THE CONDEMNED
Book 1 – Rowen
*Note: For purposes of this blog, the content here will be kept to PG standards. However, upon publication, the full novel will include more adult content.
Chapter 5
Second Chance
“Let me see if I got this straight.
You and this group you belong to took it upon yourselves to go out and buy food
for those who were too poor, or too old, or too ill, and you got busted and
punished because you didn’t get the approval of the town council?”
Initially, Rowen thought that his
days of being incarcerated would bore him out of his mind, stuck inside this
one small cell. It turned out to be just the opposite. He even struck up a good
relationship with the sheriff. What started out as the man being out of his
office most of the day gradually evolved to where he’d hang out with Rowen
instead. Rowen used that time to find out as much about the town and its people
as possible, and vice versa. After all, what did he have to lose?
“Yeah. We knew we were breaking the
law,” he admitted. “But most of us had family who were suffering. Also, the
food and medical supplies and such weren’t just for them. We shared what we
could with others.”
“And your town council objected to
that? Why?” Melfry made no effort to hide his disdain.
“The council has their own sellers
who offer goods and services at discounted prices. They were upset we were
undercutting them.”
“But…” The sheriff thought on it. “Let
me see if I understand this correctly. You’re buying the goods at their regular
price, and the authorities are mad because they believe you’re undercutting
them? It makes no sense.”
Rowen snorted. “The way it was
explained to us, their families should be buying their own goods, instead of us
sharing what we’ve bought.”
“In other words, you buy for you
and they buy for themselves.”
“Precisely. Because I and my
friends had a little more money, we were able to purchase more and thus share
it. The council decided that wasn’t allowed.”
“And you got arrested for it?”
Melfry clarified.
“Me and my friends, yes. We were in
the middle of dividing up our most recent haul when the authorities broke in
and arrested us.”
“What did they do with the food?”
Rowen couldn’t help but let out a
derisive bark of laughter. “I have no idea, but I wouldn’t be the least
surprised if they took it all for themselves.”
“And they punished you by banishing
you?”
Rowen nodded. He’d had no choice
but to change several small details to explain how he’d ended up here, but keep
enough truth to the story so that no one would sense he was lying or being
evasive. “Yeah, since it was a lesser offense. If I’d killed someone, or done
something of that caliber, I would’ve gotten the death penalty.”
“How does your town handle that?”
Rowen cast the man a confused look.
“How what?”
“How do they kill a man? You said
you might have gotten the death penalty if the offense had merited it. What
would that entail? Hanging?”
“By lethal injection.”
It was Melfry’s turn to look
confused. “By what? Lethal…”
“Injection.” Rowen pointed to his
arm and held a forefinger there, using his thumb to mimic inserting the needle.
“What do they inject you with?”
“A fast-acting poison. I don’t know
what kind.”
The man nodded. “It would save
ammunition, going that route instead of a firing squad. And it’s probably more
reliable than a hanging. Too many times I’ve seen someone strung up and later
pronounced dead, only to find out they’re still alive. And then what? They cart
your body off to the pauper’s grave? Or hand it over to your relatives?”
“There is no pauper’s grave.” Rowen
bowed his head. “They cremate the body and dump the ashes in one of the
landfill sites.”
“What’s a landfill site?”
“A place where all the collected
garbage is thrown. It starts out as a hole in the ground. When it gets filled
up, it’s covered over with dirt, and the town starts using the next hole they’d
been digging while the last one is being used.”
“They don’t burn the refuse?”
“No. That’s illegal.”
The sheriff grunted. “Sounds like
everything over there is illegal. So what happens to the land after it’s filled
up?”
“Sometimes the land is sold for
builders to build houses or other buildings on. Sometimes it’s sold for other
various reasons.”
“Is it ever used as farmland? Or to
graze cattle or horses?”
Rowen managed a wry grin. “Only if
the town council approves it.”
The sheriff frowned. “Why wouldn’t
they approve it?”
“Oh, they do. Eventually. It
depends on who greases their palms the best. And, of course, the town council
has full authority over what’s planted.”
Melfry grunted again. “I wouldn’t
be surprised to learn they also get a good cut of the profits, as well.”
Rowen didn’t respond to the remark.
They both knew the sheriff was right.
“And that’s why you and your
friends were busted for buying food. Let me guess. You didn’t buy it from one
of the councilmen’s cronies, or from one of their farmers.”
“Nope. Got it elsewhere, and don’t
ask me where. I don’t want you in any way implicated if I’m recaptured.”
The man narrowed his eyes at him as
he took a sip of coffee. The sheriff always kept a pot going on the small cast
iron wood-burning stove sitting on the opposite side of the jail. He’d offered
some to Rowen, but the taste was too bitter. Since then, Rowen had stuck to
drinking water.
“Do you believe they may try to
recapture you?”
“No, but I’ve never been banished
before, and I’ve never met someone who’s been punished that way. So I don’t
know what they might try to do.”
“But you were captured, convicted,
and banished. Have I got that right?”
“Yes.”
“What happened to your other
friends? Do you know?”
Rowen chewed on his lips. “No, I
don’t know. I’m hoping they got the same punishment. At least they’d have a
chance of survival.”
There were several more times when
he and the sheriff conversed during his two-week incarceration. During that
time, Miss Postill was as good as her word, and came by daily to check him for
any signs of disease or infection. During one of her visits, he apologized for
his lack of hygiene.
“I probably smell like a week-old
carcass.”
She softly laughed as she wrinkled
up her nose. “More like a month-old one. Doesn’t Sheriff Melfry provide you
with any soap and water to wash with?” Not waiting for Rowen to answer, she
checked over her shoulder and asked the lawman directly. “I know it’s been a
while since you had anyone spend any length of time here, but the least you can
do is let him have a chance to bathe like a normal human being.”
Melfry waved a hand to indicate
everything around them. “Does this look like an inn to you?”
“You know what I mean,” she shot
back. They conversation was cordial, verging on teasing. Yet Rowen could tell
her point was getting across.
Rising to her feet, she let out a
sigh and addressed the sheriff directly. “It’s been two weeks, Sheriff. I
declare this man to be free of disease, and I give him a clean bill of health.
Have you received any news that he’s a wanted man?”
“No, ma’am, I haven’t.”
“So when are you going to release
him?”
Melfry looked at Rowen. “I can set
you free right now, Mr. Taylor. If I do, what’s going to be your next plan of
action?”
Rowen stood. “Frankly, I was hoping
I might be able to stay here in Callistown. I was going to ask you if you knew
anyone who could use a strong back in exchange for room and board?”
The sheriff rubbed his stubbly
chin. “What about that town council? Any chance they might be looking for you?”
Rowen was aware of Luka Postill
giving him a curious eye. She probably had a slew of questions she wanted to
ask him, but she was trying to retain a more professional attitude and not
appear to be a gossipy busybody. At least, that’s what he surmised.
“No. Once they banished me, they
basically wrote me off.”
“What if you tried to sneak back
into town? Or would you even attempt it?”
Rowen threw him a wry grin. “That
would been an automatic death sentence.”
“They’d give you one of those
lethal injections for reentering?” He seemed incredulous.
“Oh, no. They’d shoot me on the
spot and leave my body for the wild animals to feast on.”
She could no longer hold her
tongue. “Why were you banished, Mr. Taylor? Why would they try to kill you?”
“I was convicted of theft.” He held
up a hand. “It’s a long story.”
“And I’m interested in hearing it.
Sheriff? As for Mr. Taylor’s quest for a job, what about Hampton Zwick?”
Melfry’s face lit up. “Good idea!
Mr. Taylor, I can take you over to the livery stable and introduce you to Mr.
Zwick. You did say you weren’t picky about what kind of job it was, correct?”
A livery stable. Rowen guessed the
job would consist of mucking out stalls, as well as feeding and watering the
horses. “Not as long as I get fairly compensated.”
“All right.” Walking up to the
cell, he unlocked the door and swung it open, stepping aside to let Miss
Postill exit first. Staring at Taylor, he waved to him. “What are you waiting
for? Let’s go see if Hamp’s willing to give you a fair shake.”
“Mr. Taylor.”
He turned around to face her.
“You realize we’re putting a lot of
trust in you, especially now that we know you were convicted of theft.” Her
tone had changed, including her attitude. If he could guess, he’d say she was
angry at him. Almost disappointed.
It baffled him.
He was about say something in his
defense when Melfry spoke up.
“Hold off on the accusation, Miss
Postill. It’s not quite as serious as you might be thinking it is.”
She whirled on the man. “He was
banished from his town! He said he’d be killed if he tried to go back. That’s
not serious?”
“The man’s paid his dues,” Melfry
shot back. “He’s trying to rebuild his reputation. Hell, he’s lost everything,
and he almost lost his life. I’ve heard his story, and I believe him. I’m
willing to give him a second chance. If he screws this one up, I assure you
I’ll have no second thoughts about locking him up again and notifying the
marshal over in Buckner County to come and haul his ass out of my jail. Will
that suit you, Miss Postill?”
Rowen caught the way the woman
studied him for a few moments before nodding.
“All right. I’ll keep any further
opinions to myself. But Mr. Taylor, I strongly advise you do not disappoint us.
Sheriff Melfry is not someone to trifle with, and neither am I. We mean what we
say.”
“I’m sure you do,” Rowen solemnly
replied.
She threw him one final look, then
let herself out. Rowen watched her leave.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have said
anything about your conviction,” Melfry commented. “I mean, a man who wants to
atone for his sins should be allowed to do so without prejudice. Not unless
it’s earned.” He eyed Rowen. “You do realize I’m putting a lot of faith in you,
son, don’t you?”
“Yes, sir. And I appreciate it more
than you’ll ever know.”
“All right, then.” The man nodded.
“Let’s go see if Mr. Zwick has a job he can offer you.”
Rowen noticed the sheriff’s
reaction as he walked past him.
“One thing’s for certain,” Melfry
quipped. “You’ll blend right in with the animals.”
It was difficult to tell if the man
was teasing or not. Either way, Rowen made it a point to find out where the
nearest tub of bathwater was and dunk himself, clothes and all, into it.
It would at least be a start.
TO BE CONTINUED
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