Her One Desire

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

"Sheriff what are you doing here with those two?" Cedric Bardrick asked.

"Well it seems that your story and Mrs. Twitchell's don't match," Mort replied. "She said you tried to rape her while your wife was at her church meeting."

"Why that's a lie, Sheriff," Elle Bardrick told him. "My husband would never do anything such as that."

"Yes, she is lying," Bardrick said nodding. "You still haven't answered as to why these people came with you. I know that woman owns that saloon Harriet is working at. She's one of the reasons I don't want Harriet working there those women are whores that run that place there's stories all over town about the men they take up to those rooms of theirs above the saloon. I didn't want Harriet to be called a whore just because she worked there. That's what we argued over and she then struck me with that skillet."

Sean started to defend Sam and Dallas when Sam put a hand on his shoulder to stop him.

"First of all Mr. Bardrick neither myself or my partner are what you just called us and second we do not use those rooms for anything other then our own bedrooms. We sell drinks and meals there and thats all."

"I've never heard any of that gossip you just mentioned," Mort told him. "Just where have you heard that?"

"Well...just around," Bardrick stammered.

"Can you name any of the people who told those tales?" Sean asked.

"Who are you?" Bardrick wanted to know.

"He's a new deputy," Mort answered. "He's also come to help pack up Mrs. Twitchell's belongings as has Miss Roberts."

"You didn't answer my question. Just who said those things about Miss Roberts and Miss James?"

"I...I don't remember," Bardrick replied then turned toward the sheriff. "Have you arrested Harriet?"

"No and I don't plan on it."

"But why, she tried to kill me!"

"Well as I said your story and hers do not match, but her clothes and the bruises on her body match her story about how you tried to rape her."

"All she said was a lie. I don't care what she said we struggled then she hit me. Her clothes may have ripped in the struggle."

"What about the other women you have raped?" Mort asked and watched Bardrick turn white as a sheet.

"What...what other women?" a stunned Elle asked the sheriff when her husband remained silent.

"The ones that came to Doc Hillsdale for treatment of bruises and abrasions your husband gave them when he raped them. Seems your husband likes use his fists but he made sure he didn't hit their faces Mrs. Bardrick when he assaulted them."

"Cedric?" Elle turned back toward her husband. "Is...is that true what Sheriff Jennings is saying? Did you rape those women?"

Sam felt somewhat sorry for Mrs. Bardrick to learn this revolting information about her husband but she should know her sister well enough to know that Harriet was telling the truth about the man.

While Sheriff Jennings was speaking to Mrs. Bardrick Sean was keeping an eye on the husband hoping the man didn't do anything foolish now that Bardrick knew those other rape victims had told Doc Hillsdale about Bardrick raping them.

"I..." Bardrick started to say then bent over crying.

"I came here to arrest you, Mr. Bardrick," Mort said to Bardrick as the man straighten up then started pulling a gun from his belt hidden by his suit jacket.