The Reluctant Bounty Hunter

by S G Read

  A whistle stopped the conversation. They took the horses reins so that they did not bolt as the train approached then walked to where they would be able to board. The train chuffed into the station and stopped with the caboose right where they were. Duncan opened the door and lowered the ramp so that they could walk the horses inside. Once they were in he closed it again. Duncan elected to stay with the horses but Sarah elected to go sit with her friends who were traveling on the same train, so they parted company. Duncan chose to change from his best clothes to his riding clothes while he was alone with the horses. He assumed the porter would be in later for a game of checkers in between looking after the passengers, although with a lot of townies traveling home he might not find a lot of free time.

  They managed two games of checkers in the whole journey with the porter getting more and more agitated at the requests of the ‘hoity toity’ passengers, as he called them. When the train stopped for water Duncan opened the door and led out both horses while Sarah was busily saying her goodbyes again.

  The fireman filled the train with water and loaded ore logs from the pile, then it chuffed away with a long whistle. Now Sarah was no longer under scrutiny from the others she reverted to the cow girl she liked to be. She stripped where she stood and put on her riding clothes to be ready to ride away. As she was no longer a little girl Duncan turned away while she changed.

  ‘I do have my underclothes on.’ Sarah declared when he turned his back on her.

  ‘So I can see!’ Duncan answered. ‘But there is more inside them than there used to be.’

  Sarah laughed.

  ‘I will have to remember that.’ She replied.

  When they were ready they rode away. Not in a straight line to where they were heading but in a circular course to try to make sure there was no reception when they reached the trees. It took longer but it was better to be safe rather than sorry and possibly dead. As they rode Duncan read the ground they were traveling over to see who had been around and might be in front of them. Whenever he saw anything he did not like, they slowed or changed direction.

  They stopped and camped when the light started to fail but did not light a fire, as there had been a lot of sign and Duncan was unsure who had made it. The beds were filled with anything which would make them looked as though someone was asleep in them and the two of them slept on the edge of the clearing under a rocky outcrop.

  It was all a waste of time and in the morning Duncan lit a fire and cooked breakfast before they rode on. It felt nice to eat hot food and now they rode in a straight line for Carter’s ranch until they reached the prairie. At the edge of the prairie they stopped for a while and Duncan looked at the tracks. He found old tracks of shod horses pursued by unshod Indian ponies but they were old enough for him not to worry.

  ‘I reckon we’ll go straight across this time.’ He said quietly.

  ‘What ever you say daddy.’ Sarah replied, to her is felt nice just to say the word.

  ‘Let’s go then.’

  They rode out onto the prairie and started to cross it, not at high speed but a good speed in case Indians came out of cover to chase them. They both had their weapons ready just in case. They saw nothing until they came to the draw. At the edge they slowed, in case there were Indians hiding in there but all they found was a grave.

  ‘Too big for one and Indians don’t bury anyone, too much like hard work.’ Duncan noted. ‘Looks like Slim was playing cat and mouse with the Sioux and he ended up as the cat.’

  ‘We don’t have to dig them up to make sure do we?’ Sarah asked.

  ‘Hell no, they can stay where they are as far as I am concerned. Or were you hungry?’

  Sarah gave him her best ladylike disapproving look and they rode on, going into the draw and out the other side. Ahead was the depression to their left with the trees which could be hiding anyone. They made sure they were far enough away from it when they passed it and half an hour later they rode down into the ranch. The sentries saw then coming but merely acknowledged that they had seen them and the two rode up to the ranch house. Olivia opened the door to their guests but did not recognise either but a young girl and a grizzled older man made it possible for her to guess.

  ‘Are you Duncan Lee?’ She asked.

  ‘I am.’ Duncan answered.

  ‘If he is Duncan Lee then you must be Sarah. Father said we might see you on your way through.’

  ‘I am Sarah.’ Sarah answered. ‘And I am enchanted to meet you.’

  From then on the two girls left the men together and walked off on their own while Duncan sat talking to Carter. Duncan was catching up on the local news and Sarah finding out what school Olivia had attended and what it was like there. Olivia was also asking about the school Sarah had attended.

  ‘So how is Willow Grass?’ Duncan asked.

  ‘Awake and complaining, so that’s a good sign.’ Jim Carter answered.

  ‘Is Star That Shines still here?’

  ‘Yes, she seems to have fallen for one of my young hands but he’s a nice enough lad and now that Willow Grass is up and about a few hands are interested in her. The news from Many Hands camp is that they have an accord with the soldiers for safe conduct for the whole tribe to safe lands where they can live in peace. A few brave are up in arms about it but there are so few of them it is not much of a threat. The soldiers can now concentrate their efforts on the Sioux and they have moved away as well.’

  ‘Which way?’ Duncan asked.

  ‘I have no idea. Slim might know but I haven’t set eyes on him for over two weeks. Him, and Prairie Fox lit out here and they haven’t come back yet.’

  ‘I was hoping to talk to him, is it worth waiting?’

  ‘Stay a day Duncan, if they aint back by then they might not be coming back at all.’ Carter answered.

  ‘I’ll wait a day and then head for home. If the Sioux have moved away from the soldiers things might be a little easier for a while.’ Duncan answered. ‘I’d be a might upset if they found my valley and mistreated my family.’

  Willow Grass walked down the stairs, holding on tight to the hand rail, a bandage still round her head.

  ‘I heard your voice Duncan Lee, is Sarah with you?’ She asked.

  ‘She was, went off with Olivia somewhere.’ Duncan answered.

  ‘Thank you I will go after them.’

  ‘Should you be up and about?’ Carter asked.

  ‘Maybe not but I am unhappy in the room, it is like a prison.’ Willow Grass answered.

  ‘Been in there a long time, I’ll give you that but it would be a shame for you to die now after all the work Star That Shines has put in to save you.’ Carter scolded.

  ‘I know.’ Willow Grass answered but she still went out to where she thought the girls might be.

  ‘Women.’ Carter declared. ‘A game of checkers?’

  ‘Why not. One day I will teach you chess, it is a thinking man’s game. I learnt it during the war.’

  ‘So you can beat me, I’ll be bound.’

  ‘At first, later on you will make it hard for me to win. A lot of strategy, a bit like war without all the killing.’ Duncan answered.

  ‘Maybe I’ll let you teach me one day.’ Carter retorted.

  Sarah and Duncan stayed on the ranch for two days but with no sign of Slim they left on the morning of the third day. Willow Grass had nowhere to go, as she did not want to go after her tribe onto a reservation. Duncan immediately offered her a home in the valley but she turned it down as Prairie Fox would soon be back and she wanted to see him. Duncan left it as an open ended invitation with Sarah urging her to come to the valley.

  They rode away waving to the Carters but with a group of hands making sure they made it home in one piece. They rode as if they owned the trail and when they stopped to camp they lit a large smoky fire to cook their bacon and beans on. They saw and heard no one on the journey but stopped short of the crossroads to maintain the secrecy of the valley for a while longer. As Duncan and Sarah rode on,
they waved to the ranch hands who sat on their horses waiting for the trouble signal, a single shot. If they heard any shooting they would come a running, figuratively speaking.

  The two turned into the valley with out seeing anyone and rode up to the closed door. Duncan stopped and listened but heard nothing. He opened the door a little so that it made a noise and listened again, but it was still all quiet. He pulled it to and repeated the action but still did not hear any noise. Sarah stood there next to her horse in the darkness silently, she knew there was a time to be quiet and this was it. Finally Duncan opened the door and slipped through leaving his horse. He slipped his horse’s rein into her hand and she knew she was to look after the horses.

  Once through the door Duncan closed it again and drew his gun. It was as silent as the grave in his valley and no redbone dog came to meet him. He slipped to his left into the trees and started working his way silently towards the cabin, fearing the worst. A noise behind him stopped him in his tracks and he spun round to see an Indian with an arrow aimed at him.

  ‘Don’t shoot him Prairie Fox, that’s Duncan Lee.’ A voice called before either could fire.

  Duncan did not fire and Prairie Fox lowered his bow.

  ‘Willow Grass is waiting for you to come to the Carter ranch Prairie Fox.’ Duncan advised him, as he holstered his pistol.

  ‘She is awake then?’ The young Indian asked.

  ‘Hell she is walking about and making a nuisance of herself.’ Duncan answered.

  ‘She is getting better then.’ Prairie Fox concluded.

  ‘It certainly sounds like it.’ Slim declared. ‘Where is that young Sarah then?’

  ‘Standing right behind you and armed to the teeth!’ Sarah answered and made him stiffen.

  ‘They were supposed to be making you into a lady, not sneaky Indian type.’ Slim declared.

  ‘They did that as well my man and how are you now?’ Sarah answered.

  ‘I am fine Miss Sarah, do I get a cuddle?’

  ‘Of course Mr. Chesapeake.’ She answered and slipped her pistol back into her bag, before running forward and jumping into his arms. ‘Have you missed me?’

  ‘Of course Miss Sarah.’ Slim answered.

  ‘Chesapeake?’ Prairie Fox echoed.

  Sarah turned to look at him. He was a young Indian brave of roughly her age and he was quite handsome in his way.

  ‘Yes his name is Jeremiah Chesapeake.’ Sarah answered.

  Prairie Fox laughed.

  ‘Where does Slim come into it then?’ He asked.

  ‘That you will have to find out from Mr. Chesapeake, and you are?’ Sarah answered.

  ‘Oh I am sorry Miss Sarah I am forgetting my manners, this here is Prairie Fox.’ Slim answered.

  ‘Willow Grass’s brother, she wants to see you.’ Sarah retorted.

  ‘I have to kill Sioux, so I can’t go back to the ranch yet.’ Prairie Fox declared.

  ‘We just killed three Prairie Fox!’ Slim exclaimed. ‘How many more do you want to kill?’

  ‘All of them, Jeremiah.’ Prairie Fox answered.

  ‘Less of the cheek, it is Slim or you are on your own. See what you have started Miss Sarah.’ Slim complained.

  ‘He’ll tire of it Slim, now where is that new baby.’ Sarah replied and left them where they stood.

  ‘I knew she was there.’ Prairie Fox declared. ‘She is wearing rosewater like Morning Sun makes, you can smell from a distance.’

  ‘No, that is me!’ Duncan declared and walked after Sarah.

  ‘It’s a good job there are no live Sioux about then!’ Slim called after him.

  As there were too many for the cabin they sat and ate outside when Morning Sun and Sarah had cooked the meal. Sarah had insisted on helping, as one of the lessons was cookery, ‘a lady should know how to cook so that she can chastise those who do it wrongly’ Miss Brody had advised her when she asked why. She also added ‘It is also handy when one is in fact hungry’ just to add weight to her argument and Sarah realized that is was worth knowing, although she could never picture herself with servants to cook for her.

  She talked to Prairie Fox in both refined English and Pawnee about things that had gone on while she was away. With the death of Running Wolf and the subsequent move of the tribe to the safety of Many Hands village. Followed by their subsequent move on to a reservation, a lot had changed. Now that the Sioux had been chased across the range by the cavalry, with many dying on the way, the whole area was safer. While they had traveled and camped Duncan had told of his plans for the prairie where he had first encountered Little Buck and Little Deer. He saw it as his ranch with horses running free, the end near the Indian village could be sealed to make it a box canyon and the other end fenced to stop them from straying.

  When she asked how he would afford it all he said that he had money and could easily get more. She did offer to help but Duncan would not hear of it and now she wondered how he would manage it. She spoke to Prairie Fox about it and as he knew the area well he agreed it would make good land to raise horses on, as horses would eat many things.

  In the morning while Duncan rode off with Slim to show him round the valley and bounce ideas off him, Sarah and Prairie Fox went riding in the valley, starting in the opposite direction and waving when they passed them later. This was the first boy she had not wanted to give a black eye to, even when he deserved it in her estimation!

  Slim and Prairie Fox rode out three days later, promising to return to visit sooner than later but out there it could mean months. Duncan and Sarah watched them go through the cave and out onto the trail on the other side, to make sure there was no ambush waiting them and it was then Duncan made a decision which would change things in the valley forever. He did not tell Sarah what it was but later they started for town to collect her trunk, which should be in town by now. Sarah took her pony, leaving the mare to graze in the valley in amongst the Indian ponies, in hope that she would soon be in foal. They called at the sheriff’s office and found Charlie in there.

  ‘Good morning Duncan.’ Charlie greeted, jumping out of the chair he was in when he saw Sarah. ‘And good morning to you Sarah, you have grown up.’

  ‘For the better I hope?’ She replied.

  ‘Oh yes.’ Charlie answered, drinking in her beauty.

  ‘Our trunks arrived yet Charlie?’ Duncan asked when he was in danger of being ignored.

  ‘Trunks?’ Sarah retorted.

  ‘Yes I already had one to send back.’ Duncan exclaimed nonchalantly.

  ‘Yes, they’re in back.’ Charlie answered, the spell broken.

  ‘I am going to need a hand with them into the valley.’ Duncan added.

  ‘Well there is nothing much going on at the moment so I can come out and give you a hand with them.’ Charlie offered immediately.

  ‘Very kind of you, if you are sure it is not too much trouble.’ Sarah asked and gave him a provocative smile to help him decide.

  ‘No trouble at all.’ He answered.

  They loaded the two trunks on to a buckboard and started for the valley, after a good meal in the hotel. Heads turned when Sarah walked in and many watched her all the time she was in there.

  It was late morning when they started back and they took it easy to make sure both the trunks and the horses did not suffer. Before it grew dark they stopped and made camp by the buckboard, Duncan throwing a sheet over the side to make a mini tent for Sarah. They sat and talked into the night with the fire lighting up their faces, for once they had no worries about Indians.

  At first light they were on their way again, still not hurrying. It was late when they reached the valley entrance and Charley found out where it was for the first time. The buckboard would not go through, so they had to carry the trunks into the valley and up to the cabin. The buckboard was left outside on a patch of grass away from the entrance but the horses were brought inside to make sure they were still about in the morning. Sarah was interested in the contents of the second trunk but Duncan was not
about to open it while Charlie was there. She had to wait until Charlie left and with Morning Sun’s cooking it might take some time!

  Duncan showed Charlie round the valley as he had not been there before, as though to spite Sarah, while they walked he showed him Running Wolf’s burial platform. He also bounced ideas of him about a new entrance into the valley from the plain, something he was thinking about.

  Sarah watched Charlie finally ride away in the buckboard and followed Duncan back into the valley.

  ‘So, what is in the second trunk?’ She asked, in a very unladylike way.

  Duncan opened it and she was none the wiser.

  ‘What is it?’ She asked.

  ‘Tools for getting the gold out of that stream.’ Duncan answered, an answer which had Sarah running down to the stream.

  Duncan did not follow but sat on the porch seat to wait for her to come back. When she did she had fine gold particles in her hand.

  ‘When did you spot this?’ She asked, settling on the seat beside him.

  ‘Soon after I was nearly killed by the Sioux, I went down to wash my head and saw it in the water. I think it will bankroll my plans for this valley and the plain, without having to touch my savings.’ When he mentioned the plains, he waved his hand in their direction.

  ‘What plans?’ Sarah asked.

  ‘That plain is ideal to raise horses on and I intend to lay claim to it before anyone else does. With no Indians about the settlers will come in droves and I want that plain as my own even if I have to buy it.’

  ‘But it is the other side of that rock face!’ Sarah declared. ‘They could take all your horses without you knowing.’

  ‘At the moment it is.’ Duncan answered.

  ‘You aren’t going to try to move the rock face?’

  ‘No: Just make a hole through it like nature did with that cave.’ Duncan answered and stood up. ‘Walk with me.’

  It was an invitation but Sarah did not refuse or argue. They walked down to the cave and on past it until they reached the corner of the valley. Duncan then proceeded along the side of the valley a little way, then stopped.