‘I don’t expect you to just let Tom go.’
‘But you want me to agree to you taking him off some place so he can’t be hanged. Ain’t that the same thing?’
‘No.’
‘He’ll go free….’
‘That’s not what I mean,’ Cobb said, as patiently ashe could. ‘Shut up and listen.’
Jackson frowned at the other man. ‘Go on then, tell me all about this brilliant idea of yours.’
‘I believe there’s enough evidence to show that Tom is innocent and the Drake brothers are guilty. Don’t you?’
No reply.
‘And I’m sure that once he hears what I have to say, Judge Bowyer will agree and order a new trial.’
‘And supposing he doesn’t?’
‘Then Tom will have to face the hangman. The same as he will if a second trial goes against him.’ Cobb sounded as if neither possibility was likely. ‘But look at what I’ve uncovered. The Drakes want Bannister’s land, they sent two men out to the railroad halt to kill me. Reggie Drake tried to shoot Tom last night. Doesn’t all that sound suspicious to you?’
‘Of course it does. Don’t make me out to be stupid. I’ve already said I agree with you. More or less. But there’s no proof.’
‘That’s what I need the time to get.’
Jackson went on as if Cobb hadn’t spoken, ‘And it seems wrong to set Steadman free after he’s been found guilty and sentenced in a proper court of law.’
‘That was then, before this other evidence, these doubts, turned up. Do you really want an innocent man to go to the gallows? Can you live with yourself if you allow that to happen?’
‘No,’ Jackson admitted unhappily.
‘All I’m asking is that the judge be given the chance to look at the evidence and make a decision one way or the other, which he won’t be able to do ifTom is hanged tomorrow. According to you Bowyer’s a good man and a better judge, so don’t you think he’ll agree?’
‘I don’t know….’
‘Look, Owen, I’m not trying to take advantage of you or do you down in any way. I promise to stay with Tom and not let him out of my sight. And I promise to bring him back here if things go against him. I’ve already spoken to Tom and told him the same. He agrees. He won’t try anything stupid. He knows this is his last chance, his only chance, and he wants to take it. I don’t think you’d be pleased with yourself if you denied it to him.’
Jackson sighed again. He didn’t like this. It went against his every instinct as a lawman but at the same time he thought Cobb was right. And he felt sure he could trust Cobb and what he said.
‘OK,’ he agreed at last. ‘But you’ll have to wait until tonight when it’s dark and no one’s around to see you.’
‘All right. I agree.’
‘Maybe in the meantime you’ll get a reply from Bowyer.’ Jackson rubbed a hand over his face. ‘God! How the hell am I going to explain any of this to the town council, or to the judge? I’ll probably be strung up in Steadman’s place!’
‘I’ll take full responsibility.’
Although Cobb spoke confidently, he really wasn’t any too sure how he was going to explain his actions to Mr Bellington or how his employer would react; hopefully he’d approve. But Cobb knew that would happen only if he was right and Steadman wasproved innocent! He was going out on a limb for the man and his job, like Jackson’s, was on the line.
‘And I don’t want you going far. I want you nearby.’
Cobb nodded in agreement. ‘Any idea where I can hole up? It shouldn’t be for long.’
Jackson thought for a moment or two. ‘There’s a line cabin out on Rowlands’ land, near Simmons Creek. As far as I’m aware it’s seldom used these days so no one is likely to come by. It’s only a couple of hours’ ride away. Steadman will know where it is. You should be safe enough there. But you’d best take some supplies with you because I doubt if any will’ve been left there.’
‘I’ll do that.’
‘And, Mr Cobb, your assistant, Neil, stays here
‘But you want me to agree to you taking him off some place so he can’t be hanged. Ain’t that the same thing?’
‘No.’
‘He’ll go free….’
‘That’s not what I mean,’ Cobb said, as patiently ashe could. ‘Shut up and listen.’
Jackson frowned at the other man. ‘Go on then, tell me all about this brilliant idea of yours.’
‘I believe there’s enough evidence to show that Tom is innocent and the Drake brothers are guilty. Don’t you?’
No reply.
‘And I’m sure that once he hears what I have to say, Judge Bowyer will agree and order a new trial.’
‘And supposing he doesn’t?’
‘Then Tom will have to face the hangman. The same as he will if a second trial goes against him.’ Cobb sounded as if neither possibility was likely. ‘But look at what I’ve uncovered. The Drakes want Bannister’s land, they sent two men out to the railroad halt to kill me. Reggie Drake tried to shoot Tom last night. Doesn’t all that sound suspicious to you?’
‘Of course it does. Don’t make me out to be stupid. I’ve already said I agree with you. More or less. But there’s no proof.’
‘That’s what I need the time to get.’
Jackson went on as if Cobb hadn’t spoken, ‘And it seems wrong to set Steadman free after he’s been found guilty and sentenced in a proper court of law.’
‘That was then, before this other evidence, these doubts, turned up. Do you really want an innocent man to go to the gallows? Can you live with yourself if you allow that to happen?’
‘No,’ Jackson admitted unhappily.
‘All I’m asking is that the judge be given the chance to look at the evidence and make a decision one way or the other, which he won’t be able to do ifTom is hanged tomorrow. According to you Bowyer’s a good man and a better judge, so don’t you think he’ll agree?’
‘I don’t know….’
‘Look, Owen, I’m not trying to take advantage of you or do you down in any way. I promise to stay with Tom and not let him out of my sight. And I promise to bring him back here if things go against him. I’ve already spoken to Tom and told him the same. He agrees. He won’t try anything stupid. He knows this is his last chance, his only chance, and he wants to take it. I don’t think you’d be pleased with yourself if you denied it to him.’
Jackson sighed again. He didn’t like this. It went against his every instinct as a lawman but at the same time he thought Cobb was right. And he felt sure he could trust Cobb and what he said.
‘OK,’ he agreed at last. ‘But you’ll have to wait until tonight when it’s dark and no one’s around to see you.’
‘All right. I agree.’
‘Maybe in the meantime you’ll get a reply from Bowyer.’ Jackson rubbed a hand over his face. ‘God! How the hell am I going to explain any of this to the town council, or to the judge? I’ll probably be strung up in Steadman’s place!’
‘I’ll take full responsibility.’
Although Cobb spoke confidently, he really wasn’t any too sure how he was going to explain his actions to Mr Bellington or how his employer would react; hopefully he’d approve. But Cobb knew that would happen only if he was right and Steadman wasproved innocent! He was going out on a limb for the man and his job, like Jackson’s, was on the line.
‘And I don’t want you going far. I want you nearby.’
Cobb nodded in agreement. ‘Any idea where I can hole up? It shouldn’t be for long.’
Jackson thought for a moment or two. ‘There’s a line cabin out on Rowlands’ land, near Simmons Creek. As far as I’m aware it’s seldom used these days so no one is likely to come by. It’s only a couple of hours’ ride away. Steadman will know where it is. You should be safe enough there. But you’d best take some supplies with you because I doubt if any will’ve been left there.’
‘I’ll do that.’
‘And, Mr Cobb, your assistant, Neil, stays here
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