by K. L. Hemley
“Can’t say fairer than that,” grinned Jesse, as Mabel found the cows she’d been looking for and deftly maneuvered them out to where the Indians were waiting.
“We have a deal now, right?” she confirmed as they took the cows from her. “You guarantee that we won’t be attacked while we’re in our territory?”
“My word is unbreakable,” came the reply. “You won’t see us again.”
Mabel nodded at him and watched as the Indians left to take the cattle back home.
“How can you be sure you can trust him?” Jesse asked.
“How can I be sure I can trust you?” Mabel countered. “I know there’s been a lot of trouble in this area and things have been very restless, but everything I’ve heard says that an Indian will keep his word. They’ve been paid on top of what they stole. They’ve got no reason to attack us now, not unless we give them any trouble and none of my men are foolish enough to go looking for trouble, now, are they?”
She fixed Jesse with a glare that had him squirming uncomfortably. “No ma’am,” he told her.
Chapter Nine: Dodge City At Last
True to their word, Mabel’s team didn’t suffer any further Indian attacks as they traveled through their territory and the days settled back into the kind of boring, uneventful routine she liked. This drive had been more dramatic than most and she felt as though she’d had enough excitement to last a lifetime.
No wonder being a cattle driver was a young man’s game. Mabel felt like she’d aged a decade over the past couple of months. She’d be glad to hand over the cattle and head on home. At least the journey back would be faster without having to worry about the herd.
At last they could see the outline of Dodge City on the horizon. Knowing that their destination was so close perked them all up and gave them the heart to make a final push to the end.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to a long, cold beer,” said Joe and the other cowboys nodded in agreement. Everyone was going to want to let off steam after the trail and Mabel couldn’t blame them.
She rode on ahead to make sure that everything was ready for their arrival. She already had an agreement with Marcus Blythe to buy the cattle for her for a fair price, but there was always the possibility she’d be able to get a better deal now that the cattle were actually here.
She found Blythe at his livery stable. “So you made it, Miss Milton,” he greeted.
“Eventually,” she smiled. “It’s been an eventual trail this time around, but we’re here now, ready to do business.”
“Glad to hear it,” Blythe said. “Now if you’d like to come this way, there’s the dreaded paperwork we need to get through and we can conclude our transactions.”
If anyone ever thought that just because Mabel was female, she was easily taken advantage of, they were soon disabused of that notion. She had a hard nose for business and when Blythe attempted to change some of their previously agreed terms, she soon put him right.
At last they were able to shake hands, a sale agreed at a price they were both happy with. “Always a pleasure to do business with you, Miss Milton,” Blythe told her.
“Likewise,” Mabel replied. “My men should be here shortly and I’ll bring them over here with the cattle.”
She left Blythe and went to the Wright House, one of the town’s general stores and hotel. She and her team were going to be staying there while they were in Dodge City and she’d agreed to meet them there when they arrived in the town.
She didn’t have long to wait before the herd came lumbering up, led by Jesse. She waved to them and took them back to Blythe’s livery stable. The cowboys dismounted and let the horses loose into a large coral kept for that purpose before going into the livery to surrender their guns. Mabel went in and gave each of the men twenty-five dollars’ worth of gold, the entirety of their salary.
As soon as they pocketed their money, the cowboys disappeared into the town, all eager to spend some of their wages on something frivolous after so long on the road. Jesse stayed behind to negotiate his own sale with Blythe while Mabel headed over to the restaurant. Jonas was an amazing trail cook but even his culinary delights lost their charms after a couple of months on the road and Mabel was looking forward to treating herself to something sweet before she went shopping.
She sat down at a table with a contented sigh. Just having the luxury of a chair to sit on was enough to make her feel civilized again. She decided there and then to have a hot bath that evening when she was settled in her hotel room for the night.
“So this is where you’re hiding,” said Jesse, plumping himself down in the chair opposite her.
“I wasn’t hiding,” Mabel pointed out. “I’m sitting in public view in a public place, waiting to order some cake. However, I was hoping for some time to myself to unwind.”
“Are you telling me that you don’t want my company?” Jesse put on a hurt expression. “I am mortified. There was me thinking that we were becoming close.”
“Make no mistake, Jesse. We’re business acquaintances; nothing more and always will be.” Mabel looked away and tried to attract the attention of a passing waiter. She couldn’t help but feel that she’d made a big fuss out of nothing – Jesse was joking, like always. Still, now that the cattle drive was over, she wanted to make sure that he knew where he stood and that was as far away from her as possible. He had his own affairs to consider – he needed to leave her to get on with hers.
“Well all right then, Miss Mabel,” Jesse said after a moment. “I guess I’ll leave you to your refreshments. I’m sorry to have troubled you.”
Mabel turned to tell him to stay, but he’d already stood up and strode away from her.
“What can I get you ma’am?” asked the waiter, but she found that her appetite had suddenly deserted her.
An hour or so later, she returned to the stable to check on the men, who were gradually finding their way back to tuck away in their saddle pockets their new goodies bought with their wages. Everyone was looking noticeably tidier, having visited a barber for a shave and a haircut.
“Is everything all right?” she asked.
“That it is, ma’am,” replied Joe. “I’ve heard tell of there being some competitions in town shortly and I’m thinking about signing up. Let’s show the folks round here what Texan cowboys can really do. Besides, reckon I owe it to Ned. He’d said he was going to enter a contest or two. I’m planning on winning in his name.”
“I think Ned would like that,” Mabel agreed. “Now you all make sure you’re back at the Wright House for dinner. Seven o’clock sharp, - you hear me?”
“Yes ma’am,” nodded Joe and the others.
Mabel made her way back to the Wright House and asked to be shown to her room. She wanted to take an afternoon nap, exhausted from the journey. She knew what the men were going to be doing – making their rounds of the gambling houses and saloons to do something with the gold burning a hole in their pockets. She knew that she could join them if she chose, but she also knew that they’d feel uncomfortable relaxing around her in those places and she didn’t want them to feel obliged to behave on her account. She understood that the men needed to let off steam in their own way.
It felt strange to be in a soft bed after so many hard weeks sleeping under the stars, and at first Mabel felt as though she wouldn’t relax enough to settle down, but she was soon lost in slumber, dreaming of being back home, using the money from the sale of the cattle to do some much needed repairs around the property.
When she awoke, it was getting dark and she needed to make a move on to round up the men for dinner together. Some of the men were already back at the Wright House and she told them to buy a round of drinks on her account before heading out to round up the others.
She found Jonas in a gambling house, chatting away nine to the dozen with an old cavalry comrade he hadn’t seen for some years. She felt bad about dragging him away, but Jonas didn’t seem to mind, promising to seek him out ag
ain the next day.
At last, she was back at the Wright House, with her whole team surrounding her. Jesse and his men were also there, but they were keeping to themselves and Mabel decided not to invite them over. It was probably for the best that they stayed in their separate groups.
As they sat down to dinner, Mabel raised her mug in a toast. “I’d like to thank you all for your hard work and dedication over the past couple of months. It’s been a difficult run, no doubt about it, but we came through it and you deserve the chance to enjoy yourself for a while. To good times ahead!”
“Good times ahead!” echoed the men, banging their mugs together.
Hot food had never tasted so good as that first dinner in Dodge City. Every mouthful tasted like Heaven to Mabel and she ate her fill of potatoes, fried chicken and vegetables. At last she pushed her plate away, unable to eat any more.
“We’re going to the Lone Star dance hall,” Jonas told her. “Would you care to join us?”
“You know, Jonas, I think I would,” Mabel agreed. “It’s been a long time since I kicked up my heels and I think it’s just what I need.”
“Well then, fair lady, let us be gone.” Jonas stood and offered Mabel his arm, which she took with a smile.
When they arrived, they saw Jesse and his men already there, drinking freely as if they had all the money in the world to throw around. “Mabel!” Jesse slurred, drunkenly throwing an arm over her shoulder. “Didn’t think we’d see your prim and proper self here. Don’t tell me you’re actually going to let yourself have some fun are you??”
“Well I guess that depends on whether some drunken sot decides to get in my way, doesn’t it?” she replied, deftly ducking out from underneath him.
“Oh, come on, Mabel, don’t be like that,” slurred Jesse. “I thought we were friends.”
“Hey,” said Jonas sternly. “The lady isn’t interested. Why don’t you just go back to your friends and enjoy your evening with them?”
“Oh but Mabel’s so much prettier to look at,” grinned Jesse.
“That’s as may be,” Jonas replied, “but there are plenty of other pretty girls and I’m sure one of them will be much more interested in your attention.”
Jesse pouted and lurched off and sure enough, Mabel soon saw him with another woman, dancing a quadrille with her. She felt a little put out that he had so easily forgotten her, but then again, she wasn’t interested in him romantically, so why shouldn’t he find someone more amenable to his charms to spend the evening with?
“Let me buy you a drink, Miss Mabel,” offered Jonas. “With any luck, he won’t be bothering you anymore this evening.”
Mabel agreed and let Jonas lead her off to the bar. They were standing their chatting when suddenly a loud Comanche yell split the air. Everyone looked round and saw one of Jesse’s men giggling at the effect his cry had had. As Mabel watched, one of the bouncers made his way over to the group.
“Uh-oh,” muttered Jonas. “I do so hope that Jesse doesn’t cause us any trouble.”
“They’re not armed, are they?” asked Mabel anxiously.
“I don’t think so,” Jonas replied. “I don’t think anyone has taken their guns back yet.” Nevertheless, he stood so that he was between Mabel and the arguing men. The bouncer was twice the size of the man who’d shouted out and, knowing that he wouldn’t stand a chance in a fist fight, he stood there and took the dressing down he was subject to.
Under the watchful gaze of the bouncer, the man left the dance hall and the bouncer returned to his station, content that his job was done. However, Mabel noticed that the rest of Jesse’s crew quietly got up and left. She had a bad feeling about what was about to happen. However, as the night wore on, she decided that they’d simply left in solidarity and had found somewhere else to drink and dance.
Mabel was just finishing up the last of her drink before she was going to go back to the hotel when a gunshot split the air.
A woman screamed and Mabel turned to see the man that had argued with the bouncer standing over the bouncer’s prone body, his gun smoking. The other men with him lifted their guns and fired at the ceiling, knocking the lights out.
“Come on, Miss Mabel. Let’s get out of here.” Jonas grabbed her arm and pulled her outside, holding her close to protect her from the press of frightened people trying to escape the guns. Mabel pressed herself against Jonas’ bulk and the pair of them pushed their way outside where people were running in all directions. There was no sign of Jesse or his men.
“Stupid, stupid man,” Mabel seethed. “What on earth were they thinking?”
They heard the clatter of hooves and they were only just quick enough to jump out of the way of a group of riders. Mabel caught a glimpse of one of them and recognized him as having belonged to Jesse’s team. There was no doubt about it. Jesse and his men were responsible for the death of the bouncer and over something as trivial as a bar room argument.
“Come on, Miss Mabel,” said Jonas. “Let’s get back to the Wright House. We won’t be seeing them again anytime soon unless it be at the end of a rope.”
Mabel let Jonas lead her away without protest, still stunned at what she’d just witnessed. She’d known that Jesse could be hotheaded, but she hadn’t thought that he’d go so far as to kill someone in cold blood like that. She wondered what else there was that she didn’t know about him. It just went to show that it took more than a couple of months on the cattle trail to get to know someone properly.
One thing was certain. After what she’d just witnessed, Mabel no longer felt bad that she’d told Jesse that she saw them as business partners and nothing else.
If she never saw Jesse Lockwood again, it would be too soon.
The Heart of Texas series continues with Book Two, coming soon!
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Fortune Out West: The Series
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Table of Contents
KLHemley.com
Chapter One: Life on the Range
Chapter Two: On the Move
Chapter Three: Under a Starry Sky
Chapter Four: The Magic of the Stars
Chapter Five: Thunderbolts and Lightning
Chapter Six: Not Out Of The Woods
Chapter Seven: More Than One Way to Use a Tarpaulin
Chapter Eight: Indian Territory
Chapter Nine: Dodge City At Last
Chapter One: Life on the Range
Chapter Two: On the Move
Chapter Three: Under a Starry Sky
Chapter Four: The Magic of the Stars
Chapter Five: Thunderbolts and Lightning
Chapter Six: Not Out Of The Woods
Chapter Seven: More Than One Way to Use a Tarpaulin
Chapter Eight: Indian Territory
Chapter Nine: Dodge City At Last
