Clearwater Ranch was a mile or so off the main highway, the kinda place you'd drive past and scarcely notice. Since Paw died, Ellie had had to run it on her own; Maw and Paw didn't have any other sons or other daughters. True there was old Seth, Paw's 'top hand', in fact the only hand, but then Clearwater was such a small spread that you didn't need any more hands.
However, it was harvest time and Seth and Ellie had their hands full harvesting the crops, what few there were, and so Ellie was only too happy to take on Steve Franks when he came looking for work. She knew he was a drifter, but he had such nice manners and she reckoned he must've had a college education. Such a change from just having old Seth to talk to!
Ellie wondered what in the world he was doing in a hick town like Clearwater.
Ellie's thoughts were interrupted suddenly as Seth burst in the door yelling, 'Ellie, Ellie, that new guy you hired, Steve, is a murderer. I jest seen his face on a wanted poster in Clearwater Town.'
'Don't talk hogwash, Seth,' retorted Ellie, 'You musta bin at the moonshine again.' She couldn't believe Steve could harm anyone let alone kill them.
'I'm tellin' you, it's his face on the poster, Ellie,' exclaimed Seth, 'Lordsakes, I bin working with him for three weeks and seeing his mug night and day for best part of that time.'
'Anyways,' he continued, 'there's a $10,000 reward on his head and we're gonna collect it.'
'What d' you mean, we're gonna collect it?' Ellie enquired suspiciously.
'Well, naturally, soon as I recognised the picture I told Sherriff Wade, who happened to be in town today.'
He would be, Ellie thought.
'And he's on his way to bring him in – dead or alive.'
'Oh, Seth, you can't be sure it's him. Them photos can be mighty deceiving.'
'Sure I'm sure. His hair was a mite greyer in the picture, but I'd stake my life on it; it's the same guy.'
Ellie could see Seth was convinced and in any case, the Sherriff was on his way, once he had sworn in a couple of deputies.
'Look, Seth, I don't want to be around when Sherriff Wade gets here, I jest can't face it. I'm gonna ride out to Aunt Martha's place. I'll see you later when – when it's all over.'
'Ok, Ellie, I guess I know how you must be feelin'.' Seth's manner had softened now, he knew she was sweet on Steve.
Ellie, however, did not head for Aunt Martha's place, instead she rode out to the cornfield where she knew Steve was working.
'Hi, Ellie,' he hailed her as she rode into sight. 'What are you doing here this time of day?'
Ellie didn't mince words.
'Look, Steve, Seth's seen a wanted poster with your face on it in Clearwater. What've you got to say about that?'
Steve's face blanched. He seemed deflated. My God, she thought, what am I doing confronting a possible murderer on my own?
'I didn't do it, Ellie,' Steve finally responded. 'They found me guilty, but I didn't kill my wife; I couldn't.'
His wife! Holy Toledo! thought Ellie, what am I doing here?
'I saw the man who did it – a one armed man,' he continued, 'and I've been hunting him ever since I escaped. If I can capture him somehow, I know he can be made to prove my innocence. I saw a picture in a newspaper, taken in Clearwater and his face was in the background. That's why I'm here.'
'I see,' said Ellie, half stunned. Then she remembered. 'Steve, there's a posse on its way. You've got to get outa here. Take my horse, there's a railhead 'bout two miles from here. You can leave it there.'
'Ellie, I wish things could've been different for us. I wish . . .'
'Never mind that now. Just ride, they're on their way.'
He held her in his arms, just that once and gently kissed her. Then he was gone.
Well, she hoped he'd find his one-armed man. Maybe then, he'd be back some day. Anyways, she'd never forget Steve Franks, or Richard Kimble to give him the name he was born with.