Righteous Kill Read online

  Billy hopped to his feet, fumbled around for his rifle, and got ready for the assault.

  The two made their way down the rocky slope. Each footfall they took was deliberate, ensuring they didn’t slip and careen down.

  Reaching the bottom, Hemsworth whispered, “Let’s do this as we planned. I go in first; you come in behind me.”

  “I didn’t think about it being so damn dark,” Billy complained as he tripped over a rock.

  “Christ, Billy, don’t fall down,” Hemsworth mocked.

  The men slipped up to the cabin without making a sound. Hemsworth took the right side of the door while Billy took the left.

  Whispering, Hemsworth said, “On a count of three. One, two, three.”

  Billy stepped back and kicked the door in.

  Hemsworth ran into the cabin, rifle at the ready, and up to a sleeping Bob in the cot. “US Marshals. You’re under arrest!”

  Bob’s eyes sprang open. He shot up and went for his pistol on a table next to him, but before he could grab it, Billy came up and slammed the butt of his Winchester into the side of his head. Bob flopped on the floor unconscious.

  “Let’s get him loaded up. Time for him to receive the justice he deserves,” Hemsworth said with a devilish smile.

  CHAPTER TWO

  JULY 8, 1895

  TWO MILES SOUTH OF GREAT FALLS, MONTANA

  Alice grunted as she pulled hard on the rock. She’d been working since before the sun had risen and was already feeling the fatigue weighing on her.

  “Get out of there, you darn rock,” she growled as she pulled hard.

  “Why can’t we just leave it?” Martha, Alice’s nine-year-old sister, asked, her long brown hair blowing in the gentle breeze.

  Alice cocked her head and glared at Martha. “If you worked as much as you ask questions, then we’d have this garden bed ready.”

  “But Ma said—” Martha said before being interrupted.

  Alice gave a hard tug, and the chunk of granite pulled free. She held the rock, admiring it for a moment before tossing it on a pile of others. “I don’t care what Ma said or says, period.”

  “You’re not nice.” Martha scowled.

  Wiping her sweaty brow, Alice replied, “You’re right, I’m not nice, but I’m the only thing you have right now.”

  “What about Grandma?”

  “And her too, but the poor thing is getting too senile to even remember our names.”

  “When will Ma be well?” Martha asked, stooping down to pick up a smaller rock. She walked over and placed it on the growing pile.

  Digging her hands through the loose dirt, Alice answered her sister’s question bluntly. “When she puts down the bottle, that’s when.”

  “She’s just sad, that’s all. Ever since Pa died, she’s not been the same,” Martha said.

  “I know her excuse, and I’m sad that Pa died too, but in life we have responsibilities, and it’s important that we live for the living. The dead are gone,” Alice said sternly.

  “But Ma’s just sad. One day she’ll stop being sad.”

  “That might be, but if we sit around and wait for that day, we might have died from starvation.”

  Martha teared up.

  Hearing her crying, Alice stopped digging and gave Martha a sympathetic look. “Come here.”

  “You’re mean,” Martha barked.

  “Please come here,” Alice said, feeling regretful that she’d been harsh in her tone.

  Martha reluctantly stepped over to Alice.

  Wrapping her arms around Martha’s small frame, Alice pulled her down and onto her lap. Whispering into her ear, she said, “I love you, sister, and I love Ma and Grandma. I get tired is all, and I do wish with all my heart that Ma will get better. I miss the old days. I miss Pa especially. I think that he really was the foundation this family stood upon, but you know what? He’d want us to keep moving forward; he’d want us to be strong.”

  “I miss him too,” Martha wept.

  “I’ll promise you this. I’ll try harder to be nicer to you and to Ma, okay?” Alice offered sincerely.

  Martha nodded. The tears streamed down and turned the dirt on her face to streaks of mud.

  “You girls hungry?” Grandma cried out from the porch of their two-story house.

  “Is your tummy ready for breakfast?” Alice said as she tickled Martha’s stomach.

  Nodding, Martha said, “Yes.”

  “Good, let’s go get cleaned up and have some eggs,” Alice said.

  The two got to their feet, but before they stepped off, Alice said, “I love you very much, and I want you to know that I’ll do anything to keep you safe.”

  “What about Ma?”

  “And Ma too, as well as Grandma,” Alice replied.

  Martha took Alice’s hand and squeezed it.

  A smile creased across Alice’s face. She truly did love her family, including her mother, but the past four months since her father died had been hard on them all, with her mother turning to heavy drinking to numb her grief. As it pertained to Martha, she was a sweet and sensitive little girl who never had a harsh word for anyone and loved all things, including the animals they raised. Alice would often marvel at how two children from the same parents could be so different in personality, and could only explain that it was just God’s hand.

  “Get in here, girls. Breakfast is getting cold!” Grandma hollered.

  “Coming, Grandma!” Alice called out as she and Martha marched across the field to the house.

  MISSOULA, MONTANA

  “Canada?” Hemsworth asked, his tone displaying his shock at the news he’d just been given.

  “You heard right. I know this isn’t what we wanted, but word has come down from the governor’s office and was relayed from the Department of State via the Department of Justice back in Washington, DC,” Phillip Smithers, the United States Attorney for the district, said.

  “Who is he that it would warrant the attention from all the way back east?” Billy asked.

  “Who knows, but the Canadians want him, and we’ve agreed to turn him over,” Phillip said.

  Hemsworth got up from his chair and paced the room. He stopped at a bookcase filled with leather hardbound law books. He was amazed by the total number. Curious, he asked, “Did you have to read all of these?”

  Phillip furrowed his brow at the odd and untimely question, smiled and said, “No, we don’t have to read each word.”

  “I heard you had to do a lot of reading and whatnot in order to get your job, but, lord, that would have been a bit much for me.” Hemsworth laughed.

  Putting his attention back on the topic, Phillip said, “You two are instructed to escort Bob, or Alfred Cummins, as that is his real name, to Havre, about a day’s ride south of the United States and Canadian border. You’ll meet a Captain Jones with the North-West Mounted Police and turn him over. You’ll escort them the rest of the way to the border and ensure they get across safely. They’ll then take him to Vancouver, where he’ll be tried for bribery, murder…anyway, there’s a list of items here that Bob is wanted for up north.”

  Walking back to his chair, Hemsworth asked, “You don’t know anything about who Bob—”

  “Alfred,” Billy quipped, interrupting Hemsworth.

  “No, I don’t know anything, but this wire hit my desk days ago. I knew if you captured him, you’d be a bit upset, as I am, but we have an arrangement with our cousins to the north, and we’re handing him over, simple as that.”

  “But he murdered a United States Marshal,” Hemsworth blared.

  “I’m aware of what he’s done, but we have our orders. Now I suggest you two get prepared for your journey,” Phillip said.

  Billy and Hemsworth got up, said their goodbyes, and left the office. In the lobby of the federal government building, Hemsworth couldn’t hold in his contempt for what had just transpired. “I can’t believe this.”

  “Have you ever heard of anything like this before?” Billy asked.


  Hemsworth had been a marshal for fifteen years, so his knowledge was vast. “I have, but something is off about this.”

  “What can we do?” Billy asked.

  Hemsworth stood, his mind spinning.

  “Listen, old friend, let’s go get cleaned up, then go have a nice dinner. We’ll set out tomorrow afternoon. What do you say?” Billy asked.

  The question tore Hemsworth from his thoughts. “Sure, that sounds good. Let’s add having a few drinks as well. I need something to dull my senses tonight.”

  TWO MILES SOUTH OF GREAT FALLS, MONTANA

  Four figures, all on horseback, emerged from the tree line and stopped at the road, the bright light of the full moon casting shadows on the ground.

  “I’m hungry and don’t think I can settle for what’s in my saddlebag,” Gus said as he eyed the house in the distance.

  “We have our orders. Make no contact with anyone, just head straight for the cabin, and return,” Harry replied.

  “Harry, I’m with Gus, and Henry here agrees. Let’s go find a house to get something else to eat, maybe even bunk down for the night,” Joseph said as he pulled tighter on the reins of his horse to calm it down.

  “No, we keep going another few miles and bed down in the woods somewhere out of sight,” Harry snarled.

  Gus, a large man, towering six feet four inches, scowled at Harry and said, “You’re not our boss.”

  “You’re right, I’m not, but we all have a common one, and he said we ride straight for the cabin, grab Al, and bring him back. We can’t risk being seen or any other suspicion,” Harry shot back.

  Henry, who unlike Harry, was short in stature, reared his horse back and said, “I say we vote on it.”

  Gus nodded and said, “Good idea.”

  “I agree with Gus.” Joseph snorted then spit on the ground. He wiped what saliva remained on his thick beard with his sleeve. “Plus, I’m filthy. I need to wash up, and I don’t want to do so in a cold creek.”

  “All in favor of finding a hospitable host for the night say aye,” Gus said.

  “Damn it, fellas, we can’t be doing this,” Harry barked.

  “Aye,” Joseph said.

  “Aye,” Henry replied.

  “Gus, damn it, this could be our undoing,” Harry snapped.

  “Aye,” Gus said happily. “You lost, Harry, sorry, but we’re going to find a nice hot meal and maybe even a bath and bed.”

  “That house over there looks like it could work. Let’s give it a try,” Joseph said, pointing to the two-story house just across the road and field beyond.

  “This is a mistake, I’m telling you,” Harry said.

  Slapping Harry on the back, Gus said, “Ain’t nothing going to happen, now come on.”

  Henry and Joseph nudged their horses forward, leaving Gus and Harry by themselves.

  “Gus, we don’t know who those folks are. We can’t be riding in and making ourselves at home. How will we explain what we’re doing here?” Harry asked.

  “We’ll lie, Harry; we’ve been doing that for a long time. Now c’mon, I can already taste a hot meal.” Gus laughed. He rode off and caught up with Henry and Joseph.

  Harry sat and watched as the others rode towards the house. A sense in him yelled out that nothing but trouble was about to happen, but outnumbered, he couldn’t do a thing but go along with it in hopes that he could mitigate any issues that might arise.

  ***

  Finding it hard to read due to the poor lighting, Alice turned up the flame on the lantern. With the large orange flame illuminating brighter, she went back to reading Moby-Dick, a book she’d been gifted for Christmas.

  The sounds of horses’ hooves came from outside.

  She peered through the window, which overlooked the front drive, but she couldn’t see anything. She dimmed the light and looked again, and this time saw four riders circling in the front yard.

  Downstairs, she heard muffled chatter followed by her mother speaking loudly about hearing something outside.

  Alice could tell by the tone and tenor of her mother’s voice that she was intoxicated. She kept a close eye on the men outside as they dismounted their horses and hitched them up to the railing of the porch.

  Downstairs, her mother, whose birth name was Margaret but went by Maggie, stumbled to the door, a shotgun in her hands.

  “Don’t go out there shooting. See who they are first,” Anne, who was Alice’s grandma, barked from her rocking chair in front of the fireplace. On her lap was a sweater she was knitting.

  Maggie unlatched the door, flung it open, and stepped outside, the shotgun at hip level.

  “Whoa there, lassie!” Gus laughed. “Put the gun down. We’re not here to hurt anyone.”

  “Ma’am, we’ve ridden a long way and are tired and in need of a hot meal. I know what we’re asking might seem rude, but could you spare a hot plate of something?” Harry asked, his tone gentle.

  “Who are you?” Maggie said, her speech slurred.

  The men glanced at each other. They could see by the way Maggie was talking and her weaving she was very drunk.

  “Like my associate Harry said, ma’am, we’re just tired; plus we haven’t had a hot meal in about a week or so,” Henry said.

  “It would be real nice of you, and we’d be most appreciative, ma’am,” Joseph said.

  Out of an abundance of caution, all the men stayed atop their horses just in case Maggie decided to start shooting.

  “Who are you? I won’t ask again!” Maggie barked, this time raising the shotgun to her shoulder.

  Raising his arms defensively, Harry said, “Ma’am, we mean no harm. We were just inquiring is all.”

  “You all get; there ain’t nothing here for you!” Maggie spat.

  “Maybe if we talked to the man of the house, we could explain,” Gus said.

  Maggie swung the muzzle of the shotgun towards Gus and hollered, “There ain’t no man of the house here; now get!”

  Anne appeared at the door. “You gentlemen had best get going. My daughter here has had a bit to drink, and she’s known for having a heavy trigger finger.”

  Upstairs, filled with competing emotions, Alice watched the encounter.

  Joseph caught sight of Alice and waved.

  “Who are you waving to?” Maggie barked as she now pointed the barrel of the shotgun at Joseph.

  “Just that pretty little face in the window up there,” Joseph replied, again waving to Alice, who now ducked behind the curtain.

  Maggie pointed the shotgun into the air and pulled the trigger, releasing one barrel of shot into the night sky. “Get!”

  “Okay, ma’am, we got your point. We’re headed out,” Harry said. “C’mon, boys, we’re not welcome here.”

  The men turned their horses around.

  Alice peeked through the corner of the blind; her heart raced from the exhilaration of the tense encounter.

  Maggie stood, her body subtly bobbing back and forth.

  Unable to leave without taunting Maggie, Joseph waved to the window where he’d seen Alice and blew a kiss.

  Seeing this filled Maggie with rage. She pointed the barrel at Joseph, put her index finger on the trigger, and began to apply pressure. But before she could fire, Anne stepped forward and lowered the muzzle until it was pointed at the ground. “Ease up, Maggie, ease up.”

  “Mom, these men are up to no good, I can tell,” Maggie spat.

  “That may be, but let’s not go shooting them for no good reason,” Anne said.

  Harry tipped his hat and said, “Good evening, and please pardon us, we met no harm.”

  Maggie remained quiet. She glared at Harry with a look that told him she would really kill any of them if they came back.

  Harry gave Maggie and Anne one last look, pulled the reins on his horse to the left, and trotted away, with the other men following just behind. When they were a distance away, Joseph pulled back on his horse and came to a full stop. He adjusted himself in the saddle and ask
ed, “Boys, are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

  Gus stopped and replied, “I think I am.”

  “No, we’re moving on. Now let’s go,” Harry said.

  Henry too had stopped and pulled up alongside Joseph. “I’m with you.”

  “Whatever you have planned, it’s not going to happen. We’re not even supposed to be here. Remember, we’re being paid to secretly come in and get out,” Harry said.

  “Then no one will know,” Gus snorted.

  “I like how you think,” Joseph said.

  “No!” Harry barked.

  “I’ve already said it, you’re not in charge of us. If we want to go back, then we’ll go back,” Gus snapped back to Harry.

  “You boys are fools. We’re not here to get into trouble; we’re here to do our job, nothing more,” Harry said.

  “Where did they find you, the local church?” Joseph laughed.

  Gus and Henry weren’t notorious outlaws, but they definitely violated the law as often as they could, most of the times unintentionally, as they did whatever they wanted to do without thought of whether it was legal or not. However, Joseph was a wanted criminal and was known by the name Killer Joe; this was a secret he was keeping to himself. His rationale for being there was also different than the other three. He was there to make money, but it was Al’s money he was after. It was rumored that Al had a large amount stashed away. Harry, on the other hand, was neither a criminal nor a man who lived on the edge. He was a God-fearing family man who merely needed honest work but had ended up with less than desirable men to work alongside.

  “If you all are done with these fantasies, let’s move on. We’ll try the next house we come upon to see if they’ll give us some hot food,” Harry proposed, hoping his compromise would get them to follow him. He started to trot away and noticed none of the others were following him. He stopped and hollered back, “Come on, let’s move.”

  “We’re not going,” Joseph said.

  “Yes, you are,” Harry said, turning back and trotting up to them.

  “No, we’re not,” Joseph replied emphatically.