The Murder of Cherry Creek, Jay Wilson [free novels .TXT] 📗

For me and Ellie, it was too late to be sorry. And for him it was much too late to be regretful.

As he lay on the floor, my plan started to came together. I had to throw-off anyone who might come out to the house and find Tom. I had to leave false leads that would not lead back to me. First I would make this look like a robbery. I took his gold watch and wallet from his vest. When he was found, I wanted folks to think Tom was killed by a thief. I had not planned for Yates to be blamed for the murder but it just worked out that way. And it worked out for the best. He was going to be hung for a different murder; but a murder never the less. I took his time piece and the knife and threw them both down the well by the shack. I threw the wallet out into some nearby bushes where I knew it would be found. I had taken the money out and would use it sometime to help someone in need. I didn’t need this man’s money. I wanted this to look like robbery and I thought I did well. But I didn’t count on Tom crawling out to the door and I sure didn’t count on him scratching that star in the dirt before he died. Assuming he was dead without checking before I left him was a bad mistake on my part. There had been mistakes but it seemed everything has fell into place. I would not be a suspect even through Tom practically named me as the murderer.

As I rode up to the sheriff’s office in Cherry Creek, my thoughts returned to the present. Billy and some of the townsmen saw me and came out to see what I found out over at Lexington. Questions followed me as I walked into the office and poured me a cup of coffee. I wanted to handle this part just right and kill any notion of the crime being anything other than what I said. I told him about Yates and how he would hang for murdering a fella during a poker game. I told him about the cowboy admitting being at Tom’s, the fight, the spur, and the star on the man’s holster. I even explained about Tom’s knuckle and the cowboy’s black eye. Yep, it sounded good and they bought it. It sounded like we had our man and he was going to die for killing our friend and leading citizen of Cherry Creek.

As I finished my cup of coffee and the report of what I had found out in Lexington, the room grew quiet. Billy walked over and put his hand on my shoulder. He then told me that he and the city council had had a special meeting. Due to this murder, they felt it was time for some professional law enforcement in Cherry Creek. They, Billy included, wanted for me to become the town marshal with Billy as my deputy. The thought shocked me but I liked the sound of it. And I didn’t feel one bit bad of how the events had unfolded. I told them I would have to think about it. Right now, I was tired and going home and see my wife. I couldn’t wait to tell her how all of this had come together. My real thoughts were how justice had been served all the way around. Tom deserved to die for what he did or tried to do. I was content that Ellie never had to feel Tom’s eyes on her again. She would never have to wonder what he is thinking when he looked at her. He was gone and would be buried tomorrow. And my wife and I were going to bury this memory with him; to never be talked about again.

I knew Tom’s funeral would be one of the biggest Cherry Creek had ever seen. Everyone would come to this one. There would even be some ranchers from over near Lexington there. I knew he would be like a legend to the town for all his work and years of dedication. And I knew Ellie would sit near the front of the funeral while I would be sitting with the pallbearers. Someday there might even be talk of a statue of old Tom put on the town square and I would vote in favor of it. All of those thoughts were of tomorrow and later. Right now I just wanted to see Ellie. I wanted her to know everything was going to work out for the better. I rode a little faster than usual to get to my house and wife.

She met me at the door. She had been worried that something had happened to me or had gone wrong. It was just too much to believe I had gotten away with the killing of the town’s leading citizen. Ellie knew when the men all saw the star in the sand which Tom had drawn, they would put it together. But the funniest thing was when I told her they wanted me to become the town sheriff, she smiled. She threw her arms around me and squeezed my neck hard.

Ellie looked up and said, “Sheriff Jacob Star. I like the sound of that.”

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Publication Date: 02-08-2010

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