Chapter 40
It was Sunday afternoon, October 2nd, 2016.
It was quiet at the entrance to Crazy Hole.
Dalton, Chrissy, John, Angie, Clint, and Alicia walked their horses out of the cave opening.
They removed the cloth over the eyes of their horses, got back in their saddles, and rode off into the desert.
They made it back to Kent's place and turned in their horses and paid the bill.
They walked off to their cars in the parking lot.
"So, Dalton and Chrissy, why don't you two come over to our house this Saturday. We'll have a cookout to celebrate our little adventure," said John while he placed his arm around Angie. "And of course, Clint and Alicia will be there."
"Yes, please come over," said Angie.
"We would love that," said Dalton.
"We would," added Chrissy.
"And we'll be there," said Clint with Alicia nodding in agreement.
"Good, we'll see you then," said John
Everybody got in their cars and drove off.
Dalton and Chrissy drove straight to his apartment.
He parked his car, and they got out.
"Why don't you spend the night with me," said Dalton.
"Sounds good, I'm actually tired from that trip," she said.
They headed off to his apartment, where Chrissy placed her wrapped wedding dress in the closet of Dalton's living room.
After they took turns taking a shower, they had pizza delivered for dinner and just relaxed watching TV.
They retired to the bedroom at nine that night and were soon fast asleep.
It was Monday morning, October 3rd, 2016.
Inside his apartment, Dalton and Chrissy sat on his couch, eating breakfast and drinking coffee. They watched the morning news on Channel 5.
It felt strange waking up in 2016. They both thought about their vacation back to 1883.
They watched the news about Hurricane Matthew impacting Haiti.
A breaking news report came on the TV after the weather report. It was about a young woman who was found raped and murdered last night. This was the third woman raped and killed, and the Phoenix Police Department thought that they might have a serial killer on their hands.
Dalton and Chrissy looked at each other.
"Today's society is becoming way too sick," said Chrissy thinking that she could become a victim like these three women.
"I know," said Dalton while he thought about that news story and his venture back to the old west. "You know, even though I came close to being killed, that was because I was the Town Marshal. If I was, say, an owner of a store or something, I should have to worry about being gunned down," he said.
Chrissy looked at Dalton and thought about what he said for a few seconds. "Plus, the kids back in the old west are way more respectful towards their teachers than the students in today's world," she said.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" said Dalton.
"I believe I am," said Chrissy.
"I'm missing Oak Creek," said Dalton.
"Me too," said Chrissy.
Another news report appeared on the TV about a carjacking where the driver was shot and killed.
"Even though I was almost killed, I still feel it's safer back then. I mean, look at the crime we're exposed to here in modern Phoenix," said Dalton.
"I know what you mean," said Chrissy while she stared at the TV carjacking story.
After the news report about the carjacking, there were five stories about armed robberies.
Dalton grabbed his cell phone off the coffee table. He turned it on. He opened up the Gallery folder.
He clicked on a picture. He looked at it and smiled. "Do you know what I think we should do?" said Dalton while he showed him the picture of Oak Creek he snapped when they first went back to 1883.
Chrissy looked at the picture of Oak Creek on his cell phone. "Go back to Oak Creek? And live?"
"That's what I'm thinking."
"But do you really want to be the Town Marshal again?"
"No, I think that we should buy Gus' store. Be merchants. We could expand and build numerous stores in Phoenix," said Dalton.
Chrissy thought about his idea for a few seconds. "Store owner and teacher. That would be a quiet life."
"Then it's settled. We'll go back to Oak Creek, buy Gus' store and get married right away," said Dalton.
Chrissy looked at the living room closet door. "She couldn't wait to wear that wedding dress. She looked at Dalton. "I'll marry you right away," she said then planted a kiss on his lips.
After breakfast, Dalton and Chrissy headed out and about Phoenix. They had some chores that had to be done today.
Dalton and Chrissy spent the rest of the week selling all of their belongings, including their cars.
They told their apartment complex managers that they were leaving in a week.
They also drained their bank accounts and hit the coin shops to purchase enough 1880s cash to purchase Gus' store. They had the thousand dollars with an extra one dollars left over.
And of course, John was curious as to why the two didn't attend his Thursday class. He figured he would find out why on Saturday.
It was Saturday afternoon, October 8th, 2016.
After Dalton transferred that picture he took of Oak Creek during their first trip back to 1883 onto a thumb drive, he and Chrissy took a taxi to John's house.
"I missed you in Thursday's class," said John when he answered his front door and let them inside.
"I know, we had tons of stuff to do all week since we came back," said Dalton wanting to tell John about their plans but decided to wait for the right moment.
John walked Dalton and Chrissy to the back porch where Angie, Clint, and Alicia waited. They shook hands and hugged.
John and Clint fired up the gas grill and started cooking steaks while everybody else sat around drinking beer.
It was a little later, and Dalton, Chrissy, John, Angie, Clint, and Alicia sat around the dining room.
They ate their steak dinners with corn and baked potatoes. They decided to eat an old western meal. And they drank bottles of Oak Creek beer.
Dalton looked over at John, and his curiosity was peaked. "So tell me, Professor Mathers."
"Please call me John for now on."
"Okay, John. I'm dying to hear your story about the Kissing Bandit," said Dalton.
"Me too," added Chrissy.
John looked over at Clint and Angie. They both nodded to proceed. "Well, it started one day back in two thousand and six. Angie and I were out at the mall."
"Paradise Valley Mall," chimed in Angie.
"Yes. So Angie went into Macy's for some clothes. I went into the Western Antique store close by."
"He had to buy old junk," said Angie.
"So I looked around the store and found this old wooden chest with the PY initials engraved at the top. Inside that chest was an old journal from Peter Yoemans. He saw an old Phoenix Herald newspaper. He saw an old worn-out leather holster. He saw numerous dime novels and some other old newspapers. I had to have this chest."
Angie rolled her eyes, hearing that again. Clint and Alicia saw Angie and chuckled.
"So I bought the check, took it home, and checked out the contents inside it. It all started when I opened up the diary for Peter Yoemans."
"The PY initials engraved in the chest," said Dalton.
"Exactly. So I read his diary and soon read how, through Peter's research he documented in that diary, he found the location of some buried loot of Bart Stone."
"How did he stumble upon that piece of information?" said Chrissy.
"Peter located Bart's older brother Willy Stone. He was an old retired preacher and disapproved of Bart's life of crime."
"Maybe since he was a preacher, that's why he didn't go get the buried loot," said Dalton.
"That's my thinking also. Anyway, apparently, a map showing the location of that buried loot was drawn in Peter's diary, but I couldn't find it. But there was a missing page."
"Someone tore out the page with the map," said Chrissy.
"My thoughts also," said John and he paused and took a drink of his beer. But the diary mentioned Crazy Hole in the Superstition Mountains, so I figured that that must be the location of the buried loot of Bart Stone."
John took another pause while everybody took a drink of beer.
"Peter wrote he found Crazy Hole but stopped looking for the buried loot when he discovered something amazing."
"That Crazy Hole was a time portal back to the old west," said Dalton.
"Correct. Then I discovered that that chest had a false bottom. I dropped it to the floor of my apartment and smashed it with my cowboy boots. It broke and viola. I found a hidden piece of paper," he said and paused for dramatic effect. "The treasure map showing the location of Bart Stone buried treasure."
"Wow, an actual treasure map," said Chrissy.
"But where was this Crazy Hole. So I asked this old Indian Mel Lincoln. He would tell me stories about the old west in the library downtown. Mel showed me the location of Crazy Hole on a map in the library."
"Mel was actually the great-grandson of Merijildo, an Indian tracker I used when I was Marshal," said Clint.
"I heard of Merijildo through a janitor I worked with," said Dalton.
"I'm glad to hear his memory is still alive in two thousand and sixteen," said Clint.
"So to keep this story short, I had this dumb idea," said John.
"Dumb is putting it lightly," said Angie in a sarcastic tone.
"Yeah, that's right. So I came up with this stupid idea to time travel back to eighteen eighty-three, rob banks, and run back to two thousand and six as my getaway. Perfect plan as I was making money selling old coins and rifles back in two thousand and six."
"Then you screwed up," said Clint.
"Yes, I screwed up. I tried robbing a bank," said John.
"You forgot the part that had me almost get rid of you forever," said Angie.
John looked at Angie. "Oh yeah, another stupid idea. I kissed a girl after robbing a bank and came up with the name the Kissing Bandit," he said and looked like he regretted it. "I was so obsessed with old western outlaws that I wanted to be in the history books." "Now, I am." "So, I hooked up with Bart Stone and Charlie Chandler while we both tried to rob the Stone Valley bank at the same time."
"Then it got horrible," said Clint.
"Yes, it did. We robbed the bank at Oak Creek, got into a gunfight with Clint's deputy Elmer Filson. But I actually never fired my pistol. I got scared and ran off with the bag of loot after Bart shot and killed Elmer," said John and took a drink of wine. "I ran back to Crazy Hole and went back to two thousand and six. I thought I was in the clear and decided never to return back to eighteen eighty-three."
"But what he didn't know was that I used Merijildo to track John back to Crazy Hole. And what we all didn't know was that Bart and Charlie also tracked John back to Crazy Hole. We all ended up in two thousand and six," said Clint.
"I can imagine that finding yourself in the future was a shock," said Dalton to Clint.
Chrissy nodded in agreement. "Oh, it was. First seeing a paved road. Then seeing all those buildings of Phoenix and those horseless stagecoaches called cars," said Clint.
Dalton and Chrissy chucked.
"I know I was a fugitive in two thousand six. I had outlaws Bart and Charlie wanting to kill me for taking their loot."
"And I wanted to arrest him for the murder of Elmer," said Clint.
"Then, Angie dumped me, and my life was ruined."
"But then I met Clint after a shoot out on the streets between him and Bart and Charlie," said Alicia. "And I later figured out that there was this time travel thing going on when I saw Clint, Bart and Charlie's pictures in a history book after finding out who this Kissing Bandit was. Witnesses claimed Bart yelled that out during the shoot out."
"So I came up with this grand scheme to return to eighteen eighty-three, return all the money I stole to the banks and doing that would redeem myself," said John.
"But I figured out he returned back to eighteen eighty-three with Merijildo and captured John back at the train depot in Oak Creek. He was tried and found guilty of murder and sentenced to be hanged," said John.
"I saw on the History Channel that John was hanged in eighteen eighty-three. I had to do something," said Angie.
"So she contacted me, and I offered to help. We figured Bart and Charlie were still in two thousand six. Had reports they were hanging with the Devil's Cowboys biker gang. So we tricked them thinking we had the loot," said Alicia.
Angie chuckled. "But we actually had a bag full of chocolate looking coins with gold wrappings."
Dalton and Chrissy chuckled.
"I remember that candy when I was a young girl," said Chrissy.
"We recorded Bart confessing to killing Elmer," said Angie.
"Were able to capture them and took them back to eighteen eighty-three," said Alicia.
"They came to my Marshal's office to spring John. He was to be hung in the following morning," said Clint.
"We showed him Bart's confession," said Alicia.
"But Judge Peabody sentenced John, and that wouldn't change. No matter what," said Clint.
"We couldn't show him our recorder from he future with Bart's tape confession. So I came up with a plan," said Angie.
"What was that?" said Dalton.
"To shorten the story, while John had that noose around his neck," said Alicia.
John touched his throat. "I never want to experience that again."
"While he had that noose around his neck and the bottom of the gallows opened up, I was no a nearby building with a rifle. I shot the rope, it broke, and John dropped to the ground," said Alicia.
"I rode up on my horse, John hopped on, and we raced out of town," said Angie.
"I followed after Angie on a horse," said Alicia.
"Then I told everybody that I would give chase," said Clint.
"But you didn't. You all headed to Crazy Hole and went back to two thousand and six," said Chrissy.
"We were there at John's hanging," said Dalton with Chrissy nodding in agreement.
"We arrived in Oak Creek the day before," said Chrissy.
"I know. I had this strange flashback with overwhelming feeling a few days ago about that hanging. I recalled seeing you two there." "In the crowd."
John, Clint, Alicia, and Angie all nodded in agreement.
"Then you planted that cactus at the opening of Crazy Hole to stop people like me from using that time portal," said Dalton.
Clint and John looked curious.
"How did you know that?" said John.
"Apparently a janitor I work with, Roger, was about to try entering Crazy Hole, as he heard the tale about it when he was a kid. He finally got up the nerve but saw you plant those cacti while hiding behind a bush," said Dalton.
"Ah, that explains how you stumbled upon Crazy Hole," said John.
Chrissy's eyes widened, thinking about something. "You know your story, John, would make a great movie."
John thought about her comment for a few seconds. "It would."
Clint, Alicia, and Angie nodded in agreement.
"Too bad Tom Selleck isn't younger. He'd be perfect to play me," said Clint. "Maybe I'll have to use Ben Affleck."
"Matt Damon can play me," said John.
"Jennifer Aniston can play me," said Angie.
"And Salma Hayek can play me," said Alicia.
Everybody chuckled.
"So, I hope to see both of you in class this week?" said John at Dalton and Chrissy.
Dalton and Chrissy looked at each other. They both smiled and gave each other a little nod. Now was the time.
"Actually, we talked this over on Monday, and we decided to return to Oak Creek," said Dalton.
"To live," said Chrissy.
John, Clint, Angie, and Alicia looked at Dalton and Chrissy, a little bewildered.
"Are you want to live back in eighteen eighty-three?" said Angie. "You know, with what we just went through?"
"We do," said Chrissy. "I mean, look at all the types of crime we have around here now. It's scary," she added.
"It's scary. You now have this serial killer going around Phoenix raping and killing young woman," added Dalton.
Alicia nodded that she heard about that case, and the crime around Phoenix was becoming too much for her.
"You want to remain the Town Marshal of Oak Creek?" said Clint.
"No, I want to find some other line of work. I saw that Gus was selling his General Store," said Dalton. "I could be the new owner."
"Plus, I would be the school teacher of Oak Creek. The kids back then are so much respectful towards the teachers than the kids today," said Chrissy.
"We went around and sold our cars and everything we owned for the cash to buy Gus' store," said Dalton.
"Don't you have family here?" said Angie.
"No," said Dalton. "Parents died in a car crash. Granny raised me, but she died six months ago."
"Dad was an abusive drunk and left us. Mom started using drugs; then she ran off with some guy. Don't know where she is and don't care. Grandpa raised me, and he died last year," said Chrissy.
John, Clint, Angie, and Alicia all thought about this bit of news.
"Well, I guess if you feel you like that lifestyle. I did once, but once I got a taste of the future, I love it," said Clint. "Even with the crimes."
John, Angie, and Alicia nodded in agreement with Clint.
Dalton reached in his shirt pocket. He removed a thumb drive. "On this drive is a picture I took of Oak Creek when Chrissy and I first went back to 1883. I took it with my cell phone. I thought you two might want a copy. You can actually see Bart Stone hanging on the gallows," said Dalton while looking at John and Clint.
"That would be nice. Thank you," said Clint thinking it would be nice to have a good picture of his old town.
"Yes, thank you," said John taking the thumb drive from Dalton.
Dalton and Chrissy looked at each other. Dalton held Chrissy's hand. "Plus, we're going to be married."
"And we want you to be at our wedding," said Chrissy.
"Back in Oak Creek," said Dalton.
"Oh, that's so sweet," said Angie. "Wait, did you say Oak Creek?" "Eighteen eighty-three Oak Creek?"
John, Clint, Angie, and Alicia all looked at each other.
"Attending an old western wedding would be a nice switch," said Angie.
"It would," said Alicia.
"Well, I guess we're going back to Oak Creek," said John. "For a wedding."
Clint all nodded in agreement.
"We'll leave in the morning," said John.
Everybody nodded in agreement.
After dinner and a few more beers, Dalton and Chrissy left after John called them a taxi.
Right after Dalton and Chrissy left, Alicia called Kent's Desert Horse Ranch and Stables and reserved four horses for tomorrow.
They headed back to Dalton's apartment, where they packed for their return to 1883.
It was Sunday morning, October 9th, 2016.
Dalton and Chrissy stood out in the parking lot of his apartment. They were dressed in their 1883 outfits, and it had numerous stares. Dalton would tell them that they're going to an early Halloween party. It was a believable cover story.
Alicia pulled up in her Ford Flex SUV with Angie in the passenger seat. Dalton and Chrissy sat in the back seat, and Alicia drove away. Alicia and Angie were dressed in their western attire.
Alicia drove straight to Kent's Desert Horse Ranch and Stables, where John and Clint waited in the parking lot. John drove his car.
After they paid for some horses, they rode off into the desert and headed to Crazy Hole. Dalton rode with Clint on his horse while Chrissy rode with Alicia on her horse. She held onto her wrapped wedding dress.
It was Wednesday, October 3rd, 1883.
John, Angie, Clint, and Alicia rode their horses into Oak Creek at the same time Wally Gilbert sat at the train station. He waited for the train to take him back to Stone Valley. He just took the pictures of the dead Blue Earl gang in their coffins.
They rode over to the hotel and got off their horses and tied the reins to the hitching post. They went inside the hotel and got three rooms for one night.
Dalton immediately went over to the General Store and told Gus he wanted to buy the store. Gus was relieved, as he didn't have any takers. They agreed to go to the bank later to settle the deal.
Dalton and Chrissy found Mayor Mason and told him that they were back to live in Oak Creek. Chrissy stated she still wanted to be the school teacher, but Dalton said to him that he was going to buy Gus' General Store.
After talking with Mayor Mason, they headed over to see Edith. She was so excited to see the young couple and so excited to be allowed to set up the wedding.
Edith took Dalton and Chrissy right away to see Pastor Norris. It was agreed that he would marry them tomorrow.
Dalton and Chrissy headed back to the hotel and gave John, Angie, Clint, and Alicia the news.
Edith went straight to the train station.
She sent a telegraph to Gilbert's Photography shop.
She wanted a wedding picture taken.
It was Thursday, October 4th, 1883.
Dalton and Chrissy were married in the church in Oak Creek. Everybody in Oak Creek was in attendance, including Merijildo. Wally Gilbert from Stone Valley took their wedding picture then headed back to Stone Valley to get it developed.
After the wedding, Dalton and Chrissy said their final good-byes to John, Angie, Clint, and Alicia.
John pulled Dalton and Merijildo aside and had a private conservation. Dalton and Merijildo nodded in agreement with John's proposal.
Ten minutes had passed, and Dalton and Chrissy headed off to her house in Oak Creek for their honeymoon.
John, Angie, Clint, and Alicia got their horses and rode out of town.
They headed back to Crazy Hole and went back to 2016.
John, Angie, Clint, and Alicia walked their horses out of Crazy Hole.
They took the cloth off their heads of their horses and hopped in their saddles.
They rode their horses fifteen feet away when John got extremely curious. He stopped his horse.
"What's wrong?" said Clint while he stopped his horse next to Clint. Angie and Alicia stopped their horses by Clint and John.
"Something feels extremely different," said John, and he turned around and glanced back at Crazy Hole.
Clint, Angie, and Alicia turned around and glanced back at Crazy Hole.
They all saw that the opening to Crazy Hole was sealed entirely up by rocks.
"Dalton did it," said John.
"Did what?" said Clint.
"I told him to seal up Crazy Hole with dynamite, I didn't want any more people to use that cave. We should just leave things the way they are," said John.
"I agree," said Angie. "That cave almost ruined people's lives."
Alicia and C