The Reluctant Bounty Hunter

by S G Read

Satisfied that he was not going anywhere now, Duncan slid down the rock and rode up the middle of the track, through the waiting marshals. They took the hint and followed him. They swarmed up the rocks to find the man still alive but badly wounded.

  ‘He aint a happy man Dunc.’ Don declared when he walked back down to where Duncan was waiting. ‘You gut shot him with that second shot.’

  ‘It was all I could see and we are in a hurry.’ Duncan replied.

  ‘What do we do with him?’

  ‘Leave him a pistol and we ride on, he can choose how he dies, slowly or quickly. Or did you want to string him up?’

  ‘I would if there was a tree handy Dunc.’

  They rode on with Don leaving a pistol by the injured man. He was cursing everyone as they walked away. They made sure he did not shoot them but then Don was a friend of Marshal Taylor and the pistol he left was empty. He wanted the man to die slowly and in pain, which he did.

  The rode with speed for the rest of the day until they came to the town of Carson’s rock. They knew the fugitives had passed through as there were several dead and they had stolen horses. The store had been raided for food and ammunition as well. They changed horses and rode on, this time with extra help, as men from the town joined them to help catch the fugitives.

  They spent another night under the stars and moved on at first light. When the trail was open they rode at speed but where there was the chance of an ambush they slowed and spread out. It worked well as another shot rang out but the target only lost his hat.

  ‘Damn that was a new hat.’ The man complained as they sought cover and the same sort of cat and mouse game continued while they tried to dislodge the bushwhacker.

  Duncan issued orders as they moved to outflank him. The sun was hot and he was well hidden as they moved forward. He fired at anyone he could see, hitting two of the men who had joined them from the town. Neither was badly injured but it remained to be seen if they would go on, or turn back, after they had killed the ambusher. This man was well hidden and not willing to give up. If he could shoot someone he tried, if not he kept his head down. In the end Duncan came to a decision and left five men to winkle him out, while the rest skirted the area with their horses and left in pursuit of the others.

  Now they were getting close to the border with Mexico and once they were over it they were free. Were Duncan still a bounty hunter, he would not have stopped but ridden on after them but now as a marshal he had to abide by the rules.

  No one fired at them again and they pushed their horses trying to catch up but when they were still a long way away they could see their quarry starting to cross the Rio Grande. Duncan made his horse run until he was in range, although they would all be long shots then he jumped of his horse and set up his rifle. The first shot raised a plume of water making the riders spur their tired horses on. The second took one rider from the saddle and they floated away in the river. The third shot took another rider from the saddle making the lead rider turn back and shout but he could not hear what he shouted. By the time he was ready for the fourth shot the fugitives were on the other bank and were quickly getting into cover. He managed to shoot one more before they were all in cover then he banged his fist on the ground in anger.

  ‘Got three of them but we will have to fish two of them out of the river. The other one will have to be collected by townsfolk as a marshal cannot cross without the permission of the Mexican government, if they have one at this time, that is.’ He said to the remainder of the posse.

  ‘I’ll go and get him marshal.’ A member of the posse from the town replied.

  ‘I’ll go with him.’ Another answered. ‘You never know he might still be alive, it was a long shot.’

  ‘He might.’ Duncan answered as he climbed on his horse. ‘The ones in the river won’t be unless they can hold their breath well.’

  They hauled the bodies out of the Rio Grande and onto US soil. One was a man who had broken out of jail but the other one was a woman in a shawl.

  ‘She might be the one who helped them escaped.’ Duncan observed. ‘She was wearing a shawl of that color. Zeke will know if he is still with us.’

  They set up camp while several men crossed the Rio Grande to recover the other dead outlaw, he was another escapee. They slept with guards out during the night in case the outlaws came back across for revenge but nothing happened. The posse from the town debated going on and chasing the outlaws in Mexico but they were mainly family men or ranch hands and neither could spare the time.

  On the other side of the Rio Grande Colonel Garth Hayden watched from cover with baleful eyes. His men had ridden on in case the men following came across the Rio Grande after them but he felt safe watching from where he was. If they did come across they would follow the others and not even notice him. He took note of the faces of the men on the bank of the river opposite and swore revenge for the death of his woman. She was hanging over a horse as though she were trash but to him she was the only woman who mattered. When no one came across the river in pursuit but merely to collect the dead man, he made sure he could recognise all the members of the posse before he backed his horse out of the bushes and rode away. He had an army to gather and now he had the money to do it with.

  When morning came the posse started back with the bodies draped over their horses, they had been found drinking out of the Rio Grande. The townsfolk clustered round the dead like ghouls, some being sad that there would be no hangings. Duncan did offer to let them hang the bodies but it was declined. The posse from Bluegrass started back when they had freshened up and changed back to their own horses for the return trip. The posse members from the town they left returned to their families with the story of the chase, sometimes exaggerated.

  The townsfolk in Bluegrass came out to see the bodies draped over the horses and some lifted heads when the horses were stationary.

  ‘I hear you got the bitch who shot me?’ Zeke cried happily from his bed.

  ‘Sure did Zeke. She nearly made it across the Rio like the leader but not quite.’ Duncan answered.

  ‘My heart goes out to her, I don’t think. The cow nearly did for me. No by your leave, just a quick hello and bang, bang you’re dead.’

  ‘Still you are on the mend now.’ Duncan replied hopefully.

  ‘I am, why?’

  ‘Just happy for you Zeke, oh I have some papers you need to fill in for me, will that be a problem?’

  ‘Not at all Duncan as long as this hand will hold the pen.’ He wiggled his left hand.

  ‘You a lefty then Zeke?’

  ‘Sure am. My ma tried to get me to write with my right but it just came more natural to do it with my left. Any problem with that?’

  ‘None at all Zeke, you just lay there and build up your strength.’

  Duncan left him lying in bed and walked up to the office. The last thing he wanted was to be stuck in the office so as soon as Zeke was up and about and not able to do too much, he could man the office and Duncan could go home. The other possibility, Marshall Lincoln was already in boot hill.

  He sat in the office the following morning, until he could stand it no longer then took a walk round the town. When he returned there was a telegram asking for help, in a town some distance away. He read the report and he dispatched two marshals. He did not send one as Marshal Taylor did but sent two, one to watch the other’s back when they reached the town. That was the only business of the day and all he could do was await the marshal’s report into the trouble there, to find out if the two marshals needed help.

  The following days were much the same with marshals being dispatched to help communities and marshals returning from earlier troubles. He listened to their reports and filed their written reports in the filing cabinet. At the end of the next week Zeke walked in. Slightly bowed but walking almost upright.

  ‘Should you be out of bed?’ Duncan asked.

  ‘To stay in there even one minute more, would have been the death of me!’ Zeke answered.

  �
��Well just you make sure getting out too early doesn’t kill you; sit down in this chair.’

  Duncan vacated the chair he was sitting in and steered Zeke into it.

  ‘That left hand of yourn up to writing yet?’ He asked, as casually as he could.

  ‘Not yet, it hurts when I press the pen to the paper but it is getting easier as time goes by.’ Zeke answered.

  Three days later with Zeke’s arm out of the sling and he was able to fill out reports for anyone who could not write so well. Duncan appointed him head marshal and gave him Marshal Taylor’s badge. Zeke opened his mouth in amazement but did not argue.

  ‘The way I see it you are only able to sit behind a desk for some while, so when you are up to doing more we will decide if you stay put or someone else takes over. I can go out to the area I oversee and a telegram will reach me quite quickly.’ Duncan explained.

  ‘And it means you can get back to your wife and baby.’ Zeke retorted.

  ‘That never even crossed my mind!’ Duncan replied.

  ‘How come I don’t believe you?’ Zeke snorted. ‘Go on and say high to the Mrs. for me.’

  Hannah and Rose left for their next assignation with Small Elk and Crazy Dog. As Crazy Dog wanted Hannah, there was no problem in substituting Rose in her place with him. Rose was happy and so was Crazy Dog after the first time. It was early and not many people saw them leave. The sheriff waved as he did his rounds and they waved back.

  They rode out of town with their bonnets on, to keep the sun off their heads but in front eyes were watching and these eyes were not friendly. At the meeting place they stopped but it was not Small Elk who appeared but Sioux and there were ten of them. They too wanted to have sex with the girls but they were not paying, in the end it would be the girls who paid.

  Small Elk rode out with Crazy Dog but saw sign he did not like. They looked closely at the sign then moved forward with caution. They reached the meeting place on foot, hoping that the girls were not there yet but they were tied and braves were using them for whatever they wanted to do to them for their pleasure. They knew the girls would be killed and wanted to intervene but there were too many. Small Elk sent Crazy Dog back for more braves while he kept watch but in the end he had to do something.

  He moved forward and killed two braves quickly. The third was hard work and as he killed him he saw Hannah look at him with hope in her eyes but one cowardly Sioux brave was hidden and from his hiding place he fired an arrow and it thudded into Small Elk’s broad back. He stiffened when it hit him, turned to see who had fired it, rushed the cowardly brave and killed him but when he turned to kill some more Sioux his legs crumpled under him and he fell forward on his face. He tried to get up again but with him down the remaining Sioux braves were able to jump on him and he had nothing left to give. Hannah saw he was down and when they scalped him, she gave up any hope of being rescued.

  The Sioux continued with the girls until they had no more interest in the sex then lay them tied up in the surrey, piled brushwood round it then lit the wood before riding away.

  Duncan left Bluegrass the following morning heading for home. He did not hurry as he had no reason to and allowed the horse to choose the speed. When the sun sank below the horizon he found a campsite and stopped for the night, without a fire as it was near Sioux territory. No one bothered him that night and at sun up he was on his way again. By midday he heard fighting behind him and turned to investigate. On his back trail he found a fight between Running Wolf’s Pawnee and a group of Sioux. The Sioux had been intent on catching Duncan unawares but had been jumped by Crazy Dog and six others.

  Duncan did not hesitate and was soon in the thick of it. The tables were turned by Duncan’s pistols as they spat out death and soon it was all over. The Sioux were dead but two Pawnee braves had been killed as well. They were taken back to the village and Duncan went with Crazy Dog and his braves to thank Running Wolf for his timely intervention but this time they had just been in the right place at the right time. They were there to avenge Small Elk and the girls.

  ‘I knew of the meetings between Small Elk and the white woman from town.’ Running Wolf said sadly. ‘And knew it would lead to no good but Small Elk was headstrong and I think a little in love. When Crazy Dog started to be involved I was pleased as two braves together was easier in my mind. Crazy Dog came back when they found the Sioux with the women but when we arrived Small Elk had not waited and was dead. We brought the woman Hannah back here but I do not think she will last long.’

  ‘She is alive?’

  ‘Yes she was when we found her, will you talk to her, if she is still lives?’

  ‘I will, Running Wolf.’

  Running Wolf climbed to his feet nimbly and walked out of the teepee. Duncan followed. He followed Running Wolf to another teepee and found Hannah clinging to life.

  ‘She wants to ask you to do something.’ The squaw who was tending her said quietly. ‘It is about her daughter.’

  ‘Daughter?’ Duncan echoed.

  The word daughter spoken by Duncan caused Hannah to open her eyes.

  ‘I want you to promise me you will send my girl to school back east, so that she will become a lady.’ She said vehemently even though it hurt her to speak. ‘I want your word. There is money in the bank which I have saved to pay for it, so it will cost you nothing but time and effort. Promise me!’

  ‘She will go to school back east Hannah.’ Duncan answered.

  ‘Give me something to write on and something to write with.’ Hannah ordered.

  She made Duncan her daughter’s guardian and gave him power of attorney until she was of age. It was the last thing she did.

  ‘Seems like I have to find this,’ He looked at the paper. ‘Sarah Pointer and get her to school back east.’

  ‘Before you go home?’ Running Wolf asked.

  ‘No I think it can wait, I will take the girls back tomorrow for a proper burial.’ Duncan answered.

  He rode out of the village toward the valley but six braves went with him. Not following covertly but beside him to make sure he reached the valley. When he disappeared into the cave they turned and rode back to the Indian Village.

  Inside his valley Duncan rode down to the cabin and Morning Sun was in his arms as soon as his feet hit the ground.

  ‘How is our son?’ Duncan asked when the first kiss finally ended.

  ‘He is well and noisy, as you will find out Duncan Lee.’ Morning Sun answered and they went into the cabin.

  Duncan Wolf Lee was asleep so they spent the time well and fell asleep in bed after making love. Duncan Wolf Lee soon woke them up and Duncan found himself changing a diaper while Morning Sun watched from the bed and issued instructions but that did not satisfy Duncan Wolf Lee and Morning Sun had to feed him before he would go back to sleep. As they were awake when Duncan Wolf Lee fell asleep they made love again to make sure they would sleep.

  In the morning Duncan and his family rode out to meet the others at the burial ground, where the braves would be placed on platforms as high as the tribe could build them. Duncan helped to build Small Elk’s platform out of respect for him, an arrow in the back from some cowardly Sioux was no way for such a brave to die.

  Afterwards Duncan took the two girls on a travois back to town after a regretful farewell from Morning Sun who stayed in the village to catch up on life there before she returned to the valley.

  Chapter 6

  Duncan rode into town with his grisly burden and stopped at the sheriff’s office to report what had happened, it was good to show the Pawnee in good light for a change. The sheriff viewed the remains with sadness, he had no wife and had visited Rose on more than one occasion.

  ‘You say the Sioux done this?’ He asked.

  ‘They did, and killed Small Elk at the same time.’

  ‘What that big feller?’

  ‘Yes, that big feller.’ Duncan answered.

  ‘So was that who she rode out to see when she went out in the early mornings?’


  ‘So I understand. I didn’t know anything about it as I have been away for a while but it appears he was a client.’ Duncan explained.

  ‘A client? He was paying her?’

  ‘Seems that way and by all accounts quite well, as she has made me the guardian of her daughter and there is enough money to send her to school back east.’ Duncan answered and held out the piece of paper.

  The sheriff read it then gave it back to him. ‘Jethro in the bank is the man to see about this, he holds all the important papers in a special vault. Not with the money, just in case they were taken in a robbery but on their own. Are you sure she meant daughter?’

  ‘You read it!’

  ‘I never knew she had a daughter.’ The sheriff declared.

  ‘Molly will know.’

  Duncan took the bodies on the travois to the undertaker’s before he walked to the bank and he was soon in the office in the back of the bank, talking to Jethro Simpson the bank manager. Hannah did have an account there and it would be sufficient to fund the education of Sarah, Hannah’s daughter.

  ‘You will have to be careful what you say as Sarah is living with folks who she thinks are her parents. Hannah did not want her following in her footsteps and becoming a prostitute.’ Jethro warned. ‘Give me time to see Marion and Jonas and warn them what is going on and then you can go and see them.’

  ‘Let me know when you have warned them and I will start the ball in motion.’ Duncan replied.

  They shook hands and Duncan walked up to the brothel to let Molly know what had happened and was soon in her parlor drinking tea.

  ‘Sioux you say.’ Molly said knowledgeably. ‘They didn’t die easy then?’

  ‘No and the surrey is a burnt out wreck.’ Duncan answered.

  ‘Tish and pish, I can buy another surrey but I won’t get two girls with the same draw as them. Besides I liked Hannah, she was like a daughter to me. I will close this place for the funeral, regardless of what anyone says.’

  Molly did not mention Hannah’s daughter and nor did Duncan. If she did know about her she did not say and Duncan left it at that. He walked to the hotel for a beer, he needed one. He was still there when Jethro walked in and they sat talking quietly together.