Part 1
Ethan Allen Cord sat quietly out front of the jailhouse staring banefully at the saloon that was across the street and a few buildings to the north. Inside sat one of the best gunmen that he had ever had the pleasure of meeting. Inside was the Sheriff of Paradise drinking away the morning like he did yesterday and the day before that. This wasn’t a common occurrence but this week marked the three-year anniversary of the passing of his son. Like every year before since that fateful day, the Sheriff has seen fit to crawl inside a bottle and let his deputies, Ethan and Charlie Smith take watch over the town.
“Hey Ethan.” Charlie quietly spoke as he came out of the office, having just finished delivering the rowdy ranch hands, from last nights saloon fight, their breakfast. Not getting a response, Charlie claimed the seat beside him, wiping the already accumulating beads of sweat from around his neck and forehead with a well-worn red bandana and looked at his friend and colleague. ‘Damn this early in the morning and it was already a scorcher, wouldn’t know it lookin’ at him.’
Ethan Allen Cord a tall man reaching up to 6’3” with a trim and slightly muscular frame sat looking off down the street, no signs of the early morning heat showing on his facade. It may surprise you to know that he came to Paradise to settle down, a former gunslinger looking to retire his guns. It had worked for a while and he was grateful for that because about six months after arriving and purchasing a nice chunk of land to build a home upon, he came into custody of his three nephews and one niece. His sister, Lucy Cord Carroll suddenly passed away at the early age of 30. She was a singer in St. Louis and shortly after her fourth child was born her husband ran off with one of the chorus line dancers, leaving her to raise their children alone.
Having found no one else to take care of the children, the courts there sent the four children to Paradise to live with their uncle. That has been almost two years now. Ethan, though nervous and doubtful those first few months, has made a fine father to those children, Claire 13, Joseph 11, Ben 9 and George 6. How this retired gunslinger became a deputy is an interesting tale.
About three weeks into trying to make a living as a farmer, Deputy Charlie found himself in some trouble. A wealthy cattleman and his boys were under the impression that the town of Paradise belonged to them and had started acting accordingly. They would ride into town and shoot up the place, taking possessions from the local business owners without paying and often at times tried to take liberties from any woman foolish enough to be out and about during the time they rode into town.
The Sheriff at the time was away on business, escorting a prisoner to Yuma prison, which was a good five days ride from Paradise. Though Ethan did not approve of such behavior towards the town folk and especially the women, he refrained from making it his battle. Being a former gunslinger it was tough enough keeping a low profile and he didn’t want to take the chance that the children under his care would get hurt because someone wanted to take down the great Ethan Allen Cord.
That all changed after Ethan realized that it wasn’t him caring a gun that would bring trouble his way, it would come because there were other people in this world that would always behave that others didn’t matter and they had a right to whatever they wanted. He was also motivated by the fact that his family became victims to this belief.
The family was in town to buy supplies on a cool spring morning in late March. Ethan had taken the two youngest boys over to the Potter Mercantile to purchase new boots for the fast growing boys. He had left Joseph to gather up the grain supplies from Mr. Axelrod’s and Claire was on her way down the boardwalk to Ms. Lawson’s to return a book she had borrowed. Just coming out of the mercantile, Ethan heard a gunshot and the sound of several horses racing down the street. He quickly moved Ben and George back inside the building and looked to see where the danger was coming from. His heart almost stopped when he saw a cowhand restraining Claire. The cowhand had a hold of her upper arms as they both watched two of his associates kick and rough up the downed Deputy Charlie. Claire was still struggling to get free. Ethan made sure that Ben and George stayed in the safety of the store with Mr. and Mrs. Potter before beginning to make his way to the scene. Still several yards from the group, Ethan could only watch in horror as his nephew, Joseph, charged into the man holding Claire, causing him to let her go and a fourth associate who was still on his horse level his gun at the young boy.
Ethan didn’t have a gun.
When the gun was fired Claire let out a horrific scream as Joseph rolled around in obvious pain. Unthinking of his own safety Ethan ran up to the cowboy on the horse, grabbed a hold of him and pulled him to the ground, taking control of the man’s weapon. Body tense with fear and anger he asked the man why he shouldn’t kill him where he now cowered on the ground? Why he should let a dog that shot children live?
The man just laid in his now soiled pants huddled on the ground in fear.
The other cowhands tried to placate Ethan, which just served to make him even angrier. He motioned for the men to pick their friend up and herded them to the jail while Claire helped Joseph to the boardwalk. Deputy Charlie followed Ethan. After disarming all of the men and locking them in a cell, Ethan turned and gave the gun to Charlie, who quietly thanked the former gunslinger, and left to go and tend to family.
Once exiting the jailhouse Ethan was relieved to see John Taylor, Ethan’s friend and a lone Indian, there on the boardwalk attending Joseph. He sat down on the other side of the boy and put his hand on top of his head, soothingly rubbing his hand over the dark brown curls before placing a soft kiss on the boy’s sweaty forehead He then gently guided the mop of curls to rest on his shoulder.
He held out his other hand and without any words being spoken Claire took that hand, the lifeline, that strong hold and sat down beside her uncle. Mimicking the same gesture with Claire he held the two children he almost lost that day.
Luckily Joseph was only grazed in the arm, whether it was the intent of the shooter to only wing the boy or just bad aim no one knew. Claire suffered some bruises and some nightmares.
Upon returning to town the sheriff, having heard of Ethan’s deeds, offered him to join he and Charlie in protecting the town as a deputy. Ethan at first refused stating that he did not want to advertise for trouble. The sheriff pointed out that trouble had found him as a deputy or not. Starting the next day, Ethan took his turn wearing his guns as an officer of the law. During his down time he was still a farmer.
Charlie was still amazed at time to have this man work beside him. No two men had he ever met that was good with a gun and fast on the draw than Ethan and the sheriff. Noticing that Ethan seemed to be interested in a particular spot in the town Charlie instantly became alert, looking for trouble. Following Ethan’s line of site, he was able to relax though it saddened him to know what was troubling his friend.
“He back in there?” he asked as he sat back in his chair and stared at the saloon.
“He never left.” Ethan responded with disappointment lacing his words.
“Gonna throw him in jail again?” Charlie asked, referring to last year when Ethan, finally, fed up with his friend’s destructive behavior, hauled his barely alert form to the jail and promptly locked him up for three days until his destructive mood passed.
“I was just thinking that it would probably be best. That way we won’t have to worry about someone coming along and shooting his ass full of lead.” Ethan was not looking forward to the next day’s morning when the Sheriff would wake up, sober and be forced to stay that way.
“You wanna go and get him now?” Charlie asked with some hesitation.
“Most likely be the best time, he is still probably passed out drunk from last nights binge.” With that both men got up and walked across the waking street and up the boardwalk to the saloon.
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Part 2
The next morning found the town of Paradise once again in the grip of a horrible heat wave even before the sun broke over the horizon. Claire Carroll, Ethan Cord’s oldest niece was trying to enjoy her time with Ms. Amelia Lawson, the bank owner and fiancé to her Uncle Ethan and Claire’s best friend Mary Travis. They were seated in the parlor of Ms. Lawson’s home reading. It was very rarely she was able to spend some time with female companions, having most of her time spent watching over her brothers. It wasn’t easy being the mother figure to the often-rambunctious 11, 9 and 6 year olds but she did the job with barely a complaint, well most of the times….
“Owe, you did that on purpose!” Little George whined as he and his brother Ben came rushing up the front steps to Ms. Lawson’s home, their voices caring through the open window.
“I d-did n-n-not.” Ben replied in an offended voice with his custom stutter in place.
“You did too!” George emphasized with a bit of a push to his older and just barely taller brother
“D-d-didn’t!” Ben countered with his own push.
“Why can’t I have just a moment?” Claire softly spoke to herself as she gently closed the book and placed it on the end table beside her chair. Mary and Amelia were trying hard not to giggle too loud.
“I thought that they were suppose to be off with Joseph for the afternoon?” Amelia asked in her soft and proper Australian accent
“They were.” Claire answered back in a tone that did not bode well for Joseph when she saw him again. She made her way to the front door and when she opened it two young boys tumbled inside while still scrapping with each other.
“Enough!” Claire gently scolded as she reached down and forcefully helped both boys to their feet by taking a hold of an upper arm each.
“What is this about and where is Joseph?” Her patience wearing thin as they continued to try to take meager swipes at each other.
“Well?” She asked after receiving no answer.
Both boys stopped after just realizing where they were. They looked at each other and then up at Claire, both turning on their most charming smiles.
“John T-taylor came by and a-asked Joseph to help him collect some herbs.” Ben helpfully replied.
“And you know Uncle Ethan doesn’t allow us to go along when John Taylor has work to do.” George added to the explanation.
Sighing in defeat Claire turned to her friend Mary and Ms. Lawson.
“Thank you for allowing me to sit and use your parlor to read Ms. Lawson. I really did enjoy my time. Mary, I am sorry to cut our time so short but I better get these two over to the jailhouse and get them started on their studies.” This was accompanied by twin groans.
“It is a shame you have to go dear. Please feel free to stop by any time, both of you.” Amelia informed Claire and Mary, who was gathering her book and walking over to join Claire by the door.
“Thank you Ms. Lawson. This morning was quite pleasurable for me as well.” Mary shyly added as her and Claire walked out the door with Ben and George in tow.
“Ooohh! I could just kick Joseph for shirking his responsibilities.” Claire complained as she and Mary walked side by side down the boardwalk. If she was standing still the actions would have been accompanied by a harsh stomp of her foot, as it was, her steps were loud and furious, very un-lady like.
Mary could do nothing but giggle and soon Claire saw how funny her actions were and her growing bad temper turned into a giggle as she realized how helpless it was to get angry at the moment, she would save it for Joseph later. As the group neared the jail they could hear shouting coming from inside and became alarmed when they recognized the voices.
“Boys, lets go and practice your letters by the creek.” Claire suggested. She did not want the boys around during the argument that was taking place inside. Looking to her friend and seeing the sadness and distress on the normally smiling features, Claire suggested that Mary join her and the boys. Mary agreed and Claire led them all to the small creek that ran parallel to the town.
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Part 3
“Damn it Cord, let me out of here!” The man inside the jail bellowed and then winced at the loudness of his own voice. The sheriff had finally awoken from his drunken stupor.
“I can’t do that. You know it’s for your own good.” Ethan replied to his friend and technically his boss. Outside of the window he could see Claire leading a distraught Mary and his two youngest nephews away from the building. The scene only made him more adamant in his decision.
“You have no right to lock me up in here. I have broken no law. Hell, I am the law!!!” The sheriff couldn’t help despite the pounding in his head to raise his voice in his frustration.
Then it happened. For the two years he has know the man he was watched this destructive behavior come through at every reminder of his son. He didn’t pretend to know the pain that the man went through after losing his sin but he could imagine it. His experiences up until now told him in his heart that he would ache if he had to watch any of his nephews or his niece slowly die from a fever that every medicine tried could not contain. He was sure that the pain would be unbearable and heartbreaking but he also knew that the ones left behind after such a tragedy would need him too. This man he respected and looked up to was not only slowly killing himself with each of these binges but he was also harming those that were left behind, those that cared for him and the little boy that was lost.
“ENOUGH!!!!” Ethan shouted as he sprang out of his chair, his eyes were wet with unshed tears but the look in them was one of determination, sorrow, understanding and regret.
“How can you stand there and act as if you are the victim here. I am sorry for your loss but I am tired of watching and listening to you slowly kill yourself and what family you have left.”
The man went to turn away from Ethan, to block out the pain and the truth of the words. He did not want to face his life.
“Look at me dam it, look at me!” Ethan demanded as he strode over to the bars and gripped them as he confronted the broken man inside the cell.
“You can’t turn your back on this, I won’t let you! I know you lost your son…”
“YOU DON”T NOW ANYTHING!” The man spit out in such unbelievable pain that Ethan took a step away from the bars. Spinning violently around and facing Ethan, he mimicked his moves by now clutching the bars as if they kept him from falling, in truth they did.
“I lost my son. My beautiful baby boy! He was only nine, nine! What right do you have to tell me how I should be acting, feeling! I lost all that I had…”
“NO!” Ethan shouted in protest. “You didn’t lose everything you had, you have a lot more but if you keep going your going to lose it too.” His voice begged for the man to listen.
“Orrin,” Ethan’s voice pleaded for the man to hear him. “I know Steven was your pride and joy. I know you loved your son with all of your heart but you still have a loving wife and a daughter that have been grieving just as much if not more.” Seeing the puzzled look on Sheriff Travis’ face Ethan elaborated.
“You lost Steven but Evie and Mary lost him and you. You don’t see it do you? They have watched for the last three years as you drank yourself into a stupor upon each holiday, each birthday, each anniversary. Each time the binges become longer and more reckless.
You said I don’t know the pain of watching someone slowly die? Well I do. I am your friend Orrin and it has been painful for me to watch you over the last two years slowly drinking yourself to death, can’t you imagine what the last three years for your wife and daughter have been like?” Orrin Travis, Sheriff of Paradise backed away from the bars, tears streaming down his face.
“You need to let the pain go.” Ethan continued to beg his friend. “I’m not saying that you have to let Steven go, hold onto those memories. Just make sure that they are the memories that made Steven your son. It wasn’t his death, it was the love and caring, the humor, the hugs and the kisses.”
Reaching for the keys as he saw the once angry man deflate into shocked silence and crumble to a quivering weeping heap upon the cot, Ethan unlocked the cell.
“Your right, I can’t hold you in your prison but only you can let yourself out.”
He turned towards the door and shut the now freely weeping man inside. So much had been robbed from him already. Ethan wasn’t about to rob his threadbare dignity from him too.
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Part 4
Neither Ethan nor Orrin spoke of that day again. All anybody knew was that Orrin Travis, beloved sheriff, husband and father was back. A year had passed and with it so had the man’s grief. He moved his wife and daughter to a new home, a large ranch that he bought bordering on Ethan’s property. There they started over again, keeping Steven’s memory alive but not wallowing in sorrow.
Ethan was once again sitting outside of the jailhouse enjoying a cup of coffee as he watched Claire and her brothers work on their lessons for the day over by the church. Just like last year the heat was high and strong. Thankfully the sun would begins it slow decent into the western sky and hopefully the night would bring some relief. Shouting and the sound of two wagons approaching at high speed brought his attention to the eastern entrance of town. A woman about the age of 40 was sitting on the bench beside the driver of the first wagon; the fear and desperation were clearly discernable on her face.
The wagons slowed as they neared the jail and the woman was all but climbing over the driver to get to Ethan, Charlie and Orrin who had arrived at the sound of the shouts emanating from the woman.
“Ma’am.” Orrin gently greeted her with a tip of his hat.
“Are you the Sheriff?” She asked in agitation looking at Orrin but not seeing a badge.
“Yes ma’am, what seems to be the problem?” He asked as he gently guided her to the office of the jail. She abruptly stopped and turned towards the wagons.
“The children…” she started to say as the three men turned to look they could see the heads of various boys of various ages peaking a look past the canvas cover. A little shocked and confused at the number of children, Orrin, Ethan and Charlie turned curious glances towards the woman.
“They are orphans from various places back east and south. I’m Nettie Wells. I was hired to make sure the boys are delivered to an Orphanage in San Francisco. The problem is that two of the dear boys disappeared yesterday afternoon when we had made camp for the evening. The men and I looked but the trail was lost. Is there a place we can send the children to rest?”
“Charlie,” Ethan called over his shoulder. “Why don’t you take the kids and the wagons over to the Church, they should be able to make camp there. Tell Claire and the boys that I asked them to help anyway they can.” Orrin silently approved of the plan and nodded in Charlie’s direction to carry our Ethan’s orders.
“Now Miss Wells, why don’t you follow myself and Deputy Cord inside and explain to us what happened?” They then proceeded to lead the troubled woman inside.
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