Chapter Thirty-Three
"Energy and persistence conquer all things."
~Benjamin Franklin
Jack was standing on the saloon porch trying to determine a way to get back inside when he heard Allen yelling, "Get off the porch! Get off the porch, now!" Jack moved toward the sound and saw Allen standing near the window. "Get off the porch or I start shooting!" He waved the gun at Jack.
Jack frowned and backed off the porch, keeping an eye on Allen. Standing in the street, he became aware of people approaching him from all sides. Mayor Ramsey was the first to speak to him. "Constable, what's happening?"
Jack moved to stand next to the mayor, his back to and out of earshot of the others, and told him in a low voice, "A prisoner escaped and went into the saloon. I need your help to keep people away and calm while we get the situation under control."
The mayor looked at the saloon and then back at Jack, his eyes wide. "You're serious? He's kidnapped our children?" he asked in a loud voice.
"Mr. Mayor," Jack advised him earnestly, "I need your help! I need people to be calm so we can handle this and everyone will be safe. Do you understand?" He looked at the crowd and then across at Abigail's cafe. "Sir, I need you to get everyone to go over to Abigail's," he directed.
The mayor looked at Jack, took a deep breath, and, finally, nodded. "Okay, I'll do what I can," he told Jack. He then turned to the crowd that was gathering. "Everyone please move back and let Constable Thornton do his job. He will handle this. So, why don't we all head to Abigail's?" He then started waving his arms, directing the crowd toward the cafe. "Come on, let's go." The crowd, murmuring and looking at Jack, followed the mayor's direction and moved away.
As the mayor led the crowd to Abigail's Cafe, Jack spotted Trevoy heading towards him. "I hear there's a commotion in my saloon," Tom said to Jack.
"Allen is in there. He's taken everyone hostage," Jack informed him. "He's got a gun. Do you keep a gun in the register?"
Trevoy's face drained of color as his eyes widened and he looked down. "Uh... yeah," he answered, barely audible.
"You leave it there?" Jack inquired, clearly disapproving. "You don't take it with you when you close?"
Trevoy looked away and shook his head. After a few moments, he turned back to Jack. "How can I help?"
Jack gave Trevoy a frustrated look before answering. "Go help the mayor keep everyone away from the saloon. Parents are going to hear about this and come into town. Please keep them all at Abigail's, away from the saloon," Jack directed.
Trevoy nodded and headed to the cafe.
Jack exhaled his frustration and turned his attention back to the saloon as he tried to determine his next step. He surveyed the exterior of the saloon and listened intently for any sounds coming from inside. Then, his gaze was drawn to movement to his left.
"I'm sorry, Jack," Bill apologized as he stumbled up to Jack. He held his head with one hand, blood still coming from the wound. "Where is he now?"
"In the saloon," Jack answered as he looked at Bill, concerned. "What happened to you?"
"In the saloon?" Bill asked, ignoring Jack's question. "With the school children? Elizabeth?"
Jack nodded. "He's got a gun," he added, trying to keep his voice even.
Abigail rushed across the street, a dishtowel in her hand. She pressed the towel to Bill's head, causing him to wince and moan. "I'm sorry!" she told him. "I came outside to see why everyone was rushing into my cafe and saw you. What happened to your head? You're bleeding..." she trailed off, her voice shaking.
Bill looked at her and held the towel to his head. "Thanks," he told her. "Now you need to go back inside."
Abigail hesitated, looking at Bill with great concern.
"Abigail," Jack called her attention. "Please make sure those people stay inside your cafe. We need to keep the street clear. Okay?"
Abigail gave him a worried look before conceding. "Yes," she replied, her voice filled with concern. She gave him one last anxious glance before heading back to her cafe.
Bill watched her walk away before turning back to Jack. "Do you have a plan, Jack?"
Jack had returned his attention to scanning the front of the building and didn't answer for several moments. Finally he replied, "Maybe." He looked at Bill. "You up to talking to him?" he asked, looking at the blood on Bill's neck and shirt.
Bill pulled the towel away from his head and inspected it. He showed it to Jack. "Well, looks like the bleeding stopped. Aside from a splitting headache... yeah, I'm up to talking with him. What are you going to do?"
Jack looked back at the building. "Get inside the saloon," he answered.