“Yes, sir.” The sergeant wheeled and was out the door, closing it softly.
Josh smiled. “Kinda late to be boarding up the King 7, isn’t it?”
Colonel Sturgis laughed. “Yes, it is, but it’ll keep the men from getting into the whiskey.”
Josh stood. “Colonel, thank you for sending those messages for me. I’ve some business to take care of, and I’ll be heading back to the ranch. Scott Penny or Juan Alvarez will be bringing up the stock. Mr. Nance took an arrow in the leg in a skirmish with the Comanches. He’ll be laid up for a while.”
The colonel stood and both men shook hands. “Give him my regards and tell him I look forward to doing business with him. Good luck to you.”
Josh’s mind was on Pierce as he walked back to the Diehls’ store. He was thankful that Pierce had left. That meant at least one less gun to deal with. He didn’t know him, but he knew his type and didn’t like it. Good riddance that he was gone. He watched a rider coming down the street. It was Grizzard Bankes, and he was in a hurry. Josh slipped the leather thong from his Colt.
Chapter 25
Bankes saw Josh and rode directly for him. Josh relaxed his muscles, knowing that no matter how sore his hands were, he may have to use them. He moved the Colt slightly, just to make sure it was loose in the holster.
Bankes pulled his horse up in front of Josh. “You’ll not be needing that sixgun. I’m not being paid. I’ve quit.”
“So what do you want?”
“I wanted to let you know that Ruffcarn is riding right now for the Rocking N. He was mad as a hornet when he found his rustled cattle rustled. Kinda funny, actually. Anyway, he wants Nance dead. In fact, he said ‘I want everybody dead,’ or something along those lines. Logan, I don’t harm women. He’s going there to kill everyone, including Nance’s daughter and his cook. So I quit.”
“Thanks for letting me know,” Josh said. “I’ve got to get back to the ranch.”
“If you get started now, you might make it. Ruffcarn wanted to hit them in the morning.”
“Bankes, I figured you and I might have it out. I’m glad it turned out this way. No matter what happens, your name won’t be included with that bunch. Nobody’ll be after you.”
“Thanks, Logan. I think I’ll mosey up to Montana. Always heard that was a fine place to live. Reckon Mr. Diehl will sell me some supplies?”
“I’m sure he will. Come with me. O’Reilly and I have to get moving.” Josh started for Diehl’s store and Bankes followed. They entered the store together.
Jeremiah Diehl took one look at Bankes and said, “You’re not welcome here.”
“He is, Mr. Diehl. He’s quit Ruffcarn. Bankes here brought word that Ruffcarn is on his way to attack the Rocking N. Ruffcarn plans to kill everyone. Pat and I need to start back to the ranch now. Hopefully, Tiny has four good horses. If we ride all night, we might make it in time.”
“I’m going with you,” Diehl said.
“No, sir. I appreciate your offer, but we need someone to stay here with the women. Pierce has disappeared. I imagine he’s running for his life, but I’d like you to stay here, just in case.”
“Josh, it’s a hard thing you ask, but I’ll do it. Now let me get you some supplies. Do you have enough ammunition?”
“Yes sir, we’re well stocked. I don’t want any more weight than necessary. We’ll be riding hard. Just a little food that we can eat when we stop to water the horses and we’ll be fine. I’d also appreciate it if you would give Grizzard here whatever he wants and put it on my bill. I’ll take care of it.”
Pat had walked in from the dining room. He had their gear with him. “I heard you talking. Thought we might need this.” Fianna and Mrs. Diehl were with him.
Fianna’s green eyes were large. Her face was pinched from fear. “How can you make it in time?” she asked Josh.
Pat stood for a moment then moved toward the door. “I thought you were a man, Bankes, and you proved it. Good luck to you. Josh, you get the rest of the supplies, and I’ll be getting the horses ready with Tiny.” He turned back to Fianna. “Me wee sister, don’t you worry, we’ll be fine.” He reached out and smothered her in a big bear hug, then he released her and was out the door.
Josh turned to Fianna. She was looking at him with concern; it had been a long time since a woman other than his mother, had worried about him. He so wanted to take this lovely girl into his arms and tell her just how he felt, but he couldn’t forget his conversation with Pat. The best thing for Fianna was to go to California with Pat. Colorado was no place for her.
“Miss O’Reilly,” Josh said, turning back to the supplies, “ we’ll ride all night. Ruffcarn’s not planning on attacking until in the morning. Mr. Diehl, would you advise Colonel Sturgis what’s happening? He may be able to dispatch a column. It’ll take time for them to get ready, so I doubt they’ll get there in time, but they’ll be able to put Ruffcarn into custody and stop this idiocy.”
“I’ll do that, my boy,” Diehl said as he handed two sacks of supplies to Josh.
Mrs. Diehl came in carrying two sacks also. “Take these doughnuts with you. They might help keep you going tonight.”
“Ah, Mrs. Diehl, I can’t think of anything better. Thank you.
“Thanks again, Bankes. You ever get to Colorado, look me up.” Josh nodded to everyone else and was out the door, walking quickly toward the stable.
Pat had the horses saddled and ready. Tiny was bringing out two more fine looking horses. With two horses for each man, they would be able to travel faster. Josh tossed two of the sacks to Pat and tied two behind his saddle.
“Take care of that lighter sack, Pat. Mrs. Diehl stuffed it with bear sign.”
Pat’s face lit up. “I can ride like the wind with doughnuts. ‘Tis a happy man I am.”
Tiny looked at the sacks. “If I’d known Mrs. Diehl was giving out bear sign just for riding all night, why, dadburn it, I’d be going with you.”
Through the seriousness, the three men laughed. They knew what might be coming, and a man must find humor when he can. “I’m bettin’ you’ll see some bear sign at the dinner table tonight.” Josh turned serious. “Thanks for the horses, Tiny. Don’t know when we can get them back.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Tiny said. “You boys just be safe and make good time. The Nances are good people. I’d hate for anything to happen to ‘em.”
“Let’s get moving,” Josh said. “We’re burning daylight.” He and Pat left Camp Wilson at a gallop. Long shadows were marching across the street as the sun slid slowly below the horizon.
Wesley Pierce sat on his horse below the ridge to the west of Camp Wilson. They were in a ravine, just behind a stand of mesquite—well hidden from the town, but able to see everything that was happening. Bartholf was on the ground, looking through their supplies for something to eat. He had the extra horse tied to a mesquite. The two men were watching Josh and Pat as they raced out of town with an extra horse each.
“Those boys are in a bit of a hurry,” Pierce said. “Bankes must have told ‘em something that has their bowels in an uproar. My guess is that Ruffcarn, that simpleton, is up to nothing good, at least as far as Logan is concerned.”
Bartholf handed Pierce a piece of jerky. “We don’t have a lot, boss. We had to get out of there too fast to pick up much.”
“Don’t worry about it. We can get supplies from Diehl or Ruffcarn.”
“Boss, are you still thinking about taking that girl? Could make things a little dicey.”
Pierce ignored Bartholf’s question. His mind drifted to Fianna. He would take her soon. She was a pretty girl, but she was uppity. He’d met those kind in New Orleans society, in Savannah where his folks lived, and at the dances when he attended Georgia Military Institute. They were stuck up and sophisticated, until he got hold of them. He’d shown more than one that he knew how to handle women, and this Fianna O’Reilly, graduate of Mount Holyoke Seminary, was about to learn that her haughty ways wouldn’t work wi
th a strong man like himself. He’d teach her respect. He had what women wanted.
It was getting darker, almost time to take Fianna. He watched as Bankes came out of Diehl’s store, swung into the saddle, and tied his supplies to his saddle horn. Bankes headed north out of town. Pierce had really wanted to kill Bankes. He knew he could. Bankes wasn’t near as fast as he thought he was, but they might meet some other time. He could take care of him then. Pierce watched the man until he disappeared into the trees at the crossing. In one way, he hated to leave here. He knew Camp Wilson was going to grow. It was located at the confluence of the Clear Fork of the Brazos and Collins Creek—plenty of water. That was the main requirement in this country. With all the buffalo, hunters and skinners would be flocking here as soon as they heard about the new town. This would be a town of plenty—plenty of suckers to fleece.
The quarter moon was just starting to illuminate the eastern hills. If he was going to grab the girl, now was the time. Pierce turned to Bartholf. “Let’s go.”
Bartholf untied the little grulla mustang, climbed onto his roan and followed Pierce into town. They rode up to the Diehls’ store, puffs of dust exploding quietly from under the horses’ hooves.
“Wait here,” Pierce said. He walked to the door. It was still unlocked. He opened the door and walked in. He’d so been looking forward to this.
Jeremiah Diehl came walking from the dining room. He had only a moment to recognize Pierce. Diehl had been a ranger for many years. He knew how to read men, both good and bad. The moment he saw Pierce in the doorway smiling at him, he knew. …
Jeremiah had removed his apron just a few minutes earlier. His .44 Colt was where he always kept it, slipped behind his belt, butt toward his right hand. Even as he dived to his left and felt the smooth butt of his .44 in his hand, he knew—he was too slow. Everything happened so slowly, his gun was just clearing his belt, and he could see Pierce with his gun pointed at him. It was as if it just appeared in his hand. I always knew this day would come. He saw the smoke from Pierce’s Colt and felt a smashing blow in his chest. His gun was no longer in his hand. Who’s screaming? Victoria? He wanted to comfort her. He. …
Pierce saw the two women come into the room just as he pulled the trigger. It felt good. He was fed up with that old ranger and his mouth. He started to put another bullet into him, but the man’s wife was bending over him. He was dying, any man could see. He looked up at Fianna. “You’re coming with me, Miss O’Reilly.”
Fianna stepped back from him. “No, I can’t. My brother—”
“Oh, yeah, you can. I don’t much mind shooting women, but I won’t if you come with me. If you give me any trouble, I’ll put a bullet in the old woman and put her out of her misery,” Pierce said, and smiled again. Nothing moved above his lips. He stepped over Jeremiah Diehl and grabbed Fianna’s arm.
Mrs. Diehl jumped up and threw herself at him, clawing and kicking. He threw her off and struck her a vicious blow to the head. The blow sounded hollow, like smashing a watermelon, as the barrel of his sixgun drove into the side of her head. She fell across Mr. Diehl. They both lay in a bloody pile on the dining room floor.
“I said, let’s go.” Again Pierce grabbed Fianna and this time, he dragged her across the dining room into the store and out the door.
“My brother will kill you.”
“He won’t be the first to try. I’ve left a few men lying in the dirt because of their women. I don’t mind adding one more. Now get on the horse,” Pierce said and shoved her toward the grulla.
She hesitated. There was commotion down the street at the Shamrock and Tiny’s blacksmith. She could also hear men at the fort. Just another minute. Bartholf reached across the little grulla and grabbed Fianna by her beautiful auburn hair. She screamed as he lifted her by the hair onto the horse’s back. Cecil Starit, shotgun in hand, came running out of the Shamrock. Pierce threw two quick shots at him and jumped onto his horse. Cecil dived back through the door, the bullets striking the frame. Tiny came out of the stable as Pierce, Fianna, and Bartholf raced by. His rifle leaped to his shoulder, but he held his fire as they disappeared into the darkness. They were gone.
Tiny and Cecil ran to Diehl’s store. They raced through the door and found both Jeremiah and Victoria unconscious on the dining room floor.
“Tiny, run to the fort and get the surgeon,” Cecil said as he examined Mrs. Diehl’s head wound.
Tiny plowed through the door and headed for the fort, running as fast as he could. Cecil lifted Mrs. Diehl from across Jeremiah’s body and laid her gently aside so that he could examine her husband. Blood was running from a chest wound. Jeremiah looked so small now. Cecil took out his knife and cut Jeremiah’s shirt from his body. He rolled him over. Sure enough, the bullet had gone all the way through. He took Jeremiah’s shirt and stuffed it into the hole in his back. Cecil pulled the table cloth off the dining table, wadded it up, and held it against Jeremiah’s chest. He sat like that for what seemed like forever, until he heard footsteps, and the surgeon came running through the door.
The surgeon pushed Cecil aside and examined Jeremiah. He heard a faint heartbeat. “This man is still alive,” the surgeon said. “Get me some water boiling. I’ve got to get these pieces of shirt out of his wound.” He laid Mr. Diehl back on the floor and checked Mrs. Diehl. “She should be alright. It’s a head wound. She’ll probably have a mild concussion, but she’ll be okay.”
Tiny was back with several of the cavalry men. The doctor turned to the men and said, “Get him up on the table. Gently now.”
The soldiers gingerly lifted Jeremiah to the table. The doctor looked around for Cecil. “Where’s my hot water?”
Cecil came in with a pan of boiled water. “She still had the stove fired up. I guess she was trying to get ready for the morning.” He set it down on a stand next to the table.
The doctor opened his bag, took out some instruments and began to work. He washed his hands and used the dish towel that Cecil had brought from the kitchen to dry them. The surgeon started digging in the chest wound with a pair of forceps. “I need another pan,” he said. He picked pieces of clothing from the wound for what seemed like an hour, dropping them into the pan.
Mrs. Diehl came awake. She was a frontier woman, and though she had lost control, for a moment, when she saw her husband shot, now she was calm. “Is he still alive, Doctor?”
“Barely,” the surgeon said. “If the bullet had been an inch to the right or left, he’d be dead. He has a fighting chance if we can get this wound clean and keep it that way.”
“What can I do, Doctor?” Mrs. Diehl asked.
“Just wait till I’m done. Then you can take care of him. He could still die, but at least he has a chance. He’s still alive—that means he’s a fighter. He just might make it. You can thank Mr. Starit. He was able to stem the blood flow until I arrived.”
“Thank you, Cecil. I don’t know what I’d do without Jeremiah.”
“No need for thanks, Victoria. I’m just glad the doctor arrived so quickly, thanks to Tiny.”
Mrs. Diehl turned to Tiny. “Thank you Tiny.” She looked around quickly. “Where’s Fianna?”
“Gone, ma’am,” Tiny said. “Pierce and Bartholf took out of here with her in tow. I tried to get a shot, but it was so dark, I didn’t want to take a chance of hitting her.”
Mrs. Diehl shook her head. “Poor Fianna. That Wesley Pierce is an evil man. No woman is safe with that man.”
They raced through the moonlit night. TThe faint light slipped around each tree and cactus, barely providing enough light to see the trail.
Pierce and Bartholf said nothing as they rode. Bartholf held onto the grulla’s reins, and Pierce led the way. They were headed for Ruffcarn’s ranch. Pierce felt sure they would be safe there for a while. Ruffcarn might put up a squawk, but he could handle him. Anyway, he was going to have to eliminate Ruffcarn sometime; this just might be the time. Right now Ruffcarn didn’t matter, the gold didn’t matter; all that mattere
d was the girl. She needed a lesson on how to respect a man, and he was going to give it to her. He, at least, had time for that. With the army coming after him, it was a good thing he’d been warned. He would have to get out of Texas. He might have to leave the U.S. That would mean giving up the gold. He hated that. He had worked so hard to get Nance’s ranch and get the gold. Sometimes he wondered if he should have done everything himself. If they hadn’t gotten involved in selling cattle to the army, that was Ruffcarn’s idea to make a little extra money and seem legit, the army probably wouldn’t be after them now. He should have gotten rid of Ruffcarn when they left New Orleans. He had proven to be a liability.
Pierce smirked in the moonlight. It didn’t matter now; he had the girl. He’d show Logan who was the best man. What a shock to see him still alive. That was another loose end left to one of Ruffcarn’s hirelings. Evidently Bull Westin wasn’t near as good a shot as Ruffcarn said he was. It didn’t matter now. They would be at the ranch in a few hours. He needed some rest and time to plan, then he’d take care of the girl. He looked back and could see Fianna riding easily in the saddle, her long hair streaming in the wind, glistening silver in the moonlight. He smiled in anticipation.
Chapter 26
Josh and Pat raced toward the Rocking N. It was dangerous riding. With the thin light of the quarter moon, a missed step or sharp ravine could see a horse or rider injured or dead, but there was no other choice. Two more guns could make the difference. The mesquites and cactus flashed by as they pushed on toward the ranch. The men were switching mounts every hour.
They had crossed Coyle Creek a few hours back and were continuing to parallel Hubbard Creek as they rode south. Now, at a walk, they wanted to water and feed the horses and let them rest a short while. The four horses were good animals, but they had a long way to go. With only two horses per man, the horses would die long before they reached the ranch if they were continuously run. Though the men needed to get there as soon as they could, they wouldn’t get there at all if they killed their horses. Josh signaled Pat and they turned into the timber along Hubbard Creek. The men found an easy slope to walk the horses into the creek bed and let them drink. “Think we’ll make it in time?” Pat asked.
Logan's Word: A Logan Family Western - Book 1 (Logan Family Western Series) Page 21
