A/N: When I originally posted this, a reviewer commented that they would like to see the Cartwrights leaving town. Though Joe really wanted to tell the end of the story :-P, that comment stuck with me and I decided that I too would like to see the Cartwrights ride off into the sunset (as it were). So, just a little short epilogue, for anyone who might be interested...
They musta made darn good time ta Scottsberg and back, 'cause there was still a couple hours of daylight left when Pa and the others rode back into Dutchman Flats. 'Course, I guess that don't surprise me none, not with Pa in the mood he was in. Joe and Adam and me was all just kinda sprawled around the jail cell by that point, not sayin' much. Didn't seem a whole lot more ta say, really—wasn't much goin' on by then, and with the sheriff at his desk within easy earshot nobody felt much like talkin' anyhow. Adam had made hisself comfortable on the floor, leanin' back into a corner with his hat pulled down over his eyes, but Joe was still glued ta my elbow like he'd been ever since I told him what all had happened here yesterday, lookin' fit ta spit tacks like only Joe can.
Made me want ta laugh, just a little—for all his small size, my little brother can be somethin' fierce. Sheriff Stedman had taken one look at Joe when he'd come back in, turned, and walked off ta his chair without a word.
Also made me feel a whole lot better. Havin' my brothers at my back always makes all the difference. Not like yesterday …
Nope. Wasn't thinkin' about yesterday no more. Not right now, anyway.
We heard the horses clatter up, and the sheriff went out ta meet them. A couple minutes later Pa came through the door alone.
"Adam, Joseph, get the horses ready. Hoss …" Pa caught my eyes, and I saw relief and satisfaction in his. "Time to go, boy."
Even though I'd known everything was gonna work out, those words were still mighty good ta hear. Joe balked, clearly unhappy about leaving his self-appointed spot at my side, but I nudged him out after Adam before Pa could take him ta task. "Go on, now. Sooner we get them horses, sooner we can get gone from here."
Even Joe couldn't argue with that. He thumped my arm and then scurried out the door, brushing past Stedman as the man stepped back inside. The sheriff watched him go, then shook his head and pulled the door shut. When he turned and saw me there with Pa, outside that jail cell at long last, he sorta froze where he stood, and for a minute we just looked at each other, him and me. There was a lot between us, even if we never saw each other again. Stedman was gonna have to live with what he had done here—jailin' an innocent man, draggin' his feet about gettin' the truth, steppin' aside for a lynching party even knowin' I might not be (probably wasn't) guilty. For myself, here was somebody else ta forgive, and I didn't think this one was gonna be as easy as Mrs. Wilson.
Well … I would work on that later, I guessed. Like I told Joe, though, I wasn't gonna have this whole thing hangin' over me forever.
Didn't seem like he had anything ta say, and it was time ta get outa here. I started for the door and Pa made ta follow, but the sheriff stopped him. "It's gettin' on ta dark soon. You sure you want to head out now?"
It was a plumb ridiculous question and even he knew it.
"Yeah, I think we'll go." Pa's voice still had that same bite it had carried since last night, and he pulled his eyebrows down into that frown I knew (from personal experience) could make your knees just shake. "Unless you think we'll be arrested for starting a campfire on range land."
The corners of Stedman's mouth twitched, though I don't think Pa meant ta be funny. "No, I don't think you'll have a problem."
"Good." Pa drew out the word, sent a final glare Stedman's way, and then we were both out the door. The sheriff didn't follow. Adam and Joe were already headed this way with the horses—Adam had taken Sport and Cooch down to the livery ta keep them outa the sun, but he'd kept them (and Chubby too) all but ready ta ride. Don't think any of us felt like lettin' the grass grow under our feet in this town.
Weren't nobody around as we mounted up—the place might have been deserted, for all the movement about. Joe's eyes darkened, if that was still even possible. "Guess you ain't gonna get an apology, huh big brother?"
Guess not. Didn't matter. I shook my head. "Don't need none. Don't know what it would really mean anyway." I wheeled Chubby around. "Let's just get outa here." I don't know that any of them felt the same as me 'bout that apology, but no one was gonna argue about it. Not right now. We kicked up the horses and headed west.
Nobody had picked up that noose yet from under the hanging tree, and we had ta ride right past it ta get outa town. I didn't look at it, but it gave me a shiver just knowin' it was there. Still, I figured it was probably just as well that they was all lookin' at it yet every time they stuck a head out the door. Maybe they'd think a little next time.
Maybe there wouldn't be a next time.
All I knew was, I sure wasn't comin' back here. The others spread out around me as we reached the outskirts, and we picked up our pace. We'd been in Dutchman Flats for way too long as it was. It was time ta head for home.
