by Danni Roan
“YOU COME ALONG WITH me young fella,” Old Jed called as he walked out of the assay office. “We need to make a stop before we go anywhere else.”
Titus fell into step with the old man following him along toward the general store. “What’s the hurry Jed?” he asked as they pulled open the door.
“Don’t you worry none about that. Just let me get what’s needed then we’ll talk.”
He walked toward the counter a big grin on his face.
“Howdy old-timer,” the store owner greeted, “what can I do for you today?”
“Well, I find I got myself a few varmints over ta my place,” Jed began, “snakes and such like. I thought I’d best buy me a shootin’ iron afore I head on home.”
The clerk eyed the old man, wondering about the request. Jed had been in to Hester several times in the past couple of years and never needed a pistol before.
“Let me show you what we’ve got,” the shopkeeper said. “Sure is nice seeing you here again Jed.”
“Always nice ta come in ta Hester,” Jed agreed, “been thinking of headin’ over ta Arizona way, though.” He mused, “Might find more color over there.”
Titus studied the old man, trying to keep any expression of surprise from his face. He’d been with Jed for nearly three months already and the man had never mentioned going to Arizona or needing a pistol.
“Well, I wish you good luck,” the shopkeeper said with a smile. “Now what kind of pistol are you looking for?”
A half hour later, Jed shoved a cold 45 and a worn holster into Titus’ hands. “You best carry that young fella,” Jed said. “I ain’t got the eyes for it no more. I’ll stick with my old shotgun.”
“But why do we need a gun?” Titus asked, ducking closer when Jed shushed him.
“Cause when I was over ta the assayers office, he said I found me a fine thread and that my silver was worth top dollar,” Jed whispered.
Titus blinked, was the old man saying they’d struck it rich?
“Wished the confounded fella would a’ had the sense ta keep his voice down though, they was some rough lookin’ men hangin’ about, and I didn’t like the look in their eyes when I took my money.”
Titus cast a glance around them but didn’t see anyone nearby. “What’d we get?”
Jed stopped, “That depends,” he said eyeing Titus. “You still headin’ over to the sheriff’s office after we get warshed up?”
“I am,” Titus stated determinedly. “If he knows anything, I want to hear it.”
“Alright then, we plumb made us one thousand dollars.”
Titus stopped dead in his tracks. The nagging voice in his head saying he needed money ringing like an alarm bell, but not offering him any answers.
If Old Jed really did split the haul with him, he’d be set for a long, long time.
“What ya waitin’ for,” Jed said, motioning him forward with a hand. “That bath ain’t gettin’ any closer with us standin’ in the street.”
“I’M SORRY SON. I’VE never seen a poster with your picture on it. Now if you want to claim responsibility for some nefarious activities, I’ll be glad to toss you in a cell.”
The sheriff of Hester Nevada smiled, his refined tones, and sophisticated language making Titus feel at ease.
“No sir, I don’t suppose I’d like to take the blame for anything I didn’t do, but if I remember I promise, I’ll come right back in.”
The sheriff chuckled, “Any man whose willing to come to the office, and see if he’s on a wanted poster is most likely not the kind of man I’m looking for,” he said.
“That’s what I been tellin’ him sheriff,” Jed spoke up. “Besides he’s been workin’ his tail off with me, and most men what falls in with a group of rep-ro-bates, ain’t much inclined ta hard work.”
“I couldn’t agree more Jed.”
Titus shook his head. He was no closer to knowing who he was, or where he’d come from.
No missing persons had been reported to the law, and he didn’t match a single description or drawing on a wanted poster.
“Besides,” Jed was saying, “I wouldn’t make no scaly-wag, a partner on my claim now would I?”
Titus turned incredulous eyes to the old prospector. “You don’t need to do that Jed,” he protested.
“Sure I do,” the old man grinned. “If you hadn’t been swingin’ the pick, I’d a been ages finding that seam. I made it official when I was down to the office, so’s that why I bought you that gun.”
The sheriff looked between the two men, one tall, and young with brown hair, and blue eyes, the other old, stooped, bearded and crotchety.
“Sounds like you earned it son,” the law man mused. “Anyone who can put up with Jed for more than a day or two’s earned whatever he can get.”
Together the Sheriff and Titus laughed while Jed glared at them.
“Well if that’s how you’re gonna be, I’m takin’ myself on over to Dom’s and getting me a steak. You can just eat hard tack and jerky.”
The old man spun on his rundown heel and headed for the door.
“Thank you for your help Sheriff,” Titus said, reaching across the desk to shake the other man’s hand. “I’ll check in with you the next time we’re in town.”
“You do that son, and watch your back. If anyone get’s wind of Jed’s strike there’s likely to be trouble.” The lawman’s hard eyes were serious.
“Yes, sir,” Titus agreed, adjusting the pistol on his hip. He didn’t even know if he could shoot it.
Chapter 5
TITUS LOOKED OVER HIS shoulder for the tenth time, he’d had the feeling he and old Jed were being followed, but he couldn’t see any signs of pursuit.
“You’re ‘bout as jumpy as a long tailed cat in a room full of rockers.” Jed chortled.
“I guess it’s all that talk about money and the claim,” Titus said. “I still don’t know what happened to me, and now you’re puttin’ a gun in my hand and telling me if folks find out about the claim, we could have trouble.”
“Well I’m probably just being over cautious,” Jed admitted, trudging along next to Titus who shortened his stride for the old man. “I been out here diggin’ in these rocks for years now, and I guess I figure it’s too good to be true that I hit a tidy pocket of silver.”
Titus smiled, “You have worked hard at it,” he said lightening the mood.
“You helped. I was about to give up before I found your worthless carcass sprawled out there, now look what we done.” The old man smiled. “I ain’t greedy,” he continued, “but I’d like to have a little bit to carry me through my dotage.”
“Bit late for that isn’t it old-timer?” Titus joshed, making the old man glare.
“Reckon maybe it is at that,” Jed finally agreed. “Still nice ta know you can afford to eat.” He looked back at the supplies they’d purchased and were packing in on their animals. “I always liked ta eat.”
Titus laughed, perhaps he still didn’t know who he was or where he’d come from, but he was glad to be a part of the old prospectors world.
The work was hard, but he had a way to earn his keep and hold body and soul together.
He fingered the card he now carried in his breast pocket as the nagging thoughts returned.
Was someone waiting for him? Were they expecting him to come home? Where was home? Who was Abner? The thoughts rapid fired through his brain leaving his head spinning.
“I’ll be glad to get to camp,” he finally said, shaking off the nagging doubts. “We’ll follow that seam a bit longer then decide what comes next.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Jed agreed, sticking his hand in his pocket and jingling the coins he had there. “I still say you’re a confounded idgit for puttin’ your take in the bank. I don’t trust banks.”
“I know Jed, but I had to do something. I just couldn’t bring it with us.”
“Well, I’ll be hidin’ mine, so’s don’t you think I’m sharin’ no more with you if’n that bank
gits robbed.”
“I won’t ask for a penny,” Titus agreed with a chuckle.
Jed cut him the evil eye only making him laugh harder.
Maybe he didn’t know who he really was, or where he’d come from, but he knew he had a friend in the old man, and he’d do what he could to make sure he had the nest egg he wanted for his old age.
Chapter 6
TITUS PUT THE PICK down and lifted the shovel. It was warm under the butte where he’d been digging. He could feel the sweat running down his back and sides, but had given up wiping it away ages ago.
Behind him his discarded shirt danced lazily on a jute bush in the afternoon breeze that didn’t quite reach him.
Carefully he loaded a bucket with some of the ore he’d cut from the hill. Some chunks were spattered with silver, while others were covered with fine spider web threads.
He smiled as he dumped the ore in the pile Jed had been working earlier. If this didn’t set the old man up nothing would.
Stopping his work, he looked along the path toward the spring, wondering where the old prospector could be. It wasn’t like him to leave Titus to do the work alone.
Over the past few weeks they’d honed their work skills; Titus would do the heaviest digging and Jed would separate out the best ore, chipping it down to its most marketable essence.
“Jed?” Titus called, wondering if the old man had decided to take a nap in a shady spot.
Hearing nothing he turned back to the cut in the dark brown rock, hefted the pick and began to chip away at a future.
“WELL LOOKY WHAT WE got here boys?” a dark heavily bearded man drawled. “Looks like we found that ol’ prospector that hit that sweet seam.”
Two other men laughed circling around Jed.
“You ruffians just skedattle now,” Jed blustered. “I ain’t got nothin’ you’d want. Just me and little Bitty here,” he gestured at the mule.
“I heard what you and the assayer said last time you was in Hester old man,” black beard said. “Now you hand over the goods, and we’ll just ride on out of here real quiet like.”
“I told ya, I ain’t got nothin’,” Jed called.
“We’ll see about that. Get ‘em boys!” black beard called and the three descended.
“I ain’t got no more,” Jed cried, as one of the thugs kicked him in the stomach again. “It’s in the bank back ta Hester,” he wheezed.
“I don’t believe you,” the dark bearded man said. “I think you’re holdin’ out on us.”
A surly looking man with slouched shoulders and a twisted grin punched Jed in the face, smearing the blood that already flowed from his nose.
“Better speak up soon old man. These boys don’t seem to believe ya.”
“I swear,” Jed groaned, hot tears pouring down his face. “I left the rest in Hester. That’s all I have.”
Black beard jingled the money bag in his hand with a heavy clink.
“How much is it,” the surly character asked, eyes bright with greed.
“Only about two hundred dollars,” black beard replied.
“Two hundred!” the other man exclaimed. “That’ll buy us a high time in town.”
The dark man walked up to Jed who was curled into a ball trying to protect himself from the onslaught of blows.
“I still think you got more old man,” he said, kicking Jed in the thigh and making him howl, “spill.”
“I swear, I swear,” Jed pleaded. “I ain’t got no more. I split with the young fella that was workin’ with me, and he lit out of Hester for home.”
The third man sauntered up to the old man and kicked him in the back knocking the breath from him as the others laughed.
“What about the mangy beast of his?” black beard asked, “find anything?”
“Naw, nothin’. Just a few supplies, jerky, water and the like.”
The man with the black beard took careful aim and pulled the trigger. The little donkey dropped to the ground, silent and still.
“No! No!” Jed screamed, “Bitty, not Bitty.” Hot tears poured down his face as the leader of the gang walked over and hit him hard in the face with the butt of his pistol.
TITUS DROPPED THE PICK and charged out of the hole at the sound of a pistol shot. He plunged over the rubble pile, swung onto his mule and raced toward camp, pistol in hand.
“Jed, Jed!” he cried his voice breaking with panic as he took a hard turn around a small clump of trees and saw the carnage before him.
Jed, covered in blood, lay in a battered heap amidst the cactus and stone and a dozen yards from him lay his little donkey.
Throwing himself from the saddle, Titus dropped down next to his friend, wiping the blood away from his face with a gentle hand.
“Jed. Jed. Don’t you die on me old man,” he pleaded, leaning close to listen for any sound of breathing.
Jed’s eyes fluttered open as his breath came in ragged gasps. “Bitty,” he whispered then passed out once more.
Titus smoothed the old man’s head then carefully checked to see if he had any broken bones.
He was breathing, but he was bleeding from several injuries on his face and skull, and he looked like he’d been badly battered.
“You just rest easy Jed,” Titus droned, his voice reassuring. “You’ll be alright. I’ll get you to town and to the doc.”
Once the old man was bandaged and comfortable, he walked to the prostrate form of the little donkey and knelt running a hand over her furry neck only to pull back when the animal blinked at him dazedly.
“You’re not dead Bitty,” Titus said moving up and stroking her nose, then examining where the bullet had hit.
A ragged laugh escaped his throat as he examined the blood smear that covered her neck. The bullet had only grazed across her withers, leaving her temporarily paralyzed.
“Well, wait till Jed hears this,” he whispered rubbing the little animal affectionately. “This’ll do him a world of good.”
As Bitty began to stir, Titus helped her to her feet, dropped her packs and headed back to Jed, who was still out cold.
“Jed, if you can hear me, Bitty isn’t dead. She’s gonna’ be alright.”
Carefully he bundled the old man in blankets, checked the bandages he’d wound around his head and hefted him onto his own mules back.
It would be a long slow walk to Hester, but they’d make it, and one way or another, the men who had done this would pay.
Chapter 7
“SHERIFF, YOU CAN’T stop me, I’m going after the men that did this to Jed, and I’ll bring them in.”
“Son that’s not your job, leave it to the law.”
Titus turned toward the sheriff, he was a good man, honest and prepared to do his job, but for Titus this was personal.
“Then you’ll have to deputize me,” Titus said, “because one way or another I’m going after those men.” His blue eyes flashed with anger and his jaw clenched with determination.
“Titus you don’t know a thing about tracking bad men.” The Sheriff tried, but the younger man only laughed.
“You don’t know that? I don’t even know that,” he said. “For all I know, I’m a lawman in my own right.”
The sheriff shook his head. “You should stay here with Jed,” he tried again.
“Jed’s in good hands,” Titus said. “He’s over at the boarding house with Mrs. Bitters. She’ll look after him. Besides she’s paid up for the next two months while Jed recovers.”
The sheriff studied Titus meeting his angry glare. “Alright son, I’m going to deputize you, but that means you bring those men back alive.” He nodded toward the pistol on the other man’s hip.
“I don’t aim to have my own necktie party,” Titus said, “but I do plan on bringing them in and getting back what they took from Jed.”
Slowly the sheriff stretched out his hand offering Titus the badge. “Be careful.”
“NOW DON’T YOU GO GETTING’ yourself kilt.” Jed argued when Titus went to see him. “
It ain’t worth somethin’ happenin’ to ya.”
“Jed, those men can’t get away with what they did. They need be brought in.”
“You got your mind set don’t ya?” Jed said.
“I do.”
“Well they only got away with what I had in my pockets,” Jed explained, “and Bitty is alright now, so I guess we could just be thankful for what we got and move on.”
Titus shook his head. “Jed if they’re willing to beat up and old man like they did you, what else are they capable of? I’m going after them, and I’ll bring them back.”
“No way I can talk ya out of it is s’pose?”
“None.”
“Alright then, if you gotta go, don’t go gittin’ yourself kilt.”
“I’ll do my best,” Titus said offering the old man his hand. “I owe you an awful lot Jed, and I aim to see this put right.”
“Confounded youth,” Jed grumbled dashing at his eyes. “Well git yourself gone then, and remember not to sky line yourself this time.”
Titus reached out, placing his hand on the old man’s shoulder. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
TITUS PACKED THE MULE and saddled the horse he’d bought then walked over to the stall where Bitty was contentedly munching hay.
The hostler had fixed up her wound and made her comfortable assuring Titus that he’d look after the critter while he was gone or until Jed was well enough to claim her.
“You look after that old coot.” Titus said to the donkey. “He needs someone around with brains.”
He patted the little jenny affectionately then walked out of the barn and swung up into saddle, tugging the mule behind and turning south in the direction the men had gone.
His saddle bags had been full of ore when he and Jed had ridden into Hester. Now, they were full of supplies for the road.
Once he’d gotten Jed settled, and the doctor in to tend him, Titus had taken their samples to the assayer and cashed out. He’d put half in the bank for Jed, and paid everything up for the old man’s recovery.
