’t make me stop talking!" Once again she turned her face to the people who stared at her, hanging on her every word. "Don’t let their hatred and bigotry cause the death of…my best friend." She gestured with her hand to include both Caleb and the Judge, who at that point seemed to be the only people present in favor of extraditing the outlaw. Even the court clerk had tears pooling in the bottom of his eyes as he listened to Rebecca’s impassioned plea.
All of Josie’s friends present began rising to their feet, and one of them started to chant "Free Josie." Within moments, the voices had swelled to include the townspeople as well, and the Judge banged his gavel repeatedly on the desk but was unable to get the crowd to quiet down. Caleb scuttled around behind the Judge as if seeking his protection. The Judge was beginning to wish that he had someone to hide behind, but then he realized that the people were only chanting. They were doing nothing to show that they intended to do violence. The Judge reached into his boot and took out a derringer that he kept hidden there for emergencies, and he fired the gun into the ceiling, causing a shower of wood splinters to rain down on the spectators. It had the desired effect, as the chanting lost volume and then stopped altogether, and the Judge bellowed into the near silence.
"I’ll clear this room if you don’t all shut up and take your seats NOW!" His face was so red with anger that it looked as if he might have a stroke at any moment. "You," he aimed his gavel at Rebecca as if it were a gun, "are in contempt of court. I sentence you to a night in jail. And you," his gaze swiveled to Josie who met his eyes unflinchingly, "are to be transported by train to Missouri tomorrow where you will stand trial for your crimes against the United States. Sheriff, take both of these women into custody. Have Josie Hunter ready to travel at ten o’clock tomorrow morning, at which time you will hand her over to Caleb Cameron who I am deputizing to transport the prisoner. This court is adjourned!" He rapped his gavel sharply and got to his feet.
John had no choice but to do as the Judge ordered. He slipped one of the bracelets of the handcuffs on each woman, and motioned for them to precede him from the room. Once again a procession of people followed the women from the schoolhouse to the jail, only now it was a much larger crowd.
As the last of the spectators trickled out the Judge sent the clerk ahead, and grabbed Caleb by the sleeve when he started to leave as well. The farmer would just as soon take their conversation to the saloon, but the Judge did not look to be in a very convivial mood. Caleb wasn't sure just what he had done to make the Judge so angry but it wasn't long before he found out.
"Why in hell did you tell me that damned Indian was the one that knocked you around, you worthless sot? Now this entire herd of yokels thinks you're a liar and I'm an idiot. Not to mention they're ready to nominate that bitch for sainthood."
"I-I thought it was her," Caleb whined. "Who else would come flying through a window like the hounds of hell were after them?"
"Who? How about any good Samaritan that heard your daughter screaming for help." Caleb lowered his eyes and scuffed his toe in the drifts of chalk dust on the floor. He was not used to being the one on the receiving end of a tongue lashing, and he did not much like it. Not for the first time he began to wonder whether the reward for the outlaw was worth the abuse he had been forced to take. And the gunslinger was still a far cry from the states.
"Why did you say I would take her back to the states?", he asked in an effort to shift the conversation off of the fiasco with Rebecca. "That woman scares me...she'd kill me as soon as look at me."
"She'd probably have to stand in a rather long line for that privilege," the Judge said under his breath.
"What did you say?"
"Just don't worry about it. She'll be handcuffed, and you'll have the gun. You shouldn't have any problems taking care of a woman who can't fight back...what with all your experience." The sneer in his voice told Caleb that while he had no use for Indians and Jews, he nevertheless took a dim view of men who were heavy-handed with women. "And you can hand her over to the Federal Marshals in Kansas City, so you'll only have her for less than a day on the train."
"Well I don't like it. Why can't the Sheriff take her?"
"You really are a dunce. The two of them are thick as thieves! The Sheriff is a half-breed also; we may as well set her free as put her in his custody for the trip. He knows better than to let her go while I'm here, but there would be nothing to stop him once he got her on the train. No, if you want that reward, you're going to have to earn it."
45: A Night to Last Forever
The sound of the tumblers turning in the lock of their cell rang with the finality of a nail being pounded into a coffin. John had allowed their friends to stay until he absolutely had to lock down the prisoners for the night. He apologized repeatedly for having to imprison these women whom he had come to think of as friends himself, but they both reassured him that they bore no ill will toward him for doing the job he had been hired to do. Intuiting that they would prefer to share the same cell, he had moved the bunk from the empty cell into the one Josie had called home for the past several days.
Rebecca watched as John walked through the door at the end of the hall, pulling it shut behind him with a click. Once again the sound of a key in a lock reminded her that this time she was not free to exit the cell if she chose to; she was as much a prisoner as Josie. The outlaw stepped up behind Rebecca where she stood looking out through the iron bars, and placing her hands on Rebecca’s shoulders she gently turned the smaller woman around to face her. Rebecca’s face was pale and drawn as if she had already spent years in confinement. The indomitable spirit that Josie had grown to love and depend on seemed to have fled; leaving the hollow ghost of itself behind in the fragile woman who stood before her.
"I’m so sorry, sprite," she said softly, drawing Rebecca to her and wrapping her arms around her tiny waist. She could feel her heart fluttering in her chest like the wings of a bird as it always did at the nearness of this woman. A caged bird, she thought wryly. Josie would gladly have sold her soul to the devil to spare this gentle creature from the pain and indignity she was going through. But she had made such a bargain years ago in return for a pair of six guns, and had nothing left to barter with.
"You have nothing to be sorry for, Josie. This is my fault! It’s all my fault!" Rebecca’s chin was trembling and her eyes welled with tears.
"No it isn’t, Rebecca, you…"
"Yes it is!" Rebecca wailed, unable to check the tears that poured down her face. "I handed you over to my fa…to Caleb just as surely as Judas gave Jesus to the soldiers. And he won’t be satisfied until he knows you’re d-dead!" She buried her face in Josie’s chest and sobbed uncontrollably while the outlaw stroked her hair and gently crooned into her ear.
"Shhh, baby, don’t cry. I’m not dead yet. They’ll give me a fair trial in the states, not like this kangaroo court. Don’t give up, please. I need your strength." Her own voice quavered when she realized the truth of that statement. Rebecca was her anchor, her foundation. More than any other thing, Rebecca was the reason she wanted to live. To protect her, and to love her. If Rebecca stopped believing, Josie would be without hope.
"Oh, Josie. I love you so much. I can’t…bear the thought of…going on without you…"
"Then don’t think about it. There’s still some time before that train leaves. Who knows what might happen? We can’t give up on William. I need you to help me be strong, Rebecca. Please…"
Rebecca looked up into cerulean eyes that begged for her to be the one to pull them both out of this predicament. She took a deep breath and gently touched her lips to Josie’s, and when she pulled away she smiled up at the outlaw and said softly, "You’re right. There is time before that train comes. And we can’t allow ourselves to waste it by wallowing in tears."
Josie smiled back. "And how would you like to spend all that time, sprite?"
"Oh, I can think of something I’d much rather wallow in than tears," she answered huskily, her fingers moving to the buttons of Josie’s shirt. Slowly she unfastened each button, her fingers brushing against the gradually exposed flesh of Josie’s breasts. Josie gasped and inhaled sharply as Rebecca pulled the tails of her shirt free and in the process inserted her fingers down the front of her pants to touch the crisp hair on the top of her mound. Rebecca put her hands under the fabric of the shirt and rolled if off Josie’s shoulders, her eyes feasting on the flesh she loved so well as it was slowly revealed. The hungry look in her eyes was enough in itself to make Josie’s nipples stiffen with anticipation.
Rebecca leaned forward and touched her lips lightly to the valley between Josie’s breasts, her nose delighting in the musky scent of her lover. "You are the most beautiful woman on earth," she whispered as she tilted her head back to look into Josie’s face. With gentle pressure of her hand on the back of Josie’s head she brought their lips to within a breath of each other and then said softly, "I want you more than I have ever wanted anything in my life, Josie Hunter." Her lips met Josie’s and her tongue gently begged entrance to her mouth. With a groan Josie parted her lips to allow the caress, and met the inquisitive tongue with her own. She pulled the smaller woman closer and deepened the kiss, causing Rebecca to moan softly deep in her throat.
When at last they separated Josie replied, "And I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life loving you, Rebecca Cameron." Neither woman would allow herself to dwell on how brief that might be. "I’ve missed having you beside me these past nights. I can’t tell you how many times I reached out to touch you and found only empty space. I want to see you…touch you…feel you…taste you." Her fingers began to work the buttons of Rebecca’s dress, and while she was careful to avoid pulling them off, she did not take her time to remove the garment, so eager was she to behold what she had craved all those lonely nights.
Josie slid the shirt waist dress down Rebecca’s arms and released the garment to settle on the floor at her feet. Reaching down she grasped the hem of her slip and in one quick movement she pulled it over her head, leaving Rebecca wearing only her panties and shoes. Josie dropped to her knees in front of Rebecca to untie the cord that held her panties in place, and that garment joined the rest on the floor. The sight of the red-gold curls and the warm scent so near to her made her want to bury herself between Rebecca’s legs that moment. But she was determined to take as much time as she could to tease and excite the younger woman before she finally brought her hands and mouth to the spot that so captured her attention. She ran her hand down Rebecca’s calf and put slight pressure on her ankle to indicate she should lift her foot, and when Rebecca complied she removed the shoe. She performed the same move on the other foot, and then stood up to take in the sight of all of Rebecca. For a moment she couldn’t breathe. Nothing she had beheld in her life gave her as much pleasure as the sight of this woman.
"My turn," Rebecca growled. Her hands found the buttons that clasped the familiar black pants over Josie’s sensuous hips and pulled them apart. Josie trembled as Rebecca’s fingers once again brushed over her abdomen. The mere suggestion of a touch from this beloved woman was enough to make her heart race and her knees grow watery. Rebecca peeled the pants off Josie’s hips, taking her underwear with them. The clothes pooled at her calves, held up by her boots. "Sit down," Rebecca ordered, arching her brow. Without hesitation Josie dropped to the edge of the cot and Rebecca knelt in front of her. The little blonde grasped the heel and toe of first one boot and then the other, pulling them off quickly and tossing them aside. She ran her fingers over Josie’s well-muscled calves and shivered in anticipation of feeling those legs wrapped around her body. She drew the pants and underwear off, and they joined the growing pile of clothes occupying a large part of their small space. Fortunately they did not need much space, as they planned to be as close together as if they were one.
Rebecca trailed her fingers up the inside of Josie’s thighs and delighted in watching the eruption of gooseflesh trailing her fingers. She avoided touching the soft curls that covered Josie’s mound, as she wanted to make the tall woman frantic with desire before giving her what she craved.
"Something you want?" She asked in response to the soft moan Josie could not suppress. Rebecca’s lips covered the same trail her hand had blazed moments before, her chin just grazing the curls as she brought her lips to Josie’s belly.
Josie was half reclining, supported by her hands which were out to her sides. She sat up when Rebecca began to run her tongue around her navel, and putting her hand under the younger woman’s chin she lifted her face so she could see her sparkling green eyes. "Ahhhh, yesss, there is. But first…" She put her hands on Rebecca’s waist and picked her up as if she weighed nothing. "Put your legs around me," she said in a commanding voice, and Rebecca obligingly parted her legs as the outlaw lifted her onto her lap. Josie had parted her own legs so that Rebecca’s mound was pressing against her own damp curls. Rebecca molded her body against the tall gunslinger, her breasts just reaching Josie’s ribcage. The feel of Josie’s breasts on top of her own and the warmth of her moist center commingling with that of her lover made Rebecca writhe and moan.
Josie bent down to capture Rebecca’s lips. Her kiss was soft and slow at first, but soon both women were frantic in their need to feel and taste even more of each other. They broke apart, gasping, hearts racing at the same tempo.
"Rebecca, I have to taste you…now."
"Oh, but I…"
"Please…let me…" Her voice was a husky growl, and it made Rebecca shiver to hear the need in it.
"Yes, yes…you may, but I want to taste you too. Both of us; together."
"Yesss." Josie lay on her back, and cupping the soft globes of Rebecca’s behind, she urged the younger woman to move up her body. As she did, the moist trail left by her lips made Josie even more frantic to run her tongue over those folds. Rebecca paused in her ascent and lowered her body onto Josie’s breast, effectively coating the tip with her juices. She could feel the nipple hardening against her nether lips, and she whimpered softly.
"God, you excite me, Josie!" she said through clenched teeth as she continued to rub against Josie’s breast. Rebecca’s words and the warm wetness of her sliding over Josie’s body caused the outlaw to gasp.
"You make me crazy, Rebecca… Please, give yourself to me."
Rebecca moved further up until her mound was scant inches from Josie’s face. Josie wrapped her arms around Rebecca’s thighs and gently pulled downward until her knees spread far enough on either side of Josie’s head for her to reach the treasure she sought so desperately. The first touch of her tongue on the outer folds struck like lightning to the core of the smaller woman.
"Oh, oh…" Rebecca groaned, nearly forgetting her resolve to taste Josie at the same time. She let Josie get enough of a taste to whet her appetite for more, and then abruptly rose up on her knees and shifted around so that she was facing toward Josie’s feet.
The move was so quick it caught Josie off guard, something only Rebecca could do. By the time she realized Rebecca had withdrawn she was already back, her velvety folds once again tickling Josie’s lips and nose. Rebecca was lowering herself slowly onto the outlaw’s body, hungry for the taste of her center, but not wanting to miss any of the delights along the way. She tongued the underside of Josie’s breasts, which was all she could reach from that angle, but she vowed to come back and suckle them as soon as the raging desire to sip from her nectar had been quenched. She trailed her tongue over Josie’s abdomen and then dipped it into her navel. Josie’s stomach muscles tensed and Rebecca caressed the flesh there with one hand while holding herself up with the other. Her fingers slipped into the crease between Josie’s thigh and her mound, the warm scent intoxicating and pulling her further down. Lying full out on top of the outlaw Rebecca could only just touch the top of Josie’s mound of curls. Never having made love to her in this fashion, she did not realize that her shorter stature would not allow her to reach her intended goal without some assistance from Josie. She cupped her hands around Josie’s bottom and tried to lift, but the result only brought her a bit closer to where she wanted to be.
"I can’t reach," she said petulantly, her frustration obvious in her voice. Josie chuckled, the sound muffled by the warm folds where her mouth was buried.
She let Rebecca try reaching a few more times before she finally said, "I can fix that." Grasping Rebecca around her buttocks, Josie lifted them both up and then she maneuvered them on the narrow cot until they were side by side. One more shift put Rebecca on her back beneath the taller woman, whose mouth had never ceased it’s exploration the entire time they were moving.
"Ohhhh," Rebecca moaned as the object of her desire was now tantalizingly in reach. She kissed the flesh of Josie’s inner thighs before running her tongue over each one in turn. Her tongue got closer and closer to her goal each time she moved from one leg to the other until finally she allowed herself to touch the rose colored lips lightly with her mouth. Josie shuddered at the contact and burrowed her face even deeper into Rebecca’s center.
Rebecca was determined not to rush; she wanted to take her time and tease her lover until she begged for release. But even as she thought ‘take it slow’, her mouth was taking its tempo from the woman above her, and Josie was building up speed. Rebecca pulled her mouth away from Josie’s lips for just a few moments, and when she touched her again with her tongue she consciously slowed her movements. It was enough to send a message to the outlaw.
Josie had not realized what a pace she was setting until Rebecca subtly reminded her. She too had vowed to make this nights lovemaking last until both of them were taut as piano wire, but her resolve melted away with a touch of Rebecca’s tongue. Never in her life had she been so touched by another human being, and she nearly wept with joy that she had been given the last several months with this beautiful woman. Whatever the outcome of the trial in the states, she would not have traded one moment of the time they had spent together. Josie slowly and carefully parted Rebecca’s lips with her tongue, and then she ran it up one side and down the other, occasionally dipping inside to pull out some of the accumulating moisture there. She brushed over the knob that she knew would send Rebecca hurtling over the edge but was careful not to apply too much pressure too soon. She could not resist lightly grazing her teeth over the nub before she moved away and she could feel it harden with the tip of her tongue.
Rebecca wanted to grind herself against Josie but fought the impulse knowing the signal that would send would put an end to this exquisite exchange. Instead she brought one arm from behind Josie’s thighs and placed her fingers against the folds of skin. She separated the folds to give her tongue greater access, and even as she lovingly caressed the soft lips she slid two fingers inside the moist cavern. Her other hand roamed over the soft contours of Josie’s buttock, delighting in the way Josie responded to her touch.
Now it was Josie who wanted to thrust against Rebecca, and involuntarily she began to pick up the pace to match what her inner core wanted to receive from the little blonde. Rebecca picked up the tempo, ready to feel the explosion that was building inside her, and to pull the same from the woman she loved. She also sucked the hardening nub of flesh into her mouth as she built up momentum with her fingers, and she was rewarded by a gasp from Josie as the gunslinger stiffened her body and began to rise up off Rebecca’s body. The smaller woman clung to her to hold her within reach to prolong the delicious sensations.
Josie could not have delayed her climax any longer if she had wanted to. Her one goal was to bring Rebecca to the edge at the same time so that they could plunge together. She tongued the bud that had risen from its hiding place and begged for attention. Faster she moved until she heard Rebecca cry out with the beginning of her orgasm. They both rose so high it seemed they must be hovering just under the ceiling, each sucking every bit of moisture from the other until they finally collapsed back on to the cot. Their breath came in labored gasps, and neither could move from where she lay, faces pillowed on each other’s thighs.
When at last their hearts had slowed and they felt they could once again command their muscles to obey them they rearranged themselves so that Rebecca was lying full length on top of the gunslinger, her mouth inches away from a tantalizing nipple. She cupped the soft breast in her hand pulling it toward her mouth as she stretched out to meet it. She circled the brown ring with her tongue and felt it contract, the nipple hardening once again into a bullet. She tasted the essence of herself on Josie’s breast.
"Rebecca…"
"Hmmm?" The breast in her mouth muffled her response.
"We need to…make a decision about what you should do while I’m gone, in case William does not show up in time." She tried to make it sound as if her being gone was only a temporary thing instead of the final chapter of her life. "I still think you should take the horses and wagon and go stay with Charles and Horace. They love you like a daughter, and god knows that place needs a woman’s touch."
Rebecca raised her head to look into Josie’s eyes before she answered. "We’ve been over this. I already asked Charles to take the horses and wagon and he said he would, unless you try to prevent me from going with you on the train, in which case I will need the wagon to follow you. I am going with you. One way or another. You can’t shut me out of your life now, Josie. I’m your strength, remember?" A sheen of tears made her eyes sparkle like diamonds as she lightly traced the shape of Josie’s face with her fingers. She wanted to memorize every part of the woman she loved…with her eyes, her body, and her hands. If this were to be their last night, she would be able to recall every detail of it for the rest of her life.
Josie could not help but see the tears glistening in Rebecca’s eyes. She pulled the smaller woman close to her breast and stroked her hair. Tears traced their way down the slope of her breast as they lay there for several minutes in silence. Finally Josie took a deep breath and said, her voice ragged with emotion, "Rebecca, there is nothing more I want than to have you with me. Always. If I could marry you, I would. I have dreamed of you and me together in our old age, the days quietly passing as we rocked on the porch and watched the sunset. That kind of life never appealed to me before I knew you. And now…" her voice broke and the words were almost inaudible when at last she continued, "I can’t bear the idea of your being there watching me hang. Please, stay with Charles."
"I’m not going to let them hang you," Rebecca said with grim determination. "And I am not going to let them separate us. Where you go, I go. I don’t want to argue about it any more." She put her head back down on Josie’s breast, cupping its softness in her hand. Josie lay there in silence for several minutes listening to Rebecca cry softly. She knew there was no point in arguing. She hoped that once again the little blonde would be right. If determination alone could stop the hanging, Rebecca would find a way to pull it off.
Continued in Part Eighteen (Conclusion)