The Reckoning by Ethan J. Wolfe

Author:Ethan J. Wolfe
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gale, Cengage Learning
Published: 2019-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Chao-xing, Mary, and Sarah were turning the soil in the front yard garden when Chao-xing noticed a wagon headed their way.

“Mary, go get your grandmother,” Chao-xing said.

Amy and Maria came out to the porch as the prisoner wagon arrived. Marshal Witson was at the reins. One man was in the cage. Witson jumped down and approached the porch.

“Sorry for this disturbance, Mrs. Youngblood, but Judge Parker insisted I bring this bird out here to see if Mr. Duff can identify him as the man who stabbed him,” Witson said.

“Is there any news from my boys?” Amy asked.

“No, I’m afraid not,” Witson said.

“It will take some doing to get Mr. Duff out of bed,” Amy said. “Come have a cup of coffee while we get him to his feet.”

Witson came up to the porch.

“Maria, have Mary bring the marshal some coffee,” Amy said.

Witson drank a cup of coffee and waited on the porch with Mary and Sarah until Amy and Duff appeared on the porch. Duff walked slowly and used Amy’s shoulder for support, but he made it all the way onto the porch. Maria and Chao-xing stood behind him until Duff reached the railing and placed his hands on it to steady himself.

Witson stood up. “Mr. Duff, I’m Marshal Witson,” he said. “Can you identify the man in the wagon for me?”

“I don’t think I can make it down the stairs,” Duff said.

Witson nodded and went down to the wagon. He opened the cage door and said, “Out, you varmint.”

The man slowly climbed out of the cage. His ankles and wrists were in shackles.

“Walk to the porch so he can get a good look at you,” Witson said.

The man clanked his way to the porch.

Duff looked at him.

“Why?” Duff asked.

The man shrugged. “It’s my nature to commit such acts,” he said.

“All right, back in the cage,” Witson said. “Mr. Duff, we’ll hold him until you’re fit enough to appear in court.”

Jack and Emmet rode at a quick and steady pace and reached Pueblo in six hours. A bustling, iron-mining town of five thousand residents, Pueblo was situated near the Arkansas River where iron ore was shipped by river and by railroad north to Denver.

The railroad station was located on the western fringe of town, and they stopped there first to check schedules. A train bound for Denver was scheduled to leave in thirty-five minutes.

“If the train is on time, we’ll be in Denver by seven tonight,” Emmet said. “We’ll telegraph Ma and the girls and also the judge. We can ride to the army tonight or in the morning.”

“Tonight,” Jack said.

Emmet cocked an eye at Jack. “You’re passing up a soft bed and a good steak?”

“Denver is a town full of temptations, and I’m trying to walk a straight path until we get home,” Jack said.

Emmet grinned. “I do believe when we get home, you really are going to marry that girl,” he said.

“Needle me some more and see what happens,” Jack said.

“Nobody is needling you, Jack,” Emmet said. “I just can’t see you with a ring through your nose, is all.

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