The Reluctant Bounty Hunter

by S G Read

  They spent the night in Carson’s rock to rest up and load up with free supplies. In the morning when they left Carson’s Rock was a ghost town. Everyone was dead, including Men, women and children. They headed for Blue grass to do the same, knowing that there was no one alive in Carson’s Rock to ride and warn them that they were coming. They reached the outskirt of town and men were sent to circle the town so that no one escaped. Even for the colonel it was a big undertaking as Bluegrass was a big town bristling with marshals but he was sick with grief. The men with him had been promised all they could carry as long as everyone in town died, eventually. His aim was to leave no one alive in Bluegrass just as he had done in Carson’s Rock.

  Don Cheadle was a farmhand and he rode into Carson’s Rock the day the town had been slaughtered. He saw the dead bodies strewn about and searched to find someone alive. One woman was hovering between life and death and gasped out her story aided by two glasses of brandy. When Don heard that they were heading for Bluegrass to do the same, he tried to help the woman but she was too far gone and died in his arms.

  He did not stay and bury the dead but rode off to talk to his boss. He took a fresh horse and drove it on furiously until he rode into the Lazy R farmhouse and told his story. Will Carson, a descendant of the founder of Carson’s Rock was livid. He raised as many men as he could muster, sent three out to other ranches, including both the McBride and the Carter ranches, to drum up more help, then headed for Bluegrass. These men had to be stopped!

  When he heard about the raid Jim Carter dispatched a rider to find Duncan and let him know what was going on. The man put a star on his chest for safe passage and rode for the area he knew Duncan lived in.

  Carter raised a small army and rode out leaving only a skeleton crew to look after the ranch soon after the man left to find Duncan. Carter had not been to Bluegrass many times and certainly not to Carson’s Rock but no one should be allowed to go round killing folks including women and children.

  Crazy Wolf was sitting on his horse in cover when the man looking for Duncan rode past. He saw the star and lowered his bow. Since Rose, Hannah and Small Elk had been killed, he was an angry man but he respected Running Wolf’s word to let a man with a star ride unharmed. He rode out to intercept him.

  ‘Is man with star looking for someone?’ He asked in better English than he had used before he met Rose.

  ‘Yes, I am looking for Duncan Lee do you know him?’ The man answered a little caught unawares by Crazy Dog’s arrival.

  ‘You will wait where I tell you and we will bring Duncan Lee to you if he wishes to come.’ Crazy Dog answered.

  ‘Can you tell him it is urgent please?’ The man answered carefully.

  ‘Follow me.’ Crazy Dog answered and led him toward the cross roads away from the valley Duncan called home.

  On their way the met Little Deer coming in the opposite direction. Crazy Dog assumed that she was going to see Morning Sun and stopped to speak with her in his native tongue. The ranch hand heard Duncan Lee’s name twice but said nothing. Crazy Dog led him to the same flat piece of prairie Duncan had ridden on when he started his search for the first bank robbers. There they waited. Neither speaking.

  Little Deer rode into the valley and up to the cabin. She dropped a bone for the redbone hound which had become a habit now, then slid off her unsaddled pony. As she did so the cabin door opened and Duncan came out.

  ‘Good morning Little Deer.’ He greeted jovially despite another night of interrupted sleep.

  ‘Good morning Duncan Lee. A man wearing a star waits for you at the meeting place and he says that it is urgent.’

  ‘Thank you Little Deer I will go and see what he wants.’

  Duncan saddled his horse and left the two women talking while Little Deer cuddled Duncan Wolf Lee. He rode to the meeting place and saw Crazy Dog with someone he recognised but he could not remember where he had seen him. He did know that he was not a marshal.

  ‘Good day marshal.’ He said just as jovially as earlier.

  ‘Hello Mr. Lee. Jim Carter sent me with word that the group that escaped from Bluegrass jail have raised an army, crossed the border and killed everyone in Carson’s Rock in retaliation for their help in killing their leader’s woman. They are on their way to Bluegrass to do the same. Jim and McBride have joined with other ranches and are on their way to help.’

  ‘I’ll get my rifle, wait here.’ Duncan ordered.

  ‘Do I tell Running Wolf?’ Crazy Dog asked in Pawnee.

  ‘Yes Crazy Dog let Running Wolf know where I have gone so that Morning Sun will be looked after.’ Duncan answered.

  It was not what Crazy Dog meant but he left to tell Running Wolf what he had understood of the conversation between the marshal and Duncan. When Duncan returned Little Buck sat on his horse next to the man pretending to be a marshal.

  ‘I asked my father and he said I could come and pay back one of the times that you have saved my life Duncan Lee.’ He announced in Pawnee. ‘My father says he must stay and look after Morning Sun.

  ‘I will be pleased to have Little Buck by my side.’ Duncan answered in Pawnee.

  When they rode off they were joined by a group of twenty more braves including Crazy Dog. Duncan looked at Little Buck for an explanation.

  ‘My father sent them to make sure that neither I or you failed to return Duncan Lee, surely they will be useful?’ Little Buck explained.

  ‘They will be useful Little Buck.’ Duncan conceded, as he did not know the size of the army they were about to take on.

  They rode at speed for Bluegrass as the battle was likely to have begun and they did not want it to be over before they arrived. They kept up the same pace until they were approaching Bluegrass and could hear gunshots from the town.

  It was a peaceful day in Bluegrass, Zeke put on his pistol and started his usual walk round town. His wound was healed but he was still stuck behind the desk, as he was good at the paperwork no one had seen fit to remove him. It was pleasant to walk round the town and talk to the townsfolk as he went. Two other marshals joined him when he started.

  ‘The stage is late Zeke.’ One declared.

  ‘How late?’ Zeke asked.

  ‘Half an hour, not much by anyone else’s standards but a lot buy Elias’s standards.’ The marshal answered. ‘Shall I send someone out to look for him?’

  Zeke looked up the main street and then turned and looked up the other way.

  ‘Not a lot coming in today is there?’ He noted.

  ‘Not a soul from either direction Zeke.’ The other marshal answered. ‘The preacher went out to see old Martha early and he’s not come back yet! Does it mean anything?’

  ‘I don’t know, could be a well organised bank raid. Sew the town up and then raid the bank while we are not organised our selves. Put some well armed men in houses or shops either end of the main street just in case and watch anyone who does come into town that we don’t know.’ Zeke ordered.

  ‘What do we tell them?’ The first marshal asked.

  ‘Tell them the Sioux have been raiding places and we are just being prudent Brin.’ Zeke answered.

  ‘Will do.’ Brin answered and the two marshals left him to walk alone again.

  Now as he walked, he looked about, seeing if anything or anyone looked out of place but it all looked normal apart from the lack of people coming in to town. He watched two men ride out quite normally, until they were out of his sight and waited listening intently in case there were shots.

  ‘Good morning marshal.’ A pretty young girl said as she passed him, making him jump.

  ‘Good morning Rachel, and how are you this lovely morning?’ He answered.

  ‘I am fine marshal, will you be in church tomorrow?’ Rachel asked.

  ‘If you will be there I will be there.’ He declared, he liked Rachel in everyway there was to like a girl.

  ‘I will see you there then.’ She replied and walked on.

  He walked on with her, not for more conversati
on although that was always welcome but just in case a horde of bank robbers came hurtling into town and he would be on hand to save her. When she went into the bank he tarried outside until she came back out.

  ‘Still here then?’ She asked suggestively.

  ‘I am. I have an odd feeling and I shall walk you home to make sure you will make it safely.’ Zeke answered.

  ‘If you have an odd feeling, will I make it home in one piece?’ She asked cleverly.

  ‘It might just be me.’ Zeke declared as they walked and ignoring her comments. ‘But ever since that woman walked in and calmly shot me, leaving me for dead, I have been seeing problems where there may be none. The stage is now almost an hour late and Elias don’t like to be late Rachel as you well know.’

  ‘I will agree there. Ten minutes late and there is hell to pay, forgiving the expression.’ Rachel replied.

  ‘So like it or not I am walking you wherever you want to go.’

  ‘In the circumstances I will gladly let you walk me home.’

  ‘So in any other circuMs.tance you would not?’ Zeke asked turning the tables.

  ‘I did not say that at all, well I did not mean that at all.’ Rachel spluttered her reply.

  ‘Does that mean you will let me walk you to church tomorrow?’ Zeke asked, seizing the chance before his courage subsided.

  ‘I would like you to walk me to church tomorrow marshal, it will keep a certain Thaddeus Fuller away from me.’ Rachel declared. ‘And no it is not the only reason I want you to walk me to church tomorrow marshal, before you voice that question.’

  Zeke smiled but a gun shot out of town reminded him of his fears. He made sure Rachel was safe inside before he walked to the saloon.

  ‘It may be nothing folks but those who are abiding by the law and are not armed ought to arm themselves, just in case.’

  The saloon emptied quicker than if someone had announced a gold strike but they were sent scurrying for cover when two were shot dead as they walked along.

  ‘Why do I have to be right this time?’ He complained to the bartender.

  ‘A little warning is better than no warning.’ The bartender replied. ‘I’ll get my blunderbuss.’

  Outside, anyone foolish enough to try to move their position, was shot unless he was very fast and very lucky. The marshals in the end houses watched from where they were, trying to find a target. The men upstairs in the end houses were first to see their opposition as they crept forward. The marshal in charge up stairs made sure no one fired until they could not miss and then a hail of bullets made the approaching men turn and flee, those who were still able to.

  ‘That surprised them.’ A marshal declared but in doing so made himself visible in the window.

  A sniper killed him as he walked across the room.

  ‘They got snipers out so keep your heads down.’ The marshal in charge warned as he checked on his fallen comrade. ‘Stone dead, never stood a chance.’

  They heard shooting at the other end of the street as that house opened fire but no one cheered, they were a long way from winning this battle.

  Outside Bluegrass Duncan met Jim Carter and his group.

  ‘McBride has gone round the other side but they could easily get into the town from anywhere.’ Carter exclaimed.

  ‘We’ll go into the middle of town from this side and try to outflank anyone going in the same way.’ Duncan replied and passed the information on to the braves with them, in Pawnee. ‘Use knives if you can.’

  ‘They will not know we are there until they die.’ Crazy Dog answered, in Pawnee.

  ‘I can’t afford to lose anymore friends Crazy Dog.’ Duncan warned. ‘It is also possible that the townsfolk don’t know you are helping them so keep your head down even after you have won the battle.

  ‘If I die fighting it will be a good death.’ Crazy Dog replied and rode away.

  Little Buck stayed with Duncan, until Duncan followed the braves. By now there were a lot of guns firing in and outside of the town. The braves slid off their horses and left one brave to look after them, then started forward with Duncan and Little Buck joining them. Duncan’s rifle was still on his horse as there was no way he could use it in close quarters.

  The attackers did not know about the force behind them until it was too late and they suddenly felt the cold steel of the knife. As the Indians moved forwards killing everyone they met. The remainder became aware of them when one man screamed before he died. One looked round and saw an Indian and passed on the information. Now they had to fight both in front and behind. The men nearest the Indians chose to hurry forward to cross the street and there they met fire from the houses and shops in that part of town. In the end the remainder rushed across the main street and into cover on the other side, some of the men who made it were killed by their own side by mistake.

  On the other side of the street one of the defenders saw an Indian but before he could react, he saw Duncan with him.

  ‘Dunc’s here and he brought some family with him!’ He called to his fellow defenders, both in where he was and louder to those in other places. ‘So don’t go popping off at any Indians, if they are Pawnee.’

  ‘That’s useful.’ Duncan muttered as he crept forward to look round the corner of a building, he did not linger just looked then ducked back. As he ducked back after a quick look the wall exploded as a bullet hit it.

  ‘That’s a damned sniper.’ Duncan cursed. ‘It is a good job he weren’t shooting from the other side, or I’d be dead.’ He looked round and saw Little Buck not far away. ‘Come with me Little Buck we are going after that sniper.’

  They both retreated into the scrub round the town, skirting round the latrines they came to, as they did so. They always knew when they were close to one! The bare ground posed a problem as they did not know where the sniper was hiding but hurried across zig zagging as they went. Once a near miss made Little Buck hurry even faster and he dived for cover as soon as he was close enough.

  ‘Did you spot him?’ Duncan asked with a snigger.

  ‘My father would have but I did not.’ Little Buck replied. ‘Do you want me to go back and do it again while you watch?’

  ‘I am sure we will draw fire as we move round, I think he knows what were are up to so try to spot him if you do.’ Duncan conceded.

  ‘Should I stand still next time?’ Little Buck asked irately.

  Duncan laughed but not loudly and moved on. At the next patch of clear ground, Duncan knew they would both be seen by the sniper and the sniper would know that it was his last chance to kill them before they were able to approach him in cover. Duncan looked round and saw a hay cart.

  ‘If we get behind that and push it across we can use it for cover but make sure your legs don’t show.’ He explained and they moved toward it, making sure to keep out of sight of the sniper even though they did not know where he was.

  ‘Watch for him while I pick up the yoke.’ Duncan whispered.

  The yoke was on the ground and needed to be in the air for the cart to move freely. He ran out flipped it up and ran back as a bullet plucked at his shirt.

  ‘That was too close for comfort.’ He hissed and paused to regain his breath.

  ‘Worthwhile though as I know where he is now.’ Little Buck declared. ‘It is a shame you did not bring your big rifle, from here you could have killed him and saved us some work.’

  ‘I didn’t think there would be any call for it, in hand to hand fighting, unless I used it to hit them with.’ Duncan looked at the land in front and then the ground he would have to cover to get his rifle. ‘Not worth going back for it now, we’ll have him as soon as we cross this patch of clear ground.’

  ‘And he knows it! He is on the move so we can go.’ As he spoke Little Buck ran across the clearing without drawing a shot. Duncan followed a few seconds later.

  By the time Duncan crossed Little Buck was out of sight. Duncan headed for where the sniper had been to try to track him but to his left there was a scream. Litt
le Buck stood up holding not a scalp but a sniper’s rifle.

  ‘That has paid one back Duncan Lee.’ He said with great delight.

  ‘And I am grateful.’ Duncan replied, knowing full well he had been in the sniper’s sights.

  In the town the message had reached all the houses and they watched the Pawnee cross to the other side of the town led by Crazy Dog. As the men were driven back they found the ranch hands blocking their escape. Many were killed and some surrendered but the colonel seeing all was lost rode away from his position of safety. Three ranch hands mounted and followed him but he had a good lead. They knew where he was headed and so did he. The only place between him and the Rio Grande was Carson’s rock, with a new population figure of none.

  The colonel knew he could find a fresh horse there so he drove his horse mercilessly. He wanted to build a greater army this time and smash the town beyond recognition. When darkness came he stopped and walked his horse allowing it to rest and to make sure it did not break a leg in the darkness. The men following stopped and rested with a fire to keep them warm and to some cook food with.

  With first light they were on their way again and so was the colonel which meant he made it to Carson’s Rock some time before the men following. He rode into town as though he owned it looking for a horse. He saw a pony and headed for it but it had no saddle on it. An Indian staggered out of the saloon to see who it was and drew his knife. The colonel shot him dead but the noise brought other Indians and they attacked, attacking as though they were immune to his bullets due to the alcohol. The colonel was dragged from his horse but not killed, they were drunk and they wanted to play. They knew many games, one which included throwing tomahawks at the man tied to the church door, one was shooting arrows at him and then throwing knives. As they were drunk it meant he was hit several times but he was still alive when they piled straw under his feet with wood on top for a good blaze and lit it. The three men watching from the edge of town chose not to interfere, until the colonel was past help then they crept into town and killed all the Sioux, before putting out the fire and cutting the colonel down. He was dead and his feet charred but they still threw him over a horse and took him back with them.