Stagecoach to Hell by Terrence McCauley & Ralph Compton

Author:Terrence McCauley & Ralph Compton [McCauley, Terrence & Compton, Ralph]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2021-02-23T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Cap Goodyear had never enjoyed the company of loud men. He held braggards and bullies in particularly low regard. Judge Randall J. Barnes was such a man, given how he was conducting himself now.

“What do you mean you don’t know where he is?” Judge Barnes boomed, his voice filling his large chambers at the courthouse. His thin white hair was carefully arranged on the top of his head to hide an ever-growing bald spot. “How could a passel of Ed Frost’s own deputies not know where he is?”

Cap had not relished the decision of River and Mike to elect him to be the one who gave their report to Judge Barnes, but he had abided by it. He was, after all, the oldest remaining deputy now that Seb was missing. “On account of Ed wanting it that way. He sent us as an escort for the prison wagon to try to throw off the Clay family about where Tom Clay was. He sent us ahead going one way while he took a stage for straight here.”

The judge’s thick white eyebrows furrowed. “And whose feebleminded idea was that?”

Cap did not like anyone putting down the marshal. Not even a judge. “It was Ed Frost’s idea and it was far from feeble. If anything, it was one all of the men agreed with, including me. Not that he asked for our agreement and we would do anything he told us to do.”

“Yes,” Judge Barnes sneered. “You would, wouldn’t you? You’re the type. Keep your mouth shut and obey orders just because a man tells you what to do. Makes it easier on you all around. The less you have to think, the easier it is on you.”

Cap had earned his reputation as a hothead who often clashed with his superiors. Deep down, he knew it was the reason why men like Judge Barnes had always given men like Ed Frost the big jobs. Because although Frost was capable, he was not as good as Cap Goodyear and both of them knew it.

But Cap’s natural resentment of authority was why he bristled now and had to work hard not to show the judge just how much he was annoying him. Losing his famous temper now would not do anyone much good, least of all Ed Frost.

“Nothing about this entire trip has been easy,” Cap told him. “Watching a good man like Andy Poole die wasn’t easy. Finding out Seb had been taken hostage by those damned Clay boys wasn’t easy. Knowing Ed Frost is out there alone facing down a passel of murderers just because you were too stubborn to come to town isn’t easy either.”

Judge Barnes’s chins moved as he turned his head to look at the insolent deputy marshal. “I hope you’re not implying that I am responsible for any of this.”

Cap realized it was too late because he had already gone too far, so he decided to keep on going. “I hope I’m not implying it either, your honor. I hope I’m stating it as clearly as I know how that you are, in fact, responsible for all of this.

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