The Reluctant Bounty Hunter

by S G Read

  The horse rode by and he saw Little Deer on it. At the same time the redbone hound known only as Dog started barking.

  ‘It’s okay Dog, she is a friend.’ Duncan said quietly from next to Little Deer. ‘Welcome to our lodge Little deer.’

  Little Deer smiled. ‘I have succeeded where Little Buck did not.’ She said with passion.

  When they walked up to the cabin, Morning Sun squealed with delight to see Little Deer and soon Duncan was left to sit on the porch again. He chose to climb up to the higher cave to see if Little Buck was out there looking for them. He spent some time scouring the area using his scope and saw something different. He did not know what it was a first and watched for sometime before an Indian came into sight and he did not recognise him. What is more there were a lot of them moving slowly toward the trail which led to the Indian village. Duncan hurried down the ladder and found Little Deer.

  ‘There are a number of Indians I do not recognise moving toward your village.’ He said quieter than he needed to.

  Both Little deer and Morning Sun hurried up to see what was going on.

  ‘It is our enemy the Sioux they are raiding us to kill braves and take slaves.’ Morning Sun said frantically.

  She would have gone to warn the tribe immediately, despite the probability that they would capture or kill her before she was able to warn them.

  ‘Stay here.’ Duncan ordered.

  ‘But I must warn my father.’ Morning Sun replied.

  ‘I will warn them.’ Duncan declared looking down at the movement below. ‘But there is no way past them the way we come and go.’

  ‘Then how Duncan?’

  ‘I don’t know.’ Duncan stood at the top of the ladder looking not where the ladder led but across the valley at the side nearest the Indian village. ‘The ladder will reach that ledge and I can climb up to the top from there.’

  ‘They will not hear you from there.’ Little Deer protested.

  ‘No, they will not but I can still alert them.’

  They hurried down the ladder and using both horses carried the ladder to the other side of the valley. Duncan set the ladder to reach the ledge he had seen from the other side. With his buffalo rifle strapped to his back he climbed up the ladder and on to the ledge. From there he had to climb up the rocks until he reached the top. It was not an easy climb and his feet slid from beneath him several times making him catch hold of a protruding rock to stop from falling. Each time it happened the two women below caught their breath but Duncan kept climbing. Slowly he climbed up with the load on his back until he made the top. When he stood on top of the rock, he waited for his breathing to slow before he walked along the top to reach the closest point to the Indian camp and set up his rifle. Using his scope he set the sights for the distance, for him it was a long shot but he knew his rifle would reach; all he had to do was to hit what he aimed for. Through the scope he picked out squaws working and selected his targets, clay pots which were hung up by string with various cooking ingredients in them. He chose them because if he hit them, they would explode, sending a shower of their contents over anyone nearby. He took aim and with the Sioux creeping closer fired but the shot missed everything and no one noticed the impact. He adjusted his sights and fired again causing the first pot to explode in a shower of white dust. The squaw nearby cried out in alarm and Duncan fired again. Another pot exploded sending up another shower of dust. The third exploded in a cascade of liquid. By now the Indian village was a hive of activity and Duncan saw a brave look his direction through a captured telescope. Duncan tried to signal that trouble was coming and which way it was coming from. The brave spoke to Running Wolf who in turn issued orders and things started happening. The squaws were moving out and taking the children with them with the older braves as an escort. Duncan had done what he could and now settled down to watch looking through the scope to see if he could help at all.

  From his position he watched the fight unfold. The Indians in the village moved to intercept the intruders and set up an ambush. Braves fought and died on both sides with Duncan firing to help out any brave who was in trouble. When he saw Little Buck in trouble, he shot the attacking brave and the next one to give Little Buck breathing room then followed the action elsewhere.

  The attacking Sioux retreated in a hurry and the Pawnee followed, to keep them retreating or to kill more if they could. Duncan watched it unfold then hurried down the ladder burning his hand on the barrel as he did so. They carried the ladder back to its original place and Duncan climbed up to keep an eye on proceedings from the high cave. The two squaws followed him up to see what was going on for themselves. To fire from his new position would possibly give away his position to both Indians but he was prepared to do it if a brave was in danger but only then. They watched it unfold beneath them without giving away their position until the forest returned to its normal sounds and all the Pawnee returned to their village.

  The two squaws and Duncan rode to the village with the redbone refusing to be left behind. There were dead to be mourned and bodies to be disposed of. The dead of the enemy were disposed of without ceremony or respect, whereas the dead of the tribe were taken to the tribes burial grounds where they were placed not in the ground but up in the air as high as they could get them. Duncan was included in the journey and burials for his part in warning them.

  ‘We owe you another debt Duncan lee.’ Running Wolf said as he sat in his tepee, ready to celebrate a great victory. The braves had all returned safely and they all had extra scalps. ‘You are the only white man I have spoken to as a friend, as I usually always kill them if they are on our land.’

  ‘You are the first Indian I have stood face to face with and not killed. Had I not warned you my way Morning Sun would have tried to get through the Sioux and warn you and I would have lost her. I have grown to love Morning Sun and I did not want that to happen.’

  ‘It is still a debt to repay.’

  ‘If you feel you must repay the debt, I would ask that the man in town who wears the star, be allowed to come and find me if he needs to. It would also earn me money which will help all in harder times.’

  ‘So be it. Anyone wearing a star will pass unmolested.’

  ‘Thank you Running Wolf.’

  They stayed and talked with Morning Sun talking to the other squaws until morning when they went home. Duncan and Morning Sun returned to the valley and spent the time together happily. If Duncan went to town Morning Sun sometimes went up into the upper cave to look for his return. If she was not busy with her garden or if Little Deer had not come to have her hair braided by Morning Sun. When he returned the homecoming was always the same; as if he had been gone months instead of days.

  Small Elk stood watching the trail through the valley when he saw horsemen approaching. Normally he would send a warning arrow for a message to be sent to the village but he saw the star on the leading man’s chest. He rode out to meet them with his arm held up as a sign of peace, although his English was not good. The men fingered rifle butts but no one fired and they slowed to a stop ready for action.

  ‘Is the man with star looking for someone?’ Small Elk asked but despite his name most had to look up to him.

  ‘Four men passed through town and killed two folk for no reason and we don’t hold kindly to that.’ The sheriff answered.

  ‘Four men did pass through and two turned to the south there.’ He pointed to the trail which led to the crossed trails near the stream. ‘From there they took the trail by the stream.’

  Some words did not always sound right and he had to mime some of the words he did not know but that was the message they understood.

  ‘And the other two?’ The sheriff asked.

  ‘Over there.’ Small Elk answered and held up two scalps.

  ‘They’ll keep until we come back, thank you.’

  The posse rode on with the sheriff giving Small Elk a wave as they went. Now Small Elk fired his arrow, not as a warning but passing on the news of the posse�
��s passing. An hour later Running Wolf arrived with a war party, not to fight but to ensure there was no fight. When the posse returned they were still there waiting. By the time the posse reached them the war party had formed a semi circle with Running Wolf in the middle. The posse slowed again and stopped but this time there was less fingering of rifles or pistols, as the war party was quite large. Running Wolf saw two men draped over the saddles in amongst the posse and he waved his arm. Small Elk and Crazy Dog rode out of the tree cover to the posse’s left with the other two men draped over a horse, not their horses as they were good horses but older horses Small Elk was willing to give away. The men were still just as scalped but ready to be taken back.

  ‘Man with star may take dead people back; it is the will of Duncan Lee.’ Running Wolf declared.

  ‘Thank you very much, are you the great Running Wolf?’ The sheriff asked.

  ‘I am Running Wolf. Small Elk killed the two other men.’

  ‘Small Elk! Was he wrongly named!’ The sheriff exclaimed.

  ‘He was small once.’ Running Wolf replied with a smile and an opening appeared in the semi circle for the posse to ride through. The war party watched the posse ride away then returned to the village leaving Crazy Dog on watch.

  Life returned to an easy pleasant life with Little Deer visiting Morning Sun to have her hair braided and Little Buck still searching for Duncan’s lodge. Morning Sun asked to be taken to the village one day and Duncan did as she asked. Morning Sun left Running Wolf and Duncan to discuss life, in which ever language they chose, as both were getting quite good at the other’s language. She went to see the other squaws. Later and older squaw came in and whispered in Little Doe’s ear. Little Doe was one of Running Wolf’s squaws. She in turn whispered in Running Wolf’s ear and passed the news to him.

  Running Wolf smiled and held out his hand to Duncan and Duncan shook it without knowing why. ‘I am going to be a grandfather.’ He said smugly.

  It took a few seconds for Duncan to figure out who was pregnant and then he smiled. He walked out of the tepee looking for Morning Sun and gave her a big hug lifting her of her feet when he found her.

  ‘You are pleased then Duncan Lee?’ She asked.

  ‘I am please Morning Sun.’

  ‘Good.’

  Duncan returned to the tepee and sat again.

  ‘I think this calls for a banquet in your honour Duncan Lee.’ Running Wolf declared.

  ‘I think it does Running Wolf.’

  They stayed a week in the village before returning to the valley. Three days later a man with a star on his chest rode along the trail the posse had taken but from the opposite direction. Crazy Dog rode out when he saw the star.

  ‘Greetings man with star are you looking for someone?’

  ‘I am looking for Duncan Lee, I want his help.’

  Crazy Dog fired an arrow to warn the tribe and to fetch help. ‘We will wait.’ He said patiently and sat there on his horse, the marshal did the same.

  Ten minutes later four riders rode out; they were Running Wolf, Small Elk, Little Deer and Little Buck. They rode up to the two men and stopped.

  ‘The man with the star wants Duncan Lee.’ Crazy Dog informed his chief.

  ‘Little Deer go and tell Duncan Lee he is wanted by a lawman but not the sheriff.’ Running Wolf commanded.

  Little Buck looked sharply at Little Deer. ‘Why have you not told me where Duncan Lee’s lodge is?’

  ‘I told her not to.’ Running Wolf answered before she could answer. ‘You think you see a lot my son but you see very little. Have you not seen the braiding in Little Deer’s hair?’

  ‘I have seen it.’

  ‘Who does the braiding for her?’

  ‘Morning Sun did before she left now I assume she did it herself.’

  ‘It is bad to assume, especially if you are wrong, Morning Sun still does it. I saw the braiding and knew she had found Duncan Lee’s lodge where you had failed.’

  Little Deer rode off and Little Buck went to follow her.

  ‘You will stay with me Little Buck.’ Running Wolf said insistently. ‘You will find Duncan Lee’s lodge yourself and be happier for it.’

  Little Buck reined in by his father’s horse.

  ‘You will wait for Duncan Lee in our village.’ Running Wolf ordered and the party rode back to the village to await Duncan Lee.

  Little Deer rode away but waited to see if Little Buck followed her before going to the valley to see Duncan and he rode out leaving Little Deer and Morning Sun talking, to catch up on local gossip, before they too came to the village. He rode to the village and pushed his way into Running Wolf’s tepee.

  ‘Welcome Duncan Lee, the marshal wants to talk with you.’ Running Wolf declared and stood up to leave.

  ‘There will be no secrets from Running Wolf.’ Duncan answered and motioned him to sit again. ‘Now what can I do for you marshal?’

  ‘We have a situation nearby which you might be able to help me with Mr Lee. A certain cattle baron is taking over a valley and either buying out the other farmers or their widows.’

  ‘And you cannot prove anything?’

  ‘Not a thing, what we need is someone to go into town and find out what is going on and to keep us informed so that we can catch him doing what we know he is doing.’

  ‘Does this involve wearing a badge or being a lawman?’

  ‘It does.’

  ‘So after that I cannot collect any reward money?’

  ‘Yep but you will earn a monthly pay check from our office in Bluegrass.’

  ‘And when I need something done you will send me help?’ Duncan asked.

  ‘I will; lots of it.’

  ’How do I keep you informed?’

  ‘By telegraph we have a code all worked out so that it will seem innocuous enough but how you get the information is up to you.’

  ‘Sounds like a challenge but I will need to know that my wife will be looked after.’ Duncan added, turning his head to look at Running Wolf.

  ‘I will treat your wife as though she was my own daughter.’ Running Wolf declared with a broad smile which was lost on the lawman.

  ‘Why not send in another marshal who is not known?’ Duncan asked.

  ‘We have sent in three men already and they all disappeared, no bodies and no reports of a shooting. It means the cattle baron has someone in the rangers office who is keeping him informed and I want to know who it is, as he has already effectively killed three men and a few more who have died in the area to get them out of the way.’ The marshal explained.

  ‘So you want a complete stranger and you came all the way out here to find me?’

  ‘We have heard of you and you seemed the man for the job.’ The marshal replied.

  ‘I will discuss it with my wife, I consider she has a say in this.’ Duncan answered and it surprised Running Wolf but he showed nothing on his face to give it away.

  Duncan waited until Morning Sun arrived and walked away from the others sitting there talking. It was a surprise to Morning Sun that Duncan asked if he should go and she was tempted to say no but to do so might mean Duncan would lose face so she gave him her blessing but urged him to come back as soon as he could. Duncan returned to Running Wolf’s tepee.

  ‘I will go there when I am ready but nothing must be said or written at the ranger station to let the informer know where I am and what I am doing.’

  ‘So be it. I have arranged for a widow in Bluegrass where we have our office to receive your telegraph messages so address them to her and she will report directly to me so no one but she and I will know what is going on, until I send help. By then I hope to ferret out the informer by sending through false news to the office to see who reacts to it. The place you are going to is Morgansville named after the cattle baron who is now trying to make it all his territory.

  The marshal left and Crazy Dog took him out of the village as far as the turning he arrived from. Duncan returned to the valley with Morning Sun. They spen
t a night of passion and in the morning Duncan left for Morgansville and trouble. He rode along without worrying about Indians although if he came across any Sioux he would be in trouble. Before he reached Morgansville he took out the map the marshal had given him and looked about for a place to camp. One which he hoped would not be found but was close enough to walk into town. He left his horse on a long tether to make sure he had enough to eat then changed his clothes, he had a plan.

  When he walked into town he was in dirty clothes and did not smell too sweet. He had whisky tipped over his clothes to help him play the part of a drunk. It was major risk as he left his gun behind in the camp but he hoped no one would shoot a drunk. He walked out of sight until he made the buildings and then moved along behind them until he came to a saloon then he walked round the front and into the swing doors. A couple of men looked round at him but then returned to what they were doing. Duncan walked up to the bar and dropped a silver dollar onto the counter.

  ‘Give me a whisky please.’ He said politely.

  Seeing the dollar the bartender put a glass on the counter and filled it. Duncan threw it into his mouth as though it was water and after moving to an empty table did the same until the dollar was used up. He laid his head down and stayed where he was listening to what was said around him but no one of any consequence was in there. After a while he stood up and staggered out. The floor was raised and underneath was room to crawl about so he did just that, he was copying drunks he had seen in his home town some years before. Underneath he found coins which had fallen through the cracks in the floorboards and slid them in his pocket to use later. It gave him an idea but for now he settled down to let the whisky wear off. He tried to stay awake and listen to what was going on above but fell asleep. He woke up with a start with the saloon above in full throng. The piano was playing and the people were talking loudly just to be able to be heard. Duncan listened noting anything of interest down in a book he had concealed on him. It had occurred to him that he could do the same under all the raised buildings. Some still had dirt floors and he had a problem eavesdropping on them except from getting close enough to the wall to listen. He hid the book and came out for another drink, not that he wanted one but he needed to be seen and smelt. He staggered into the saloon and up to the bar through the throng of patrons. Some looked at him and some ignored him but one man stopped him in his tracks.