Doc, Jonas and reverend Joe Morgan stood outside the church where the trial for Roy Crawford and Ben Preston was about to take place. The doctor and the store owner were telling the reverend about their harrowing ordeals. The young reverend shook his head and remembered back to the horrific train crash some months earlier. He wondered how both men were able to cope as well as they could.
Matt stepped over to the small group of men, "They are just about to start," his voice was low and calculated.
Jonas and Doc excused themselves as they made their way into the building and took their seats near the front of the room. Sheriff Parker and his two deputies, Charlie Appleby and Howard Bell where also in attendance and sat near the front of the room as well.
Everyone in the room was looking around to see who was in attendance, including Leon Henshaw from Spearville. He wanted to see justice done for the murder of his boss and friend.
In fact there were several people from Spearville, including Evelyn Sawyer. She sat near the back of the gallery and watched with interest. She was also trying to blend in and not be noticed by Sheriff Parker and his deputy.
The bailiff entered the room from the back door near the office and ordered everyone to stand as Judge Brooker entered room and took his place at the table at the front of the room. Once the judge was seated, the bailiff had everyone take their seats.
Matt, Kitty, and reverend Morgan sat together near Nathan Burke, Ed O'Connor and Joshua Halligan. All eyes were on Roy Crawford and Ben Preston and both men knew it.
Crawford looked around the room from under his eyebrows and his eyes spied Evelyn. He tried to hide his smile. Quickly he turned way.
Leon Henshaw noticed and leaned forward, "Sheriff?" he whispered into the sheriff's ear.
"What Leon," Parker asked.
"Did you see that?" Henshaw whispered again.
"See what? Leon, you're not making sense," Parker was getting annoyed.
"Didn't you see the way Roy Crawford looked at that lady over there in the back row?" Leon pointed across Parker's shoulder.
Both sheriff Parker and Howard Bell looked across the room. "Hey," Bell nudged his boss. "That's the woman that was in that shack where we picked Crawford up the first time," he said with surprise in his tone.
Parker looked more closely at the woman who was desperately trying to blend in and disappear into the throng of people who came to witness the trial. Parker looked over to his deputy, "Keep an eye on her at all times," he ordered.
The sheriff's attention was brought back to the trial which had started. Leon Henshaw was called to the witness stand and took his oath before sitting in the chair next to the judge.
The questions about what happened all seemed straight forward and the prosecutor worked his way through the witnesses quickly. The defence had little going for it. With Jonas' and Doc testimony the jury sat spellbound and there was little hope now for Roy Crawford. He'd end his days on the end of a rope.
Crawford was found guilty of robbery, murder, assault and evading the law. His temperament did little to impress Judge Brooker or the jury.
Ben Preston was charged with assault and assisting in a jail break. He would spend the next ten years in the state prison. Doc cringed at the thought as he remembered the time he spent behind the walls of Kansas State Penitentiary. "I wouldn't wish that on anyone," the doctor said to no one in particular he said as he watched the armed guards take Preston to the awaiting prison wagon. The out law glared at everyone as he limped past them to the door.
Other guards held Roy Crawford, "Mr. Crawford, you shall remain in Dodge City until you are hanged tomorrow," Brooker stated. The room was silent after the bailiff asked all to rise again while the judge left the room. Evelyn was the only one that made a sound as she got up to leave the room.
Howard Bell nudged his boss, "She's leaving the building," Bell said.
By now Matt had seen the interest that sheriff Parker and his deputy were showing toward the woman. Matt waited patiently for Brooker to leave so that he could talk to Parker. Once the judge left, Matt quickly excused himself from Kitty and the others to make his way through the crowd to reach sheriff Parker, "What's up?" Matt asked as he too watched the woman leave.
"That woman was in the homestead where we picked Crawford up after the robbery. I think she might be a very good friend of his," Parker's eyes held to the doorway as he watched people leaving the room.
"Do you tink she'll try something?" Matt asked.
Parker's eyes returned to Matt's, "Somehow I wouldn't put it passed her," he stated.
Matt made a face and nodded, "Thanks for the tip," he said as he left the building.
Jonas and Doc stood outside the church. Doc was going into detail about his time in the state penitentiary. "Doc, I had no idea it was that hard on you," Jonas sympathised. "Well, it's over now and water under the bridge now as far as I'm concerned," Doc smiled.
Jonas shook his head, "I surely don't know what I would do in such a predicament."
"Let's not dwell on it anymore, all right?" Doc smiled.
"Oh, yes, of course. Sorry Doc," the store owner felt badly. "Can I buy you a drink?" He offered Doc.
Doc smiled, "You sure can!" The two men started across the street when Matt stopped them.
"Matt?" Doc questioned.
"Look, I think you two shook spend the night at the jail with Festus and me," Matt said.
Both Doc and Jonas exchanged looks. "What on heaven's earth are you talking about?" Doc asked.
"I think Roy Crawford has a vixen friend in town and she might try something to free him. You two would be pretty tempting targets." Matt stated.
"So much for our drink," Doc said as he looked at Jonas and back to Matt.
Matt smiled, "I'll see you get a jug of beer. Okay?"
Both men sighed as they knew they really didn't have much choice. "Come along, Jonas. We're going to jail for the night," Doc laughed as did the store owner. Matt just rolled his eyes as he watched the pair walked down the street. Doc sometimes pretended to be drunk while Jonas waved his arms in the air like a mad man. "I'm not sure those two should stay together," Matt mused to himself before he decided to try and locate this mystery woman.
Evelyn Sawyer sat at a table at the back of the Long Branch. Her eyes watched everyone in the room. All of them were talking about the hanging in the morning. As she sipped on her beverage, her eyes spotted the sheriff from Spearville and the Dodge City marshal. Both men scanned the room for the woman they saw leaving the court.
Matt nudged Parker, "She's at the back."
Parker finally spotted her, "What are you thinking?"
"We find out what she's doing here and we either holder her over night, or make her go home," Matt stated.
Parker pursed his lips, "I think you'll be better off with the first of your two suggestions," he sighed.
Both men moved through the crowd and finally stood before Evelyn Sawyer. "You were in the house where I found Roy Crawford. What brings you here?" Parker asked out right.
Sawyer said nothing at first as she looked at the two lawmen. And then she sighed, "I was thinking I could do something for Roy."
"Like let him escape, again?" Matt asked as he moved closer.
Evelyn nodded, "But after what I heard today, I know he'd just continue on his way. I thought I was in love with him..." she stated as her eyes filled with tears. Matt sighed and looked at Parker who didn't know what to say.
Matt looked back at Evelyn, "Look, I'm sorry about Roy. But he was found guilty and he will hang tomorrow morning," the marshal stated.
Evelyn swallowed, "I know. I'll be here to see it," she whispered. "Roy was a good man at one time," she tried to smile before tears of angst over took her and she sobbed into her hands.
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Morning came and the mood of the town was sombre. The hangman's platform was constructed over night in the yard behind the livery stable. Matt escorted Roy Crawford across the street and through the gate at the west end of the stable.
Reverend Joe Morgan stood straight with his Bible in hand as the condemned man walked by, "May God have mercy on your soul," Morgan said.
Roy Crawford growled and spat at the ground before Joe. Reverend Morgan drew a breath but didn't bat an eye.
Evelyn stood near the stairs that led up to the platform and Crawford even glared at her. She looked away as he climbed to the top.
With a few words from reverend Morgan, a black hood was slipped over Crawford's head before the noose was slipped around his neck. There was a pause before the executioner pulled the lever and Crawford dropped through the platform. His body bounced slightly and his legs twitched as the last of his life left him.
Slowly the small crowd dissipated and left Roy Crawford to swing a little while longer.