Basement Dream
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“You know, it’s not a bad idea,” Morgan said. “I’ll call the sheriff and have him bring his deputies.”
The man in question was a friend of the sheriff’s. He lived close by and could be there in less than an hour.
“We can’t wait that long,” Mary said. “What if they get away?”
“They won’t.”
Mary gave him a suspicious look. “Why do you say that?”
“Because I’m going to stop them.”
“How are you going to stop them?”
“By killing them.”
Mary gasped. “That’s terrible!”
“I don’t like to kill people.”
“But—”
“But it’s necessary. Now let’s get out of here before someone sees us.”
Mary’s eyes narrowed as she followed him up the stairs. “You’re going to kill them? How?”
“I’m going to use my gun.”
“I thought you didn’t like to kill people.”
“It’s not a matter of liking or disliking it. It’s a matter of doing what’s necessary to stop them from hurting people. Besides, I’ve only killed one person in my life and that was to save someone else.”
“If you’re going to kill them, then why don’t we just leave? Why do you want to stay here?”
“I’ve been waiting for this moment since I was a boy. I’m not leaving until I’ve stopped them.”
“What will happen to me if you fail?”
“I’ll be punished.”
“Meaning?”
“I’ll be sent to prison.”
“I thought you were going to shoot them?”
“I’ll shoot them if I have to.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Neither do I. It’s just the way things are.”
Mary stood staring at him, her mind awhirl with questions. She knew he didn’t like to kill people, but she hadn’t thought he’d be willing to kill them. “Then how are you going to stop them?”
“I’m going to use my gun.”
“You’re going to shoot them?”
“Yes.”
“But why?”
Morgan gave her a wry smile. “Why do you think? Because I’m going to stop them from stealing your horse.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Neither do I.”
“Will you shoot me?”
“No.”
“What about your parents?”
“They’re not here.”
“I thought—”
“It’s just the way things are.”
“The way things are is very strange.”
“I suppose it is.”
“Are you going to shoot them?”
“Yes.”
“Will you shoot me?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m not going to let them hurt you.”
“Oh.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t miss it.”
“I know you won’t.”
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go out back and wait for the sheriff.”
“I’ll come with you.”
Morgan took Mary by the hand. “Stay here.”
She watched as he went through the kitchen door. The house was dark except for a lamp in the front room. Morgan went into the back of the house where there were two windows. He looked through one and then the other. Satisfied that no one was watching, he ducked through the window in the kitchen and went outside.
Mary stayed in the house until she heard Morgan’s footsteps on the porch. She went out the front door and followed him across the yard. They walked toward the barn.
“I can’t believe you’re going to shoot them,” Mary said.
“They’re going to steal your horse.”
“And you’re going to stop them?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m going to stop them from hurting people.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Neither do I.”
“What are they doing here?”
“Stealing your horse.”
“You mean the gray one?”
“Yes.”
“Why would anyone want to steal that horse?”
“Because it’s a valuable animal.”
“I thought it was a hobby horse.”
“It is.”
“Do you ride it?”
“Sometimes.”
“Why don’t you have a real horse?”
“I do. I’ve had this one since I was a boy.”
“Is it a fancy horse?”
“Not really. It’s just an ordinary horse.”
“I thought all horses were fancy.”
“That’s because you’re a city girl.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you don’t know anything about horses. Now, let’s get out of here before someone sees us.”
Mary watched as Morgan led his horse out of the barn and across the yard. He rode up to the sheriff’s office. The sheriff came out of the office. “What do you want?”
“I need to see Sheriff Baker.”
“He’s not here.”
“Then I’ll wait for him.”
“You can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because he’s going to be busy.”
“Busy doing what?”
“Meeting with the governor.”
“Oh.”
“So you can’t see him now.”
“No.”
“Well, I’m going to wait here until he comes back.”
“Fine. Have a seat.”
Mary went into the front room and sat down on the sofa. She stared at the sheriff’s desk. There were several empty bottles of whiskey on top of it. She wondered how many people the sheriff had killed.
The sheriff returned after a while. “Mr. Baker will be here soon.”
“Thank you.”
“Wait here.”
“Yes.”
Morgan and Mary waited in silence. Morgan kept looking out the window. Finally, the sheriff came out. He nodded to them. “Come with me.”
“Thank you.”
Sheriff Baker took them through the back door of the sheriff’s office and into a small room. The sheriff closed the door behind him.
“This is Mr. Baker,” Morgan said. “And this is his daughter.”
“Hello.”
“I’m Mary.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
“Now, what seems to be the problem?”
“They’re stealing my horse.”
“That’s a nice horse.”
“Yes.”
“Did you report it stolen?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t want anyone to know I have it.”
“Why would that matter?”
“Because if they knew I had a valuable animal, they’d probably steal it.”
“You have a valuable animal?”
“Yes.”
“What kind of animal is it?”
“A hobby horse.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“That’s the strangest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“It’s true.”
“Do you ride it?”
“Sometimes.”
“When?”
“When I feel like it.”
“So you’re saying you don’t have time to ride your horse.”
“Right.”
“How much does it cost?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, I’ll tell you what. Let me go over to the saloon and get some information. What do you say we go down there right now and have a drink? It’s been a long day and I could use one.”
“Okay.”
“Great. Now, let’s go.”
They walked out of the sheriff’s office and crossed the street. The sheriff went into the saloon. Morgan led Mary to an empty table. They sat down and ordered drinks.
The sheriff came back a few minutes later. “I talked to the bartender. He told me you own a hobby horse.”
“Yes.”
“He also told me it’s worth five hundred dollars.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be damned. I didn’t know hobby horses were so valuable.”
“Neither did I until a few days ago.”
“I think it’s strange that someone would want to steal your hobby horse.”
“Yes.”
“Do you know who it might be?”
“No.”
“Where does it live?”
“At home.”
“In the barn?”
“No, in the house.”
“Oh.”
“Yes.”
“I see.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing.”
“Do you think it was stolen by a boy?”
“No. I don’t think so.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s too valuable to be stolen by a boy.”
“So you don’t think it was stolen by a girl either?”
“No.”
“Then who could it have been?”
“I don’t know.”
“Have you seen anyone suspicious around here?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“A man.”
“A man? Why would a man want to steal a hobby horse?”
“I don’t know.”
“Okay, I’m going to get some more information about this. You can come with me if you want to.”
“Thank you.”
“All right. Let’s go.”
Sheriff Baker went into the saloon again. He returned a while later. “There’s no doubt about it. This man is stealing horses. His name is Thomas Campbell.”
“Is he a friend of yours?”
“No.”
“So why are you helping me?”
“Because I want him caught.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“How do you know it’s him?”
“He’s the only one who knows how to steal horses.”
“Why do you think he’s stealing horses?”
“Because he wants to make money.”
“And what makes you think he’s making money?”
“Because he bought a new house and a new wagon.”
“That doesn’t prove anything.”
“It does because he told me.”
“When did you talk to him?”
“Yesterday.”
“What did he tell you?”
“He said he’s going to buy more horses and make enough money to open his own stable.”
“That’s terrible.”
“Yes. It is.”
“I’ll be damned.”
“What?”
“I never thought there were so many people like that in the world.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because I’ve never heard of a man who steals horses to make money.”
“What makes you think he’s making money?”
“He told me.”
“Did you ask him how he was going to make money?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“He didn’t say.”
“I see.”
“Do you think he’s really making money?”
“I don’t know.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Because I asked him. He said he would tell me when he had enough money.”
“But you think he’s not making any money.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he told me he’s been buying horses for two months and he still doesn’t have enough money to open his own stable.”
“Do you think he’s lying?”
“I don’t know.”
“All right, then let’s go talk to him.”
They left the saloon and crossed the street. They walked into the stable. Thomas Campbell was cleaning a horse. “Good morning,” Morgan said.
“Morning.”
“Sheriff Baker wants to talk to you.”
“I already told him I didn’t want to talk to him.”
“What did he say?”
“He said I’d better come with him or he would arrest me.”
“What did you tell him?”
“I said I would talk to you.”
“I see.”
“Is that all right?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“So what did Sheriff Baker want?”
“He wanted to know why you were stealing horses.”
“Why?”
“Because he thinks you’re making money by doing it.”
“What makes him think that?”
“He told me.”
“Oh.”
“I guess you’re not making any money.”
“No.”
“How much did you make last month?”
“Twenty dollars.”
“And how many horses did you steal?”
“About fifty.”
“That’s a lot of horses.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Did you get any money from selling them?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I didn’t know what to do with them.”
“I see.”
“So I gave them away.”
“I see.”
“Have you ever seen me steal a horse?”
“No.”
“Then why are you accusing me of stealing horses?”
“Because you’re the only one who knows how to steal them.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Me neither. I’ve never stolen a horse in my life.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry, but I have to ask you some questions. Is that all right?”
“Yes.”
“Will you answer them honestly?”
“Yes.”
“Do you remember what happened to the horse you stole from the sheriff?”
“Yes.”
“And how did you get it?”
“I sold it.”
“Where did you sell it?”
“At a stable.”
“And where is the stable?”
“In Denver.”
“Have you been there before?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I bought a wagon there.”
“What kind of wagon?”
“A covered wagon.”
“Have you ever been to Denver before?”
“Yes.”
“Where did you go?”
“To the saloon.”
“What’s the name of the saloon?”
“The Blue Dahlia.”
“Can you tell me how to get there?”
“Yes.”
“Would you like to come with me?”
“No, I’ll be all right here.”
“All right. Thank you.”
They left the stable and crossed the street again.
The End