The Diary of Jerrod Bently, J.W. Osborn [the false prince series TXT] 📗

elbowed him in the ribs. “You forget something, Doc?” I whispered. He turned to me and grinned “I’m Sherrif here,” he said “I have to be armed in or out of this room.”
Some how I felt a lot safer knowing that. I turned to look back at the door when I heard Sam and Victoria come in. I hated that Sam was going to have to relive the events that led up to her accident. However she had been at peace with the idea after we’d talked it all over with Jake Titus at his ranch a few days before.
When Jake turned around from his private conversation with the judge, I noted that those icy blue eyes of his were not on me or Sam, but looking behind us. He was glaring at Jeb Vickers and I could tell, that this quiet well spoken rancher was planning to bury the man. Vickers could run and hide, but Jake Titus soon would reveal to the court just what kind of man we were dealing with.
“Sherrif Stevens?” the judge said “Please approach the bench.” Sam gripped my hand. I knew she was nervous and being inside a courtroom was something she had never experienced before.
“Yes, your honor.” Doc acknowledged as he walked up to the rostrum.
“Mr. Titus has put before me a document to extradite one Ned Travis back to Texas to face a charge of attempted murder. Am I to understand that the extradition is to be under taken by the Texas Rangers?”
“No, your honor,” Doc replied “ Nathan Travis has resigned from the Rangers. I am planing to take the prisoner to the authorities at Waco myself.”
Without much more of an exchange between them, I watched Doc sign a document and then return to his chair next to me and Sam. I looked past Sam at Victoria. She sitting there quietly watching the proceedings with Scrub Pot seated next to her. I had no idea that up under that dark riding skirt she wore , hidden in her garter was a derringer and that the lady well knew how t use it should the need arise.
Jeb Vickers carefully observed what was going on. Jake Titus’s icy display had him worried, but when he looked into the hazel eyes of Elliot Stevens as he’d crossed the court room to his chair, Vickers saw death. It took about an hour for the judge to hear about all the drunks, fights, thefts that had gone on over the past few months. He fined the defendants heavily and threatened them with jail if the fines weren’t paid and their behavior not improved. Jake Titus was earning his wages today, I thought.
Then it was our turn. I had been charged with a murder and that alone was worrisome. But I also knew that I had had to shoot Tom Dalton to save Sam and myself. Doc was called to give his testimony. He told the story just as it happened and handed the judge his written account, which he’d finished many weeks ago when he and Hap III brought Sam back to Portersville. Then it was my turn. It was easy for me to recount the events of that day, and all that had happened, because it haunted me day and night. Jake was asking me some questions and I answered truthfully. I think that probably Jeb Vickers saw how things were going when it was Sam’s turn to tell her part of the story. He got up and left the court room, that soiled dove of his who had been with him went after him, trying to convince him to return.
“Miss Dodge.,” the judge inquired “I know you are recovering from a terrible accident. However, I must ask you to tell the court exactly what happened before you a fell off that ledge.”
“I was returning to camp,” Sam began “I’d been out looking for a place to cross a river and I stopped to water my horse.”
“Was that when you were confronted by Tom Dalton?”, Jake asked.
“Yes,” she answered.
“Sam,” Jake said “I know this is hard for you, and I think the judge and everyone else understands what Dalton had in mind when he attacked you. What I want you t tell me is who drew his gun first, when Jerrod Bently rode up on you and Dalton struggling.”
“Jerrod shouted at Tom,” Sam recalled “I saw Tom turn around and draw his gun. Jerrod shot him before he could pull the trigger.”
“Your honor,” Jake addressed “I see a clear case of self defense and Mr. Bently intervening on behalf of Miss Dodge. “
The judge was quiet for a moment, considering all that he had heard and read on this matter. “Well Jake,” he said “I figure that is what happened too and as for Mr. Bently shooting a man who was wanted for murder, well I guess he did the great state of Tennessee a favor. The judge then turned to me. “My ruling is that this is a case of self defense, all charges against the defendant are dismissed. Mr. Bently, you are a free man. This court is adjourned.”
Jake crossed the room to where we were vacating the chairs we’d been sitting in for quite some time. He stuck out his hand. “Congratulations, Jerrod,” he said “Let’s all go out to the Double J and celebrate. J. W and Suzy have been cooking for days.”
“No pie I hope.,” Doc commented as we started to the door. Victoria giggled as she took his arm. “Don’t worry, J.W. baked cakes this time.” , she said . I collected my gun belt at the door and then I put my arms around Sam and she hugged me tight. I kissed her too and whispered to in her ear. “Marry me, Sam.” She smiled up at me, her dark eyes twinkling and said nothing. But I was sure that somewhere in the pretty little head of hers was the answer I wanted to hear.
Jeb Vickers was in the street in front of the court house. The saloon girl who had been in the court room with him was sitting on the edge of the bottom step weeping, her nose bleeding profusely as she rocked back in fourth. She had been beaten pretty badly and there was no question as to who had done it. Victoria started toward the stricken woman, but Doc stopped her short. “You and Sam get back inside, now!,” he ordered. Taking Sam by the sleeve of her jacket, Victoria pulled her back inside. “Come on Sam,” she said worriedly, “Pray with me.”

“What do you want, Vickers.,” Doc demanded.
“You know what I want, Sherrif,” the gunman taunted. “My trouble ain’t with you.”
“You are in my town, in my street,” Doc replied firmly “If you are bringing trouble, it’s mine.”
“Back off, old man,” Vickers snarled “It’s Bently I want.”
I wasn’t sure that I couldn’t take him. I was fast and had gotten even faster with all Doc had taught me since I’d arrived in Portersville, but now, here it was, the moment of truth and all I could think about was Sam.
“Don’t make her a widow before she’s a wife, son,” Doc hissed “Get back inside.” I stood my ground and stepped forward. Doc flung out his arm and stopped me . “I told you to get back inside.”, he growled.
“No,” I stated. “This is not your fight.”
“The hell is ain’t.,” he stated. He hit me so hard that I saw stars, and that was all I would remember.
“Bently is family,” Doc stated to Vickers as he came down the steps “You mess with him, you mess with me.”
Foolishly believing that Doc’s silver hair and white beard, made him appear to be no more than an arrogant old man, Vickers called him out.
“I will give you one chance to back down,” Doc stated “No one needs to die today.”
Vickers laughed. “Bently killed my cousin in cold blood.” he spit “Somebody is going to pay for that.”
“Well,” Doc said “Then if that is how you feel, I guess it might a well be you.” His cross draw was faster than a flash of lightening. I thought I heard the explosion of two guns firing as I was starting to come around there on the front steps of the court house. Jeb Vickers’ gun had hardly cleared leather when Doc’s bullet hit him dead center between the eyes. He was dead before he hit the ground. “Don’t believe in letting them suffer,” Doc said to himself as he holstered his gun and walked away.
Everyone was crowded around me. Sam splashed cold water in my face, as Victoria and Scrub Pot pulled me to my feet. I was dizzy, and later I would thank Doc for saving my life, but right now I wanted to give him back as good as he’d given me. I felt Sam’s arms around me.
“Let’s get you home, Jerrod,” she said as Victoria carefully looked at the lump on my head. May be this wasn’t so bad. I was being taken home to be looked after by the woman I loved and her very attractive aunt. Maybe I should have thanked Doc for cold-cocking me like he did.

The undertaker took Jeb Vickers’ mortal remain away to bury his worthless carcass in a sorry looking grave yard