The Green River Trail

by Ralph Compton

  Early in the morning—just after breakfast—Becky Holt and her riders Gus Wilder and Waco Talley arrived. Gus and Waco headed toward the barn, for there, beneath a huge oak, Willard Kilgore was roasting haunches of beef over open pits.

  Becky barely made it to the porch before she was met by Mary Kilgore. The two of them wept for a moment, while Lonnie stood there feeling useless.

  Dallas Weaver and Mindy Odens were next to arrive. Mindy held back, allowing Dallas to explain why she was with him.

  “Why, you sneaking coyote,” said Dallas, “How did this little old thing happen?”

  “Her ma and pa are dead, and I went to see her about buying cattle,” said Lonnie, “and I went back to see her that same night. We’re keeping two of her riders, and with you, me, Dirk, and Kirby helping, we need to round up the cattle she has left. Rustlers have taken advantage of her, stealing her blind.”

  “I hope you don’t mind me bringing Mindy Odens with me,” Dallas said. “Her Pa—old Jess—has become a drunk and has been beating Mindy. She’s still a year underage, but I’m taking her to Utah with me if I have to shoot old Jess. I don’t want him taking out his rage on my folks, so I’m keeping Mindy with me.”

  “Mindy’s welcome,” said Lonnie. “Why don’t you go ahead and tie the knot, and let old Jess do his worst?”

  “I’m tempted to,” Dallas said. “I’ll talk to Mindy. She’s scared to death the law will take her back to old Jess. I have to handle this in such a way that I can protect her.”

  “One thing I’d forgotten,” said Lonnie. “I don’t have a ring for Becky.”

  “I don’t have one for Mindy, either,” Dallas said. “Do you have a preacher coming?”

  “Not yet,” said Lonnie, “but we have all day. I aim to ride into San Antonio and look up old Reverend Henderson. Him and Pa have been friends for years.”

  “July Fourth or not, there’ll be some of the shops open,” Dallas said. “Suppose we take Becky and Mindy with us and buy them some rings?”

  “That’s probably the best idea you’ve had in your life,” said Lonnie. “I only have one regret. Dirk and Kirby will likely ride in while we’re gone, and I wanted to see their faces when they learn what we’re about to do.”

  Lonnie and Dallas went into the house, told the girls their intentions, and then went to saddle horses for the four of them.

  “Don’t take too long,” Mary Kilgore said. “Willard’s roasting enough beef to feed just about everybody in the county, and I don’t want a lot of it left. Hurry back and let’s eat.”

  “We’ll have to find Preacher Henderson,” said Lonnie, “and bring him with us. Do us a favor, Ma. Don’t you, Pa, Gus, or Waco tell Dirk and Kirby what we’re up to. I want to see their faces when we show up with the girls and the preacher.”

  Kirby Lowe arrived at the Kilgore ranch, and he wasn’t alone. Laura Upton rode beside him. Kirby helped her dismount. Willard Kilgore, Gus, and Waco had come to the house to greet the new arrivals. Mary Kilgore greeted them warmly, and Willard Kilgore introduced Gus and Waco. Kirby didn’t waste any time.

  “Laura and me are gettin’ married a week from today at my pa’s place. Ever’body that wants to come is welcome. Where’s Lonnie, Dallas, and Dirk?”

  “Dirk hasn’t ridden in yet,” said Willard. “Lonnie and Dallas rode into town to fetch something. We’re waiting for them to get back so we can eat.”

  “Laura,” Kirby said, “why don’t you go in the house with Mrs. Kilgore? I reckon it’ll be great fun surprising these hombres when they ride in.”

  Waco Talley laughed. “I reckon there will be some surprise.”

  When Lonnie, Becky, Dallas, and Mindy returned, they were accompanied by an elderly man with gray hair and wearing a gray frock coat. Kirby Lowe waited on the porch, anticipating the surprise he had in store for Lonnie and Dallas, but he looked at the women and the old minister uncertainly. The five of them dismounted, and Lonnie was the first to speak.

  “Kirby, you know the Reverend Henderson. This young lady is Becky Holt. Before the day’s out, she’ll be Mrs. Lonnie Kilgore.”

  Kirby was speechless, and before he could think of a response, Dallas cut in.

  “Kirby, this is Mindy Odens. We’ll be married the same time as Lonnie and Becky.”

  There was laughter from within the hall. Kirby still hadn’t thought of anything to say, when Mary Kilgore and Laura stepped out on the porch. Her eyes sparkling, Laura went down the steps to stand beside Kirby, and it was she who spoke.

  “We have a surprise, too. A week from today, at Kirby’s place, him and me will be married. Everybody that knows either of us is welcome to come.”

  The joke was on all three of the cowboys, and there was considerable merriment at their expense. Finally Kirby spoke.

  “It’s gonna be hard on old Dirk, the three of us with pretty girls. He’ll be ridin’ alone, I reckon.”

  “Before we left for California,” said Lonnie, “he was sweet on April Tilden.”

  “Yeah,” Dallas said, “but he told me old man Tilden run him off.”

  “He shouldn’t let that stop him,” said Mary Kilgore. “April’s at least twenty, and old enough to choose a life of her own.”

  “She’s not married, then,” Lonnie said.

  “Heavens, no,” said Mary. “Chad Tilden thinks no man is good enough for her. She’ll die right there under his roof, if he has his way.”

  “Poor old Dirk,” Dallas said. “He wasn’t blessed with good looks, but he’s as true a friend as a man ever had.”

  Dirk McNelly, the object of their conversation, rode in and dismounted. He didn’t seem unduly surprised at the gathering. Dallas and Kirby looked slantways at Lonnie, hoping he would break the news to Dirk. Lonnie did so, and shaking their hands, Dirk grinned at them.

  “The rest of you can take as long as you like,” Willard Kilgore said, “but Gus, Waco, the preacher, that Shoshone in the barn, and me is goin’ to eat.”

  Having lived in the county all their lives, the three young women were not strangers, and they settled down to eat together. Lonnie, Dallas, Dirk, and Kirby ate together, for they had much to talk about.

  “Startin’ tomorrow,” said Lonnie, “we got to do a fast roundup.”

  They looked at him expectantly, awaiting an explanation. Quickly, Lonnie told them of Becky Holt’s cattle, of his decision to pay off Becky’s loan at the bank, and that he had hired Gus Wilder and Waco Talley to accompany them to Green River range.

  “You do things almighty sudden, amigo,” Dallas said. “All I got was the promise of six hundred cows. No bulls, no horses, no mules.”

  “Laura’s Pa promised us three hundred cows and two bulls,” said Kirby.

  “I didn’t get a damn thing but some hard looks,” Dirk McNelly said. “Old man Tilden said he might sell us three hundred cows, if the money’s there. People around here still treat me like I’m a thirty-and-found line rider.”

  “We all know better, don’t we?” said Lonnie. “We’ll beat the bushes and round up as many cows as we can on Becky’s place. Let Tilden keep his damn cows.”

  “We need to round up enough of Becky’s cows, so we can afford to buy some horses with the money we can save,” Dallas said. “Then I think when we’ve rounded them up, we need to stand watch over them until we’re ready to begin the trail drive.”

  “I agree,” said Lonnie, “but there’s something we’ve forgotten. We haven’t introduced the ladies to Wovoka Shatiki. With all that’s happened, I’d forgotten him. He’s been in the barn since we got here, sleeping in the hayloft. I’ve had to take his food to him.”

  “It looks like you’ll have to take it to him this time, too,” Willard Kilgore said. “I tried to get him out here, and he wouldn’t come.”

  “No,” said Lonnie. “If he’s going to be part of our outfit, I won’t have him slinking around under cover because he’s uncomfortable with us. I’ll get him.”

  To the surprise of them all, Lonnie
returned with the Shoshone.

  “Kirby,” Lonnie said, “move over there and sit beside Laura. Dallas, you’ll sit beside Mindy, and I’ll sit beside Becky.”

  Wovoka, stood there uncertainly, seemingly overwhelmed by the array of food.

  “Wovoka,” said Lonnie, “this is Becky with me, Mindy with Dallas, and Laura with Kirby. Squaws, Wovoka.”

  Wovoka nodded to them, saying nothing, but there was a light of understanding in his dark eyes. Mary Kilgore quickly got his attention by presenting him with an entire pie.

  “Yours, Wovoka,” she said.

  It was a gesture the Shoshone fully understood, and he relaxed. These people meant him no harm. Willard Kilgore heaped a platter with roast beef, boiled potatoes, and some sourdough biscuits. Wovoka sat down, his back to an oak, and ate all the food. He was invited to take more, which he did.

  “I think I’m going to like him,” Laura said. “Thank God he’s not Comanche.”

  “He’s a Wind River Shoshone, from Wyoming,” said Lonnie. “They’re friendly. Wovoka has long been a friend of Jim Bridger, and Bridger thought we’d need Wovoka with us.”

  “Everybody’s finished eating except Wovoka,” Kirby said, “and he’s likely to be at it for a while. Lonnie, when do you and Dallas aim to get hitched into double harness? I’d like to get Laura home before dark.”

  “I’m not going until I see this,” said Laura.

  “Then let’s get on with it,” Lonnie said. “Preacher Henderson, are you ready?”

  The old preacher laughed. “Probably more so than either you or Dallas.”

  The ceremony was short and simple. Wovoka watched it from beneath the oak, where he was still eating.

  “Come on, Dirk” said Kirby. “Let’s kiss the brides.”

  They proceeded to do exactly that. Several times.

  “Just once, damn it,” Lonnie said.

  The merriment came to an abrupt halt as a horseman approached.

  “Oh, dear God,” said Mindy.

  Jess Odens reined up, making no move to dismount. He seemed to ignore Mindy, his hard old eyes on Dallas. Finally he spoke.

  “I’m here to tell you to keep away from my gal.”

  “It’s you that’s going to be kept away from her,” said Dallas. “Preacher Henderson just read from the book, and I’ve put a ring on her finger.”

  “That’s true,” Henderson said. “In the eyes of God, she’s his wife.”

  “Leave the Bible-thumpin’ out of this, Preacher,” said Odens. “It’s just him and me.”

  “Whatever you aim to do,” Dallas said, “do it. Mindy stays with me.”

  “I’ll fetch the sheriff, then,” said Odens. “She ain’t but seventeen.”

  “Bueno,” Dallas said. “Bring the sheriff, and we’ll show him Mindy’s back and legs. I suspect there are some laws against what you’ve done to her.”

  Odens shifted his hard eyes to Mindy, condemning her for revealing his cowardly acts. But the girl’s eyes met his with no hesitation. Without another word, he rode away.

  3

  He’s headed toward town,” Mary Kilgore said. “Perhaps he is going for the sheriff.”

  “Or back to the saloons,” said Willard.

  “Oh, I wish he hadn’t come,” Mindy said. “He’ll find some way of getting back at me.”

  “He can try,” said Dallas, “but he’ll have to step over my lead body.”

  “It’s a scruffy old coyote like him that’d shoot you in the back,” Waco Talley said. “I’d say the sooner we can take the rail to Utah, the better off you’ll be.”

  “We don’t start the drive until we’re ready,” said Dallas. “My pa’s always told me not to start any fights, but to never be afraid to finish one.”

  “We may be all of next week rounding up Becky’s cattle,” Lonnie said. “For every cow or maverick we gather, it’ll mean hat much more of our money we can spend on some good horses.”

  “Waco and me has got two horses each,” said Gus Wilder. ‘The two extras are back at the ranch. With nobody at the louse, I think we’d better ride over there and bring them here. A varmint that’ll steal cows will steal horses.”

  “I think you’re right,” Lonnie said. “Why don’t you and Waco ride over there and get them? Things may get a mite cramped, but I think we’ll continue to gather here for whatever time we remain in Texas.”

  “We have plenty of room,” said Mary Kilgore. “This is a large house, and there are rooms upstairs that we never use.”

  Gus and Waco had saddled their horses. Bound for Becky Holt’s place, they rode out.

  “It’s time I was getting back to town,” Reverend Henderson said. “I’ve enjoyed the hospitality. To you young folks bound for Utah, good luck, and may God go with you.”

  Lonnie and Dallas each handed the old preacher a double eagle. He nodded his thanks and, mounting his horse, rode back toward town.

  “I’d better take Laura home,” said Kirby. “I aim to tell her ma and pa that Laura will have some female friends on this trail drive and after we reach Green River range.”

  “Both of you are welcome to stay the night,” Mary Kilgore said. “We have room.”

  “We appreciate the offer,” said Kirby, “but Laura’s folks want her to stay there with them until we’re ready for the drive to move out. We want all of you at Kilgore’s ranch for the ceremony a week from today. Preacher Henderson’s already promised to be there.”

  “We understand,” Dallas said. “My ma and pa wanted Mindy and me to stay there with them as long as we could, but I didn’t want old Jess Odens causing them trouble, trying to get even with me.”

  Kirby saddled the horses, helped Laura mount, and the two of them rode out.

  “The Indian’s gone,” said Mary Kilgore.

  “He finally got enough to eat and went back in the barn,” Lonnie said.

  “Come on to the house,” said Mary. “I have rooms ready for you and Becky, and for Dallas and Mindy.”

  “Show the girls the rooms,” Lonnie said. “Dallas and me and Dirk had better settle down here in the shade and wait for Kirby. We still have some more plans to make.”

  “Kirby won’t be worth a damn durin’ the gather if he spends his nights at Laura’s. He won’t get any sleep,” said Dirk.

  “Dirk,” Lonnie said, “I doubt Laura’s ma and pa will have the two of them sharing a room until Preacher Henderson reads from the book. Kirby knows we’re starting the gather tomorrow. If he doesn’t make it back tonight, he’ll be here at first light in the morning.”

  Gus Wilder and Waco Talley rode in, leading their extra horses. Dismounting, they led the animals into the barn.

  “Gus, before you and Waco unsaddle your horses, come out here for a minute,” said Lonnie. “I’ve just thought of a way the two of you may be able to help us.”

  The two cowboys came out of the barn, leading their saddled horses.

  “Becky had more riders than just the two of you,” Lonnie said. “How many were there before some of them pulled out?”

  “At one time there was six of us,” said Waco Talley. “Sandy Orr, Benjamin Raines, Elliot Graves, and Justin Irwin moved on.”

  “Do either of you know where they are, or if they’re hired on with somebody?” Lonnie asked.

  “We ain’t seen ’em since they left,” said Gus, “but nobody around here’s able to hire any riders. You want we should track ’em down?”

  “If you know where to find them,” Lonnie said. “We’ll pay forty-and-found to men who will help us trail the herd to Utah and stay on as part of our outfit.”

  “These is all good hombres,” said Waco. “No drunks or hell-raisers. They all have kin in these parts. We might have time to find ’em before dark.”

  “See if you can,” Lonnie said, “and tell them to be here at first light tomorrow. The more riders we have, the less time it’ll take to make the gather.”

  “I hate to mention this,” said Gus, “but when they left, they
was owed three months’ wages. I reckon that would be their only objection to hirin’ on again.”

  “I don’t fault them for that,” Lonnie said. “Tell them if they’ll hire on with us, we’ll pay them their back wages. We’ll also pay each of you a month’s wages in advance before we leave Texas.”

  “You’re hombres to ride the river with,” said Waco. “We’ll do our best to bring them back with us.”

  The two cowboys mounted and rode out.

  “Tarnation,” Dallas said, “that’s some hell of a payroll we’ll have, and so far we ain’t bought a horse or a cow.”

  “There hasn’t been a gather on Becky’s spread in near three years,” Willard Kilgore said. “You may be surprised at the number of cows you’ll find there.”

  “I hope you’re right,” said Lonnie, “because we must come out of this with money to buy horses, and enough to keep us going for a while.”

  “If Gus and Waco can find Becky’s other four riders,” Dallas said, “they should have at least two horses each. That’ll help some. We have the four extra horses we brought with us from California, but I’ll need one of them for Mindy. The poor old horse her Pa left her is wind-broke.”

  “There’s plenty of daylight left,” said Dirk. “I think I’ll ride into town for a while.”

  “As long as you’re back by first light,” Lonnie said.

  Dirk mounted and rode out toward town, but once he was out of sight, he rode south. He rode along a stream, now almost dry, half a dozen miles from Chad Tilden’s ranch. He didn’t dare hope April would be there, and his heart leaped with anticipation when a horse nickered ahead of him.

  “It’s me,” said April, aware of his caution.

  Dirk rode ahead, dismounted, and she came to him.

  “Let’s find us some shade,” Dirk said. “We got lots to talk about.”

  “Not all that much,” said April. “All I have to do is ride out and never go back.”

  “I know,” Dirk said, “and I’ve set a time. A week from today, at the Kilgore ranch.”

  “Why there?”

  “Because one of my amigos—Kirby Lowe—is tyin’ the knot with Laura Upton. Just a while ago, Lonnie Kilgore, Becky Holt, Dallas Weaver, and Mindy Odens took the jump. I ain’t told them a thing about you. You just be here early in the day, and I’ll come and get you. We’re going to surprise a lot of folks.”