The Way Of The West by Elmer Kelton

Author:Elmer Kelton [Kelton, Elmer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4285-0625-1
Publisher: Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.
Published: 2008-03-13T16:00:00+00:00

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With no expression, Marshal Anthony advised him that a wagon was waiting to take him to Waco where he would be held for trial. Dane told him to plan to use it for getting cloth and continued inside before Anthony could respond. His mind was whirling with worry. Mary would be here unless something had happened to her.

Everything in him wanted to turn and run to her house, but he knew that would be the excuse Cross and Stockton wanted to hunt him down and kill him. He must prepare himself mentally to go through the hearing without her. With luck, he would look for her later. He had no other choice. His heart was slamming against his chest.

He froze a few steps into the restaurant. Mary, where are you? Please, God, don’t let her be hurt. Please!

The restaurant was rearranged for the hearing and packed with townspeople; a dozen Cross men had cornered the front tables. The rest of the restaurant was lined with additional interested people, standing and waiting. At the back, one table had been set off by itself for Reicker to preside. One chair was placed for the judge; another at the table’s edge for witnesses. Two other tables had been arranged a few feet away, one for the prosecution, one for the defense. Stockton was already sitting at the farthest.

Rudolph Cross sat at the table closest to Stockton. At his table were the two wounded cowboys and others. The grizzled roper had his arm in a sling; Hogan, who had roped him around the neck, was, ironically, wearing a neck bandage. The blacksmith felt his raw neck in reflex. Winslow Tatum completed the table.

At another table, he saw Hollis Walker, the cowboy he had arrested for shooting in the Longhorn Saloon. Walker looked like a boy who had just been told today was Christmas. Sitting beside him was the Mexican rider, Lecaunesse and the bucktoothed cowboy. The stocky man from the store yesterday was sitting at another table with three other Cross men.

Cross saw Dane enter and said something to Hogan, who turned around and met the blacksmith’s gaze. Hogan sneered and mouthed, “A dead man ye be.”

Ignoring the threat, Dane looked around and saw Lester Wilson sitting with the mayor. Dane nodded and both returned the greeting. Dane took a step forward, then stopped. He needed to talk with Mikman. About Mary. He backtracked and slid between tables, receiving encouragement from various townspeople. He moved past the table with three councilmen—Harold Ringley, Gerald McCormick and Edward Lindsay—and another townsman. None of them attempted to greet him.

Mikman stood as Dane came to his table. “Herr Marshal. This is nicht a gut day for Torsmill. It ist nicht.”

“Fred, I need a favor.”

“Anything for du. Anything.”

Dane told him about Mary’s absence and wondered if he would go to her house and check on her. Mikman quietly agreed and left.

As Dane sat down at the table reserved for the defendant, J. R. Reicker entered from the kitchen and took his position behind the first table.

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