Chapter Eighteen

Doolin escorted Melanie home, "I hate to leave you alone but I have one more thing to take care of at work. I would like to take you to the Cattleman's for dinner tomorrow and make the last arrangements for our wedding Saturday. When we can get away, we will take a week in San Francisco."

"Thank you Peter for understanding. I just can't leave Father in such poor health. I promise you that I will make our home so warm and, " she whispered, "passionate you will want to come home each night. I do want to go to San Francisco with you but under the circumstances."

"I understand perfectly." and he kissed her.

His plan was already hatching in his head. Two of Stockton's most notorious owed him a favor.

"An alibi for an alibi," and he chuckled all the way out of town.

—-&—-

Emmett and Alan Kyles were on the front porch as Doolin rode up in his rig.

Their father was locked up in the county jail for six months for theft. Doolin had written the story himself. He knew the brothers were his accomplices but the father wouldn't testify against his sons.

"Evening gentlemen. I have a proposition for you." and he began to offer them an alibi, gold, vengeance on the Barkleys for Korby and their father's freedom.

He concluded with, "All I need is strong backs."

"We got them."

"When it's done, we will set up a meeting place that no one will suspect."

"On the Barkley's own front door—" he chuckled as he left the ramshackle property.

—-&—-

The hands got Nick the message from Reverend Stacy. He didn't stop to change from the north forty.

"Tell Nellie where I am."

"Yes sir, Mr. Barkley."

He pushed his horse as fast as he could to get to the hotel. He handed the reins over to a boy, "Stable him at livery under the Barkley account, they will recognize him."

Taking two steps at a time, he went upstairs and was overwhelmed by the smell of death when he opened the door. War came back to him and assaulted his senses.

He took a step back and took off his bandana. He wiped his brow and took a deep breath.

"Jock? Jock? I am here, old friend."

The sight of his paralyzed body in unnatural positions nauseated him. He had heard stories of lockjaw but to see his old commander in the throes of it broke his heart. The lump in his throat constricted and he wiped tears from his eyes.

Doc Merar and Reverend Stacy looked at him in compassion.

"Can he hear me?"

Jock blinked and the men nodded. They moved so Nick could sit down.

"We will be in the other room if you need us."

Nick patted his arm, "I am here."

He could tell by his eyes he knew he was there.

"Nick," he gasped, "sorry,"

"You were just doing your job. I was wrong."

He shook his head, "No—-gold my wagon."

"You found the gold?"

He nodded, "Thhhhhhief on the cross. Me—-"

"Me too Jock. I am a stubborn man too. Glad the Reverend was here too. Tell the good Lord, Nick's trying to do better. Nellie is a big part of that. Kids too."

"She's purty—" he whispered, "Wish I had—-"

"Don't waste your breath on wishes. Let's talk about the wilderness. Remember how your quick thinking saved all of our corps. You sent a lot of men home alive and not in coffins to their families."

"Tried."

"Jock, you are a good man. A good commander, Hell, better than good—-the best."

Half of his lip raised in his smile.

Nick swallowed back his emotions.

"Star—-star."

"You will get a crown. Stars and stripes will fade away. You gonna have jewels. And gold streets."

"Gold—star—-"

"Yep Jock, you may get a gold star up there iff'n that's what you want."

Nick stretched his mind for any more comforting words he could find for his old commander.

A thought came to mind and he began to sing,

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored

He hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword

His truth is marching on

Glory, glory, hallelujah

Glory, glory, hallelujah

Glory, glory, hallelujah

His truth is marching on

I've seen him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps

They have builded him an altar in the evening dews and damps

I can read his righteous sentence in the dim and flaring lamps

His day is marching on

Glory, glory, hallelujah

Glory, glory, hallelujah

Glory, glory, hallelujah

His truth is marching on

In the beauty of the lilies, Christ was born across the sea

With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me

As he died to make men holy, let us live to make men free

While God is marching on

Glory, glory, hallelujah

Glory, glory, hallelujah

Glory, glory, hallelujah

His truth is marching on

Glory, glory, hallelujah

Glory, glory, hallelujah

Glory, glory, hallelujah

His truth is marching on

Amen, amen.

Nick sang it through twice. Jock smiled fully and took his last breath.

The sheriff and the Reverend wiped the tears from their eyes and left Nick alone.

Nick wept for the first time since his Father died and just as bitterly—-

He stood up, poured a whiskey, and downed it. He sent the glass spiraling into the fireplace.

The others entered in on the noise and he simply said, "He's gone."