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Date Posted: 08:28:20 03/02/03 Sun
Author: Sue
Subject: Re: Never Look Back- The Conclusion- Part2
In reply to: Sue 's message, "Never Look Back- The Conclusion- Foreword" on 08:30:44 02/21/03 Fri

Matthew Cooper could confirm without a doubt that prosecuting attorney, Samuel L. Walker,
was a pompous jack ass. There wasn’t one detail that helped him to reach this forgone
conclusion, but many components throughout their initial meeting that helped to guide him in
that direction; his stand offish personality, his undauntable air of superiority, his tactless disdain
toward the refreshments served and the humble furnishings of the home surrounding him, the
way he so guardedly held his satin lined bowler between his two well manicured hands, but
what had hastened Matthew’s opinion the most was the ever intolerable crinkle of his soon to
be opponent’s facial features whenever little Emily Elizabeth cooed in her nearby cradle.
Matthew tried not to allow this preconceived judgment of his fellow counselor overshadow his
prudence as he tried to focus intently on each word spoken within the small group assembled, but it
was proving to be a difficult task

“So the Thatcher brothers have been gainfully employed for sometime by fellow
townspeople?” Judge Tubbs inquired further acting to draw Matthew’s attentions back towards
the matter at hand.

“Oh, yes.” Michaela spoke up as she moved back out into the sitting room to rejoin them. She
had just finished completing a brief post natal check up on Anne, and Matthew couldn’t help
issuing her a quick look of concern. She returned it with a reassuring smile before continuing
on with her previous conversation.“ Ty, that is Tyler Thatcher is working at Bray’s Mercantile as
a stock boy, and Virgil has been acting somewhat as a sexton for our small congregational
church in town.”

“And while they’re not working, they reside at?” The judge continued in inquiry.

It was Sully, who answered this time. “Where they work, Judge Tubbs. Tyler has a room above
the store, and Virgil stays in the church’s living quarters. Our minister, Reverend Johnson, is
blind, so along with his care taking duties at the church, young Virgil assists the reverend with
his everyday activities.”

“ Quite admirable...” Josiah Tubbs acknowledged before being promptly interrupted by Samuel
Walker.

“This is all said and good, your honor, but that doesn’t change the fact that these young
ruffians....boys...” hastily changing his choice of words as quickly as a libeler his excuse when
caught up in a falsehood. “... are criminals.” Walkers’s impatient rebuttal caused the older man
to frown, but he weighed the possibility of this observation while Walker continued on. “I have
document upon document accusing these young hoodlum....perpetrators of crimes against the
Trans Pacific Railroad and the state of Colorado not to mention numerous small towns from
here to Denver, as you will clearly see for yourself tomorrow. These young men are solely
responsible for considerable felonious acts and will pay for their misdeeds...”

“Tomorrow?” Matthew interrupted.

As if acknowledging for the first time the presence of another attorney in the room besides
himself, Walker grudgingly turned toward the younger man. “Yes, tomorrow.”

“But I’m not....”

“Ready?” Walker condescendingly offered up attempting to complete Matthew’s statement for
him.

“No, it’s not that.” The younger man went on, not to be bested by this insufferable lawyer from
Denver. “I just assumed that we’d have more time to work out the pretrial proceedings.”

“I see no reason for delay.” Walker continued quite hastily . “It’s clearly a cut and dry case;
taking no more than perhaps an hour or so to resolve.”

Matthew felt the hostility he’d been doing his best to quell from the very beginning rise up
from the pit of his stomach, and his hands clenched up in tightened fists at his sides, only to be
quieted by the cool, collected hand of his mother upon his forearm as she replied to these brash
statements.

“Excuse me, Mr. Walker, but I’ve always been under the impression that there are no....how did
you put it...yes, “cut and dry” cases. There are always two sides to each story. That is why our
forefathers, who founded this great nation, set about devising a fair and equanimous judicial
system. No man or * woman* is considered guilty of a crime unless their guilt has been proven
before a trial of their peers or by one presided over by a judge.” And she went on frostily. “But
I’m sure such rudimentary knowledge has been privy to you, Mr. Walker, from your very earliest
legal studies.”

Walker turned a brief uncivil eye toward Michaela before uttering almost disdainfully. “Yes,
that would be the case in most circumstances Mrs. Sully...um Quinn.”

It was Sully’s turn to place a restraining hand upon his wife’s arm, noticing the rising color
along her previous pale cheekbones, while Judge Tubbs interrupted judiciously.

“As I’ve explained before Mr. Walker, there is no such thing as an open and shut case. Please
refrain from thinking so when preparing your arguments for tomorrow lest you’d be rudely
apprized of such a fact during the forthcoming proceedings.” And then turning to Matthew, he
continued. “Mr. Cooper, I apologize for this hasty notification, but I would be most aggrieved if
the trial could not proceed by tomorrow morn. It seems unfortunately that my services are
required elsewhere and though swift, I promise that these young men will receive the most fair
and impartial proceedings owed to them by law.” The elder gentleman then extended his
hand out toward Matthew in acceptance of these words.

Taking it within his own, Matthew made the only reply he felt would suffice toward the
conditions set before him. “Yes, of course, Judge Tubbs.”

“Good.” The older man smiled in satisfaction before moving to take his hat from the hook upon
the wall beside them. “Then I shall see you at 9: 00 am sharp tomorrow morning. Walker...”
He continued gesturing to the other young man, who had prudently if not somewhat tardily
realized the advantageousness of keeping his mouth shut. “...I suggest we leave together unless
you favor the idea of some exercise in the form of a long, brisk walk back towards town.”
Then turning once more, he issued a brief farewell to his fellow occupants within the room
taking both Michaela’s and Sully’s hand, one at a time, in a proffered shake before being
followed out the door by his companion.

Watching the door close behind them, Michaela let out a long sigh of pent up exasperation. “Of
all the nerve...” She began. “That...that....”

“Pompous jack ass.” This time Matthew took a turn in completing another’s sentence.

Michaela colored slightly at his improper speech before answering succinctly . “Leave out the
pompous, Matthew, and I’d say you’d have things just about right.”

Sully did his best to abstain from allowing his lips to crack into a smile over Michaela’s
outrageous indignation wondering to himself how Samuel Walker might fare in a court of law if
pitted against another member of his family. Biting his lip harder to further contain his mirth,
he concluded that no, even Walker hadn’t proven himself that abominable yet to deserve
Michaela’s unleashed wrath. He’d have enough to deal with alone facing Matthew, and putting
a hand to the younger man’s shoulder he offered his son some words of support. “I know this
whole matter seems a bit rushed to your liking, Matthew, but you have the truth on your side.
That’s all that matters.”

Matthew glanced back at Sully taking in the sincerity present both in his eyes and upon his face
before replying. “I wished I felt as confidant as you.”

It was Michaela’s turn now to lend her support, reaching forward to brush her hand lightly against the
concerned features of her eldest as she added. “The truth always prevails, Matthew. Don’t
forget that.”

********************************************************************************

Samantha Bing and Katie Sully couldn’t help but look back toward the telegraph office as they
rushed back to Grace’s café. They hadn’t meant to cause any trouble when they entered the
empty office earlier in search of the older girl’s father, but sometimes circumstances were ideal
to make way for such happenings.

With a covered plate filled with oatmeal cookies they had recently taken off the baking tray from
Miss Grace’s cooking oven, the two had started out proudly to make their way across the town to
show off their accomplishment. First they stopped off at the Nugget, though Katie had been
hesitant to enter remembering the words her mother had spoken to her father concerning Mr.
Lawson and his business, many of them beyond her comprehension, but she could tell by the
tone her mother used that she wasn’t too fond of what “Hank” did for a living. Watching
Samantha move through the swinging doors with much more confidence, she followed on her
coat tails. The room surrounding them was dark and smelled funny, of smoke and something
else she couldn’t put her finger on, but it rivaled the smell of the antiseptic her mama used when
cleansing wounds and washing her instruments. Katie crinkled her nose in protest.

The Nugget was empty except the far corner where Hank’s son, Zach, sat in the shadows.
“Hello, Zach!” Samantha called out chipperly. “Would you like a cookie?” She inquired
before proudly adding. “Me and Katie made ‘em ourselves...well with a little help from Miss
Grace that is.”

Zach seemed not to notice their intrusion at first. A blank pad of paper and a stick of charcoal
lay before him on the table spurring Katie to speak up.

“Are you tryin to draw, Zach?” Her words acting to pull him from his stupor.

“No..no...” He began looking somewhat confused to find the two little girls suddenly in front of
him.

“You was just thinking then weren’t yah?” Samantha supplied. “Ma says artsy people do that
before they draws.”

Zach couldn’t resist the quick tug of a smile that formed on his lips over the little girl’s simple
words, but it quickly disappeared as he looked back down at the still blank drawing sheet before
him. He couldn’t help wondering if he’d ever be able to fill it again with all the secret
longings that filled his heart and soul while glancing down at his still bandaged hand and
forearm.

“He can’t draw.” Katie supplied. “Well not yet, that is. Not until Mama finishes fixin up his
arm real good.” Zach looked back up and smiled this time at the little golden haired girl as she
finished. “She will, you know. Mama can fix just about anything. She’s the best doctor there
is!”

“I hope so, Katie.” Zach replied quietly.

“How about a cookie, Zach?” Samantha asked again as her attentions drew back towards the
plate they carried. “They’re real good.”

Zach’s smile increased tenfold as he took in the two sets of hopeful eyes staring up at him.
“Why sure, don’t mind if I do.”

“You can take two.” Katie encouraged. “We got a whole plateful!”

Samantha admonished the younger girl for her generosity. “Now Katie, ya know we got a whole
heap of people we needs to give cookies to.” But looking back up at Zach and catching the
trademark gleam that lit up his dark eyes, she was bemused by their sparkle and conceded
quickly. “Well, I guess it’ll be okay if you have another.”

The young man chuckled as he watched the two girls then turn in haste and head on back out of
the building as quickly as they had appeared , the taller of the two calling over her shoulder in
parting. “Gotta go! We need to go see Pa. He’ll be wantin some too!”

When the two playmates entered the telegraph office minutes later, they found the building
unusually quiet. “Pa?” Samantha called out, and then again. “Pa?” She received no reply.
“That’s funny. He usually locks up and leaves a note on the door when he goes out. Not like
him to leave things unattended and all... Says it’s his duty to make sure things run
smoothly...called it an ‘oaf’ or somethin like that.”

Katie nodded solemnly in reply, and her eyes grew round and wide as she took in the
impressive surroundings of the building around her. Sure she had been to the telegraph office
many times with her Mama, Colleen, and even her Pa, but never before had she traveled past the
customer counter to this back inner sanctum that Samantha now led her into.

Placing the plate she carried upon a nearby crate, Samantha climbed up into the chair beside the
desk and glanced down at the funny looking machine she had seen her father use so many times
in the past. It made a series of clicks and noises whenever a message was being sent or received.
Each sound stood for a letter or word, though Samantha wasn’t sure which ones. Her pa never
allowed her to touch it. Somethin again about his “oaf”. She wasn’t sure why it was so
important and all, but it really looked like a fun thing to do. One time noticing his young
daughter’s obvious disappointment over not being able to try her hand at the impressive looking
invention, Horace compensated by taking a wooden pencil from a drawer in his desk and showed
Samantha how to tap out one or two of the helpful words he so often used in operation. She
wasn’t sure what they all meant now, but she did remember their pattern. The device in front of
her was now quiet. Wouldn’t it be neat if she could show Katie some of the things she had
learned from her pa? Surely the other girl would think she was real intelligent to know of such
things and allowing caution to fall to the wayside, she climbed up even further upon the chair
beside them, perching over the desk while she let her small hand move in rhythm over the
operating key. She had no more than gotten one set finished when a brief answering tatoo
sounded in echo causing both of the young girls to jump in start then all fell silent once more.
Samantha, like a thief caught with her hand in the till, immediately turned toward the building's
entrance hoping fervently that her small transgression would not be caught as she suddenly
spied over front counter her father walking back toward the office. She quickly scooted down
off the office chair before racing around the front counter with the younger girl in hot pursuit,
both of them doing their best to quiet the short gasps of nervous respirations that had now
overtaken both of them.

“Why, what are you girls doing here?” Horace inquired as he entered what he thought was an
empty office. “Could of sworn I locked up before going to over to Loren’s.... hmmm...guess
with things bein so busy and all, I must of slipped. Well it’sa good thing it was only you two
youngins...Wouldn’t been favorable to have any other trespasser comin and goin while I ain’t
around. Thank heavens it was just you two. Now ya didn’t touch anythin, did yas?” He asked
while looking about the room around him for anything amiss.

As Katie was about to speak up, Samantha quickly cut in, “Why no, pa!” and she gave the
smaller girl a serious stare down. “We just bought ya some of the oatmeal cookies we made
with Miss Grace today. Would ya like one?”

Horace smiled back at the two little ones. “Well thank ya! I’m plum hungry. An oatmeal
cookie would just hit the spot.”

Samantha quickly handed one to her dad, before adding hastily. “Well we gotta go!”

“So soon...” Horace began a hint of disappointment in his voice.

“Yes.” Acknowledged his daughter. “We’ve got more cookies to hand out. Bye pa!” Then she
rushed out with Katie once again at her heels. The older girl quickly halted a short distance
away, and turned toward the younger one beside her.

“Ya told a lie.” Katie began.

“Sssshhhh!” Samantha quieted her while continuing. “I didn’t touch much! I just tapped the
machine a few times is all, and it weren’t even workin at the time, so’s no harms done.”

“You think so?.” Katie answered, not totally accepting the older girl’s reasoning.

“I know so.” Samantha stammered trying to sound resolute, but failing while a nervous
quirkiness filled her stomach. “Look we should go. I think I see Mr. Slicker and his wife over
at the café. They’ll be wantin a cookie. Let’s go!”

Katie hesitated as she watched Samantha move on. She wasn’t sure if what they were doing was
right. Her mama and pa impressed upon her many times in her young, short life the seriousness
of telling a falsehood, but as she glanced over again she saw Samantha turn back to her and
wave an impatient hand for her to move on, and biting her lip, she did. She could always talk to
Mama or Pa later or perhaps even Brian. One of them would be able to help her. Quickly she
followed after Samantha, so quickly that she didn’t see another coming, even from the corner
of her eye until she slammed into them. Ty Thatcher, the larger of the two, took the brunt of
their impact, but that did not stop Katie from crumbling to the ground below as the shocked boy
looked on. Reaching a hand toward her, he helped her up while issuing an apology.

“I’m sorry, Katie.” I wasn’t lookin where I was goin or I would have seen ya.” Katie stared up at
the tall fair haired boy in front of her. His blue eyes looked unnaturally worried and didn’t hold
their usual agreeableness. “I hope I didn’t hurt ya.” He continued, using a quick hand to brush
the dust from her dress.

“Nah, I’m okay.” She began. “How about you?”

Her answer took him as quite funny, that a pint sized girl as her could possibly inflict injury on a
much older boy as him, and despite his present worries he laughed while a genuine smile
brightened his face. Katie’s eyes took in his now dazzling appearance for Ty Thatcher was one
of the nicest looking boys she’d ever met, and she stood breathless for a moment while he
reached down to run a soft hand through her mop of now tangled golden curls. “Nah, Katydid.”
He teased. “I’m still in one piece, though ya did yer best to knock me on my bottom.”

Ty’s laughter was contagious and Katie giggled with him. Her previous dilemma now all but
forgotten as she looked onward towards Samantha’s quickly escaping figure. “We made
cookies.” She added when her chuckles finally subsided. “Would you like one?”

Ty glanced back at the small girl in front of him, grateful for a moment that her kindness had
acted to momentarily dispel his present worries and he nodded his head. “Best news I’ve had all
day, though I can only stay for a moment. I need to meet up with Virgil.” His last words acting
somewhat to draw his attentions back toward his previous serious mood once more, but he
didn’t let that stop him from following after the little girl in pursuit of the quickly disappearing
plate of cookies.

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  • Re: Never Look Back- The Conclusion- Part 3 -- Sue, 11:41:24 03/05/03 Wed
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