Rodman Keell US Marshal: Series II

By JR Stokes

US Marshal Rodman Keell investigates crime against elected officials, ordinary citizens performing work for federal and state authorities and murder. Kidnapping for ransom is on the rise in the west and Rod Keell aims to put a stop to this new game. If he can't, it turns to murder.
Based in Denver, Keell's adventures take him into Wyoming, Utah and Arizona, and, in the this first story, Keell is honored by President Grant for meritorious service. Back in Denver, Christina Aguilera draws Keell into more of her mystery. In the third story "North Platt Revenge", reveals the death of his parents and Keell's face-to-face encounter with their killer. Story Four brings Emil Sather back into Keel's life with a vengeance before a young Mexican woman saves him from death.
In his fifth story, Keell, recuperating in Denver, is drawn into a street shootout and back into Emil Sather's life once again. Lastly, Keell is lost in the high country with no recollection of whom or where he is but a found picture of a woman and a badge gives hope in discovering those lost parts of his memory.

• Language: English
• Publisher: JR Stokes
• Release date: Nov 22, 2013
• ISBN: 9780989862134

JR Stokes

JR Stokes is a retired teacher, professor and a life-long history student of south-western culture. He and his wife live in Chandler, AZ. They have two grown daughters – one living in Seattle and one living in the San Francisco Bay Area and two grandchildren – Gianna, a recent graduate of University of Arizona and Anthony now a sophomore residing at the University of Arizona.

Book preview

Rodman Keell

US Marshal

Special Services

Six Short Story

Series II

JR Stokes

JR Book Group Press @ Smashwords.com

This book is a work of fiction based on stories told to the author. Names, characters, place, and some incidents are a product of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously to develop the story. Any resemblance to actual events, locals, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Smashwords Edition 2013

Copyright © 2013 by JR Stokes

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Western Territory – Fiction Mystery; US Marshals; Colorado; Wyoming, Gunplay; Justice

In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without permission of the author or publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book

[other than for review purposes], prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the author at [e-mail] thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

The author, or publisher, are not responsible for websites [or their content] that are not owned by the author or publisher.

JR Book Group Press @ Smashwords.com

Chandler, AZ 85248

First Edition: August 2013

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Cover:

Original Photograph by Jorge Martinez

A very special ‘Thanks’ to Mister Martinez for another outstanding photo.

Jorge is one of the more professional photographers I have had the pleasure of meeting.

Bibliographic Data:

Stokes, JR, 1938 November 27

Life Twice Stolen / JR Stokes. – 1st ed.

ISBN: 978-0-989-8621-3-4 EPUB

10-09898621-3-4

Times New Roman 12 point

for Maureen

. . . more warm days, warm nights, a glass of Sangria and a thousand dreams

JR Stokes

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without

permission in writing from the author or publisher

"Out where the world is in the making,

where fewer hearts in despair are aching,

that’s where the West begins."

Arthur Chapman,

Out Where The West Begins And Other Western Verses

Rodman Keell

US Deputy Marshal

Denver, Colorado Territory

The west was expanding faster than anyone thought possible and law enforcement, such as it was, struggled to find good men able to cope with the law’s internal problems. Fast guns, men with dubious backgrounds were hired in hopes of giving the good town folk and merchants a sense of calm and well being. Along the way, there were men who took that lawman job with knowing difference between right and wrong and a sense of morality that guided their actions. Rodman Keell was one of those men.

At the beginning of our Republic, a new Federal Agency was formed through the Judiciary Act of 1789*. The Act was designed to protect Federal Assets. The new Marshals were authorized to swear in a posse for assistance in manhunts and other duties ad hoc and given extensive authority to support the federal courts within their judicial districts, and to carry out all lawful orders issued by federal judges, Congress, or the President. The US Marshal Service changed the image of the western lawman.

US Marshals were appointed for each territory or State within our country’s borders. Each Marshal given the authority to protect and defend the federal government’s revenue and judicial system within that territory. The Agency – or service - is located within the District of Columbia. The office of JR Morris is in the stone and wood structure at the corner of Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues. It was replaced in the early 1900’s.

*Google Judiciary Act of 1789

**In chapters 2, 4, are footnotes related to history used in story descriptions

Ref_Table of Contents

Series II

Chapter 1 Washington

Chapter 2 Christina

Chapter 3 North Platte Revenge

Chapter 4 Lost Mesa Ridge

Chapter 5 Murder on Leave

Chapter 6 Armed & Ready

Ref_Afterthoughts

Ref_About the Author

Ref_Connect on Line

Ref_Excerpt from upcoming full-length novel

Ref_Also by JR Stokes

Ref_Endnotes

Washington

____________________________________________

Chapter 1

Northeast of Georgetown

What’s the problem Rezab? We nab ‘em, come across the river – you, me Smith, Goins, Burk ‘an Simons. That’s six Rezab 'n seven with Starcher wait’n with the second boat to take us back up to the horses then it's over into Philly ‘an wait for Spenser ‘an the money. Where’s the problem with that? Rezab was not happy man. His scowl deepened with this idiot's words.

I like plan’n ahead case something happens we ain’t thought about is all I’m say’n Ben. No harm in being prepared. It’s a lot of money we’re after ‘n I’m look’n forward to git’n my share is all.

Well, Spenser’s thought of everything. You ain’t got the stomach for grab’n that lawman jerk by yorself so you best go somewhere ‘an hide ‘till its over. Course, you don’t get no money.

All’s I’m look’n to do is have something else planned if this one busts apart.

"Don’t know why we keep you around Rezab. All’s you do is complain ‘an worry yor hair out.

He’s Spenser’s half brother why we keep ‘em around Ben.

Yeah . . . well . . . its like try’n to swim with a rock tied ‘round yor neck. Here, Ben said pushing the bottle toward Rezab, have a slug of this stuff ‘an relax’n will ya. Yor as tight as a new whore . . . what a pain in the ass you can be."

__________

Kansas Territory

Mid afternoon Wednesday, 17, June

Rodman Keell didn’t like this one bit! Only one day of sitting on his rusty dusty with five more days of this non-stop clackety-clack, rocking and bumping, no food, no coffee, no whisky or beer . . . oh, there was water . . . they had that on this god forsaken eastbound train. He’d been ordered to Washington by JR Morris, Chief Marshal, Special Services Division and Rod Keell’s big boss. He pulled the wire once again and reread it for the umpteenth time:

DEPUTY MARSHAL RODMAN KEELL STOP

DENVER FEDERAL OFFICE STOP

COLORADO TERRITORY STOP

CC DEPUTY CHIEF MARSHAL MICHAEL HOLTMAN STOP

MARSHAL KEELL STOP

YOUR PRESENCE IS REQUESTED IN MY OFFICE ON OR BEFORE 25

JUNE OF THIS YEAR STOP

YOU ARE TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT GRANT MYSELF OTHERS STOP

YOUR RANK IS ADVANCED TO FULL MARSHAL STOP

A PROCLAMATION OF BRAVERY SHALL BE AWARDED BY PRESIDENT

GRANT IN THE OVAL OFFICE OF THE PEOPLE’S HOUSE AT 1300

HOURS 27 JUNE THIS YEAR OF OUR LORD 1876 STOP

YOUR TRANSPORTATION IS ARRANGED STOP

YOUR DEPARTURE DATE IS 17 JUNE AT 7:00AM STOP

DRESS APPROPRIATE FOR THIS HONORABLE OCCASION STOP

WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO HONORING YOUR BRAVERY STOP

MY REGARDS TO MARSHAL HOLTMAN STOP

JR MORRIS STOP

CHIEF DISTRICT MARSHAL STOP

US MARSHAL SERVICE STOP

WASHINGTON DC STOP

Well there it is again, Keell was embarrassed but honored, humbled to say the least. I’ll do what’s needed to be done, however . . . it’s too bad this trip is so long and uncomfortable. Keell was twenty-seven years old. His brown hair near the length of Custer’s, his brown eyes closer to black. At 6’-1’’, he was taller than most men, slender while muscular; carried a walnut-handled Colt and a Winchester repeater; a 7" Bowie hid between the outside of his right leg and tall Calvary boot. He rode alongside Smith for the Union and was a Major when mustered out of service.

Keell tipped back against the high velvet seat of the Pullman and slipped his tan flat crown over his closing eyes. Might as well make the most of this flat country while I have the chance. Two weeks before he’d finished up a nasty killing of a Colorado Representative – Olen Winthrop. That was a relatively quick problem to figure out. Before that, an abducted Major and bank robbery but the case before that still haunted him. ‘Unsolved’ was all he could write on its file jacket before placing the large file in a cardboard box in the building’s basement. Two bankers and a livery hand knifed to death 'an I can't figure out who did it. Some days . . .

Coincidences’ and the timing of a woman’s presence near the three killings kept Keell observing a Miss Susan Sweet that is until the name Christina Aguilera showed on a hotel registry in Cheyenne, across the street from the second killing. He’d found Aguilera’s ranch unexpectanly while pursuing the killer off a southbound Denver train day’s before. The ranch lay outside Fort Collins while Sweet maintained a business and residence in town. It might also be two women working together or alone. Both seemed prosperous outwardly, so none of it made sense. Now, a month with no new change or clue to work with.

Marshal? Keell’s eyes snapped open as he quickly lifted his hat off his forehead and into a pair of light hazel eyes of a young woman who sat five rows behind him. He stood quickly lifting his hat further off his head.

Ma’am, he said trying to recover from his sleep state. Her face was round, soft with high cheek bones.

I noticed you up front here Sir. The conductor said you were a lawman, a marshal and I was wondering if I might join you. I’m becoming bothered slightly by the gentleman sitting across the aisle from me. He keep staring over at me and while he’s done nothing to cause alarm, I’m feeling more uncomfortable as this ride continues. I’m traveling all the way to Baltimore by myself and . . .

Of course Miss. Please have a seat. I could talk to him if you wish.

No, no. I don’t wish to cause anyone trouble but if you wouldn’t mind I might begin to feel better if I were to join you. May I sit across from you? This how that first banker was taken in? A pretty face 'an out defense drops? Maybe that Cheyenne banker did much the same. Look how fast you just dropped your guard Rod and all because of a pretty face and Sweet even more so. He introduced himself. Her eyes a light blue, her hair a deep brown that framed a delicate face and all connected to a slender, curvy body. She sat opposite Rod Keel. He took his seat.

I’m Marshal Rod Keell Miss, pleased to meet you.

Thank you Marshal Keell. I’m Missus May, Brenda Sue May. All my friends call me Brenda Sue. Nerves I guess.

Baltimore your destination Missus May?

Please, call me Brenda Sue and ah, yes, it is. My past husband has family there. He was killed near two months ago – shot – dead.

I sorry for your loss Missus May. Do you know where he died?

Yes, I know that answer – uh, Denver.

Is that where the two of you lived?

Yes, west of town. I sold his business. I know nothing about leather. Woman seems out of sorts. Perhaps losing her husband as she did or maybe her pound of beans was still lost in a five-pound sack. And you Marshal? Business in our nation’s capital?

Yes . . . Washington . . . on business, Keell added not wishing to confer too much to a stranger no matter how attractive she was. The conductor stepped up quickly alongside Keell, smiled at Brenda Sue then bent down to whisper in Keell’s ear.

Marshal, would you mind coming forward with me. I have a slight disturbance two cars up. I could use your help.

Excuse me Missus May. I’ll need to go forward with the conductor for a minute. I’ll be right back. Keell rose then followed the conductor forward. As he entered the first car, a fight had progressed to an all out slugfest between six men. He glimpsed quickly at the conductor – Isaac Haddon – and stepped forward flipping the Winchester 180 degrees, grasped the barrel tightly and popped the first two men solidly across the back heads. They dropped like a downed buffalo between the seats. The next man caught the weight of the rifle’s stock across his jaw seconds after his opponent felt the man’s left hook. A look of amazement crossed left hook’s eyes as Keell’s right tagged him again. Two more down.

Handing Isaac the Winchester and telling the conductor to hold it steady, Keell reached between the remaining two ornery cusses, who were throwing rights and lefts at each other to see Keel approach them. Keell popped the man on his left with a left jab then a right cross staggering the man back into an empty seat. Keel turned toward the slugger on his right preparing to throw a haymaker at him. Instead, slugger threw up his hands.

"Not me mister. I’m old ‘an can’t take this much fight’n anymore. Keell popped him anyway for good measure. Keell looked around at the mess that these six had incurred. The good folks that chose the first car for their ride had moved into the second and third cars when the hullabaloo started. Keell plopped the first two he’d hit into a seat. They were still seeing birdies.

Alright, the four of you, sit and do it quickly. Isaac handed him back the Winchester. Now one of you start tell’n me what all this was about. They were slow to talk at first but after the last man started telling his version, the others were quick to correct his story with theirs. Keell’s patience had thinned. He turned to Isaac, Open that window there will ya Isaac. When the window dropped, Keell nosed the barrel barely outside and pulled the trigger. The sound was near deafening. Its affect was instant. The four stopped their bickering covering their ears.

Isaac, how long to the next stop?

Twenty minutes. Still near four miles out I would guess.

Okay boys, you four grab your personals and step to the front of the car and out onto the platform . . . NOW! Outside and under the threat of feeling lead, the four jumped. Isaac believed Ogallah was closer to three miles now. There’d be another train through in two days. The first two men Keell smacked still slept. He’d talk to them later. The four left the train deciding to take the next train or walk into Ogallah. A nice walk though.

__________

The east bound continued through the night stopping for wood and water near one in the morning. In Ogallah, Junction City and Independence, Missouri, some disembarked as others came aboard for other cities along the line to Washington. In St. Louis, all passengers disembarked for hotels except