Page 47 of The Cowboy's Justice

“No, no. Wait. Six. I have six.”

“Where’s your phone?”

“In my back pocket.”

Lifting it out, Devlin tapped the record button and set it on the ground.

“Tell us all about these accounts and exactly what you’ve done.”

“But it will take ages and I’m freezing.”

“The sooner you talk, the sooner you leave, and remember, if you try to screw with us you’ll be tied to a tree…and that will be after Jezebel and Jethro have their fun. Once you’ve told us about your dirty dealin’s, you’ll tell us about the girls you’ve victimized. Every last one of them. Got it?”

“Yeah, yeah, but please let me sit up?”

“Nope. There’s this thing called Justice, and you’re gettin’ nothin’ less than you deserve. Start talkin’.”

* * *

Portia decided to record William’s confession as well, not just so she could play it for her family, but to make sure there wasa back up. As the information spilled from William’s lips, she could scarcely believe the depths of his duplicity.

When she’d told him she’d always suspected him, it had been a lie. She’d had no idea, and the more he talked the more upset she became, cursing herself for being so trusting and believing everything he’d told her. By the time he finished tears of fury and frustration were spilling from her eyes.

“If we find out there are more victims, or you’ve done more than what you’ve just told us, wherever you are we’ll find you,” Devlin warned.

“I swear, that’s everything.”

“Get on your hands and knees and start crawlin’ back to Portia’s house. The deputies can arrest you there.”

“It’s against the law detaining someone like this. You’ll be in trouble. Big, big trouble.”

“I don’t see any rope burns around your wrists, do you, fellas? And there are five of us, only one of you. We already have our stories straight, and we’re respected around here. It will be our word against a lyin’, cheatin’, rapist, and a man who’s been screwin’ his clients. Who do you think they’ll believe? We’ll be tellin’ the sheriff we found you out here in the woods, and you were so upset, and so cold, and so scared, you confessed your sins. Now start crawlin’.”

* * *

Brody, Cade and Andy returned home while Portia and Devlin followed William to the back gate. Only when they neared did they allow him to stand up. As they walked him into the house, Portia hurried out to the motor court and told the deputy she and Devlin had gone for a moonlight hike and found William stumbling along the Smoky Hill trail.

“He was babbling about ghosts and wolves,” she exclaimed as the deputy hurried with her up to the front door. “He wasreally out of it, then he started telling us everything he’s done. Those woods can be really spooky and I think he had a scare or something, because he just kept jabbering, like he had to confess his sins. I recorded everything.”

“Good for you, and yeah, my girlfriend won’t go up there at night.”

Entering her home they found William sitting on the couch wrapped in a blanket holding a glass of whisky.

“He’s pretty cold, it was freezin’ up there and he was on his hands and knees. Don’t ask me why,” Devlin declared.

The deputy quickly contacted the sheriff, then sat beside William and took the glass from his hand.

“Can you get him something hot to drink?”

“Sure, I have an automatic coffee maker,” Portia replied. “I’ll make us all a cup. I’ll be right back.”

“Okay, Mr. Buckley, what happened in the woods?”

Slowly lifting his eyes, he stared up at Devlin then turned to the deputy.

“I guess when you face an icy death you want to clear your conscience…and I did. It feels weird…but to be honest it’s a big relief. I’m glad it’s all over.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

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