The Final Shot
"It was murder, Chalky," said Mr. Bassett back in his office. "Gawk Larkin didn't have a prayer against Fowler."
"I know that sir. But the fact is that Gawk had a gun and was going to draw on him."
The front door of the office opened and the newly appointed marshall, Larry Derger came in shaking his head as he looked at the sheriff -
"That was a pretty stupid thing you did Charlie. I'll tell you that."
"I know it Marshall. But I just lost my temper. This isn't the first time Fowler's killed a man by goading him into a gunfight. What am I supposed to do?"
"Your job!" Derger replied "and your job is to keep the peace, not busting up a man because you can't jail him. You're just lucky that Chalky here pulled you off before you did any real damage."
"How is Fowler, Marshall?" I asked.
"He's okay Chalky, “It was blood mostly. But if you had let it go on much longer, you'd have to put Charlie in one of his own cells. You still might have to. Fowler came to me to file a complaint against you Charlie. He left my office muttering that he's going to have your badge and he may be able to do it. He said he was going to going to see his lawyer Bart Kelton over in Hayes to get Judge Brookish to fire you."
"I know Kelton," Mr. Bassett said, "he's a part time gambler, part time lawyer and a full time skunk. Him and Lute Fowler ran a crooked Faro game over in Saline County, though neither one ever got charged with anything."
"I don't know lawyer Kelton sir, but I don't think he can take your badge," I said.
"I can't worry about that now Chalky. First thing I have to do is ride out to Gawk's farm and give the sad news to Mrs. Larkin."
"You don't have to do that." The marshall informed him. "Vicky Larkin was here in town. She forgot to tell Gawk that they needed some canning supplies for her jellies so she came to get them and found all about the murder. She went over to see Percival Canner about the undertaking and then went back home."
"Well I've got to go out there anyway. Pay my respects and take care of a few legal matters concerning the shooting. Saddle up your horse Chalky. You’re going to be my deputy someday soon, so you may as well come along with me and learn this part of the law business right now.”
Meanwhile, Lute Fowler was pushing his horse hard towards Hays City, still fuming about the beating that he took from the sheriff and hoping that his pal Kelton could make some trouble for Mr. Bassett. Digging his spurs in hard, he galloped past the lightly used trail that led towards the Larkin place and bore on towards Hayes. Then he got to thinking about Vicky. Reining in his mount he backtracked to the fork. This time he did take the path towards the farm.
Nearing the house, he led his horse to a Cottonwood and tied it to a hefty branch. Walking silently he snaked his way to an open window. Inside, he saw Vicky putting some things into a carpet bag. It looked like she was getting ready to go away on a trip. He decided to give her a little going away gift.
Just 30 minutes later, me and Sheriff Bassett rode up to the house and hitched our horses. We saw a pair of drag marks leading from the front step around the side of the house. Fearing the worst, we followed them and as we rounded the corner we saw somebody dragging a lifeless form toward a steep gulch.
Mr. Bassett drew his weapon and shouted. "DROP THAT BODY AND RAISE YOUR HANDS. YOU ARE UNDER ARREST FOR MURDER!".
"Wanna tell me about it?" the sheriff said, a few minutes later when we were in the kitchen of the farmhouse.
"There's not much to tell. In town I heard how Fowler gunned down Gawk. I came back here and got a gun. I heard that Lute was heading for Hays City and I was going to ambush him. Just as I was getting ready to leave, he walked through my front door just as bold as ice; saying he's sorry for shooting Gawk. With a poker face as cold as January he says to me that it wasn't his fault; that Gawk pushed him into it. I had my pistol in my carpet bag. I pulled it out and shot him right between the eyes. You know the rest. I was going to dump him in the gulch when you found me"
"Vicky. I'm going to have to take you in. It's murder. Now, I'm guessing that a jury will go easy on you, but you are going to have to go to trial"
"Why's that Sheriff?"
"Cause you killed a man who never even had a chance to defend himself."
"It’s funny Charlie. My husband had a gun. But he didn't have a chance against Fowler - yet you couldn't arrest him. Fowler had a gun but he didn't have a chance against me - but you can arrest me? I don't see the difference."
Sheriff Charlie Bassett looked into the blue eyes of Vicky Fowler and smiled as he got an idea.
"In a barbarous country, sometimes lawmen have to make their own rules Vicky. And the way I see it, Fowler broke in your front door, gun in hand, looking to attack you and luckily you had a weapon handy and blasted him before he got you. Is that the way it happened?"
"Yes Sheriff, as I think about it that is the way it came down."
"And that's how I am going to write it up. Goodbye Mrs. Larkin. Sorry for your loss"
The End
Dodge City. Front Street in 2016.