Midnight Visitors 20

Abbott's eyes widened. As one, he and Heyes moved towards the smithy.

"Tubby!"

They broke into a run calling his name as they went. Heyes reached the door first and stopped. Tubby was lying flat on his back on the floor, not moving.

"No!"

He reached behind him and clutched the door surround for support. His legs gave way and he slumped into a heap, hands over his face. After nearly taking Simon's life, a fact he was still wrestling with, it would be too much to bear if he lost Tubby. Suddenly it was all too much for him.

"No!" he wailed.

Abbott pushed passed him and went to the prone man on the floor. He quickly checked for signs of breathing and injury.

Heyes knew he should have been the one to go to Tubby but for once, his leadership skills and his own courage failed him. Feeling disorientated by earlier events, a slump of despondency found it easy to overtake him. It was something he wasn't accustomed to feeling and he didn't like it one little bit. The realisation of what it was, made him feel ten times worse. His emotions had the better of him, twice today in quick succession. He hated it.

After a few moments, Abbott looked up. "Reckon he just fainted, Al," he smiled.

Heyes removed his hands. He was ashen faced, having feared the worst. "He's alive?" he asked, his voice catching.

"Yes. Can't see no injuries." Abbott patted Tubby's face, gently.

Heyes sighed in relief, looked up and muttered a thank you. Twice today, he'd had a reason to offer up a prayer. Might be something in what Preacher said after all; the Good Lord was looking out for him. He crawled over to where Tubby lay, and sat on his hip next to him.

"For a moment, I thought … ." Heyes couldn't finish.

Abbott patted Heyes' shoulder. "I know. I know," Abbott said, gently. "I thought the worst at first as well." Heyes offered a weak smile in reply.

Abbott turned to slap Tubby's face a little harder. Tubby rewarded him with a groan.

"Hey Tubby what are you doing here lying around?" Heyes asked, with a brighter smile, when Tubby opened his eyes.

"Sheriff … Mr Rembacker … what?"

Heyes' smile widened as he and Abbott helped Tubby sit up.

"How d'you feel?"

Tubby rubbed his eyes. "Okay I guess." He looked round. "What happened?" He saw the heaps of spent cartridges. "There was a lot of shooting. The noise … ." He looked back in alarm. "Where's Fletcher? Simon?"

Heyes and Abbott swopped looks. Each held one of Tubby's arms, helping him to his feet and outside. They both wanted to shield the young man from seeing his dead friend. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be.

"Fletcher? No!"

Tubby struggled free and ran over. Heyes and Abbott quickly followed. However, it was Preacher, who reached him first. Thrusting his rifle at Heyes, he caught Tubby before he sank to the ground, next to Fletcher.

"Hold up there, Boy," he said, brusquely, adding more gently, "He's at peace now."

"He's my friend! I killed my friend," Tubby cried.

"Naw ya didn't. Trust me ya didn't." Tubby wasn't convinced. "Come away now, Boy. There's nothing more ya can do for him."

Tubby wanted to resist, started to but he was no match for Preacher. He was able to turn the young man round and walk him away, talking gently to him as they went. Tubby kept looking back until Preacher steered them out of sight behind a wall.

Heyes and Abbott watched them walk away.

"Ya friend has a way about him," Abbott mused. "Sad for Tubby, this."

"Yes I know. J's a good man," Heyes agreed, quietly. "He'll look after him."

For a moment, both were silent, before Heyes pulled himself together. He was tired, always was after he took over. However, there was a lot to do before he could close his eyes and he knew it.

"How's everyone else doing?"

He spun round to look for the others, scattered around the site. The five ranch hands were sitting silently on what was left of the boardwalk outside the fallen down refectory building. Patterson was standing guard over them with his rifle. Stoner looked to be about finished with Simon, who now sported a sling for his right arm. Amos had gone to find their horses and was leading them up to the entrance. Heyes and Abbott decided the best thing they could do was see to the horses in the barn.

Preacher had walked Tubby out of sight of the parade ground. He sat him down on the stone steps of the former commanding officers house and took a seat next to him. They sat in silence, until Tubby felt able to speak.

"He wasn't a bad man. He was always good to me."

"An' that's the way ya should remember him."

Tubby sniffed. "Why did he do it? Did he really kill Mr Mercer?"

Preacher shook his head. "Don't think he meant to Theodore." He nodded. "Yet I'm afraid that was the result."

"I don't understand why he would do such a thing!"

"Waal sometimes things jus' get on top of a man an' they clutch at straws as the only way out."

"It was all Simon's fault."

"Now you don't know that, boy. A man's responsible for his own actions. He had no one else to blame. From the little I saw of ya friend Fletcher, he wasn't the type to be at any man's beck and call."

Tubby sniffed again and scrubbed at his eyes.

"No he wasn't. it's why I admired him. He always knew what to do. Always took charge … always stood up for the … little man like me."

"Theodore ya're a brave and honourable man. Not a little man at all. In my experience, the best men are those who do what's right, without a lot of carrying on and showing off. An' that's you, Theodore. Ya did the right thing … a brave thing by helping the sheriff and Al end this whole sorry business. Ya've made ya Ma proud today."

"I dunno─"

"Waal I do. I seen it afore so I know. Trust me, Theodore. Ya're up there with the best of men. In fact, let me read ya some uplifting quotes from the Good Lord to prove m'point." Preacher put his hand inside his tunic. "Ah. No. Can't do that right now." Tubby looked at him, questioningly. "Gave m'bible to ya Ma last night, after we left her. Thought it might give her some comfort while we're gone."

"Was she alright? They didn't hurt her too much did they? I told them not to be rough with her."

Preacher shook his head and smiled. "No. She weren't tied up for too long. Al got us outta the cells pretty quickly after y'all left."

"I shouldn't ask should I? How he knows how to do that."

Preacher pulled a face. "Best not. Just be grateful he knows how to an' ya ma wasn't left too long."

Tubby nodded and smiled slowly. "She likes you. Haven't heard her laugh so much since we lost Pa last year."

Preacher smiled back. "I'm glad. I like her too."

They sat in silence, content in each other's company.

"Will we ever know what happened?" Tubby asked.

"'Xpect in the coming days, Sheriff Abbott and Al will work it all out. Reckon ya friend Simon will be a mite more co-operative now."

"He's no friend of mine," Tubby said, bitterly.

Preacher slapped Tubby's shoulder and gave him a shake. "He's a fellow human being young Theodore an' even if ya don't like him right now, he still deserves our sympathy and consideration. He's gonna need that from all of us in the coming days."

Tubby nodded reluctantly.

Preacher stood up. "Ready to go home and see ya ma?"

Tubby looked up. "I don't want to see Fletcher … ."

"I know, boy. I know." Preacher looked round the corner and came back nodding. "Ya won't have to Tubby. I'll make sure ya ride at the front."

ASJASJASJASJ

As promised, Preacher and Tubby rode in front. Abbott, holding the reins of Simon's horse rode behind them. The injured man rode with his head down, clinging hard onto the pommel with his good hand. Stoner and Patterson followed next, leading two ranch hands each. Amos had the fifth. Heyes rode at the back, leading the horse with Fletcher's body.

The sad little procession rode into Medicine Bow and pulled up outside the jail. They attracted a crowd immediately but Abbott had warned everyone not to say a word, until he said so. He helped Simon to dismount and along to Dr Spaulding, waving the townsfolk away. They could speculate all they liked until he was ready.

Heyes had already peeled off, taking Fletcher straight to the undertaker. Stoner, Patterson and Amos saw to installing the ranch hands in the cellblock as Preacher took Tubby home, despite his protestations he could manage. Perhaps Preacher had reasons of his own to insist.

Abbott snatched a few hours sleep while Dr Spaulding was seeing to Simon, before he rode out to the Looped C. He had sad news to tell Mrs Callaghan and it wasn't something he could leave to anyone else.

The ranch hands stewed in jail for most of the day, Stoner and Patterson took turns in minding the office. When Abbott relieved them at four, he released the ranch hands without charge.

Heyes and Brubaker had gone back to the hotel to catch some sleep of their own. Preacher hadn't reappeared by the time the three of them, were once again assembled in Abbott's office.

ASJASJASJASJ

Heyes paced up and down in the sheriff's office, waiting. Abbott and Brubaker had gone into the cellblock to question Simon. Given he was responsible for Simon's injury; no one thought it a good idea to have Heyes there. He of course had huffed and puffed before finally accepting they were right. Abbott and Brubaker would find out much more without him there.

So here he was walking up and down in the office, running his fingers through his hair, coming to a stop, arms folded, staring at the crazy stringing, which had been no help at all … . Preacher had disappeared. No doubt keeping company with Lovina.

"Lovina," Heyes muttered, rolling his eyes.

He stalked to the noticeboard and glared at the wanted posters.

"I know you. Know you. Don't know you. Thought you were dead. Don't know you. Think I know your brother."

Heyes turned and puffed.

"Bored. Bored. Boring!"

He craned his neck to look at the papers on Abbott's desk and found nothing remotely interesting. He was about to put his ear to the cellblock door, in the hope he would hear anything. Abbott saved him from going insane by coming out of the cellblock. Heyes jumped back from the door and couldn't control the furtive expression, crossing his features.

Abbot gave him a look of suspicion but ignored his compulsion to ask.

"Well? What has he said?" Heyes asked, quickly and was frustrated when Abbott didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he crossed to his desk, sat down and pulled out a whiskey bottle and two glasses from the bottom drawer. Heyes had to be patient, hoping from foot to foot, while Abbott poured two drinks. One he pushed in Heyes' direction.

Heyes pulled up a chair as Abbott downed his in one. As Abbott poured another, Heyes looked at him expectantly.

Abbott rubbed his bristled cheek and sighed.

"Brubaker wanted a word with his client in private. We're gonna need to talk to Celia," he said.

Heyes' eyes widened. "She's involved as well?"

"Not exactly," Abbott answered and took a little satisfaction in Heyes' disgruntled face, boot on the other foot for a change.

"As Lucinda told us, Simon had her shoot at you and J to try and frighten ya off. Brubaker an' I are satisfied there was no attempt at murder. Lucinda is too good with a rifle to make a mistake."

Heyes nodded. That's what he'd thought and he wouldn't be taking it any further. "Okay."

He leaned forward to hear what else Abbott had to say.

"I can't pretend I understand it all … ." Abbott rubbed his forehead. "Simon wanting to do improvements to the house Martha rents from him has nothing to do with this. Turns out it was a coincidence but … ." He raised a finger. "When Martha told him about the aconite plant, what's it called?"

"Wolfsbane."

"Yeah that's it. Well it seems it got him thinking … . When Preston showed him the padlock with the secret compartment, what it was used for and how it worked … , well he started to put it all together."

"So Simon did steal the padlocks from Preston?"

Abbott nodded. "Yes. See he knew when Preston would be out and he broke in when he was away. Took several items to disguise what he was really after."

Heyes nodded. "Makes sense," he murmured.

Abbott gave him a sharp look but he went on. "I don't think he knew at that point what he was planning to do with it." He paused. "You were kinda right 'bout Fletcher, Rembacker."

Heyes frowned. "In what way?"

"When Fletcher inherited, he was in trouble … for a time. Until Simon bailed him out. He owns fifty percent of the Looped C but as a silent partner. It was an arrangement between the two of them and nobody else knew."

"Explains why Simon was so concerned about Celia's claim on the land."

"Yes. The fortunes of the Looped C affected him as well and in a big way. It seems Simon isn't as wealthy as it appears. He may own a lot of properties but some of 'em make very little profit for him. He'd over invested in the Looped C and his financial affairs are … to say the least … dicey. If the Looped C went under, then so does he."

"Wow."

"He's not the sorta man to let that happen. What happened next is confusing an' I don't know if I've got the right of it."

"The sequence doesn't matter─"

"Well it might but I'll tell ya what I know. You're better at these things than me and you can work it out."

Heyes smiled at the faith Abbott was putting in him.

"Before all this happened, Simon and Celia were … y'know." Heyes nodded. "He got bored and he called it off." Heyes grunted. "When Celia won her case, putting the Looped C in jeopardy, Simon had to do something. He knew Celia didn't know about his interest in the Looped C, so he couldn't do anything directly. Lucinda Mercer provided the answer. By taking up with her, he was getting back at Celia, 'cos he rightly realised she'd be jealous, and at her lawyer for fighting her corner, Stephen Mercer."

Heyes closed his eyes and shook his head.

"When Simon realised Lucinda wanted to do something to win Stephen back, from Celia and Martha, or so she thought, Simon started his lawsuit against Martha knowing he didn't really have a leg to stand on. The type of woman Martha is he knew it would upset her. He wanted to get in Lucinda's good books because he thought their liaison might be useful to him in the long run."

"B*****d."

"Yeah. When he heard Celia was going to give the chest to Stephen, that's when he remembered about the aconite in Martha's garden. Preston's padlock was perfect. In the meantime he must have mentioned all this to Fletcher, who knew Tubby's ma was using aconite as a treatment for her rheumatism."

"So Simon stole the padlock, Fletcher stole Mrs Wilson's liniment to put inside it. Fletcher asked Tubby to secure the padlock on the chest … oh boy!"

"Lucinda made sure Stephen opened the padlock, hurting his hand. While she was in the office, Fletcher got Tubby was out of the way and when Lucinda left─"

"Fletcher slipped in."

"Yes," Abbott agreed. "Simon let himself in the back door and together they were going to take advantage of Stephen's incapacity and put pressure on him to withdraw his defence of Fletcher's appeal. Things went wrong. Stephen was far more ill than they'd banked on and … well there was nothing they could do."

"They coulda run for help!"

"Yeah but they didn't." Abbott paused. "When Stephen died, they had a real problem. Simon was all for leaving him there and have Tubby discover him in the morning but er Fletcher wouldn't hear of it. That's when Simon remembered the conversation he'd had with Emmett earlier, 'bout Carlson and Murtry being in town. Together they planned what they did next. Fletcher would go off to his poker match as normal. Simon would wait until the last possible moment to come tell me about Carlson and Murtry. As I was closing up. While I was outta the way searching for 'em, Fletcher and Simon moved Stephen's body into the alley outside the side door of the livery. They started the fire, and Fletcher raised the alarm. They waited and only moved Stephen's body in once all the animals were out and folks had stopped coming and going. It was easy enough to sneak in through the side door, leave Stephen and sneak out again. No one would be any the wiser. We all thought he'd died in the fire."

"Until I came along and … found oil on the lock of the side door that's never used."

Abbott nodded. "Yes."

Heyes raked his fingers through his hair. "In some ways I wish I'd never found it out."

Abbott nodded. "I know what ya mean, Rembacker," he said, sympathetically. "But all the same, I'm glad ya did."

Heyes rubbed his tired eyes. It had been a long couple of days and he hadn't had much sleep.

"Still some things to find out. A big chunk of 'em from Celia," he sighed.

"Reckon it can wait. We can ride out there tomorrow."

Heyes nodded, gratefully and prepared to get up.

"Where's ya friend?"

Heyes shrugged and pulled a face. "He took Tubby home. Guess he stayed."