AN: Just a short update for now as I had a busy week but will write a longer one next installment. Thank you to all my readers and reviewers :-D
Tanith
Chapter 13
After locating Doc Martin at his practice, Lucas wasted no time in informing him that he was urgently needed at the Cartwright ranch and that young Jamie had been wounded. Doc quickly packed his travel bag and rode out to the ranch while Lucas searched the town for Ben Cartwright. Fortunately for the ranch hand, his employer had just stepped out of the post office.
"Mr. Cartwright!" Lucas called out as he crossed the street.
Ben looked up in surprise when he heard his name. "Lucas? Is everything alright?"
A little out of breath, Lucas replied in a rush, "Joe sent me out to meet you. Jamie's been shot. He's okay. Doc's on his way to the house right now."
"What? Jamie? Where was he shot? How bad?" Ben frantically questioned as he made his way to his horse.
"In the arm. Bullet's still inside him," Lucas supplied then gripped Ben's arm and stopped him from mounting his horse. "Wait, there's more."
Ben wanted nothing more than to hurry home but the urgency in Lucas's voice warranted his immediate attention.
"The Marshall's arrested Griff. He's at the jail house. Joe told me he'll meet with you at the Sheriff's office," said Lucas.
Ben pursed his lips into a thin line. His worry morphing into anger as he listened to the level headed ranch hand. "What else?"
"That associate of the Marshall's, Mr. Howard, he's beaten Griff pretty bad. Probably been beatin' on him since he got to the ranch! Griff just kept quiet 'bout it," Lucas continued, feeling his own anger resurfacing.
Ben sighed heavily, trying to control his feelings. McCoy was an old friend and a guest at his home. He had expected more from him. Even if he wasn't the one who assaulted his employee, he obviously did nothing to stop it from happening. He was deeply disappointed but right now, he was concerned over the young man's welfare. With Joe insisting on riding out to the jail house to sort out the mess, and Paul riding out to the ranch, Ben decided that Griff needed him more than Jamie did right now. "Alright. Let's head on over to the jail house and sort this mess out."
The two men swiftly walked to the sheriff's office and before they even opened the door, they could hear Clem in a heated argument with McCoy inside.
The Marshall and deputy stopped hollering when Ben and Lucas walked in.
"Would one of you mind telling me what is going on and how my son ended up with a bullet wound?" Ben demanded tersely.
"I can explain, Mr. Cartwright," Mr. Howard piped up from his corner.
"Mr. Howard, I don't want to hear anything you have say. As far as your involvement is concerned, I've heard enough!" Ben thundered.
"It pains me to have to tell you that Griff King is nothing but a criminal practically living under your roof. I tried to get him to come in peacefully but he lashed out so I drew my gun to defend myself as any lawman has the right and authority to do. Joe foolishly interfered and Jamie ended up in the line of fire. It was an accident. You know I would never harm your boy, Ben. If you want someone to blame, he's sittin' in a cell right now where he belongs!" McCoy pointed his finger at the door leading to the holding cells.
"You didn't just arrest 'im! You…" Lucas shouted but a hand on his chest and Mr. Cartwright's look of disapproval stopped him.
"What are the charges?" Ben lowered his voice a notch and drew a deep breath to calm himself.
"Murder and armed robbery. He has no alibi and he was seen by a witness arguing with the victim. Let's not forget that a barkeeper, Mr. Kent, also lost his life the night the Wells Fargo was robbed. That counts as two murders," McCoy relayed.
"That's a lie!" Lucas glowered.'
"Vouching for a murderer makes you an accomplice!" Howard shot back.
"Lucas! Howard!" Clem stepped in between the two men who both advanced on each other.
The door leading into Clem's private office opened and Mrs. Walters walked out with confident strides. "Enough! I know who murdered that boy last night and it sure wasn't Griff King!"
All eyes turned to the middle aged woman who had her hands on her hips.
"What's this?" McCoy scoffed, looking Mrs. Walters up and down in disgust.
"Griff is innocent of the crimes you are accusing him of committing. If you want to know who killed Zeke Barker last night, you best find Troy Johnson and that friend of his from out of town. Aaron, yes, that's his name. I overheard them arguing earlier and quite frankly Aaron's got a mean streak in him!" Mrs. Walters revealed.
A muscle twitched in McCoy's cheek at the mention of his son's name. There was no doubt the woman was referring to his Aaron. While the others in the room didn't mirror his thoughts, Mrs. Walters' testimony was going to cause complications. Word would spread like wild fire and it wouldn't long before the town discovered the truth.