“I don’t figure they would waste their time buildin’ somethin’ like that if they didn’t have no intention of usin’ it.”
“They can have all the intention of using it they want,” Smoke said. “I’m telling you right now, that scaffold is not going to be used. At least, not for your necktie party.”
Pearlie smiled. “I figured if I could just get you here in time, ever’thing would all work out,” he said.
“This is Tom Murchison,” Smoke said. “He’s going to be your lawyer.”
“Well, now, my own lawyer,” Pearlie said. “How about that? That makes me feel like a big shot.”
“When is the trial?” Murchison asked.
“Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? Impossible,” Murchison said. “I can’t possibly prepare a defense by tomorrow.”
“You damn well better,” Deputy Wilson said, overhearing the conversation. “Judge McCabe will be comin’ in tonight, and he don’t like waitin’ around.” Wilson laughed. “Yes, sir, we’ll have your friend tried, convicted, and hung by sundown tomorrow.”
“You had better hope he isn’t found guilty,” Smoke said.
“What do you mean I had better hope he isn’t found guilty? Hell, I want the son of a bitch to be found guilty. I like hangin’s, and I can’t think of anything I’d rather see than your friend here dancin’ from the end of a rope.”
“If it happens, you won’t see it,” Smoke said.
“The hell I won’t. I’ll be a’ standin’ right there in the front row,” Wilson said.
“You won’t be standing anywhere,” Smoke said.
“Why do you say that?”
“Because if Pearlie is found guilty, I’ll kill you.”
“What?” Wilson gasped. “Did you just threaten me?”
“That was not a threat,” Smoke said. “That was a promise.”
“Deputy, by law, we are entitled to a private visit with my client,” Murchison said. “Would you please excuse us?”
“What?”
“Go away,” Smoke said. He pointed to the desk. “Go over there and sit down and let us conduct our business.”
“Look here, I’m the law,” Wilson said. “You can’t talk to me like that.”
“Smoke, let’s don’t wait,” Cal said. “Let me kill him now.”
“I—uh—you are going to hear about this!” Wilson said, sputtering. But faced with a concerted glare from both Smoke and Cal, he returned meekly to his desk.
Not until he was out of earshot did they resume their visit with Pearlie.
“Pearlie, have you been eating all right?” Sally asked.
“Yes, ma’am!” Pearlie said. “You can’t believe how good I’ve been eating!”
“Really? The jail feeds you that well?” Sally asked, surprised by Pearlie’s response.
“Oh, no, ma’am, the jail don’t have nothin’ to do with it,” Pearlie said.
Sally winced at the grammar, but said nothing.
“No, ma’am. The reason I’m eatin’ good is because of Lenny’s ma, Mrs. York. Mrs. York, and Lenny’s friend, Mary Lou. Both of them have been bringin’ me food for near’bout ever’ meal. Good food, too. Smoke, have you met Mrs. York yet?”
“Not yet,” Smoke answered.
“We’re goin’ over there from here, and I’m going to introduce them then,” Lenny said. “We thought you might be worryin’ about whether or not we would get here in time, so we came here first.”
“You damn near didn’t get here in time,” Pearlie said. “One more day and I would’a been a goner.”
“Don’t lose faith, Pearlie,” Sally said. “We will get you out of here.”
Pearlie flashed a big smile. “Oh, I ain’t worried about it now,” he said. “I got no doubt but what this will all be behind me soon. Though I confess that bein’ able to see that scaffold, just by lookin’ out the window, was a bit, well, let’s just say it was puttin’ me off a mite.”
When Smoke, Sally, Cal, Murchison, and Lenny left the jail, they went directly to Kathleen’s Kitchen and Boarding House, where the young man’s mother greeted her son with a welcoming hug.
“Ma, I want you to meet these folks,” Lenny said. “They are all Pearlie’s friends. This here is Mr. and Mrs. Jensen. And this is Mr. Murchison. He’s the lawyer who is going to get Pearlie out of jail.”
“How nice to meet you,” Kathleen said. “I can see how Pearlie would have a lot of friends. In the short time I’ve known him, I’ve found him to be one of the nicest and most gracious young men I’ve ever met.”
“Thank you, we think so as well,” Sally said.
“I told you you would like him, Ma,” Lenny said.
“So you did,” Kathleen agreed. She smiled at Cal. “And you must be Cal,” she said.
