A Man for Temperance (Wagon Wheel) by Gilbert Morris

barely knew his own name, and when he came for his one visit, he had listened to Brennan’s side of the story and said in his cracked, high-pitched voice, “Son, you just got to plead guilty and throw yourself on the mercy of the court.”
    “There were witnesses that he drew first.”
    “Look at yourself, boy. You’re a dirty, shiftless criminal, and who was the man you shot? The son of a United States senator. If you got any sense at all, boy, you will know who thatjury’s going to believe. Don’t even try to convince them. I’m not going to try.”
    Nothing Brennan said could shake the old man, and finally when he went into the courtroom, he already knew the outcome, and he was not wrong. He pleaded not guilty, and Witherspoon glared at him with icy blue eyes. “Your plea is registered. The prosecution may present its case.”
    The prosecution called three witnesses. Al Sharpless was one of them, and the other two were the miners who had been in the card game. They all three testified that Brennan had drawn his gun first.
    Brennan rose in indignation, but the judge said, “Sit down! The prisoner will sit down! Mr. Clark, keep your client in line.”
    Clark grabbed Brennan’s sleeve. “Son, do what I told you. Don’t do to argue with this judge. Just hope that he ain’t feeling especially mean.”
    But Judge Witherspoon was feeling mean. The trial itself lasted no longer than twenty minutes for, of course, Clark called no witnesses. He simply tried to present Brennan as an innocent bystander.
    The jury was out for only ten minutes, and Brennan wondered bitterly why it took that long.
    When the jurors came back, he saw his fate written on their faces.
    “We find the defendant guilty of attempted murder, Judge.”
    Witherspoon said, “The prisoner will rise.”
    Brennan stood up, and his eyes locked with Witherspoon’s. “You’ve been found guilty of attempted murder. I sentence you to ten years in the federal prison. Mr. Simons is still in somedanger. If he dies, you’ll be brought back from prison and tried for murder. Take the prisoner away, bailiff. Next case.”
    Joe Meek had attended the trial, and now he came over and put his hand on Brennan’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Thad. It ain’t right. Those witnesses were intimidated. Sharpless don’t even spit unless Judge Henry tells him to, and Judge Henry and Witherspoon are old cronies. You didn’t have a chance, Thad.”
    “No, I didn’t.”
    “Let this thing die down. I’ll try to get you a retrial when things cool. Simons is going to be all right. When he gets well, I’ve got some friends in Congress who can talk to the senator.”
    “I appreciate that, Joe, but it won’t do any good.”
    “Don’t give up, son. Never give up!”
    * * *
     
    TEMPERANCE HAD NOT ATTENDED the trial. It would have been too difficult with three small children. She got the word from Reverend Blevins, who came to her farm. As soon as he stepped onto the porch, Temperance said, “They found him guilty, didn’t they, Pastor?”
    “Yes, I’m afraid so.”
    “What was the sentence?”
    “Ten years.”
    “It’s so unfair.”
    “Justice isn’t always done in this world, but I’ve been talking to Marshal Meek. He says as soon as it cools down, he can get Brennan a new trial. In the meanwhile he’s going to talk to the witnesses and threaten them if they don’t tell the truth for the next time.”
    “Does he really think there’s hope?”
    “So he says.”
    “I’m sorry for it,” Temperance said.
    “So am I. Prison is a bad thing for any man.” As he turned to leave, he said, “I’m still looking for somebody to take the children back East.”
    * * *
     
    AS USUAL, BY THE time Temperance got into bed, she was exhausted. She went to sleep almost at once, but then in a manner very unlike her usual habit, she suddenly awoke. It was as if someone had spoken in her ear. The immediacy of it frightened her, and she lay very still, thinking at first that