[Texas Rangers 06] - Jericho's Road (35 page)
Read [Texas Rangers 06] - Jericho's Road Online
Authors: Elmer Kelton
Tags: #Mexico, #Cattle Stealing, #Mexican-American Border Region, #Ranch Life, #Fiction
Donahue demanded, “Who are you?”
“
Name’s Jesse Wilkes.”
“
We’ve come to see Jericho Jackson.”
Wilkes jerked his thumb toward the door. “Inside.”
Donahue dismounted and said, “Hewitt, disarm him, then stay out here and watch him. We do not want any interference.”
Wilkes said with glum resignation, “Ain’t nobody fixin’ to interfere with you. Just go ahead in.”
Pistol in hand, Donahue motioned for Andy to open the door. “I’ll be right behind you.”
Andy felt a momentary queasiness about going in first. If Jericho was waiting with a drawn weapon, Andy would take the first bullet. Donahue was using him for a shield.
He blinked, for coming in from the sunshine made the room appear dark the first moment. He saw two women standing in the parlor, facing him. One was black. The other was white, a tall, thin woman Andy knew must be Jericho’s wife. He saw a deep bruise on her swollen face.
Donahue stepped out from behind him. “We’ve come to talk to Jericho Jackson. Where’s he at?”
Mrs. Jackson remained silent but pointed down a dark hall. She led the way. Donahue said, “Pickard, Tanner, you-all stick close to me. No tellin’ what Jericho’s reaction may be.”
Mrs. Jackson stopped at an open door and motioned for the Rangers to go inside. Andy saw Jericho Jackson lying on a bed. A candle burned on a stand beside him. Beside the candle lay a Bible.
Andy did not have to move closer to see that Jericho was dead. He turned toward the woman. The grief in her eyes told him to ask her no questions.
Donahue’s eagerness was gone. Soberly he said, “You men can bear witness that the fugitive is deceased.” He puzzled, “But how could a wounded arm have killed him?”
Mrs. Jackson summoned enough voice to say, “Ask Wilkes.”
Outside, Wilkes explained that he and Jericho had followed a man named Burt Hatton. Andy recognized the name. Though Jericho had blasted Hatton with a shotgun, Hatton had managed to put a bullet through Jericho’s lung.
Wilkes said, “Wasn’t nothin’ anybody could do for him except bring him home to his woman. I done that. Now, if you-all have got no further business with me, I’ll see to his buryin’.”
Donahue said, “Somebody else will have to do that. You’ll be goin’ with us. We’ll want to check you against our fugitive list.”
Mrs. Jackson had come out to stand beside the door. Andy asked her, “You goin’ to be all right, ma’am?”
She shook her head. “No, but I’ll get by. I still have a home back in Missouri.”
Donahue asked, “What do you figure to do with this ranch and everything that belonged to your husband?”
“
I’ve not had time to give it thought. I’ll probably sell what was legally his. As for that which was not, I’ll try to find who rightfully owns it.”
Donahue frowned. “Be careful who you let have it. This is a white man’s country now.”
She stiffened. “The kind of outlaw white trash my husband surrounded himself with? He tried to shield me, but I am not blind. I was always aware of his shortcomings. Where I can, I’ll make amends.”
Donahue warned, “You could be askin’ for trouble.”
“
If trouble comes, I’ll call on the Rangers.” She went into the house and closed the door.
Donahue cursed under his breath. “She’d better not call on
me.
Be damned if I’ll answer.”
Andy said, “If you don’t, you may have to hunt for honest work.”
They returned to the main camp, where the Jericho men had been escorted for screening to determine which of them might be wanted somewhere. Len had searched his fugitive list and found Jesse Wilkes was sought on a murder charge. Several others held in the camp had already been identified as well.
Sergeant Donahue was jubilant. “This will look great in the newspapers. I can see the headline: BIG CLEANUP ON THE BORDER.”
Then he saw something else, and he froze to attention. Major Jones of Austin walked out of the headquarters tent and beckoned. “Sergeant, I want to see you.”
Flustered, Donahue made a halfhearted salute. “You’ve come just in time, Major. We’ve done a good piece of work here.”
“
So I see.”
“
We’ve broken up two of the worst bandit gangs on the border, one on each side of the river. The people of Texas can be proud of my Rangers.”
“
Well and good, but I think the adjutant general will want to know why you didn’t do it sooner.”
Donahue blinked. “What do you mean?”
“
I am given to understand you had advance word that Jericho was gathering a hard crew for that invasion. You stood by without making any effort to interfere. If these men are wanted today, they were wanted then. Why didn’t you round them up before they went into Mexico?”
“
Nobody’s ever invaded Jericho’s little kingdom.”
“
You had good reason to do so. All you lacked was the will.”
Donahue slumped. “At least Chavez and Jericho are both dead. The country is well rid of them.”
Jones nodded. “True. But many others are dead too, white men and Mexicans both. You will have a chance to explain all that in Austin. Perhaps the adjutant general will see fit to keep you in the rank of sergeant. Or he may suggest that you seek employment elsewhere.”
The major turned and walked away, leaving Donahue standing with his head down.
Andy waited until the major went back into the tent, then followed him. He said, “Sir, I’ve already tried twice to turn in my resignation. What do I have to do to get it accepted?”
The major stared in surprise. “You can’t mean you want to leave the force.”
“
I think I’ve been a Ranger about long enough. The time has come for me to try my hand at somethin’ else.”
Jones’s voice was regretful. “I can handle the resignation for you. But are you sure?”
“
I’ve thought on it a lot. I’m sure.”
Outside, Len Tanner put his hand on Andy’s shoulder. “I’m goin’ to miss you.”
“
And I’ll miss you. Don’t you ever consider quittin’ too?”
“
Nope. Never had so much fun in my life.” He gripped Andy’s hand so hard that it hurt. “Tell Rusty and them I said howdy.”
Andy’s heartbeat picked up as he saw Rusty Shannon’s double cabin ahead. He had grown to manhood here. He felt that he was home, though he knew he would not stay for long. He looked over the fields, expecting to see Rusty working there, but in this he was disappointed. He rode up to the cabin, dismounted, and shouted, “Anybody home?”
Alice Shannon stepped out onto the dog run that separated the two sections of the cabin. She shaded her eyes and called, “Andy? Can that be you?”
“
Sure is. You got anything to eat?”
“
If I don’t, I’ll fix somethin’.” She hurried out to meet him. As her apron flared in the wind he noticed that her stomach was extended. He hugged her but took care not to squeeze too hard.
He said, “Looks like pretty soon there’s goin’ to be another mouth to feed around here.”
“
Two of them if you’re stayin’.”
“
I just came for a little visit. Wanted to be sure the two of you are all right. I can see that
you
are. How’s Rusty?”
“
Fine. He’s tickled over the prospect of bein’ a daddy. He went over to Shanty’s. Ought to be home pretty soon. Come in and have some coffee. We’ll eat supper when Rusty gets back.”
Andy heard a rattle of trace chains and looked toward the road. He saw Rusty’s wagon. “I’ll wait out here for Rusty.” He frowned, trying to think of a delicate way to ask her. Finding none, he blurted, “Last time I was here you were still wonderin’ if the reason Rusty married you was because you reminded him of Josie.”
“
Josie will always be with him. I don’t try to take her place. But I’ve made my own place with him now.” She touched her stomach and smiled. “The baby and me.” She went back into the cabin.
Rusty hauled the mule team to a stop and jumped down from the wagon, wrapping the reins around the brake. He rushed up to pump Andy’s hand. “Thought you were way down on the border. Are you on leave?”
“
No, I’m not a Ranger anymore. I decided it’s time to find out just where I belong.”
“
You’ve got a place right here as long as you want it.”
“
No, this is yours and Alice’s. And however many little Shannons may come along. I’ve thought a lot about that country out west, along the Llano and the San Saba. I took a likin’ to it while I was stationed there.”
“
It’s a pretty country. But it’s a long ways from here.”
“
Everything around here is settled up. That’s a new country. Lots of room to grow in.”
“
Not by yourself. You’ll need somebody to help you, somebody to come home to of a night. It took me a while to realize that myself, but I know it now.” He looked toward the house, where smoke rose from the kitchen chimney. “I didn’t realize how lonesome this place used to be till I brought Alice to share it with me.”
Andy looked at the ground. “Seen Bethel Brackett lately?”
“
Saw her in town a few days ago. She’s prettier than ever.”
“
Anybody courtin’ her?”
“
If they’re tryin’, they’re not gettin’ anywhere. First thing she did was ask me all about you. She hadn’t heard from you in a long time.”
“
I ain’t much hand at writin’ letters.” He glanced at the house. “Reckon Alice would take it badly of me if I was to skip supper and go on over to see Bethel?”
Rusty grinned. “She’d think it’s the smartest thing you’ve ever done.” Andy moved quickly into the saddle. “I may not be back tonight.” He spurred the horse into a long trot. He looked behind him once. Rusty and Alice stood in the yard, arms around each other. Alice waved.
Andy put the horse into a gallop.
The sun was going down as he reined up in front of the Brackett house. He yelled, “Bethel! Are you in there?”
He heard a cry from inside. She stepped out onto the porch, then hurried down the steps. She skipped toward him with outstretched arms as he swung from the saddle. When they broke apart he asked, “Ever been out west to the hill country?”
“
Never have.”
“
How would you like to go?”
She hugged him again, hard. “Just tell me when we’re leavin’.”
NOTE: If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was.reported as "unsold and destroyed" to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this "stripped book."
This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
JERICHO’S ROAD
Copyright © 2004 by Elmer Kelton
All rights reserved.
A Forge Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY l0010
www.tor-forge.com
Forge° is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
ISBN 978-0-7653-6370-4
First Edition: November 2004
First Mass Market Edition: November- 2005
Second Mass Market Edition: July 2009
Printed in the United States of America
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