Short Story - The Hanging Day - Grant Eagar
The Hanging Day
In a sleepy town in western Kansas, Sarah stood alongside two men. In front of them was gallows built of scraps of old barn wood and whatever else they could cobble together, quick.
The black-haired beauty with ice-blue eyes moved her hands to try and get some circulation back since the zealous deputy had tied her wrists with gusto. She scowled, seeing a fine upstanding lady go to the gallows was a rare and wondrous occurrence. A large redheaded deputy whose belly protruded from his shirt had even hinted he could let her go for the right offer, but she was not tempted, but that had given her an idea and she had suggested the same to the well-boned handsome sheriff that had been declined. She regretted killing her husband, but; well, no buts she did the deed and must now endure the penalty.
stood in front of the group. He gestured to the crowd of several hundred onlookers wearing their finest clothes with festive hats and parasols. Kids ran through the crowd with streamers and pinwheels being chased by dogs. The deputy said, “Ladies and gentlemen let us begin the proceedings, back away from the miscreants. We’ll not tolerate anyone who interferes with a lawful hanging.”
The crowd ignored him, jostling for a prime viewing spot. The sheriff raised his hands and yelled, “Quiet while I read the charges!” He explored his pockets and pulled out several crumpled-up sheets of parchment. He straightened the paper then climbed onto the stand. He felt in his shirt pocket and retrieved a pair of spectacles. He glanced at the prisoners, “when I call your name step forward while I read the judge’s sentence. Akondo Silver-Chief, please step forward.” When a tall boy with braids in his early twenties did not move the deputy shoved him forward. He sprawled onto the ground and the deputy brusquely pulled him to his feet.
Sarah said, “Show him some respect, no need to treat someone so.”
The deputy snorted. “Why does it matter, he’ll be dangling from a rope soon enough.”
The sheriff cleared his throat. “That will be enough, it wouldn’t hurt to show the unfortunate devils some compassion before we put them in the noose. Now, Akondo, you’ve been found guilty of horse thieving, swearing, drunkenness, spitting in public, resisting arrest, and assaulting my deputy. The judge sentences you to die by hanging. Now step back. Jacob Jacoby step forward, your mum must have been a poet when she named you. I wonder if she knew you would end up like this? You’ve been charged with cheating at cards, stealing the tithing from the poor box, lying, adultery, bigamy, slander, public intoxication, and kicking a dog.”
The deputy gave her a shove and said, “Madam it’s your turn.”
She stepped forward and looked at the sheriff. He cleared his throat and read,” Sarah Anne Sanchez, you’ve been convicted of poisoning your husband, a Mister John Angus Sanchez, as well as soliciting prostitution, lying, spitting in public, and causing a public disturbance.”
She said, “I hadn’t meant to kill John, the rat poison bottle said a tablespoon would kill a man so I thought a teaspoon should just make him ill, well it sounded right when I planned it. Is it my fault he had such a weak constitution? Since he had been unfaithful . . . again, I figured this would be my way of showing my displeasure. He was a lecherous swine; God rest his soul.”
The Sheriff said, “That will be enough.”
She stepped back and glanced at the crowd who were yelling, “Get on with the hanging!”
She scowled and spoke up. “I felt the charge of prostitution was a bit harsh. I just asked the sheriff if he would look the other way concerning the poisoning thing, I’d be willing to offer him some of my time, how is that prostitution? I could make him some bread or mend his socks. Now everyone thinks I’m a tramp. And right here in front of all my neighbors. Bloody Hell!”
“I said that is enough,” repeated the sheriff.
The crowd laughed and jeered at her. Even though the community was highly religious it had never been tolerant. She regarding the throng, should they be tolerant of her poisoning her husband? The pious folk sure did enjoy a good hanging.
After the reading of the verdicts, the sheriff asked, “Do any of you have any final words or confessions? I’m sure clearing the air will be good for the soul.”
Akondo, the Chippewa boy, raised his hands, he stepped forward and sang a song of mourning gesturing with his bound hands with his head held high; he then bowed his head.
Jacob, a short redheaded man in his thirties said, “I have a few things I would like to get off my chest. I’ll have you know I had intimate relations with Molly, the minister’s wife, five different times, Jenny, the mayor’s wife, four times, and Anne, the sheriff’s wife, twice!” There were screams of protest from the women mentioned and the minister’s middle-aged wife fainted dead away.
Sarah said, “Jacob, you’re despicable.”
He sneered then gestured at Sarah. “One of these is true, I’ll leave it to you to figure out which one. Now I had relations with this fine lady twelve times, she couldn’t get enough of me.” At this Sarah kicked him in the groin and he bent over. She kneed him in the face busting his nose and he collapsed onto the ground. After a minute the deputy helped him back to his feet. “The miserable witch wounded me, Sheriff, you can’t hang me like this, please give me time to heal.”
The sheriff pulled a pencil out of his pocket and wrote on the paper. “Jacob, I’ll add defaming the character of honorable women to your offenses.”
Sarah asked, “And me?”
“Okay, I’ll add assaulting a gentleman to your list. And I’ll remove the prostitution bit.”
She gave him the thumbs up the best she was able.
The minister came forward bible in hand. “Let me read a scripture in Mathew: ‘And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.’” He then offered a long and fervent prayer on behalf of the unfortunate hell-bound souls then turned to go.
Sarah yelled, “Reverend Thatcher! Could you put a good word in for me, I was in the church choir, I even sang a solo. I haven’t missed a sermon in three years.”
. “What did your husband say when he learned he had been poisoned?”
“Okay he wasn’t very happy, he cursed me good before he gave up the ghost, but I don’t deserve to hang. At least not first.”
Jacob said, “Hang the witch, I’d love to see her swing before I go.”
The sheriff glanced at his wife and she shook her head. “We all know who is going first.” Jacob was led up to the stand, cursing all the while, a noose was put over his head, a lever pulled and the floor fell from below him. He screamed and thrashed then finally hung still swinging back and forth. This was accompanied by wild cheering and applause from the crowd. Sarah gasped and closed her eyes then opened them and regarded him and felt sick. Did he deserve this for cheating in a card game? She did deserve this fate which was about to happen to her, she had killed someone. Even though he was a degenerate it was painful to see him go, much quicker than her husband who took two hours to die despite the doctor’s best efforts.
After Jacob had been cut down and his body laid into a pine box coffin, Sarah was led up onto the stand and the noose slipped onto her head. She offered a silent prayer, God, I know I deserve a good hanging, but it wasn’t my intention to kill John, just make him as miserable as I felt and of course torment him a bit. I’m sorry.
Before the deputy could synch up the roper the town warning bell rang and off in the distance there could be seen one hundred Chippewa braves on horseback racing towards the town. The sheriff said, “Shit! We should’ve hung Akondo first; it appears his kin are here to intervene. Everyone, run for cover! He didn’t need to say this the town’s folk had already scattered.
The deputy kicked at the drop lever right before running, the floor only partially collapsed. Sarah had one foot on the edge and the other dangling in space. God is this your effort to save my life? Well you’re not doing a very good job of it. Finally, the trap door gave way and Sarah was hanging in space with one toe on the edge of the opening and the other kicking out in space with her arms tied behind her.
When the Chippewa entered the town there was no one outside, just the two prisoners. The chief came forward and cut the ropes that held his son’s hands and they turned to go.
Sarah yelled then offered in a strangled voice, “You can’t leave me like this! Take me with you. I would make a fine squaw. I love the Chippewa. At the very least cut me loose.”
Akondo spoke to the chief in his native tongue for several minutes and she interrupted them, “Could you please cut me down first, then catch up on old times?”
Akondo turned to her. “Be patient, I’m speaking with my father about your situation.” They continued to speak with one another.
After several tries, she caught the edge of the opening with her other foot and stood up she lifted a leg and pulled a slipknot and the rope was released. Finally! Akondo turned to Sarah and gestured at his father. “He said he already has a wife, and he doesn’t need another one.”
She shook her head. “Some help you are. I have no intention of being his wife.”
Akondo tossed a knife onto the ground. He gestured at an old pinto pony. “For your boots.”
She scowled and quickly kicked the boots off. “you’re robbing me, that creature is barely alive.”
He picked up the boots and mounted his horse and turned to her. “We need help cleaning the buffalo hides, you can stay until the hunting season is over.” The Chippewa galloped away.
She leaped from the stand, cut the ropes with the knife then struggled to mount the pony which bucked a few times. She glanced at the departing men. Should I follow them or just leave town? Where will I go? She heard a gunshot; she turned and noticed the deputy with a rifle. They’re shooting at me. I guess I know what I need to do. She kicked the horse into a gallop.
