New Frontier of Love (American Wilderness Series Romance Book 2) (25 page)

As Sam scrutinized Big Ben, he saw uncertainty creep into the hunter’s expression. Good, he wanted to rattle the arrogant bastard.

Then, a sudden chill filled him as he heard the Judge’s gavel vigorously pound again.

He didn’t know how any of this was going to end.

“Mr. Foley, I’m not surprised in the least to see you in my courtroom based upon your history and reputation. I
am
surprised that you are not the defendant. Since you appear to be here without representation, state your complaint,” Judge Webb
ordered, glowering at Foley.

“I don’t need no money-taking, slick-talking, lying lawyer to tell you what these dirty pilgrims did. I can speak for myself. Those men attacked my men and me. Just because they’re some highfalutin’ family from back east doesn’t give them the right to attack honest Kentucky citizens. They killed a good man and nearly killed me. I lost this hand to the big one over there. Take a look at his knife Judge. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. A knife like that is only meant for one thing—killing.”

The Judge motioned for Sam to show him the knife.

Sam stood, freed the knife from its sheath, and held the glistening blade up for the Judge to see.

“Very impressive, Captain,” Judge Webb said before turning his attention back to Foley.

“He threw that knife at me like I was some kind of wild animal. I was just picking up my rifle to leave.” Foley pointed a long dirty finger at Stephen. “And that man nearly beat me to death. I want them punished for what they done. They murdered one of my men and brutally beat the rest. And I’ve suffered more in the past week than you can imagine. The pain has been unbearable.”

No more than you deserve, Sam thought to himself.

“I want them to pay me for the loss of this hand. I made an honest living hunting buffalo. I was one of the best killers of that wild beast in the state. I’ll never be able to balance a heavy gun or skin a buff again. They robbed me of my living, which brought me considerable profit in the past. Kentucky law says I should get paid for my injury. They surely brought money with them to buy land. I’ll take that as payment for my hand.”

“I’m sure you would, but I’ll decide what you get. And you sure
as hell don’t need to tell me what Kentucky law says,” Judge Webb growled. “I asked you to state your complaint. Have you done so, or is there more?”

“Ain’t this enough?” Foley answered sarcastically, holding up his arm without a hand.

“Mr. William Wyllie, I understand you represent your brothers Stephen and Sam Wyllie.”

William stood. “That is correct your Honour.”

“Would you please tell me what the hell happened?”

“Indeed, your Honour. My brothers and I are newcomers to Kentucky. Like many of this new state’s citizens, we came here in search of the good land, so plentiful on the frontier, and so scarce in our home state of New Hampshire. Captain Sam Wyllie, Stephen Wyllie, and our adopted brother Bear McKee, had just left the office of Mr. Wolf, to whom the three men had gone to discuss land availability. When they started back to our camp, Mr. Foley grabbed Captain Wyllie’s horse. Foley insisted on buying the horse, although Captain Wyllie made it abundantly clear the horse was not for sale. Foley told his man to get two cases of whiskey to trade for the horse. When my brothers then tried to move on, Foley proceeded to behave in a manner not befitting a gentleman, and referred to them as cowards. And on this and one other instance, he also insulted the females in our party. Since there are ladies present, I will not repeat his vulgar words. That insult is not something any man of character, especially my brothers, are prone to overlook. They dismounted and defended their honor, your Honour.”

“So, this fight started because they were insulted?” Judge Webb asked.

“Well,” William hesitated, knowing he was trapped, “yes, your Honour.”

“And, did I understand correctly, Captain Wyllie threw the first punch?”

“He did, Sir, but…” William stammered.

“There are no buts, Mr. Wyllie. Either he did or he didn’t. Do you have anything else to say in your brothers’ defense? Do you have any witnesses?” Judge Webb asked. The Judge shifted in his chair as though he were already uncomfortable.

The prickly Judge was not the only one ill at ease. Sam could see William growing more exasperated by the second. He watched as William loosened the perfectly tied cravat around his neck, and then took a deep breath now that he could breathe a little easier.

“Indeed, your Honour, I have a good deal more to say. A ball from Mr. Foley’s own weapon killed his man. An unfortunate accident that would never have happened had Foley not pointed his weapon at my brother Stephen. Captain Wyllie merely responded to that serious threat, believing our brother Stephen was about to be fatally shot. In fact, my brother exercised restraint. If you knew the Captain’s ample skill with his knife, you would know that he could easily have aimed to kill Mr. Foley. Instead, he only sought to get the man to drop his weapon by aiming for his arm.

“Also, your Honour, some of what I have to say may shock the court. I have determined that Mr. Foley has, at the very least, intimidated and harassed numerous townspeople causing considerable grief. He and his men behave in an unruly manner, but most importantly….”

“Mr. Wyllie,” Judge Webb interrupted, “half the men in
Kentucky behave in an unruly manner, and the other half will undoubtedly do so soon. May I remind you, Mr. Foley is not on trial here, your two brothers are. Your facts should pertain only to this case. Otherwise they are as worthless as farts in a whirlwind.”

William’s face turned red at the Judge’s terse and imaginative reprimand.

Was his brother going to lose this case before their defense even begun? What would they do if he did? He knew one thing for sure. He wasn’t going to jail. He turned to look at Stephen, but his eyes caught Catherine instead. Her head bent and hands folded respectfully, he could tell she was praying. Did she care for them so much that she would pray on their behalf?

The sight seemed to strengthen him. He could feel her concern in his heart. In that moment, he wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and reassure her that everything would be all right. They would not lose. Somehow, William would make the Judge understand.

Despite being humiliated, William straightened, and seemed to gather his wits. “Your Honour, I am trying to establish this man’s character, or more accurately the lack of it, to this court. If Mr. Foley’s account is to be believed in this incident, he must be a man of honor. His actions toward others are an indication of his lack thereof.”

“The purpose of this court is not to determine the virtue of a man. I’ll leave that to
the
judge,” Judge Webb retorted, pointing heavenward with his gavel, “and I will remind you, Mr. Wyllie, but once more. Mr. Foley is not on trial here.”

CHAPTER 23

“I
f your Honour will permit me a few more moments of the court’s time,” William said deferentially.

And patience, Sam thought.

“All right Mr. Wyllie, proceed, but get to your defense quickly.” Judge Webb squirmed in his chair again. “And be damn sure your facts are relevant.”

“Your Honour, Captain Wyllie and Stephen Wyllie did not strike Mr. Foley and his men until provoked beyond what men of principle could be reasonably expected to withstand. And, Captain Wyllie did not throw his knife until after Mr. Foley picked up and aimed his powerful weapon with the intention of mortally harming Stephen Wyllie. I call Mr. Tom Wolf to the stand to testify to these facts. Mr. Wolf witnessed the entire fight. He is the only one, of at least a dozen men who can offer similar testimonies to these unfortunate events, who has the courage and fortitude to testify. All of the others are so afraid of retribution by these ruffians they will not take the stand. However, Mr. Wolf, as you are no doubt already aware Judge, is a man of honor and a leading citizen in this community and believes it his duty to testify. He understands
that men like these ruffians must be held accountable, or his children will grow up in a place without law and order.”

Foley and the other buffalo hunters glared and jeered at Wolf as he came forward.

Wolf glanced sharply back at them, his eyes blazing, and then stood before the judge.

Sam still couldn’t believe Mr. Wolf had agreed to testify. He suspected Wolf had heard the same story about Foley being a traitor and saw this as an opportunity to rid Boonesborough once and for all of these troublemakers. Men like Foley’s bunch were bad for business.

Wolf quickly described the incident to the Judge who clearly continued to grow impatient. The witness stressed the part of the fight where Sam could easily have killed one of Foley’s men, but instead exercised restraint and mercy by only cutting the man’s long hair, not his throat.

Sam swallowed. He had Stephen to thank for his supposed restraint.

“Thank you Mr. Wolf, you may leave.” The Judge waved the witness away.

Foley jumped up. “That’s not at all what happened. He only has one witness. I have four sitting right here. They’ll all tell you that Stephen fellow there attacked me first and I never pulled a weapon on nobody. I want my brother to testify first.”

“Let’s save the court some time, shall we?” Judge Webb glared at the group of buffalo hunters. “Do you all agree with the version of the incident told by your leader?”

The four men all vigorously shook their heads.

“I thought so. Please continue Mr. Wyllie.”

“If Mr. Foley can use his brother and companions as witnesses, than so could I. Instead, as you just heard, I have provided the court with a very credible third party, not involved in the altercation.

“Judge Webb, the most important information for the court to consider is that Mr. Foley’s testimony cannot be trusted because he is a man wholly without principle. We have reason to believe that he is in this new state of Kentucky to escape probable punishment in the colonies for treason. We believe he served as a scout for the British during our war for independence.”

Sam saw outrage flash across the faces of those in the courtroom, including the stunned Judge. Webb’s angry gaze swung over to Foley. Treason was the most despicable of crimes.

One man in the courtroom yelled out, “You lousy red-coat hell spawn.”

“You served the locusts of the nation,” another shouted.

“The dogs would have enslaved us,” bellowed another, “and ravished our daughters.”

Sam wasn’t surprised that the emotions that fueled the Revolution still ran high. But he now knew honorable men had fought for the British too. The bitterness of war, though, was a hard fire to put out.

After the shouts died down, William cleared his throat and continued. “Kentucky, like all places on the edge of civilization, harbors men running from their past as well as men running toward their future. Before you today stand both kinds of men.”

Sam’s brows collided, his thoughts racing. With a start, he realized that he and Stephen also represented both those kinds of
men. Without a doubt, he had come to Kentucky to run away from his past. He turned his head and considered Stephen, who sat up a little straighter at William’s remark. Stephen came here looking toward the future. But, despite the distance Sam had traveled, he was still stuck in his past. That explained why he couldn’t let his feelings for Catherine surface. The realization stunned him. Filled with self-reproach, he swallowed his disappointment in himself.

Outbursts from Foley and the hunters, and others in the courtroom, made Judge Webb pound his gavel like an energetic woodpecker, causing him to make numerous dents in the soft pine table.

“You’re a damn liar,” Foley shouted, pointing a dirty finger at William, “a filthy liar.”

That’s the pot calling the kettle black, Sam thought.

“This is a very serious charge Mr. Wyllie. What proof do you have?” Judge Webb asked.

William answered with surprising calmness. “We are bringing in a witness to the court that will state he saw Mr. Foley working for the British as a scout. However, your Honour, we ask that you meet with this witness privately, for he too is in fear of retribution by these ruffians and does not want them to know his identity. This is why he has not brought charges against Mr. Foley heretofore.”

“Are there any other witnesses to this charge of working for the lousy lobster-backs?”

The Judge seemed to perk up, indignation replacing impatience.

“You may not yet be aware that Captain Wyllie is a hero of the Revolution and received a decoration for valor from George Washington himself.” William paused to look around at the people
in the courtroom, giving them time to absorb what he’d just said.

Mummers of approval spread from one man to another. Sam felt his face warming as numerous eyes turned in his direction. He wished William had not used the term hero. It made him feel uncomfortable and unworthy. Many others made greater sacrifices and showed more valor than he had.

William continued, “Captain Wyllie believes he may have also seen this man with the British, but is unable to positively determine if it’s him because of the man’s considerable beard and hair.”