Chapter 38
It was Tuesday, October 1st, 1883. Again.
John, Angie, Clint, and Alicia rode their horses into Oak Creek.
Seeing the entrance to his old town brought back some fond memories for Clint.
They rode their horses down Main Street.
Some of the town folk were out watching Harvey, and a helper picks up Deke’s dead body off the wooden sidewalk.
John, Angie, Clint, and Alicia rode their horses down Main Street and saw Harvey and his helper plop Deke’s dead body in Harvey’s wagon.
Some of the town folk saw the four strangers ride by on their horses.
“Is that Marshal Bartley?” said one old man to his wife.
“Looks like him, but he’s older,” said the man’s wife. “And has a mustache.”
Another man and his buddy saw the four strangers while outside the Prickly Cactus.
“That guy looks like Marshal Bartley,” said the man to his buddy.
The other man looked. “That other guy sorta looks like the Kissing Bandit,” he said and looked again. “Naw, he’s a little older.” “Plus, that guy that looks like Bartley has a mustache. Bartley didn’t have a mustache.”
“Yeah, you’re right. They’re both older, and Marshal Bartley didn’t have a mustache,” said the man, then they both went inside the Prickly Cactus.
They rode their horses up to Felix Willoughby’s stable and got out of their saddles.
Clint walked into the stable and saw Felix beating away on a horseshoe on an anvil.
“May I help you,” said Felix when he saw the stranger enter the stable and stopped beating the horseshoe.
“We have four horses we need to be kept here for the night,” said Clint, who wanted to say hello to his old acquaintance but wanted to pretend he was a stranger. So he didn’t say anything.
Felix looked at Clint. His eyes widened a little. “Clint? Is that you, Marshal Bartley?” said Felix.
“Oh, no sir, I’m not Clint Bartley. I’m,” said Clint, and he paused to think of a name. He didn’t plan for this. “I’m,” he said and paused again then recalled some old reruns of a popular 1950s through 1970s western TV show. “I’m Matt Dillon.”
“Oh, you look like our old Marshal Clint Bartley. But you are a little older than what he was, and Clint didn’t have a mustache. But he had a similar scar,” said Felix and shrugged off the feeling. “So, I hear you need to keep four horses here?”
“That’s right.”
“Well, bring them in, I have four stalls available,” said Felix.
After they placed their horses into the stalls and removed their saddles, they left the stable.
Felix stood outside the entrance to his stable and watched the four strangers left. “He sure looks like Clint. Maybe it’s true with what they say. Everybody has a double somewhere in this world.”
John, Clint, Angie, and Alicia walked down Main Street with more stares on how they looked so familiar.
Mayor Mason walked down the street and saw the four strangers.
He glanced. “Howdy,” he said while he walked by them.
He stopped and turned around. There was something every familiar about those strangers. “Excuse me,” said Mayor Mason while he rushed up to Clint.
Clint, John, Angie, and Alicia all stopped.
Clint saw Mayor Mason. It’s Mayor Mason. He thought, and it was good to see him again.
Mayor Mason looked at Clint. “Clint? Is that you? Clint Bartley?” he said and started to wonder as this guy looked like Clint but was a little older. And Clint didn’t have a mustache, but his man had a similar scar as what Clint had.
“Ah, no sir, I’m Matt Dillon,” said Clint.
John, Angie, Alicia all looked at Clint, a little surprised with the name he used.
“But, you do look like our old Marshal Clint Bartley.”
“Nope. I’m Matt Dillon,” said Clint.
Mayor Mason looked confused. This guy looked like Clint Bartley, but he was older. “I’m sorry. You look just like our old Town Marshal Clint Bartley.”
“Sorry. I’m not that man,” said Clint.
“There’s a saying that everybody has a double in this world,” said John.
Mayor Mason looked at John. His eyes widened a little. “And you look so much like that outlaw the Kissing Bandit.”
John faked a chuckle. “Me the kissing bandit? I don’t think so. My name is,” said John, and he hesitated to think of a good cover. “My name is…” “Chester Arness and this is my wife Kitty,” he said, placing his arm around Angie’s shoulder.
Clint looked at John and tried not to bust out laughing. “And this is my wife Annie,” he said.
Mayor Mason looked at the four strangers. “Well, Clint wasn’t married and didn’t have a mustache.” “So, what brings you to my fair town of Oak Creek?” “I’m Mayor Mason.”
“We’re passing through. Heading to Phoenix. We’ll spend the night and head out in the morning,” said Clint.
“Well then, enjoy our town,” said Mayor Mason. “Good day,” he said and walked away.
“He sure looks like Clint,” said Mayor Mason, then shrugged it off while he headed down Main Street toward the Courthouse to his office.
“Matt Dillon?” said John with a light chuckle.
“And, I’m Kitty?” said Angie. “Why, Kitty?”
“Well, he said Matt Dillon and I thought of Kitty from that show,” said John.
“Annie? Why, Annie?” said Alicia.
“Thought of Annie Oakley,” said Clint. “You know, the female sharpshooter from the old west.”
Alicia thought about what he said for a few seconds. A proud smile grew on her face being considered the same caliber as Annie Oakley.
“And you’re no, Chester,” said Angie at John.
John faked a limp like what the Chester character had in the Gunsmoke TV show.
They all chuckled while they walked down the street.
They walked up to the Marshal’s Office.
“I wonder if we didn’t arrive too late?” said John.
Clint glanced up and down Main Street. “I think we arrived in time,” he said, then grabbed the doorknob of the door.
Inside the Marshal’s Office, Dalton sat behind his desk. Zeke was out back using the Outhouse. Dalton’s thoughts went back and forth between him, killing Deke and that Gus was selling the General Store.
The door to the office opened.
Dalton glanced up and saw four people enter the office. He didn’t recognize them. “Can I help you?” he said, standing up at his desk.
“Dalton, it’s me. Professor Mathers,” said John while they walked up to Dalton, removing his cowboy hat.
Dalton looked at him. It took a few seconds. “Professor Mathers? Why are you here?”
Zeke entered the office from the rear door. He saw the four strangers standing by Dalton’s desk.
Clint saw Zeke and remembered him.
Zeke walked up to them. His eyes widened the second, he saw Clint. “Marshal Bartley? You’re back,” said Zeke.
Dalton looked at Zeke and didn’t know what to say.
“No, I’m Matt Dillon,” said Clint.
Dalton looked a little surprised over that name.
“Matt Dillon?” said Zeke, a little confused.
“I’m his wife, Annie,” said Alicia.
“I’m Chester,” said John.
“And I’m his wife Kitty,” said Angie.
Zeke still looked confused.
“Yes, that’s Matt Dillon. Matt and John are old friends of the family. From back East,” said Dalton. “Pittsburgh.”
Zeke still looked confused as this guy sure looked like Clint Bartley. But he was a little older with a mustache and married. He knew that their former Town Marshal wasn’t married. “Well, it’s nice meeting you all. I’m Zeke Cooper,” he said, then shook Clint and John’s hands.
“Dalton, if your deputy wouldn’t mind. We have some personal business to discuss. Can we have some privacy?” said John.
Dalton looked at Zeke. “Why don’t you take the rest of the day off,” he said. “I got things covered with my friends here.”
“Are you sure?” said Zeke.
“It’s okay, Zeke. Don’t worry,” said Dalton.
“Okay, see you in the morning, Marshal,” said Zeke, and he walked away and headed to the front door.
Everybody remained quiet until Zeke went outside, and they knew he wouldn’t be back for a while.
“What brings you to eighteen eighty-three?” said Dalton.
John reached in his shirt pocket and removed a folded piece of paper. He unfolded it and handed it over to Dalton.
Dalton looked at the paper and the article about Blue Earl Olson. His eyes widened. “I’ll be killed?” he said in disbelief then reread the paper. “I’ll be killed tonight or tomorrow by Blue Earl?” “Why,” he said, then it took a few seconds for it to sink in. “That’s right, I killed Deke,” he said while he slowly sat down in his chair. “His younger brother.” Dalton put the paper on the top of his desk. “I’m going to be killed,” he said again and started to get nervous.
“We came here to save your life,” said John.
“But why would you care about me?” said Dalton.
“I can’t let Blue Earl kill again,” said Clint, and he paused. “He killed a good friend of mine who was the Town Marshal of Cactus Wood in New Mexico. That’s why he’s in this area.”
“Do you know when I’ll be killed?”
“Not exactly. Your body was found in the Superstition Mountains a few days from now,” said John.
Dalton picked up the paper off the desk. He read it and saw that that’s what the article said.
“I think that Blue Earl and his gang will come back to Oak Creek sometime today and take you away. Probably tonight,” said John.
Dalton sat there, stunned over what he was told. “So, what do we do?”
“We take out the Blue Earl gang before they take you out,” said Clint.
“We don’t wait for them to come here to Oak Creek?” said John.
“I don’t want a gunfight here in town,” said Clint. “Innocent people could get shot.”
“Got that right, I heard someone was wounded in the Prickly Cactus Saloon when Deke Olson was shooting at me,” said Dalton.
“Right about not dealing with innocent people getting hurt,” said John.
“But we don’t know where they’re hiding? To get them there,” said Dalton.
Clint thought for a few seconds. “But I know someone that can help us,” he said with a smile that soon went away knowing what history will bring.
“Who?” Dalton said.
“An old Indian tracker friend of mine,” said Clint. “Merijildo.”
John looked at Clint. “Yes. Merijildo will help,” said John, and he smiled, thinking about seeing him again.
Dalton’s eyes widened, remembering something. “I met him.”
“When?” Clint asked.
“Right after you left from saving Professor Mathers from being hanged. They used Merijildo to track you down when you didn’t come back. Merijildo said he couldn’t find you that you left the area for another life,” said Dalton, then it dawned on him. “Ah, he went through Crazy Hole with you.”
Clint nodded in agreement. “So why don’t John and I ride out to get Merijildo? Bring him here to Oak Creek. Then we can head out and find Blue Earl and his gang.” “We’ll arrest them for the robbery performed earlier today,” he said then looked over at Dalton. “Or rather the Town Marshal can arrest him,” he added.
John and Dalton nodded in agreement with Clint’s plan.
Clint looked at Alicia and Angie. “You two ladies can stay here with Dalton.”
“But what if they come while you’re gone?” said Dalton.
“I don’t think they’ll come during the day. I think they’ll come at night,” said Clint. “Besides, Alicia here is a Detective in Phoenix. She’s a marksman. She’ll protect you,” he added.
“Okay,” said Dalton. “I’ll take the ladies and show them our lovely town.”
“Good. Let’s go,” Clint said while looking at John.
They watched while Clint and John rushed over to the door and left the Marshal’s Office.
Dalton folded up that piece of paper and set it down on top of his desk. “Well, ladies, want to take a walk around town?”
“Sure,” said Angie and Alicia in unison.
Dalton got up from the desk and escorted the two ladies to the door. They left the Marshal’s Office.
“I saw you when you rescued Professor Mathers from the noose,” said Dalton while they walked away down Main Street.
“John said he had this strange flashback you were there,” said Angie.
While they walked farther down Main Street, Clint and John galloped their horses away from the stable and headed in their direction.
John and Clint tipped their hats at their wives when they galloped past them.
A couple strolled down Main Street. They stopped when they saw Clint and John gallop their horses past them.
The man looked at his wife. “I swear that was Marshal Bartley,” he told his wife.
She glanced back at John and Clint. “I don’t know. He’s an older man than Clint,” she said.
“He sure looked like him,” said the man while they continued their stroll down the street, forgetting about those two on the horses.
Dalton walked Angie and Alicia near the Prickly Cactus. “So, I can imagine that you’re not Kitty,” he said to Angie. “And you’re not Annie,” he said to Alicia.
“I’m Angie.”
“And I’m Alicia.”
Dalton looked at the café doors to the Prickly Cactus. “Would you two ladies join me for a beer?” said Dalton trying to find ways to keep the ladies occupied.
“Sure,” said Angie.
“I would love one,” said Alicia.
Dalton escorted the ladies into the Prickly Cactus.
Thirty minutes had passed.
While Dalton, Angie, and Alicia left the Prickly Cactus and continued their walk around Oak Creek, Clint and John rode their horses into a small Indian camp.
Four Indians walked up to the two white men on horses concerned they might be a threat.
Clint and John stopped their horses, and they got out of their saddles.
“What you want?” said one of the Indians while he held his Winchester rifle.
“I’m here to see Merijildo,” said Clint.
“Who wants him?” said another Indian.
“Tell him Clint Bartley is here to see him.”
The Indians looked at Clint. Their eyes widened, as this white man did indeed look familiar.
“You Clint Bartley? You older,” said another one of the Indians.
“Clint? Is that you?” said the voice of an older Indian from behind the four Indians.
Clint looked and saw Merijildo walk up to them. He smiled. “It’s me, Clint,” he said, then looked concerned. “We need to talk in private.”
Merijildo motioned for them to follow him.
Clint and John followed Merijildo through the camp.
Merijildo walked them to his teepee. He looked at Victorio. “Go play.”
Victorio nodded and ran off.
Merijildo, Clint and John went inside the teepee where inside was Merijildo’s wife Preeti with baby Victorio
“Preeti, meet Clint and John,” said Merijildo.
“Hi,” said Clint and John in unison.
Clint saw Victorio and smiled.
Preeti smiled for her greeting then left the teepee with Victorio in her arms so her husband could talk in private.
Merijildo, Clint, and John sat down on blankets inside the teepee.
“Me can’t believe you back,” said Merijildo. “You here for good?” he said, then looked at John. “You brought the Kissing Bandit back.” “Why?”
“I’m a teacher back in two thousand sixteen,” said John.
“You older, Clint,” said Merijildo.
“I know. I lived ten years in the future and had to come back here,” said Clint.
“Why?” asked Merijildo.
“To make it short and sweet as to why we’re here, there are two students of mine, Dalton, and Chrissy, and they discovered Crazy Hole. They came back here.”
“And Dalton became the Town Marshal of Oak Creek,” said Clint.
Merijildo looked at Clint. “I hear Oak Creek got a new young Town Marshal.”
“Well, there was a bank robbery today, Dalton killed one of the guys of the Blue Earl outlaw gang,” said John.
“I hear about them,” said Merijildo.
“The outlaw killed was Blue Earl’s kid brother,” said John. “Blue Earl will kill Dalton either tonight or tomorrow.”
“Too bad,” said Merijildo. “Take him back to Crazy Hole and to back to the future.”
Clint looked at Merijildo. “We could, but there’s another problem.”
“What that?” said Merijildo.
“History said that Blue Earl will kill you after he kills Dalton,” said Clint. “He hates Indians.”
“So do many white men,” said Merijildo, then he looked a little sad that he would die soon.
“Well, we can’t go back until we make sure this Blue Earl doesn’t kill you, Merijildo,” said Clint with John nodding in agreement. “We need to find his hideout.”
“I know where he hides,” said Merijildo, surprising Clint and John.
“You do? How?” Clint asked.
“Hear this Blue Earl and men been going to the towns. Act suspicious,” said Merijildo. “I track them.”
“Well, that makes it easier,” said Clint. “So here’s what I think we should do,” he added.
They all leaned in and listened to Clint’s plan.
Forty minutes had passed.
Back at Oak Creek, Dalton was walking Angie and Alicia through the residential area, while Chrissy was finished with teaching and let the students all go home.
She left the schoolhouse and headed straight to the Marshal’s Office.
Chrissy went inside the Marshal’s Office. “Dalton,” she called out when she didn’t see anybody. “Dalton,” she called out again, thinking he was in the back room. Nobody answered.
Chrissy thought that maybe he was out back in the outhouse. So she walked over to his desk and sat down in the chair to wait for him.
She spotted the folded piece of paper on the desk. She thought that that piece of paper looked too modern for the old west, so she got curious.
She grabbed the paper and opened it. She saw that it was a printout from a modern printer. “That’s odd,” she said and wondered if Dalton brought it with him. She read the article about Blue Earl. It wasn’t long before her eyes widened with shock. “What?” “Dalton will be killed?” she cried out.
She didn’t’ know what to think. Then something was odd about this printed article. “Why would Dalton print this before we left? And, why would he want to come here knowing what would happen?” she said, and then her eyes welled up. Her gut got nervous. She thought that Dalton was already dead. Killed for killing Deke. Her eyes welled up, and her lips quivered. She sat in the chair, stunned. Her mind froze up, and she didn’t know what to do next.
The front door to the Marshal’s Office opened. Chrissy jumped as it startled her. Her heart raced, thinking that someone was coming to tell her that Dalton was dead.
But in walked Clint, John, and Merijildo.
Chrissy’s heart raced faster, and she started to feel faint. She just knew that these guys were here to tell her that Dalton was dead. “He’s dead? Isn’t he?”
“Dead? Who?” said John while they walked over to the desk.
“Dalton. The Town Marshal,” said Chrissy.
John saw that Chrissy had his paper her printed about Blue Earl in her right hand. He wished he remembered to take it earlier. “Oh, no. He’s not dead,” he said. “He should be out there showing our wives Oak Creek,” said John pointing at the windows of the office.
“Not dead?” said Chrissy and then got confused. She glanced at the piece of paper. She glanced at the three strangers standing by her desk. It took a few seconds for it to dawn on her. “Professor Mathers?” she said, then glanced at Clint. “And you’re,” she said, then paused for a few seconds to place his face. She remembered. “Clint Bartley.” “What are you two doing here?” she said then saw the old Indian. “I don’t know you.”
“Me Merijildo.”
“Merijildo?” said Chrissy while she couldn’t initially place the name. She remembered. “Yes, the Indian tracker?”
“The one and only,” said Clint placing an arm around his old friend.
“Why are you here, Professor Mathers?” said Chrissy, then it took a few seconds for her to figure it out. “Dalton. You came to save Dalton?” she said, holding up that piece of paper.
“I’m sorry you had to discover what will happen by reading it from my textbook,” said John.
“That wasn’t in your book when we left,” said Chrissy while she looked at the paper again.
“It hasn’t happened yet,” said John.
“And we’re going to make sure it doesn’t happen,” said Clint.
Merijildo nodded in agreement.
Chrissy’s eyes widened when she read about Merijildo. “Thank you for coming here,” she said and stood up and handed John the paper.
John folded it and shoved it back in his left shirt pocket.
The front door to the Marshal’s Office opened, in walked Angie, Alicia, and Dalton.
Dalton saw Chrissy sitting at his desk when he closed the door. He saw how she looked scared and instantly knew she knew about his future demise.
Chrissy jumped up and ran over to Dalton. She hugged his tight. “You’re not dead,” she said and kissed him. “Let’s go back. Now.”
“We can’t,” said Dalton.
“Why?” Chrissy asked. “I sat that article in Professor Mather’s textbook.”
“Well, I don’t want my friend Merijildo to be killed by Blue Earl’s gang,” said Clint.
“Me don’t want to die now,” said Merijildo.
“And if we do leave through Crazy Hole, Blue Earl and his gang might follow us. You don’t want him and his gang running around two thousand sixteen Phoenix looking for Dalton,” said John. “Just like what Bart Stone and Charlie Chandler did to me,” he added, recalling that scary experience. “You don’t want that, trust me.”
Angie, Alicia, and Clint nodded in agreement with John.
“We have to get this guy before he gets us,” said Clint. “Hopefully, he’ll see the end of a rope.”
Chrissy looked at John, Clint, and Merijildo.