Rosa's Land: Western Justice - book 1 (18 page)

He put the letter down and said, “She’s changed her mind.”

“Yes, she has. Do you have any idea how you can help the boy more?”

“Well, I’m going to find some way to get him out on the field. Nothing very difficult, but I’d like to help the young man. I think he has great potential.”

“Well, you must do it, Isaac. She kept the boy close, and that’s the way we mothers are. But he wants to prove that he is a grown man. If I remember correctly, he had a father and two brothers who are very manly, and he feels that he’s failed them.”

“I can see how that would affect the boy. We’ll do that. I’ll give him a chance.”

Riordan stepped inside the judge’s office and was somewhat intimidated. Judge Parker, however, smiled and said, “Sit down, young man. There’s something I want to tell you.”

“Have I done anything wrong, Judge?”

“No—no. Quite the opposite. Let me tell you what I’ve done. We were so happy with the way you conducted yourself on the job with Heck Thomas that I wrote to your mother and told her how well you had done. I told her you had completed every dirty, hard job we gave you without complaining, and then when we sent you on the scout you saved Heck Thomas’s life. I told her how proud we are of you.”

“Well, thank you for writing her, Judge. I’ve got a lot to learn, but I’d like to try a real job.”

“All right, Riordan. How about this? The first request we get that I think you can handle without putting yourself in much danger, we’ll send you on a scout.”

“Oh, that’s fine, Judge. I appreciate it.”

“It won’t be a big job,” Parker warned, “but you need to learn how to work in the Territory.”

“I promise I’ll do the very best I can. Thank you for this opportunity, Judge.”

Riordan did not change his ways. He stayed under Marshal Swinson’s orders, still cleaning out the stables, washing the dishes, and helping the cook when he could.

He had been out one afternoon hauling the fewmets, as they called the stable sweepings, to the judge’s garden and was sweaty and filthy from head to foot. He had on a floppy-brimmed hat that came down over his ears so he knew he was not much to look at.

Heck Thomas stopped him to say, “Well, Riordan, the judge tells me he’s going to put you to work.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I wish you could go with me on this job, but it’s a little bit rough.”

“Maybe I can go with you some other time, Marshal Thomas.”

“I’m sure you can. I told the judge so. Hang in there, young man. Your opportunity is coming.”

For the next hour Riordan kept hauling the refuse of the horses’ stalls to the judge’s garden, which was blooming well from so much fertilizer. He was pushing a wheelbarrow toward the garden when he saw the judge and Marshal Swinson come out of the courthouse, joined by some of the other marshals.
Maybe I’ll get to go on a scout soon
, he thought.

He looked up to see a young woman in a riding outfit such as he had never seen ride in at a gallop. She pulled the horse up to an abrupt halt and dismounted. Being curious, Riordan moved closer to where he could hear what was said.

Rosa climbed off her horse. It was a longer ride than she had anticipated, and she was exhausted. She had met Judge Parker at the wedding, and she glanced around to see that not much was happening. One man in filthy clothes was hauling something with a wheelbarrow. She ignored him, well aware that everyone was staring at her.

She walked right up to the judge and said at once in a loud voice, “Judge Parker, our ranch has been raided, and a man has been killed. I saw the men who did it. The leader was George Pye, and two of the men with him were Vernon Epps and Boog Powell. It was the same three men who tried to take the horses from us earlier. We took their guns from them, and George Pye swore he would get even. He killed one of our hands, and I want him and the others hanged on your gallows. We need a posse of your marshals to run them down.”

Parker removed his hat and ran his hand over his hair. He was disturbed and shook his head saying, “Well Miss Ramirez, it’s not quite that easy.”

“Why isn’t it? I saw the men who did it. I’ll testify against them. I’ve heard you have over a hundred marshals.”

“But they’re out in the Territory. Our men don’t stay here long, Miss Ramirez. They do their jobs, they come in, they get other assignments, and they’re gone again as soon as possible. I’ll tell you what, we’ll send a man out to your place as soon as one comes back. Right now we don’t have anybody.”

“Don’t tell me you don’t have a single marshal to catch a cold-blooded murderer.”

Parker’s glance fell on Riordan, who had stopped and was listening to the conversation. He turned to Swinson and said under his breath, “We can send Riordan. He can stay at their ranch until some of our men are available to track the killers down.”

“That’s right, Judge. He can’t get hurt just looking out for these folk. The killers have gone underground by this time. It’s going to take some good men to root ‘em out.”

Parker nodded then put his hat back on. “Miss Ramirez, I’m sending you the one man we have. He’ll stay close to your ranch and guard your folks, and then as soon as I get a few men, I’ll send them. They can run down Pye and his band.”

“Thank you, Judge,” Rosa said. “I knew you would help us.”

Judge Parker called out, “Riordan, come here!”

Rosa turned to see the man who was hauling compost in a wheelbarrow come forward. He was filthy from head to foot, had on a floppy hat, and looked young and inexperienced.

“Riordan, this is Miss Rosa Ramirez. You go with her and guard her family. We’ll send a posse out as soon as some men get back.”

Rosa stared at the sorry figure that stood before her. Then she turned and said, “You’re sending that fertilizer hauler to help us?”

“He is better than he looks, Miss Ramirez.”

Rosa was fighting hard to hold back angry tears. “I thought you’d give us somebody to help … a marshal. That dirty clodhopper might as well go on hauling refuse for the garden!” She turned, went to her horse, and started to mount.

Parker went to her quickly and said, “Just a minute. Let me explain.”

Swinson ran over and said, “Riordan, saddle up, get your guns, and go with this woman.”

“Don’t I have time to clean up?”

“Nope, she’s mad as a hornet. You stick with her. You can clean up when you get there.”

Rosa waited, hardly listening to the judge who was trying to explain that Riordan was new and not yet ready for a full-time marshal’s badge but that he’d help the best he could.

When Riordan rode up on a sorry-looking horse still in his filthy clothes and his floppy hat, Rosa stepped into the saddle and gave him a withering look. “You might as well stay here and clean up after the horses.”

The man did not blink or smile. He said, “Wherever you lead, Miss Ramirez, I’ll go with you.”

She snorted and kicked her horse’s flanks and rode out. Riordan followed her on his placid horse.

Marshal Swinson and Judge Parker watched Riordan and Rosa riding off toward her ranch.

“That young woman’s pretty fierce, Judge. By the time Riordan’s listened to her for a couple of days, he’ll probably be ready to come back and clean up the stables.”

Judge Parker shook his head. “She’ll give him a hard time, Chester, but you remember we gave him a hard time. He never flinched. They’re like fire and water, those two, but I hope they can live with each other long enough to do some good. Riordan is better than he looks, but all Miss Ramirez can see is that he doesn’t look good. They’ll just have to live with each other long enough for us to send some men who might do better.”

“I just hope they don’t kill each other,” Marshal Swinson said. “I don’t think it’s going to work.”

“It’ll have to work,” Judge Isaac Parker said. He gave a final look in the direction of the two who had disappeared into the distance, shook his head, and went back into the courthouse.

T
he ranch was in sight now, but when Rosa turned and looked back over her shoulder, she saw that Riordan was far behind, his horse plodding slowly. Anger seemed to bubble within her, and she waited there, the mare shifting under her weight, flaked with sweat. She let him get close and then said, “Spur that worthless horse!”

When he did not advance any faster, she waited until he was even with her, his eyes watching her cautiously. He gave her a mild answer, “Miss Ramirez, Maggie here does the best she can.”

Twilight had begun to creep over the land, the low hills to the west turning dark against the sky while the flatlands of the east slowly shadowing as night crept over them. The day had been blistering hot, sharp and bright, with no clouds to bring any relief from the sun’s rays.

Now as Rosa stepped off her horse, the sun had settled westward and seemed to melt into a shapeless bed of gold flames as it touched the faraway mountains. She advanced to the porch, having seen her father and her grandfather sitting there in their cane-bottom rocking chairs. Pearl shadows had come on the eaves of the house and the barn, and the dusty road took on soft silver shadings. Soon evening’s peace would magnify the distant sounds, but all the beauty of the sunset meant nothing to Rosa, for she was still furious over the treatment she had received from Judge Parker.

Shaking her head with disgust, Rosa spurred the mare, which despite being hard ridden, still had some spirit left. She rode up toward the house, and as she drew near, she saw Ned walking across the front yard. She pulled the mare to an abrupt halt, stepped out of the saddle, and said in a spare tone, “Ned, this mare is overheated. Would you please walk her until she cools off?”

“Sure I will, Miss Rosa.” He started to ask how her trip went, but seeing her face set with anger thought better of it. He took the lines and moved away.

Rosa gave one disgusted glance backward over the road and saw that the man was still dragging along. She mounted the steps and seeing Ethel standing at the door said, “Ethel, I’m parched. Would you get me some cool water, please?”

“Yes ma’am, I’ll do that.”

Rosa looked at her father and her grandfather, but her lips were so dry it was difficult to talk. Both of them were sitting in rockers with the checkerboard in front of them. Rosa knew they were both men who were quick to pick up on the moods of others, and her mood at that moment was definitely not favorable.

Ethel appeared at the door with a large glass and a pitcher of water. “I’ll just set this here, and you can drink all you want, Rosa.”

“Thank you, Ethel.” She drained the glass slowly, letting the coolness and the moisture of it seek out her dry tissues. She then poured a second glass half full and then put the glass down on the table.

Frank glanced at Mateo then asked Rosa, “How was your trip? Did you get to see the judge?”

“Yes, I saw him, but precious little good it did me!”

Frank exchanged glances with Mateo. It was her father who asked, “It didn’t turn out well, I take it?”

“No, it didn’t turn out well! I rode as hard as I could, and when I got there the judge was out in front of the courthouse. I got off my horse and walked right up to him. He was very polite, but then I guess he always is. He asked me what I wanted.”