Chapter Six

Eli and Hollis hadn't seen or talked to Stede since Saturday when the Sheriff arrived to arrest him. They called Barrows' Jail and spoke to Buck about visiting hours on Sunday, but he said Stede left strict instructions he wasn't entertaining visitors. Hollis didn't know what to think by the time she walked into the Glendale Courtroom at eight forty-five Monday morning with Eli. Did Stede mean to protect them somehow, or had he given up? Jumpier than a June bug, she settled next to Eli on a long bench and fidgeted with her fingers.

A side door opened and the County Prosecutor, Vernon Mabry, walked in and tossed his files onto a mahogany table before sliding into a chair behind it. Another door opened. Stede and a man she didn't recognize entered, walked to a table opposite Mr. Mabry, and settled into two chairs.

"If he's the Public Defender, he's very young," Eli whispered in her ear.

The Bailiff entered with an elderly man in a black robe in close pursuit. "All Rise: The Court Is in Session. The Honorable Jericho Caldwell presiding."

Hollis stood and then craned her neck to get a better look at Stede, a nearly impossible task since his back was to them.

The Judge leaned forward in his chair and peered over his dais. "Mr. Mabry, what's the first item on the Court's agenda this morning?"

"County versus Stede Marrow, Your Honor."

"And Mr. Marrow is present in Court today?"

Stede's Public Defender came to his feet. "Yes, Your Honor, seated beside me."

"Very well. I read the Complaint and Answer to Complaint this morning." The stern-faced Judge looked over his glasses at Stede while his lawyer resumed his seat at the table. "Mr. Marrow, I can't say I'm pleased to see you back in my Court so soon."

"That makes two of us, Judge."

"The County Prosecutor states in his Complaint that you were involved in a fight Friday evening with one Ned Mabry and one Jasper Mabry."

"We take issue with the word fight, Your Honor." The Public Defender stood again. "It was an incident, at best."

The Judge plucked a series of photos from his desk and waved them in the air. "Then how do you explain these injuries, Mr. Sandberg?"

Sandberg shrugged. "My client maintains he has no idea how the," he cleared his throat, "victim received those injuries."

"Uh-huh. Need I remind you, Counsel, your client is on probation and the conditions of said probation are no fighting, no involvement with the police, and no arrests or further Complaints for two years."

"Yes, Your Honor, my client is well aware of the conditions of his probation." Sandberg's voice quavered, Hollis's second indication the man was in over his head. "Mr. Marrow went to Roundup Days with some acquaintances. The Mabry brothers picked a fight with one of his friends, but before anything occurred, the sheriff's office dispersed the crowd."

"Which precipitated a police report." Judge Sandberg flipped through the pictures again. "I'm still waiting for an explanation on these, Counselor."

"With all due respect, Your Honor, I repeat, my client did not cause those injuries."

Vernon Mabry rose, hands out at his sides. "Your Honor, there is a signed Affidavit from one Rex Crump. He witnessed the fight, and swears Stede Marrow inflicted those injuries to the victim's face. Further, Mr. Crump states he pulled Mr. Marrow off Ned Mabry before he killed the man."

"And you are the uncle to both victims if memory serves me, is that right, Counselor?"

"Well…yes, but that is hardly relevant—"

"I decide what's relevant in my Courtroom, Mr. Mabry."

"Yes, Your Honor."

Judge Sandberg removed his glasses, set them on the dais with a sigh and steepled his fingers. "Mr. Marrow, it is not for the Court to decide at this time who caused the injuries. That must be settled by a Criminal Complaint and, I assume, a trial. However, the Court must recognize you broke conditions of your probation. I have read the police report from the arrest, and by the way, Sheriff Freeman attached a glowing statement on your behalf. Should the opportunity ever arise, you should thank him."

"Yes, Your Honor."

"I admit, without Sheriff Freeman's letter, my first inclination would have been to sentence you to the State Penitentiary no questions asked. If you don't alter course, Mr. Marrow, I fear you're destined to a life of incarceration. I don't like to see that, particularly for anyone twenty-two years of age.

As it is, I've decided to give you a choice, a last chance so to speak. If Sheriff Freeman has hope for your future, the Court must take that into consideration."

Hollis held her breath while the Judge droned on. Why didn't he just come to the point? Where was he going with this? Her frayed nerves couldn't take much more. But then she thought of Stede, and guilt crashed over her. What he must be thinking, going through. Eli reached over and took her hand, and she drew a deep breath. Solid, steadfast Eli. What would she do without him?

"Please rise, Mr. Marrow."

Stede stood, hands at his sides, chin up, apparently looking the Judge in the eye.

"How would you like to enlist in the Marine Corps for two years? Or, if you're not inclined to do that, perhaps you'd rather spend two years in the State Penitentiary. You have a chance to make the right choice here. Should you choose the Marine Corps, and it's my sincere hope you will, Sheriff Freeman has agreed to deliver you to the Recruitment Center in Cheyenne first thing in the morning. He will bear witness to your," the Judge cleared his throat. "Voluntary enlistment."

Mabry blurted out the words. "The victim reserves his right to criminal proceedings, Your Honor."

Judge Caldwell gave a dismissive wave of his hand. "Do what you will, Counselor. This proceeding has no bearing on future court filings."

Hollis hung her head and released a sob.

Eli said under his breath, "Christ. What a bunch of bullshit."

"Shush, Eli, it beats prison doesn't it?"

Sandberg whispered something in Stede's ear, Stede nodded, and then the man turned to the Judge. "My client will enlist in the Marines, Your Honor."

"Good choice, Mr. Marrow, goodbye and good luck."

The Bailiff led Stede and the Public Defender to the side door where they disappeared from view.

Eli helped Hollis to her feet and they headed for the exit with the sound of the Judge's voice ringing out behind her.

"Next on the agenda, Counselor?"

* * *

Hollis made it to the second step outside the Courthouse before her knees buckled. She collapsed onto the hard concrete and sensed Eli dropping down beside her. He put his arm around her shoulder. "Don't cry. We'll think of something."

"You know that's not going to happen, Eli. You heard the Judge. By tomorrow afternoon he'll be enlisted in the Marine Corps for two years…God, two long years!"

Footsteps clattered behind them. Hollis looked up into the gleeful face of Vernon Mabry. "'Bout time justice is served."

Eli came to his feet in a blur of motion. "You tell your nephews I'll be watching every move they make; they better watch their backs."

"Are you threatening the victims in this case, Mr. Trace?"

Hollis rose on shaky legs, swiped a tear from her cheek, and stared him down. "Victims? I was there. Stede never laid a hand on Ned. They know it, I know it, and you know it."

"Judge Caldwell didn't see it that way."

Eli emitted a snort. "He saw through the bullshit but he had no choice after Ned and Jasper set him up."

Mabry's eyes grew cold. "Careful, boy. You don't know who you're messing with."

"Oh, I know who I'm messing with, cowards, two-bit thugs with rap sheets that go back years. And to top it off, a corrupt County Prosecutor."

"I'm going to let that slide because I know you're upset." He looked at Hollis. "If I were you, I'd consider it a blessing. That boy is nothing but trouble, will never amount to a hill of beans. Matter of fact, Stede Marrow doesn't have a history anywhere in the good ol' US of A. That makes me curious about whom he really is."

Mabry's words rang in her ears like a mantra. 'Stede Marrow doesn't have a history. Whom he really is…whom he really is.'

"Yeah, well that boy as you call him has more honor in his little finger than both your nephews have in their lard-ass bodies. There will be a day of reckoning, Mr. County Prosecutor. I pray to God I'm there to see it."

"Now you listen here—"

Eli got in his face, his voice low and lethal. "You open your mouth again and I'll kick your sorry ass all the way down these steps."

Mabry winced, glanced from Hollis and then back to Eli. Without another word, he tucked his briefcase under his arm and scurried down the steps.

"Tell your nephews what I said!" Eli yelled after him. "Come on, Hollis, let's get you home."

"Then what? I have to see him, talk to him before he leaves."

"He'll be at the jail in Barrows tonight. I'll call Zeke and beg him to convince Stede to let us see him."

"I hope you're right, Eli, I hope you're right."

* * *

The Sheriff greeted them when they arrived later that night to see Stede. "You got ten minutes; that's what he agreed to."

Hollis hadn't stopped crying all day, and wondered how she'd hold it together when she saw his face.

Zeke pulled a large key ring from his pocket, unlocked the door and led them down a long hallway. When they arrived at Stede's cell, Eli gave Stede a chin up but hung back when Hollis stepped forward. She wrapped her shaky fingers around the cold, metal bars of the cell, and devoured his face. His beauty frightened her at times…like now. What was wrong with her that she found him even more handsome behind bars? Sick. She was one sick girl. "Hey, cowboy, how you holdin' up?"

"Under the circumstances, as well as can be expected." He studied her face. "You've been crying."

She fought back threatening tears again but held them at bay. "So like you, Stede, to worry about others when you're the one…."

"Yeah, well, shit happens. Anyway, I'll be out of your life tomorrow, so you won't have to cry anymore."

Her heart shattered. "Don't talk like that, please. Eli says maybe we can appeal—"

"Appeal? You heard the Judge. I had a choice and I made it. There's no appeal on the table."

"God," she looked down. "This is so hard." Her eyes met his again. "Will you write to me as soon as you know where you'll be? Eli and I will wait—"

"No! I don't want you to wait for me." He looked over at Eli. "Either one of you."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying, it's over between us, Hollis. Don't wait for me because I won't be back this way."

"You don't mean that…can't mean it." Sorrow and panic burned in her throat. "What about us, everything we've been through, everything—"

"Hey, don't make this harder than it has to be. There is no us, never was. You knew I'd move on one day. That day came sooner than I thought, but like I said, it is what it is."

Anger replaced her splintered emotions. "You're lying. I don't believe you. I saw it in your eyes, heard it in your voice, felt it when you held me."

"Don't fool yourself, sweetheart. I mean, what do you really know about me, huh? You don't know shit." He looked away from her. "It was all an act and you need to get over yourself, move on."

Shoulders slumped; she clutched her stomach. "No, no…you don't mean it."

Eli put his arms around her. "Jesus, what the hell is wrong with you? Look at her. Take it easy, dude."

"What, Eli, you want me to keep lying to her? Better she know now than spend the next few years waiting on a ghost." He scowled down at her. "I don't love you, Hollis, never did. It's that simple."

The tight ache in her heart nearly felled her. Had someone clamped a vise around it?

"Get her out of here, Eli . . . now."

"Stede, you're talking crazy. I know how hard this must be but—"

"I said get her out of here or do I have to call Zeke?"

She stumbled back, and then Eli was there, dragging her down the hallway, away from the monster in the cell.

Zeke's voice came to her through a tunnel. "No one's themselves when they're facing what he's facing, Hollis. Give him time and he'll come around."

"Give him time?" She shook her head. "I've given him two years. If he doesn't love me after that . . . well, like the man said, he never will." After wiping the snot from her nose with the end of her sleeve, she looked up at Eli. "Take me home, please."