Shatto (Perry County, Pennsylvania Frontier Series) by Chandler Roy F

Author:Chandler, Roy F. [Chandler, Roy F.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Katherine R. Chandler
Published: 2012-08-01T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Maddoc Ruby returned to Perry County on a canal boat. He stomped into a Newport drinking room and shouldered himself a wide place at the bar. He wasted no time in announcing his intentions. He spoke loudly so all would hear.

"I'm Maddoc Ruby. I'm lookin' for a yellow dog that picks fights with old men. I figure him to hang out around Bloomfield. That's where I'm headin,' and when I find this slinkin' hound, I'm plannin' on makin' him crawl and beg till I'm tired o' lookin' at him. If anybody here knows Rob Shatto, tell him Maddoc Ruby's in town and waitin' for him."

Before Ruby had finished his drink, a rider was pounding out the Little Buffalo road to tell Rob Shatto. As the Blue Ball Tavern lay en route, the rider had to pause there for a few quick swallows and to spread the exciting news. That took longer than expected, and by the time the messenger arrived at Rob's place Maddoc Ruby's rented buggy was in Bloomfield and word of his challenge was fanning across the county.

They sat on the lower step of Rob's porch with Amy hovering anxiously in the background. Rob listened to the excited rider's story with outward equanimity. If the messenger had hoped to be privy to Rob Shatto's actions, he was disappointed. Rob thanked him and indicated his intent to think on the matter.

When the man was gone, Amy dropped onto the step beside her husband. She sensed his concern and knew he was aware of her own fears. Rob took her hand, leaning back and letting his eyes take in the run of tree-lined creek, he seemed relaxed, but Amy Shatto knew her man and recognized the seriousness of Ruby's threats.

"Rob, can't the Sheriff do something about that man?"

"Not much, Amy. Oh, he could charge Ruby with threatening the peace or something. But it wouldn't do any good or change anything. Ruby would still be waiting and everyone would know it. Next time I go into town he will be there and I'll have to fight." He elaborated, 'The man has come for blood, Amy. He won't let go at less."

Rob grinned a little ruefully. "In the mountains, I'd ride in and shoot him into rags. 0f course, out there, he would know better than to make serious trouble."

He stirred restlessly as Amy shivered at the coldness of his words.

"Where there isn't any law, Ruby would walk quiet. Here, the law can't do anything much until it's all over and too late. Seems some people are always taking advantage of the laws that are supposed to protect us. If I ride in and shoot Ruby dead, I'm likely to be hung for murder. If I don't, he's going to do his best to break my bones and leave me crippled up from what most will call a fair fight.

"Suppose I just went in and refused to fight? He would probably take a horse whip to me while the whole county laughed at how afraid I was.

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