Beneath a Prairie Sky by Wild Rose Press

Author:Wild Rose Press [Authors, Wild Rose Press]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sample chapters of western historical romance
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2019-06-19T00:00:00+00:00

Forgiving Rex

by

Sue Heasley

Chapter One

Colorado, 1870

Rex Utah never figured his last day on earth would be at the end of a rope, swaying in the wind with regrets on his mind. He stepped outside of the jailhouse door and hesitated. With all his strength, he struggled to loosen the ropes tied around his wrists. A large wooden structure loomed over him. This was the end.

“Move it.” Sheriff Baker of Chelsea shoved him toward the steps of the gallows. “Damn young buck. You should’ve left town after the barroom brawl the other day. Now you’ve got yourself in a heap of trouble.”

“I told you.” Rex pulled his arm free from the sheriff’s tight grip. “I didn’t kill the bank teller. I was with a prostitute at the Broken Steer saloon at the time of the robbery. Ask her.”

“You’re out of luck.” The sheriff spit out his chewing tobacco and gave Rex a crooked smile. “That gal had to suddenly leave town last night.”

“I’m not a killer.” Rex snarled.

The sheriff took him by the neck and pushed him forward. The wooden steps wobbled from both their weights. “Yeah, I suppose you didn’t steal the money from the bank safe either.” He led Rex to the hanging rope while a deputy stood guard over him with a rifle.

“Damn it. You have no proof. I demand a fair trial.”

“Don’t need one.” The sheriff slipped the noose around his neck and tightened it.

Everything suddenly became clear to Rex. He recalled seeing the sheriff play poker with some rough looking cowboys in the saloon two days before the bank robbery. He had been on a winning streak which was surprising since Rex had easily cleaned out the sheriff’s pockets more than once the day before. The guy was the worst poker player he’d ever seen. The cowboys at the table had even paid a prostitute to take the sheriff upstairs, which he thought odd at the time. Now he knew why.

“You’re somehow involved with the robbers.” Rex turned to the sheriff’s deputy. “Stop him. He was paid off.”

“Shut your mouth.” The sheriff’s cheeks blushed. Sweat beaded on his forehead. His eyes narrowed at the deputy. “Don’t move.”

“Why would you hang a man before you even found out where he stashed the money from the bank robbery?” Rex could hardly swallow as the rough rope threads tightened and pinched the skin on his neck. He didn’t dare move an inch.

“Yeah, where’s the money?” The deputy stepped forward and took his hand off the drop lever.

The sheriff grabbed Rex’s shirt and looked him in the eye. “I’ve got two witnesses who said the killer rode an Appaloosa. You have the only one in town. You got any last words, boy?”

The feeling of impending doom came over Rex. He was out of options. He figured he’d better stop his accusations, or the sheriff wouldn’t even let him say a final prayer. “I’d like a few minutes for some private thoughts before you do the deed.”

Smiling, the sheriff stepped back from him.

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