Chapter Two
With the hanging taking place the next morning, the town was overflowing with gawkers and ghouls anticipating the morbid demise of this unfortunate bastard. One wouldn't think two more cowboys riding into town would create much interest but these two had a way of commanding attention.
They were both tall in the saddle and presented a charismatic and powerful aura; you knew at first glance they were men to be reckoned with. Even their horses seemed to prance as if to say they were important just because of the men who rode them.
They rode down the muddy main street and took in the lay of the town. They dismounted at the livery at the far end of town, boarded their horses, and proceeded back down the street toward the saloon.
The women of the town immediately noticed them and the way these women presented themselves changed as the attractive young men strolled the streets quietly tipping their hats to the women and girls whose hearts all seemed to flutter in unison. They were similarly handsome but each held a distinctive appeal. One, possibly the younger, was a good four inches taller than his counterpart which made him impossibly tall since the other was more than six foot himself.
They were more handsome than all the men these women had ever seen with strong chiseled jaws with just the slightest indent in their chins, bright, intense, hazel-green eyes that seemed to look into your very soul, and slight laugh lines around their soft, sensuous lips that indicated they truly reveled in life.
As if that wasn't enough to totally melt the hearts of the town's women they appeared to be in peak physical condition. They each possessed strong, broad shoulders and powerful chests that narrowed into trim hips and muscular legs that filled out their chaps to perfection. Yes, the women of Valentine, Texas had been sent their valentines from heaven itself.
The two young men in their early twenties appeared unaware of the effect their arrival in town had created as they swung through the saloon doors, strode up to the bar and ordered two beers to refresh them from their long ride. All heads in the saloon turned to announce the arrival of men of stature even though no one knew exactly who they were or why they had graced the town with their presence.
"So you here for the hanging?" The sheriff came up behind them and asked, his hand resting on the butt of his 45 slung across his hip.
"Well, actually we were gonna come see you Sheriff. We need to take a look at your prisoner." One answered with a friendly smile.
"Sorry, prisoner's not accepting visitors. You can see him tomorrow when he makes his walk to the gallows."
"Now see, that won't do. I'm Deke Taylor and this is my partner Scott Peabody, we're Texas Rangers and we need to see your prisoner now." Deke firmly stated as he pulled back the lapel on his dustcoat to reveal a bronze badge.
"What exactly are you looking for Ranger?" Sheriff Adams asked, trying to determine his next course of action. Mr. Carpenter sure wouldn't like these new players in town messing with his plans.
"Sheriff, we've had a hard ride and I could stand here answering all your questions but I don't have the time or inclination. We have jurisdiction so why don't we all just go along to the jail so we can see the prisoner?"
The sheriff decided caution would be in his best interest so he motioned them to follow, exited the saloon and crossed the street with the two Rangers following a few paces behind.
In a whisper the second Ranger spoke for the first time as he poked Deke in the back of his shoulder.
"Why'd you have to name me Peabody? What kind of stupid cover is that?" Scott complained.
"Hey bro, you just strike me as a Peabody. Settle down, this is working, just play along." Deke responded with a smirk.
Inside the jail the sheriff took the keys off his belt loop and unlocked the door leading to the cells in the back. The jail only had two cells with the first one empty and the second holding the doomed prisoner. He was lying on the cot with his eyes closed, just casually resting like he didn't realize today was the last full day he would see.
"Hey Jake. Stand up. You got company."
"Yeah, well I'm not much in the mood for gawkers. Leave me alone, I'm takin' a nap."
Deke spoke then as he loudly rattled the bars of the cell.
"Sheriff told you to get up you miserable excuse for a man. I want a look at you."
Jake opened his eyes and a slow grin crossed his face as he rose to face the young whippersnapper who had disturbed him.
"You got a big mouth there son. Didn't your pappy ever teach you about respectin' your elders?"
"Yeah, I think he might have mentioned that once or twice but I don't reckon I have to respect vermin like you now do I?" Deke replied with just a touch of sarcasm in his deep voice.
"Well Rangers you see what you need to see?" Sheriff Adams asked.
"Yeah Sheriff, I think we have. This here is Jake Winslow, a bank robber and murderer wanted by the Rangers. We'll be takin' him off your hands now." Deke replied with authority. "Don't fret now Jake, you're still gonna hang, just not tomorrow."
"Now wait a minute here boys, this town's been looking forward to this hangin'. You can't just come in here at the last minute and take my prisoner." The sheriff protested, sure old man Carpenter would have his hide if he let this culprit get away.
"Well like we said before, we have jurisdiction and the Rangers always get their man so you have no choice in the matter." Scott informed the sheriff.
"How do I know this is the man you're looking for? How do I know this isn't some kind of mistake? Besides if they want to hang him just let us do it tomorrow and it'll be done with."
Deke pulled out a wanted poster with a rough sketch of Jake and the details of his crimes along with the price for his capture or death: $100, a respectable amount for the economy of the times.
"This proof enough for ya Sheriff? Hey, believe me if I had my druthers, I'd watch him swing tomorrow. Sure would save me the trouble of hauling his sorry ass back to Austin. Hell Jake, with the right incentive, I might be convinced to shoot you while trying to escape." Deke let out a short burst of laughter as a smile again crossed his handsome face.
"Deke, I don't think that's funny. We're sworn to protect and serve the good citizens of Texas and we follow the letter of the law. You hear me Ranger?" Scott scolded his partner.
"Damn Scott, where's your sense of humor? Just warning the prisoner against trying anything is all." Deke turned and gave a slight wink to the sheriff.
"Well Sheriff, looks like we'll be leaving come first light with our prisoner. You keep him all nice and safe, ya hear?" Scott warned the sheriff.
"Sheriff, Jake have a horse?" Deke inquired.
"Yeah, we were gonna sell it to pay for the burial but it's still down at the livery."
"Well Scott, why don't you go on down to the livery and check it out. Make sure we can get all the horses and leave bright and early come morning. I'll meet up with you later at the hotel." Deke commanded.
"Yeah, I'll want to turn in early if we're gonna leave first light." Scott replied as he headed out the jailhouse door.
"Yeah, you do that." Deke muttered before turning to the sheriff. "Hell, I don't know how I ever got stuck with that prick. He wouldn't know how to have a good time if it came up and bit him. So Sheriff, can I buy you a drink at the saloon?" Deke was in the mood for some partying and he wasn't gonna let a little thing like a job or responsibility get in his way.
"Don't mind if I do. I'd like to find out a little more about this Ranger thing. How much you Rangers get paid nowadays?" Sheriff Adams appeared jovially friendly as he locked up the jail and walked down the street towards the saloon with his new compadre.