Chapter Thirty-Three

Jamison looked down at Hallie's sleeping face, illuminated in the moonlight and he smiled. She was so beautiful. Not in the traditional sense of the word with her flyaway red hair, dark freckles and the small gap between her front teeth, but she was the single most breathtaking sight Jamison had ever seen.

He couldn't believe he'd been so foolish for so long. So many years of his life had been spent only worrying about himself and what he wanted. He had ignored what his mother wanted, he had ignored what Hallie wanted and he had ignored what Cavanaugh needed. But that Jamison was gone now. Now he had a wife whom he loved more than life itself and he was going to catch the people who had taken so much from his brother and he was going to catch them tonight.

Call it gut instinct but he knew that after several days of him and Hallie staying in this house, it was all going to come to a head tonight. Tonight would be the night that Crenshaw sent his man, or men, to get rid of them the same way he had them after Leah and the kids.

He hated to tell the men but they wouldn't be so lucky this time. They wouldn't have gotten so lucky enough last time if they hadn't ambushed Cavanaugh from behind. Cavanaugh might be the most self controlled of all of them but he was also the quickest drawing, straightest shooting and toughest of them if the fact that he buried his family while suffering blood loss and a broken leg was any indication.

Jamison knew that Hallie would be angry at him for letting her sleep while he dealt with the threat that he knew was coming but he would just let her be angry. He loved her far too much to let her be down in harms way. He gently kissed her sleeping brow and then stood. He kept a rifle beside her bed, knowing that she also had her revolver beneath her pillow. That should be enough protection.. Just in case.

Jamison left the room and silently closed the door behind him. He slipped down the hall and the steps to the kitchen. He went to the farthest corner and lit a lantern before setting it on the countertop. He went back into the dark living room, he had a clear view of the yard through the window, and the kitchen through the doorway. He settled down on the dust covered sofa with his rifle in his lap and waited.

Hours passed and Jamison was beginning to wonder if he'd lost his gut instinct when he heard a horse snort out front. Since he knew his and Hallie's horses were out back in the barn, he knew this horse belonged to someone else. He looked out the window and his eyes fell on a single man. The moonlight was shining on him and Jamison knew it was the ranch hand that had watched them so closely just days ago and he also knew the man was alone.

Jamison watched him sneak around to the kitchen door and Jamison stood and moved silently toward the kitchen. The ranch hand came bursting in the door with his gun drawn but then confusion filled his face when no one was sitting at the table where the light was shining.

"I'm over here, you bastard," Jamison growled and he swung his rifle and brought the butt of it down hard on the ranch hands head. The man slumped to the ground and Jamison just chuckled as he leaned his rifle against the wall and walked over to the opposite wall to get the lasso that Cavanaugh had left hanging there when he'd left all those years ago. He didn't want to kill the bastard because he needed to ask him some things about Maxwell Crenshaw.

He barely had time to realize there was movement behind him and he turned quickly and found himself staring at the barrel of his own rifle, being held in the hands of the bleeding man, "You should have hit me harder," the man sneered as he weaved on his feet.

Jamison was about to draw his revolver and hope his reflexes would be faster than the addled mans when Hallie's voice from behind the man, "Thanks for the tip."

A crashing sound filled the air and shattering glass rained down as the ranch hand gave a shocked look before falling to the floor once again. Jamison was quick to grab up the rifle and then he frowned at Hallie who was standing behind the man with a broken lamp in her hand, "What do you think you're doing?" Jamison growled.

"Saving your delicious backside, darling," Hallie replied as she sat the now useless lamp on the table. "Aren't you glad I got free of those chains and came along now?"

Jamison shook his head and grabbed the rope he'd been going for before the man had woken back up, "Let's get him tied up and wait until he wakes up. I got some things I need him to answer."

Hallie just crossed her arms over her ample chest and watched him hog tie the man and then Jamison carried him into the living room and threw him into the corner, "Was he alone?" Hallie whispered.

Jamison nodded, "Yeah."

"How did you know he'd be here tonight?"

"Gut instinct I guess. Something just told me that something was going to happen tonight."

"You should have warned me so I could have helped you," Hallie scolded.

Jamison sat down on the sofa, "I wanted you where it was safe."

"I would have been safer with you. You're the big, bad, tough lawman," Hallie countered teasingly.

Jamison grinned and took her hand, pulling her tiny body toward him and setting her down on his lap, "Yes, the big, bad, tough lawman who just had to have his backside saved by a tiny woman."

Hallie kissed his nose and ran her hand through his short blond hair, "I'll save your backside any day, Marshall. I find it's far too nice to look at to let harm come to it." Hallie laughed lightly when she saw the blush that came to Jamison's face and she nuzzled his neck. A moan from the corner broke them apart and they turned to see the ranch hand coming to on the floor.

"He must have a really hard head," Jamison grumbled as he sat Hallie on her feet and stood as well.

The man's eyes fluttered open and he glared at them both, "I'll kill both of you." he hissed.

Jamison shook his head, "I don't think you're in any position to be making threats," he warned.

"We've got a few questions for you." Hallie added and Jamison glared at her. Couldn't that woman ever just keep her mouth shut and her nose out of trouble?

"Yeah, well I've got something over here you can suck on, bitch." the man sneered and Hallie gasped.

Jamison growled and strode forward. The man glared at him as if daring him to kill him and Jamison was almost happy to oblige. Almost. Instead he swung out his boot and kicked the man hard in the jaw. His neck snapped back and he slumped unconscious to the floor once again.

"I think he'll be out for a while this time," Jamison stated.

Hallie nodded, "I've never been spoken to like that in my entire life," she whispered.

Jamison shook his head, "He won't speak to you like that again either. If I didn't want answers out of the man I would have sent a bullet into his face."

"What are we going to do while we wait for him to wake up?" Hallie asked with an impatient sigh.

Jamison pulled her toward him and raised his brow, "Well I've got something you could...."

"Don't you dare say that, Jamison McEllis!" Hallie exclaimed.

Jamison laughed loudly as her face flamed red, "I was going to say you could make us some coffee." he assured her.

She pointed her finger warningly at his face, "Yeah, that's what I thought you were going to say."

***

"Where's the woman?" the man groaned as he came to many hours later.

Jamison sat up straighter on the sofa and looked out the sun filled window, "She's busy right now. We're gonna have us a good man to man conversation," he replied calmly.

"Why don't you get me something to drink first, you bastard?" the man spat. Jamison nodded and held out a glass of water he'd had waiting. The man leaned forward the best he could in his awkward position on the floor and Jamison put the glass to his lips.

Once he'd had enough Jamison stood up and untied the man's feet so he could sit up better, "Now it's time for that talk."

"What do you want to know?" the man asked with a sneer.

"What's your name?" Jamison asked.

The man chuckled, "Bob."

Jamison nodded slowly, "Okay, Bob, why were you coming in here to kill me and my wife last night?"

"Maxwell Crenshaw told me to, of course. But then you already knew that, didn't you?"

Jamison smiled. He wasn't surprised that Bob was giving up his bosses name so easily. Bob wasn't the type of man to fear death. He probably already knew that Jamison was going to make sure he died for what he'd done and he was going to take his boss down with him.

"Nearly four years ago did you shoot my brother and then rape his wife and murder her and their children?"

"Maxwell Crenshaw might have ordered me to get rid of the McEllis's so he could have this land for himself. Though you have your chain of events a little off."

Jamison felt a muscle in his jaw jump and he clenched his fists, "So how exactly did the events go?"

"Well first thing I had to do when I waltzed in and found the brats and their mother in the kitchen was shoot the little bastards right between their eyes. Then I had a little fun with their mama before slitting her throat. After that, I went out in the woods and set up to wait for dear old daddy to come home... You see Crenshaw didn't want Cavanaugh dead, just hurt bad. If Cavanaugh died then he wouldn't be able to sign the land over."

Jamison fought the urge to blow the smug smile off of this bastards face. It wasn't his place to kill the son of a bitch, "You and I are gonna go pick up Crenshaw and then you're both coming back to Dodge with me and I'm gonna lock you up to await your trial."

Bob's eyes flashed with idiotic amusement, "I love trials," he replied. "I've managed to make my way through several and walk on out a free man."

"That might not be so easy this time," Jamison growled as he jerked Bob to his feet.

The man laughed, "And why is that?"

"The judge won't feel like taking it so easy on you."

"And who's the judge?" Bob asked. "Because I'll warn you that I can charm just about anybody. So tell me, what's his name?"

"Cavanaugh McEllis."

***

"How many bullets am I going to get in my back, Bob?" Jamison asked as he led Bob and Hallie toward the porch of Maxwell Crenshaw's giant ranch house. "How many men like you has he got working for him?"

"Just me, and my names really Van. I'm tired of hearing you say Bob that way."

"A man with his money and he only has one henchman?" Jamison asked doubtfully.

"I'm a hired gun, not a henchman, and yes he only has one. He has a reputation as being a good and fair man. If he had a bunch of trained guns here it would look suspicious. That and he says he likes to keep things simple. Less of a chance of someone messing up that way."

"Looks like you shot his theory all to hell," Hallie stated.

Van smiled at her, "You sure are a feisty little number. I'd like to have just one go at you...."

"You better shut your mouth or that train ride is gonna be real rough on you and your broken knees," Jamison snapped.

"Were you talking to me or your woman?" Van asked.

Jamison shot Hallie a look, "Both of you," Hallie just smiled sweetly in response.

"I would think that you'd be more loyal to your boss," Hallie said to Van as they started up the porch steps.

"I'm loyal to no one but myself and if I'm gonna be facing death then I want the world to know what I did first. I was good at my job."

"You're sick," Hallie replied as she shied away from him and swallowed hard.

Jamison jerked hard on Van's arm when the man leaned closer to Hallie, "You leave her be." he warned and then he knocked on the heavy front door. It was opened by Mavis who was wearing the same black dress and white apron that she'd been wearing the other day.

"Van! What happened to you?" she exclaimed when she saw the blood in his hair and the welt on his jaw.

"I ran into a wall." Van replied with a grin.

"We need to speak with Mr. Crenshaw." Jamison stated.

Mavis nodded quickly, "Yes, yes of course. Come in and I'll go get him." she said as she ushered them in the door and then bustled off quickly.

Jamison led Van toward a hard backed chair and sat him down in it, ensuring that the ropes around his wrists and ankles were tight before turning back around.

"Get behind me, Hallie. This could go bad once he realizes why we're here." For once Hallie didn't argue. She moved behind Jamison but mainly it was just so she could pull her gun and protect her husband from Van if the need should arise.

Jamison waited patiently for Crenshaw to come in the room. Jamison had a lot of patience whereas Hallie did not and she was currently shifting restlessly behind him. When Maxwell Crenshaw finally entered the room, his eyes widened just a little when they fell upon the visitors but then he quickly recovered and went to his decanter of whiskey to pour a glass.

"Marshall McEllis," he stated jovially. "I would think that after our last visit, you wouldn't have wanted to come back to my home. So to what do I owe this visit and what, pray tell, happened to Van's face?"

Jamison didn't reply right away and Crenshaw made his way to one of his arm chairs and sat down before adjusting his jacket over his large belly and taking a sip of his whiskey.

"Your friend here came by my brothers place in the night and had every intention of killing my wife and I," Jamison stated as he assumed a wide legged stance and crossed his arms loosely over his chest.

Crenshaw feigned shock quite well, "Van? Are you sure that was his intention?"

"Quite sure," Jamison replied dryly.

"Well you are a lawman, are you not? Deal with him appropriately. I do not want a man of that nature around my ranch," Crenshaw assured him as he took another sip of his whiskey.

Van laughed coldly, "You lying son of a bitch! You sent me over there! You told me to get rid of them the same way I did that other McEllis and his bitch and brats."

Crenshaw's eyes narrowed as he shook his head and shoved himself to his feet, "I can assure you both that I never did anything of the sort," he snapped.

Van laughed again, "Give it up, Crenshaw. They know! They know what you did and why you did it. Be a man and just admit to it."

Crenshaw's impressive jowls began to quiver when Jamison started toward him, "Maxwell Crenshaw, you are under arrest for ordering the murders of Leah McEllis, Susannah McEllis and Timothy McEllis."

Crenshaw's face turned beet red and he went for his pocket. Jamison saw the sunlight glint off of the metal of a derringer pistol and he quickly closed in on the fat man and grabbed his arm, twisting until Crenshaw cried out and the pistol fell to the floor.

"You'll never prove anything! The judge will have to let me walk! I won't hang for something I didn't do!"

"Oh but you did do it," Van said smoothly.

"Why would you rat me out?" Crenshaw demanded. "I've kept you well paid all these years? Why would you rat me out to this bastard?"

Van shrugged, "Because this is going to end with us dead, Crenshaw. Might as well face it. At least before I die the story of Van Gray will be well known and our names will go down in legend as men who did whatever it took to get what they wanted."

"You're crazy." Crenshaw spat.

Van nodded, "Been told so a time or two. Sure did have you fooled though, didn't I?"

Crenshaw's eyes were wide as Jamison shackled his hands together, "This will never stand up in court!" he exclaimed.

Jamison shrugged, "I don't know, Crenshaw, you've done admitted your guilt right in front of me and the lady, and Van has admitted his as well. Besides your case ain't gonna be heard in front of any regular judge."

"Who then?" Crenshaw asked shakily.

"Cavanaugh McEllis," Hallie replied and Jamison winked at her as Crenshaw turned pale and fainted, falling to the floor at his feet.

"So what are we going to do with them?" Hallie asked some time later once they had Crenshaw and Van tied in the back of an enclosed wagon and were heading to town. Jamison had already informed the others at the ranch that Crenshaw had been arrested and would be tried for his crimes. No one there expected him back.

"We're gonna stop at the land office first and then head out to Dodge and lock them up under the jail."

"Under the jail?"

"Yep where nobody will hear them yelling and nobody will know they're there."

"How long?" Hallie asked with shock.

Jamison shrugged, "Until Cav get's back."

"But you don't know if he's coming back," Hallie reminded him. Jamison lit a cigar and sighed, "I got a feeling it'll be soon." he replied.

Hallie frowned, "A feeling?"

"Yep, a gut instinct kind of feeling."

Hallie sighed and laid her head on his shoulder as he drove them toward town, "Guess we'll just go with it," she replied. "Your gut hasn't lied to us yet."