Chapter 32
Monday morning arrived. It was September 24th, 1883.
Word had spread throughout the local towns by telegraph that Dalton Trevor was now the temporary Marshal of Oak Creek.
Zeke arrived at the Marshal's Office when the sun starts showing itself above the horizon.
Dalton and Zeke completed escorting their three prisoners to the outhouse after they woke up.
After the three had relieved themselves, they were put back in their jail cell.
Zeke made a pot of coffee on the potbelly stove. While the coffee was perking, the front door to the Marshal's Office opened.
Annie and Sally walked inside the office with a spring in their steps. Annie held a plate covered with a red and white checkered napkin covering it while Sally held two plates with red and white checkered napkins.
"Good morning, Marshal. We have breakfast for the prisoners," said Annie with sparkles in her eyes at the sight of Dalton.
"Mayor Mason requested we bring it down here," said Sally with sparkles in her eyes at the sight of Dalton.
"Thank you, ladies," said Dalton while he grabbed two of the plates from Sally.
'He's engaged to the temporary school teacher," Zeke whispered to Annie while he took the plate from her.
Annie looked disappointed. She leaned over to Sally while Dalton took the plates to Bart, and Charlie and Zeke took his plate over to Jimmy. Sally looked disappointed, knowing that Dalton was engaged.
The two ladies left the Marshal's Office minus the spring in their steps.
Dalton and Zeke drank a cup of coffee while the three prisoners ate their breakfast. Dalton sat at Clint's desk while Zeke sat at Elmer's desk.
The door of the Marshal's Office opened, and Chrissy entered.
"Good morning, my dear," said Dalton getting up from Clint's desk.
"Ma-am," said Zeke while he stood up from Elmer's desk.
"I thought we could go to breakfast at the restaurant," said Chrissy to Dalton.
"Go ahead, I can cover the office," said Zeke.
Dalton gave Chrissy a little smile and walked her to the front door. He opened it for her, and they headed outside.
Zeke sat back down at the desk, kicked his cowboy boots up on the desk, and relaxed while he drank his coffee.
"How was your first night at the Town Marshal?"
"Quiet. When are you going to start teaching?"
"Later this morning. The Mayor said he'd let me know."
"This is turning out to be a really cool vacation," said Dalton.
"You know it. I can' wait to start teaching at the schoolhouse."
Dalton and Chrissy were quiet during the remainder of the walk to the restaurant.
After being seated and served their breakfast, Mayor Mason walked up to their table.
"Good morning, Miss Barron and Marshal Trevor," he said, then reached inside one of his suit coat pockets. "Here's your badge," he stated, handing Dalton a badge that Felix the Blacksmith just finished.
Dalton looked at it and thought it was so cool. He pinned it on his suit coat and felt like a real old western Marshal.
"Oh, I forgot. I talked with Judge Peabody a little while ago, and he wants Bart Stone in his courtroom at ten this morning. You know, for his trial," said Mayor Mason. "Charlie Chandler is supposed to take the stand against Bart."
Dalton looked at Mayor Mason. "At the courthouse at ten and Charlie Chandler will testify. Got it," he said and smiled about his first official duty as the Town Marshal.
"And Miss Barron, I expect you to be at the schoolhouse at ten."
"Yes, Mayor Mason. I'll be there," said Chrissy.
"Very good. Good day," said Mayor Mason, and he walked away. He got a few feet from the table, stopped, and walked back. "I forgot, I had someone run out and get Merijildo to go track Clint Bartley," he said.
"Merijildo?" said Dalton pretending he never heard of that Indian.
"Yes, he's the best tracker in the land. I'm concerned that Clint's not back. Merijildo's the best tracker in this area. Good day," he added, then turned around and walked away.
Dalton and Chrissy glanced at each other and knew that that tracker would come up empty-handed. They returned to their breakfast.
After they were done, Dalton headed back to the Marshal's Office while Chrissy headed off to the schoolhouse.
Some time had passed, and it was now time for Bart Stone to pay the piper.
In the Marshal's Office, Dalton, with Zeke's assistance, installed the leg and handcuffs on Bart and Charlie.
"Bring Charlie over in a few minutes after I get Bart here into the courthouse. I don't want Bart harming our witness," said Dalton while he glanced over at Bart to give him the I'm the Boss glare.
"You lucky Charlie. If I would, I would wrap these here handcuff chains around your neck and squeeze the life out of you," snarled Bart.
"Let's go," said Dalton, and he pulled on Bart's right arm and walked him to the door. They went outside.
A crowd of rubberneckers stood in the street to watch Bart being escorted to his trial. They all wanted to see him hang, as they loved old Elmer and missed him.
After Dalton entered the Courthouse with Bart, Zeke escorted Charlie out of the Marshal's Office and over to the courthouse with the crowd watching.
Dalton escorted Bart over to his table and sat him down in the chair where his attorney young Horace Arnold waited. The same attorney used to defend the Kissing Bandit.
Charlie was seated behind the railing on the other side of the room. Bart turned and glared at Charlie. Charlie looked away.
The courtroom started to fill up all the available seats with the curious town folk.
Chrissy wasn't in attendance as she just started teaching at the schoolhouse.
Dalton and Zeke escorted Bart over to his table, where his attorney young Horace Arnold waited.
After a few seconds, Judge Peabody entered the room from his side office.
He walked to his bench and sat down. He looked down at the people in the room. "Court's in session," he said and slammed his gavel down on that small block of wood. He stared at Bart, and that made Bart nervous.
"This is the trial for Bart Stone for the murder of Elmer Filson," said Judge Peabody, and he paused for a few seconds. "Will Charlie Chandler take the witness box?"
Bart's teeth gritted when Charlie got up and around the railing and headed over to the witness box.
After he was sworn in as a witness, he sat down in the chair.
"Okay, tell us what happened, Mister Chandler," said Judge Peabody.
Charlie cleared his throat. He saw Bart glaring at him with gritted teeth and got nervous. Then he saw the rear doors of the courtroom open and in walked outlaw Blue Earl and Deke, one of his outlaw cronies, enter. Charlie got scared and almost peed his pants. For a split second, he thought about chickening out. But the through of being hung by a rope quickly changed his mind. He figured he could survive a prison term.
Blue Earl and Deke stood at the rear of the crowd and were almost invisible to Charlie.
Charlie cleared his throat again and saw Bart's glare.
"We don't have all day, Mister Chandler," said Judge Peabody as it was getting bothered that Charlie was taking too long to testify. "Tell the truth or suffer severe consequences."
"Well, we just robbed the bank here in Oak Creek. We came out, and there was Elmer and Marshal Chester White. Out there in the street with pistols pointed at us. Elmer yelled for us to stop. We took cover behind a horse trough. Bart here yelled he wasn't going to hang. And that Elmer better let us go, or he'll be dead."
"I didn't say that!" yelled out Bart when he shot up from his seat.
"Shut up!" yelled out Judge Peabody while slamming his gavel down on the block of wood.
Dalton stood up and glared at Bart.
Bart sat down pissed.
"Continue, Mister Chandler," Judge Peabody told Charlie.
"Bart fired off a shot. The Kissing Bandit kid was still standing. Bart yelled at him to get down and start shootin. He ducked behind the trough. Elmer and Charlie fired at us. We fired back. Bart yelled at the Kissing Bandit because he wasn't shootin."
"He wasn't shooting?" said Judge Peabody.
"No bullets said the Kissing Bandit."
"No bullets?" asked Judge Peabody, as that didn't sound right to him.
Charlie nodded that that was correct. "Yes sir, no bullets."
"Continue," said Judge Peabody.
"The Kissing Bandit put bullets in his pistol. Fired off a shot and killed a window in the restaurant," said Charlie.
Chuckles were heard throughout the courtroom.
"Bart yelled at the Kissing Bandit to aim to kill. So he fired off another shot and killed another window in the restaurant."
Chuckles were again heard throughout the courtroom.
"Quiet!" yelled out, Judge Peabody. "Continue."
"Then I saw Bart fire off a shot when Elmer stood up. He was hit and fell into the trough. The Kissing Bandit got on his horse and rode off. Bart yelled that he's stealing our loot. Then Bart fired off another shot and hit Chester. Then we got on our horses and chased after the Kissing Bandit."
"So the Kissing Bandit didn't kill Elmer Filson?" said Judge Peabody.
"No. Bart Stone shot Elmer. He put the blame on the Kissing Bandit. He admitted it," said Charlie.
"Okay, the witness may leave the witness box," said Judge Peabody, then he paused. "Court will recess for ten minutes while I go ponder my decision," said Judge Peabody and slammed his gavel down on the block of wood. He got up from his desk and headed into his office at the rear of the courtroom.
Charlie walked back to his seat and looked away from the glares from Bart.
There was idle talk in the courtroom for ten minutes while Judge Peabody was in his office.
Judge Peabody walked out of his office. The courtroom got quiet.
Judge Peabody sat at his bench. He looked at all the eager ears in his courtroom. "I made my decision. Based on the testimony of Charlie Chandler and the fact that Jimmy Templeton tried to help Bart Stone escape, I hereby find Bart Stone guilty for the murder of Elmer Filson. I sentence him to hang at nine o'clock in the morning since we already have a gallows constructed and someone that tried to get him out of jail," said Judge Peabody and stared at Bart. Then he looked at Charlie. "I sentence Charlie Chandler to two years in the Yuma territorial prison because of your outlaw ways of robbing banks and stagecoaches, "he said then paused. "You can release Jimmy Templeton in three days. That should be enough punishment for him, as long as he leaves Oak Creek. Court dismissed," he said, slamming the gavel down on the block of wood.
"I'm going to kill you, Charlie. You coward!" yelled out Bart while he shot up from his chair.
Dalton jumped up and punched Bart in his face. He felt good about doing this, as he knew this was acceptable behavior for a lawman in the old west. He knew he couldn't do that in the future.
Bart flew back and landed on the floor on his butt.
While people started to leave the courtroom, Dalton spotted a familiar face in the crowd. Blue Earl Olson! He called out in his head the second he saw that outlaw with his gang member Deke Olson, Earl's younger brother. What's he doing here? He quietly wondered while he saw Blue Earl's two pistols in their holsters on his right and left hip.
While Dalton and Zeke escorted Bart and Charlie across the street, keeping them separated.
While going across the street, Dalton scanned the town. His eyes widened the second he spotted Blue Earl and Deke outside the Prickly Cactus Saloon. He also spotted two horses tied to the hitching post by the saloon and saw a blue bandana tied to the saddles of those horses.
Dalton and Zeke took Bart and Charlie inside the Marshal's Office and placed them in their jail cells.
Bart sat down on his bunk and fumed that he was sentenced to die. Oh, how he wanted to kill Charlie.
Dalton and Zeke put away their Winchester rifles.
"I need to head over to the General Store," Dalton told Zeke, then he headed off to the front door.
Zeke sat down at Elmer's old desk while Dalton left the office.
Dalton walked over and went inside the General Store.
"Howdy, Marshal," said William Masters from behind the cash register at the counter. "What do you need?"
Dalton walked up to William. He removed his Colt 45 Peacemaker. "I need some bullets."
Gus looked at Dalton. "Can't be a Marshal without bullets," he said the coughed a little wet cough.
"Got that right," said Dalton, and for a second he wondered if he could actually kill someone. He thought about that for a few seconds while Gus walked over to another area of the counter. But I don't want to be killed. Thought Dalton knowing he might have killed or lost his life.
Gus brought over a box of bullets. "That'll be one dollar, sir," he said while placing the box on the counter by the register.
Dalton reached in his suit coat and pulled out a silver dollar. He handed it to Gus.
"Thank you, Marshal," said Gus while he rang up the sale.
Dalton removed his Colt 45 from his holster, removed six bullets from the box, and put them in the chamber. He shoved the pistol back in the holster, grabbed the box, shoved it in his suit coat pocket, and left the General Store.
Dalton walked down the street and headed to the Prickly Cactus Saloon.
He walked to the swinging café doors of the Prickly Cactus.
He heard laughter and talking inside it.
He got a little nervous. He took a deep breath to calm down his nerves. Don't be a chicken. Don't be a chicken. Be brave! He said over and over again in his head.
Dalton pushed opened the café doors and stepped inside the saloon. The café doors swung back and hit Dalton in his back. He cringed wondering if anybody saw that. He sighed a sigh of relief when he saw nobody noticed.
He scanned the saloon. He saw eight tables, a long bar, a piano, and stairs that led to the second floor. Nobody played at the piano since Clint Bartley was gone.
Three of the tables each had four guys playing poker.
At the bar stood Blue Earl and Deke drinking beer.
Dalton took another deep breath and strutted through the Prickly Cactus.
"Whose that tenderfoot?" said one guy at one of the poker tables.
"The Town Marshal until Marshal Bartley returns," said another guy at that poker table.
"He ain't back yet?" said another of the poker players.
"Not yet," said another of the poker players.
"Oh," said the first poker player, and they returned to their game and could care less about Dalton.
Dalton strutted over to the bar. He stopped a few feet from Blue Earl. He looked over at Pete, the bartender who stood with a rag cleaning out the inside of a mug. "Beer," he said.
Blue Earl heard this voice and looked to his left. He saw Dalton. He noticed the Town Marshal's badge pinned to Dalton's suit coat and the Colt 45 Peacemaker in his holster. Blue Earl discreetly motioned to Deke to look to the left.
Deke glanced around Blue Earl and saw Dalton.
Dalton looked at Blue Earl. He saw his pot mark face. "I take it you're not from Oak Creek or any other town in this area?" said Dalton to Blue Earl, pretending not to be intimidated by the outlaw.
Blue Earl opened his mouth, and Dalton noticed that all of this outlaw's teeth were stained dark brown from poor hygiene. Gross! Never used a toothbrush in his life. Thought Dalton.
"Oh no, Marshal. We're just passing through and got a little thirsty," said Blue Earl pretending to be nice.
Dalton cringed the second he got a whiff of Blue Earl's horrendous bad breath.
Pete placed a mug of beer on the bar in front of Dalton. Dalton took the mug and took a drink. Warm beer! He cried out in his head. "So, after your beer, are you heading out of town?" he said, putting the mug of beer down on the bar. "Cause I don't want any trouble," he said and patted the handle of his Colt 45 Peacemaker.
Blue Earl looked at Dalton. Fucking tenderfoot. He said in his head and wasn't intimidated at all. "Don't worry, Marshal. We'll be on our way after we satisfy our thirst," said Blue Earl, then he glanced up at the second-floor balcony where two young women stood by their room doors. "And have some little fun," he added while he winked at one of the ladies.
Dalton glanced up at the second floor and saw the ladies and realized Oak Creek also has saloons. But it was the way of life in all old western saloons. "Okay," he said and picked up his mug and took another drink of the warm beer. "How much for the beer, bartender?"
"On the house for being the Town Marshal," said Pete.
"Thanks and good day, gentlemen," said Dalton, then he turned around and strutted through the Prickly Cactus heading to the doors.
Dalton walked through the café doors and stepped outside. He took a sigh of relief and couldn't believe he had just confronted famous outlaw Blue Earl Olson.
He walked away and headed back to the Marshal's Office. "But why is he in town?" he quietly said and tried to recall the history books and if they mentioned Blue Earl hitting Oak Creek. His eyes widened when he remembered seeing Blue Earl and his gang during his first trip back to 1883 with Chrissy.
Dalton went back inside the Marshal's Office.
"I just made a fresh pot of coffee," said Zeke while he sat at Elmer's desk.
"Thanks," said Dalton, and he walked over and grabbed the coffee cup off of Clint's desk.
He walked over to the potbelly stove and poured a cup. He headed over to one of the windows.
He gazed out the window while he sipped his coffee.
"What you looking at?" said Zeke from Elmer's desk.
"We have outlaw Blue Earl Olson and one of his gang members at the Prickly Cactus," said Dalton, then took another sip of coffee.
"Blue Earl Olson? I never heard of him," said Zeke while he got up from the desk.
"He's from the New Mexico area. I believe he's coming here to fill in the void left by Bart Stone," said Dalton.
"What are we going to do?"
"Well, guess we'll have to keep an eye on him," said Dalton, and he wondered how he would react if Blue Earl put up a fight.
After he finished his cup of coffee, Dalton saw Blue Earl and Deke ride off down the street. They were heading out of town, and Dalton was relieved. But he knew they would come back. He was a little nervous about that yet a little excited.
Dalton walked back over to the stove and poured another cup of coffee. He sat back down at Clint's desk and drank his coffee. He wondered how Chrissy's day was going, and then he thought about tomorrow's hanging of Bart Stone.
Once Blue Earl Olson and Deke rode out of Oak Creek, Blue Earl looked over at Deke. "I want you to ask around Oak Creek tomorrow about that Town Marshal kid. He looks to be a tenderfoot. I don't think he's a threat," said Blue Earl.
"Got it, Earl," said Deke.
Blue Earl and Deke rode off into the desert to their hiding place.
Hours had passed, and it was quiet in the Marshal's Office.
Dalton and Zeke's eyes drifted closed while they sat with their boots kicked up on top of the desks.
The front door to the Marshal's Office opened. In walked Chrissy.
Dalton and Zeke's eyes opened and saw Chrissy enter the office.
"Hello Marshal Trevor," she said while she walked up to his desk.
"Ma-am," said Zeke while he stood up from his desk.
"I was wondering if my fiancé would have dinner with me?" she said.
"Why, of course, my dear," said Dalton while he looked over at Zeke.
"Go ahead, I'll dine when you get back."
Dalton and Chrissy walked to the front door of the Marshal's Office and left.
Dalton walked Chrissy down Main Street arm in arm.
"Hello Marshal," said a gentleman while he walked up to them.
"Hello," said Dalton, and he could sense that the town really liked him as their Marshal, even though it was only temporary.
"So, how was your day teaching at the schoolhouse?"
"It was fascinating. I had ten kids. I was able to find their textbooks, and the students told me where she left off."
"Ten kids, that's a small class."
"The good thing is that they were all so polite. Not like the kids of our time," she said with a smile. "Quite refreshing."
"Well, the old west was a different time."
"I like it so far."
"Me too."
"So, are we going to leave in a couple of days?" said Chrissy.
Dalton thought about what she said. "I don't know. I mean, they need me as the town," said Dalton.
"And I would leave them without a teacher. I can't do that right now."
Dalton's eyes widened when he remembered something. "But we know that Clint Bartley won't return. So what should I do?"
"We could stay longer, but our money will be running out soon," said Chrissy.
"I'll have a talk with the Mayor. We deserve getting paid," he said the second he spotted Mayor Mason across the street."
Chrissy nodded in agreement.
"Mayor Mason."
Mayor Mason sad Dalton and Chrissy across the street. He walked over to them.
"Yes, Marshal."
"Listen, we were wondering. Since you have us as the Town Marshal and school teacher. We feel we should be paid. Or our money will run out soon, and we'll have to leave in a few days," said Dalton.
Mayor Mason thought about what Dalton said for a few seconds. "You're right," he said, then looked at Chrissy. "Ma-am, we pay twenty-five dollars a month for being our school teacher. And the Town Marshal gets paid forty dollars a month."
Dalton and Chrissy initially thought that was meager wages, but they recalled what things cost in 1883 and soon realized that they could live off that amount.
"I accept your offer, Mayor Mason," said Dalton.
"Yes, I also accept your offer, Mayor Mason," said Chrissy.
"Very well, I'll come by tomorrow and give you a little bit of your pay to help with living expenses for the next week. And we have the house that Gertrude Perkins lived in, Ma-am. You can move in anytime you want. It's the third house on the left as soon as you enter our residential area," said the Mayor, then he paused. "And I heard that you're engaged so after you're married, that'll be your home also, Marshal Trevor. For now, you can live in the backroom of the Marshal's Office or stay at the hotel."
Dalton's eyes widened. "Don't forget Zeke Cooper, Mayor. I'll need a deputy to help keep Oak Creek safe," he said.
"I won't," said Mayor Mason, and he gave a little smile then walked away.
Dalton and Chrissy continued their walk down the street and headed to the restaurant.
Dalton and Chrissy sat in the restaurant and had a nice ham dinner.
After dinner, Chrissy decided to move into her temporary home from home. So Dalton and Chrissy went to the hotel and gathered up her clothes and suitcase. They told the desk clerk they no longer needed their rooms.
They left the hotel and headed off to the residential area.
They found the third home off on the left, and Chrissy smiled, as it had a white picket fence.
They walked to the front door.
They noticed it didn't have a lock. Dalton turned the doorknob.