The Heart of the Skeptic and the Mind of a Child

Marshall Wes Westland finds himself once again in Alabama working the "Hiker Case". He learns that Sadie has been tried, convicted and sentenced and that the adoption of Midge is not what it appears. The Marshall promises Sadie that he will get Midge away from "that Doxie woman" and care for her as if he were his own daughter. Sadie pointed him toward the proof he needs to make things difficult for Miss Kitty. Will he find it ? What will become of Miss Kitty's adoption of Midge? Will Sadie be spared from her life sentence in Alabama? There are still MANY unanswered questions....

((Read the Full Story below))

Claiborne, Monroe County, Alabama - Sheriff's Office

[12:21] Deputy Red Silcox gives a dry smile as the Marshal enters "Well nah, looks likes y'guest's arrived... Ah'll leave y'all to it... Ah'll only be outside mind'ya..."

[12:21] Deputy Red Silcox smiles venomously as he leaves...

[12:22] Wes WesϮland walks into the sheriff office and hears a voice and looks to the Deputy "howdy" and watches him leave

[12:22] Sadie Hiker slumps a little but clearly looks visibly relieved to see Wes enter.

[12:22] Wes WesϮland looks over to Sadie "good ta see ya? How are ya holdin up?"

[12:22] Sadie Hiker smiles and nods "Gud t'see ya Marshal... Gud ah'you t'come all this way... This ain't gonna be easy, ah got ah lot t'be tellin' you... askin..." Sighs "Pull up ah chair if ya like, or nawt... whatev'ah suits ya..."

[12:25] Wes WesϮland nods and takes a seat "well, ya gots a lot of people worried about ya in Tombstone, I am happy to come this way to work this out" tries to smile not telling her what he knows about Midge and Kitty for now

[12:27] Sadie Hiker "Well, that's summin... Oh, y'missed the trial bah a day... Well, they ain't hangin' me... that's summin ah suppose... but so far it's life..." smiles and chuckles a little "we'll come back t'that though..."

[12:27] Sadie Hiker takes a deep breath and closes her eyes "You have no idea how hard this is... An needs t'ask ya t'do summin' for me... Askin'... beggin, whatev'r it takes. Ah need ya t'gets Midge away frum that Doxie woman an takes care ah her until she's old enuff t'be taking care ah herself. Ah had nuthin' but time, sittin' here t'be thinkin' bout' ev'rything that's gone on... and frankly... ah am the wrong person t'be raisin' a child. Once, lawng ago... yeah ah'd ah made ah gud job ah it... but nawt now." flicks her eye patch "This bits important. Y'know how ah got this?"

[12:28] Wes WesϮland nods knowing he and Larah have attmepted to file for adoption for Midge "I cannot agree with ya more about gettin midge away from Kitty" listens

[12:31] Sadie Hiker nods "Yeah, I ain't no parent... now, ah lost this here eye sluggin' it out with Sergeant Teddy... ev'ryone knows that... what they dun know is... at that time... I was takin' care ah yung'Joseph... who was catatonic with fever... and a let that solja boy beat me insensible, unconscious, then half blind without second thought to Joseph or Midge." Shakes her head, "Y'gotta agree... ahm the wrong person t'be takin care ah kids..."

[12:32] Sadie Hiker: Not that thats... gonna happen no more anyways... but ah can't have her livin' with that woman..."

[12:33] Wes WesϮland nods in understanding

[12:34] Sadie Hiker: She's poison... and she played me like the rank amateur ah am... fake death certificate in one half, warrant in the other... Still, history now...

[12:37] Wes WesϮland slams his hand on his knee, I knew them was fake!

[12:38] Sadie Hiker puffs "There is so much more goin' on with that girl than you know... ah know she's told her lil' friends a lot ah it... but still, there's lots she dun know... For starters, all the 'missing' certificates Kitty likes t'harp on 'bout. They ne'vr were missin... ah has them, ah always had them... Mah business, no one elses. Reason ah been gettin' them t'gether is t'get her back her inheritance frum her gawdforsaken grandparents that cast her out... Ah got Harry's will too... I'm tellin ya... she's worth more than Kitty cud ev'r believe... and part ah me wonders if thats her interest in her... "

[12:39] Sadie Hiker takes another deep breath...

[12:41] Sadie Hiker: Ah know ah got no right t'ask y'take her int'ah y'care... but ah got the impression y'kinda took a shine t'her... you an y'wife... an dun takes this the wrong way... but ah got no one else t'ask... and no one else ah trust..."

[12:41] Wes WesϮland eyes widen as he listens. he shakes his head and mumbles "that woman Kitty is crazy"

[12:43] Wes WesϮland smile a bit "Sadie, Larah and I have filed for adoption of Midge in Arizona, however, Kitty has some crap documents showing she got approved Adoption here in Alabama"

[12:43] Sadie Hiker face goes blank "She ain't the only one... as long as we're gettin' e'vrything out in the open here, the other rumors ah true too... a wuz in a lunatic asylum... five years... That wuz ah punishment though, no way a De'Rothschylde wuz gonna have their son marry a girl frum the swamps..."

[12:44] Sadie Hiker stumbles a little in disbelief, the wave of relief visible "Y'd go that far? Really?"

[12:58] Wes WesϮland nods "Of course we would Sadie, Midge is a great girl and We would do anything for that child, and you. I have come to the understanding that you did not do all this that is being said and I am a pretty good judge of Character. But, I will need something.. some documents or something to show this. And, I think you will be coming home to Tombstone, I got a feeling about that too"

[12:59] Sadie Hiker now smiling "Jesus, Mary n'Joseph... Look, there's a Church just outside Monroe, no more than three miles frum here... there y'll find mah husband's grave, Harry, sorry, Harrison Hiker, when y'find it, go to the one on the left, right next to his... behind the headstone at the base there's a void. Stick y'hand in there, y'll find ah leather wallet. Ev'rything in there. Ev'rything. Birth certificates, death certificats, will's... mah entire family's history that mah inlaws have been tryin' to erase... ev'rythin ah wuz gettin t'gether t'get her back her inheritance. If y'all serious 'bout 'doptin her... y'gonna need all that. Also... " frowns "Look, ah dun know where they're gunna be sendin me... but, if ya think it will help... get ya lawer t'write up ah power of attorney for her, ah'll sign it... they wun be able t'contest that back in Arizona..."

[13:01] Wes WesϮland nods "I appriciate this Sadie, I will need to get back as soon as possible to get this taken care of. Kitty is shower in Midge with nice things so she is buyin her love." nods "We should get that Power of Attorney, every bit helps when ya dealin with Kitty and the power of the Governor"

[13:04] Sadie Hiker nods "Ah know... well, so far it's life without parole..." shakes her head "There's summin goin' on with a priest frum the orphanage where ah... well, there's still ah chance so... ain't all outta hope just yet... and knowin this... sure gonna make mah days go with a smile... all ah e'vr wanted fur that girl wuz a happy home... summin' ah cud ne'vr give her..."

[13:07] Wes WesϮland nods and frowns "Im tryin ta get you outta here but again, its not my State so my hands are sumwhat tied. But, I can sure bring Larah and Midge back up there to see you one day soon... If this all works out" smiles a bit "would you be up to seein her if i could?"

[13:09] Sadie Hiker frowns "D'ya thinks thats ah gud idea? Ah mean, ah appreciate it an all but..." takes a deep breath "It might be better t'tell em' a hung... summ'ah those kids... they think ahm alive n'in a cell somewhere... they may do summin we'll all regret? Well, ah'll leave that t'you t'decide what t'tell them..."

[13:12] Wes WesϮland nods "I can understand that and was not hinking about it too carefully. Just would like Midge ta see ya again. We will see what happens" looks around "I still gunna work on gettin ya outta here since i promised everyone I would bring ya home. But, I best bet gettin them documents and getting home to get them to a judge"

[13:14] Sadie Hiker nods with a smile "Ah can't tell ya how much easier this is all gonna be nah ah know y'gonna be lookin' out fur her..."

[13:15] Wes WesϮland smiles "it is my pleasure to look after that one, I love her ta death, she is such a sweetheart I tellya"

[13:16] Sadie Hiker nods a little sadly "Yeah, that's what ev'ry told me... wish ah time t'find out fur mahself... You be havin' a safe journey nah Marshal, can't ev'n begin t'tell you how much this means t'me..."

[13:21] Wes WesϮland stands up "Sadie, Keep your hopes up, your time has not yet come to an end" looks at her and smiles "Deputy, we done in here" walks for the door

[13:22] Sadie Hiker nods "Ah'll be seein' ya Wes."

[13:23] Deputy Red Silcox: Y'all dun then?

[13:23] Wes WesϮland nods "yes sir, take care of this lady, she is a good one, no matter what these bars say"

[13:24] Deputy Red Silcox shrugs and glares at Sadie "Du get y'self excited Rogan, y'ain goin' nowhere..."

[13:24] Wes WesϮland shakes his head and walks out "we will see about that"

[13:24] Sadie Hiker smiles and nod to wes as he leaves.

[13:25] Deputy Red Silcox They gotta be pretty dumb out west t'be suckerd in bah swamp scum likes you...

[13:25] Sadie Hiker Ignores red and holds the bars of the cell door, rattling them a little, smiling to herself and whispering "Y'better pray they ne'vr open this door Doxie... Y'better pray..."