Chapter One
A/N I promise no accuracy when it comes to money amounts mentioned in the story. I am clueless as to what things cost in the 1800's, nor am I interested in taking the time to find out.
The sun was just starting to set when Fred Madden, who stood in front of Stockton's new bank, saw the long black haired, thick bearded, stranger dressed in dust covered brownish clothes and light brown gloves, ride into town. Normally, the law man would pay little attention to anyone arriving in Stockton. That is, as long as they didn't cause any trouble. Only there was something that-he couldn't explain exactly what- compelled him to watch as the man rode down the middle of the road and towards the livery stable. Fred hesitated a moment-as his wife would be expecting him home within the next few minutes. He then walked down the steps of the bank and headed towards the livery stable.
For his part, the man who called himself Carson, had seen the sheriff looking at him. He couldn't help but wonder if Stockton's well-liked sheriff would recognize anything about him once he got a close up look. However, as he wasn't aware of Fred following, Carson simply rode up to the livery stable and dismounted. Once inside, he looked around.
"May I help you, Mister?" Tobias, the young, blonde haired livery stable attendant, walked up to the stranger who had entered his father's stable. The sixteen year old lad didn't know what to think as the gentleman pulled a piece of paper out of his coat pocket, along with a pencil. Soon the stranger had written on the paper and handed it to Tobias.
I can hear you. I can't speak. I need a place to stable my horse for awhile...maybe up to a couple of weeks. Do you have a stable available for that long?
Tobias looked up from the paper and nodded. "Yes, the last stall on the left. It's one of a few stalls we have for long term use." He handed the paper back to the stranger in front of him. "Father will want ten percent of the fee upfront, though." Tobias wasn't surprised when the stranger scribbled on the paper and handed it back to him.
"Five dollars up front for each week you stable the horse." Tobias gave the paper back to the stranger. By the time the young lad had received the first five dollars, he noticed Fred standing in the doorway.
"Hello, sheriff." Tobias stepped away from the stranger who had led his horse to the stall Tobias had pointed towards and looked at Fred. "Something wrong?" He might not have asked only he'd noticed the way Fred was watching the stranger; it made him nervous.
"Nothing that I know of," Fred smiled at the young boy and told him to relax. "I'm not here because of any legal trouble. Go ahead and do whatever you were doing before I came in."
While Tobias was still unsure what to think, he left the sheriff and went back to work.
Out of the corner of his eye, Carson saw Sheriff Madden walk towards him. Inwardly he sighed, before he stepped away from his horse.
'Those eyes' Fred thought. 'Where have I seen them before?' He might have tried to come up with a name only, just like Tobias, Fred watched in amazement as the man pulled the paper from his coat, wrote on it and then handed Fred the paper.
'A mute' Fred frowned slightly as he read 'I cannot speak. People call me Carson Hudson. May I help you? You can reply with your voice."He knew no mutes, wanted or not. "I thought I might know you, Mr. Hudson. Sorry, I was wrong." Fred handed the paper back to Carson. When he turned to leave, Fred was startled to have Carson reach out and clasp his shoulder. He turned back and waited to see why the man had stopped him.
Carson wrote on the paper once more and; again, handed it to Fred.
'The name is Carson. Where's the best place to get a room?' was written on the paper. The sheriff pointed towards the street that could be seen from where he and Carson Hudson stood. "The Cattleman's Hotel is straight down the street, almost to the other side of town. Good food and decent prices," Fred then excused himself, exited the building and started walking towards his house.
For his part, Carson shut the stall door and left the building as well. Only, he stopped the moment he shut the door behind him. He watched until Fred disappeared out of his sight. He crossed the road and started walking towards the Cattleman's Hotel. As his did so, a scene from the year before flashed through his mind.
He stood on a hill overlooking the river. He stared in disbelief at the man he thought was his friend. The man had a pistol in his hands, and there was blood in his eyes.
'You're crazy! Killing me will do get you nothing but a murder charge, and my brothers will hunt you down!" 'If I survive, I will do it!' was an after thought he kept to himself.
"Don't count on it! All anyone will see is an unfortunate accident!" His 'friend' yelled before pulling the trigger.
Carson walked up the steps that led to the front door of the Cattleman's Hotel and reached for the door handle. Memories of waking up hundreds of miles away from home and fighting for his life came back. When he'd first woken up, he'd cursed his misfortune only to realize that, if he changed his name, his appearance and played the part of a mute, he just might be able to go back to Stockton and reveal his would be murderer before the man had a second chance to try. Of course, he wanted to find out why his 'friend' had wanted him dead in the first place. The plan to pass himself off as someone else had been delayed once he was healed up simply because he'd found himself fighting alongside the same family who had saved him while they were fighting to keep their home.
Carson came out of his thoughts once he was inside the Cattleman's dining hall. He looked around for a few moments. While he didn't see the man he was looking for, he did see Jarrod Barkley sitting at the corner table. 'Wonder if he'll dismiss what he might see in me the way Fred did once he realized I was 'mute'.' Carson silently wondered as he passed one table after another in order to approach Jarrod's table.