Will McIntyre (From Which Way to the OK Corral)
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"Everyone thought you were dead," Georgette said in disbelief when she recognized the McIntyres as Mrs. and Mrs. Cummings from Denver, whom everyone thought had been taken hostage and killed when the express company where they had worked had been robbed. Neither the Cummings' bodies, nor the stolen money had ever been found.
"Georgette, I can explain," Mr. McIntyre said hastily.
"There's no need. It's all perfectly clear now. The two of you robbed the express company and made off with the money. Bart Russel must have recognized you just as I did, and you're paying him for his silence."
"It's not that simple, Georgette. Please, let me explain."
Georgette merely shook her head, then turned and walked away.
"Thaddeus, why don't you take Miss Sinclair back to town... and ask the Marshall to ride out here, without telling his deputy where he's going. I'll stay here with the McIntyres or, excuse me, with the Cummings, to make sure they don't up and disappear again," Heyes told Kid.
Kid nodded, then turned and followed Georgette back to the horses.
"Well now, it's a right nice day, so why don't the two of you come on out and have a seat here on the porch and the three of us will wait for Marshal Erp to arrive," Heyes told them.
"It's not the way Georgette thinks," McIntyre said. "Really, there were reasons. Valid reasons.
Heyes leaned against the porch rail facing Mr. and Mrs Cummings, his gun still in his hand. "You can feel free to practice you're story on me Mr. Cummings. But it's the Marshal, and most likely a jury that you'll have to convince," Heyes told him.
"That exchange company was forcing us to retire. We had no money put away. We rented our house. We had nothing," Mr. Cummings said, determined to convince Heyes that he and his wife were victims, not criminals.
"You be sure to tell that story to your lawyer. Maybe he can get your prison time reduced if he can convince the jury to feel sorry for the two of you," Heyes replied.
"You don't know what it's like to be destitute," Mrs. Comings said through her tears.
Heyes offered no argument and the three sat for nearly an hour before Marshall Earp rode up, dismounted, and walked up onto the porch.
Earp tipped his hat to the McIntyres, then turned his eyes to Heyes. "Mr. Smith, why don't you put your gun away, and go take a leisurely walk about the ranch. Check out the barn, the back yard, maybe. I'd like to talk to these folks privately," Earp said in his very distinctive drawl.
Heyes knew a deal was about to be struck, but he also knew that being as he and Kid, and Georgette would soon be leaving Tombstone, with no plans to ever return, whatever was about to occur was none of his concern.
"Sure Marshall," Heyes replied and holstered his gun before stepping off the porch and heading around the side of the house.
Earp again looked at the McIntyres, then raised his eyes and looked above them as he spoke.
"Any business deals that my deputies engage in when they are not on duty is their own business and I have no call to interfere. But when those dealings occur when my deputy is on duty, then I am morally obligated to intervene. Now, it is my understanding that when a loan is obtained by...say a bank or an exchange office, it is generally with the understanding that the money will be repaid, generally in a predetermined amount of time. But again, that is between the borrower and the lender."
"Marshall," Mr. McIntyre said, but Earp quickly cut him off.
"Let me finish. Now, this little place you've got out here is probably worth a fair amount of money, maybe enough to cover a loan from the exchange company. It seems to me that when a loan is paid off, any obligations associated with that loan become null and void."
Earp lowered his eyes and looked directly at Mr. McIntyre. "Have I made myself clear" he asked.
Mr. McIntyre nodded his head and wrapped an arm about his wife's shoulders. "Perfectly."
"Good. Now you won't be receiving a visit from my deputy any more, but I expect to see a for sale sign up on this property within the week."
Earp turned and stepped down off the porch, then glanced toward the barn just in time to see Heyes emerging. "You like some company riding back to town, Mr. Smith," he called to Heyes.
Heyes hurried over to the hitching post. He was not comfortable with the thought of riding back to town with Wyatt Earp, but saw no way around it. Before climbing onto his horse, Heyes glanced up to the porch where the two McIntyres were still sitting. "They're not coming with us" he asked.
"They are taking care of some...restitution, shall we say," Earp replied, then yanked on his reins and headed down the lane and back towards town.
Heyes watched him for a moment and sighed nervously, then gave his horse a kick to catch up, thankful that Tombstone would soon be a part of his past.