by A. T. Butler
“Are they coming?” Boyd whispered.
Jacob nodded, drawing his gun. They would only have one chance to overpower the men as they exited the cave. He stepped backward back into the afternoon light.
“Come on,” one of the men shouted, getting closer.
Time slowed as the enemy approached.
When he was putting together the decoy dynamite, Jacob had thought carefully about how he could quickly capture five armed men, with only himself and Boyd to man the weapons. He could easily tie up one, probably two of the men on his own, but that left three for the inexperienced local to handle. There was no question that Jacob would need to be creative with this step in his plan.
He had thought about it, weighed his options, and considered what assets he had at his disposal. Once he took a wider view of the whole situation, Jacob realized he had much more to work with than just the one man at his side.
Now, as he waited on edge for the four remaining dangerous outlaws to all exit the cave, Jacob stepped back to the side, his back against the boulder wall, squatted down and picked up the end of the rope that he had previously left lying there in the dirt. The length of the rope was limp on the ground, across the mouth of the cave, until it curved up where the other end was securely tied to the saddle of his horse, Blaze.
The strength and control of that mustang was an ace up his sleeve that Jacob had completely forgotten he had had. He supposed he had gotten too used to the absence of Paint, especially after having to disregard Franny entirely. He was newly encouraged when he remembered that Blaze, or maybe the other horses, could be brought in to help.
As the men poured out of the cave, Jacob pulled up his end of the rope. Pickens and his cohorts were too frantic and panicked to be paying close enough attention and the low wire tripped every single one of them. They fell over the rope, one after another getting caught, ankles twisting, knees buckling. The third one out of the cave fell fastest, over his own feet and into the back of Pickens. One man grabbed at another to hold him up, and ended up with elbows and arms enmeshed, crashing to the ground. One after another, the men fell over each other into a tangled mess in the dirt.
Jacob and Boyd lost no time in pushing their advantage.
The shortest of the men scrambled to his feet first, but fumbled in drawing his weapon. Boyd rushed forward with a large stone in one hand and his pistol in the other. Pickens, sprawled in the dirt, grabbed for Boyd’s feet as he passed, tripping him. But Boyd kept his feet under him and reached the short man. He swung down, hard and fast, smashing his stone into the side of the man’s head and incapacitating him. The man crumpled on the ground and Boyd turned to take on another.
While Boyd was taking care of that man, Jacob grabbed the end of the rope. Leaving it still tied to Blaze’s saddle, he wrapped his end three times quickly around the outlaw with the big black beard before he was able to climb to his feet. The man kicked out at Jacob and spit at him.
“You son of a—!”
Jacob kicked the man in the ribs, knocking the wind out of him before he could finish his angry cursing. He pulled a sweaty handkerchief out of his pocket and stuffed it in the man’s mouth, further silencing him.
As he finished tying the knot, Jacob heard a crack behind him and in front of him almost simultaneously and looked around the space. Pickens had climbed to his feet and pulled his weapon, turning it on Jacob and firing. Whether because of his aim or because of Jacob’s movement, the shot missed, hitting the stone wall behind him and breaking a chunk off of the boulder.
Pickens saw that Jacob had noticed where the bullet came from and grinned at him. With two teeth missing on the right side of his mouth, the man looked manic. Jacob was a quick draw, but had not yet had a chance to pull his revolver when Pickens collapsed into the dirt. As he crumpled, Boyd’s form with a now-bloody stone held in one hand loomed behind.
The fourth and final outlaw had not even stuck around to try to fight it out. He had taken longer to get to his feet, but now was racing as fast as he could down the mountain, off the trail and towards the woods where Jacob had watched their group before. The outlaw must have been injured in his fall; he seemed to be being cautious about putting weight on his right foot.
Jacob hesitated a moment before darting off after him. The man was still close enough and in clearing enough that he could have gotten off a clean shot and stopped his progress. Instead, Jacob bounded off down the mountain, catching up with the man in seconds and tackling him to the ground.
The outlaw fought back, kicking, punching and trying to bite Jacob when his arm got close enough. They tussled in the dirt for a tense ten seconds before Jacob’s muscular legs gave him the advantage. He had the other man pinned in the dirt, each of Jacob’s legs pinning a leg down and the outlaw squirmed underneath.
“You want to give up now?” Jacob asked. “Make this easy on yourself? Or do I have to knock you out?”
“You best kill me,” the man hissed.
Jacob smirked. “Oh no, my friend. I won’t be denying the law their due.”
He pulled his fist back, kneeling hard on the man’s arms to hold him in place, and swung. Jacob’s knuckles connected directly with the man’s jaw, just below his ear, knocking him unconscious and leaving him limp in the dirt.
Jacob let out a long, slow breath. Against all odds, they had managed to subdue five outlaws without killing any of them. Jacob had to keep reminding himself that one of these days he would have no choice, that he would have to kill a fugitive to protect himself or someone else. But he was grateful today was not that day.
Fortunately the man was not all that large. Even with his dead weight, Jacob was able to heft him over his shoulder and carry him back up the incline toward the campsite and the others.
He crossed the dirt campsite to where Pickens lay collapsed. There was a tiny rivulet of blood trailing down the back of his head into the dirt, but when Jacob looked closely and probed a bit with his fingers, he decided the cut was shallow and the man would be fine.
Jacob lifted the man to his feet, holding him upright under the armpits. As he was unconscious, the dead weight was difficult to maneuver, but with Boyd’s help he managed to get the man up onto the horse, tied and fixed in place.
One by one each of the incapacitated outlaws was trussed up and planted on top of a horse.
Each of these men was complicit in a kidnapping at the very least. But Jacob knew the type — it was likely they were involved in deeper, more dangerous plots. He would take them all back to Elk Springs and let Sheriff Dale deal with them. They could be installed safely in the town jail while wires went out to other towns in the area.
Once the group of men were subdued securely, it had only taken a few minutes to hike down into the cave, untie Joel, Zeke and Flora, and make the necessary explanations. They had had a few petrifying moments, waiting for the ‘dynamite’ to blow up and end them, but they soon realized that the burning and smoke was coming from another source.
“And then once we realized it was just a decoy, it just became a matter of staying out of your way until the rest of your plan had unfolded,” Zeke concluded.
Flora was eager to get home, and they still had just enough light left in the day to make it back to her family’s farm. The five outlaws were each put on their horses and tied between Jacob and his team, while Joel led the entire caravan back down the mountain trail.
They had left Flora untethered to a criminal. She had protested, until Jacob pointed out that she was unarmed. Being free of that burden, Flora rode up at the front of the caravan, side by side with Joel. Jacob was too far back to hear what they said to each other, but the grins they traded back and forth said plenty.
Chapter Fifteen
As dusk began to settle, Joel led them through the gap in the fence on the backside of the Kimball farm. Flora trotted on ahead, eager to see her family again.
Once Jacob, Boyd and Zeke had secured their prisoners and their horses by the fence at the front of t
he property, Jacob approached where Joel was talking to Kimball out on the front porch.
“Sir? Mr. Kimball? I’d … ” Joel looked at Flora with an expression of worship. “I’d like to marry your daughter.”
“I know he’s not of our faith, Father,” Flora said quickly, “But he’s a good man and he loves me and I’m not sure, now that … ”
“Hush, child,” Kimball said gently, putting his large rough hand on his daughter’s cheek. “You don’t have to explain anything to me. Your mother and I had despaired of ever finding a man of God worthy of you, anyway. And now with this whole adventure and the way people talk, I thought … ”
He trailed off and grew quiet. Joel reached over and clasped Flora’s hand. They presented a united front to her father, both wanting nothing more than to just be together, no matter what other circumstances may have led to it.
“I can’t promise you it will be easy,” Kimball said to them, coming out of his reverie. “The folks in this town have mighty strong opinions about us already, Flora. And now they have an opportunity to question your honor. Marrying Joel won’t stop their wagging tongues.”
“I know, Father. But I wanted to be his wife a week ago, and even more so now. Please say we have your blessing.”
There was another long pause as Kimball looked over the pair. Finally he addressed his proclamation to Joel.
“Son,” he said, offering his hand. “You’ve begun this marriage protecting my daughter at risk of your own life. I expect you to continue the same level of love and protection for the rest of it.”
“Yes, sir. Of course, sir. I’m happy to.” Joel shook his new father-in-law’s hand vigorously, unable to keep the wide grin from his face. “Can we get married today?”
Kimball chuckled. “Your mother would kill me if I let you get married without her being here. We’ll send them word. I promise it will be soon.”
Jacob wasn’t sure the boy had heard, though. He had already turned to his bride-to-be and taken her in his arms. Jacob tried not to watch, to give them a little privacy. But it was clear from what he did see that Joel and Flora would never be happier with anyone else. This was as sure an example of everything working together for good as Jacob would ever see.
The two lovebirds soon hurried into the house. Flora had been wearing the same dress for several days and both needed something more substantial in their stomach than simply jerky.
“I’ll see to it that word is sent to his parents on my way back through Elk Springs,” he promised. “Hopefully the wire is fixed by now.”
“I appreciate that,” Kimball said. “Joel’s parents were our closest friends when they lived here, and though I wish the circumstances could be different, I’m sure those two will make a happy couple.”
“You ready to go back to town now?” Zeke asked, walking up.
Jacob looked up to where Boyd was standing guard over their prisoners. Each of the five men wore an expression of anger and disappointment. Whatever big plans they had had for the rumored gold mine, they’d have to rethink that completely.
“That reminds me,” Kimball said, following Jacob’s gaze. “While you were gone Reverend Fowler came back with news from Tucson. Homer Pickens is wanted for bank robbery. There’s a bounty of three hundred dollars on his head.”
Zeke let out a low whistle. “Three hundred? Must have been some robbery.”
Kimball continued. “And judging from the descriptions the reverend gave me, I would bet that these others you’ve captured are members of the Slippery Stone Gang that has been roaming these mountains.”
“I thought that gang was up in Prescott,” Jacob said.
“Some are.” Kimball nodded. “But Stone likes to keep lawmen on their toes. He has so many men willing to kill and rob for him, that he can split them up for different jobs.”
“Well, ain’t that a pleasant thought,” Jacob said darkly.
“Exactly,” Kimball agreed. “But that does mean that there’s probably a bounty on those men too. They could have been anywhere in the Arizona Territory wreaking havoc. You all should be sure to check in with the sheriff and see what can be salvaged from this adventure.”
Excitement was dawning on Zeke’s face. He looked back at Boyd who remained focused with his revolver pointed at the prisoners.
“A few hundred dollars split between us is still good money,” Zeke said. “We’re ready as soon as you are, Jacob.”
“You boys go ahead,” Jacob told him. He walked the several yards to the horses alongside Zeke. “We didn’t know there would be a bounty when we set off and I know you all risked more than I did. You take these men back to town, and the sheriff will see to your reward. Any man who would risk so much for a neighbor in face of such adversity deserves whatever the world will gift him.”
Boyd and Zeke exchanged a glance before nodding, accepting what Jacob had offered them.
“Thank you kindly, Jacob,” Zeke said offering his hand. “We appreciate what you’ve done for Elk Springs and for both of us. A good man like you doesn’t come along all the time, but know that you’re always welcome here.”
“I know my Sarah would be happy to host you any time,” Boyd added.
“I appreciate that. I really do. Next time I’m on this side of the Territory I’ll take you up on it.”
“Alright then,” Zeke said, as he mounted his horse. “We’ll be seeing you Jacob.”
Both men tipped their hats, and began the walk back to Elk Springs with a line of five tied and the other men riding between them.
“I couldn’t help overhearing,” Kimball said, as Jacob turned back toward the farmhouse. “That’s very generous of you to let those men claim the reward when you did so much of the work.”
Jacob shrugged. “There will be more rewards. This was supposed to be a break from that work, anyway.”
Kimball chuckled. “Guess it didn’t work out the way you planned.”
“No, sir, it didn’t.”
“What do you think you’ll do now?”
Jacob shrugged. “The horse I’m riding is just a loan. I’ve got to take Franny back to her owner soon, so I guess I’ll just make my way back to Tucson now. There’s bound to be a new report ready.”
“Those outlaws never stop.”
“No, they don’t.”
Jacob was about to head into the barn to get Franny saddled and ready to head back down the mountain, when Kimball stopped him.
“I’ve been thinking. The whole time you were gone, putting yourself at risk for my daughter, I was wondering what I could do to ever repay you.”
“There’s no need—”
“Hush now.” Kimball fixed him with a hard stare. “There is a need. Flora is dearer to me than you may realize. With her blessed mother gone, and us moved all the way out to Arizona, Flora and Edith are the only things left that are around to remind me of the love of my youth. When you went after her, I was left with hours imagining what I would do if you didn’t succeed.”
Jacob listened respectfully, thinking about his own memory of his marriage, and the little he had left of his late wife.
“There is nothing that can make up for what you’ve given back to me, but I thought maybe you’d accept a small gift of my appreciation.”
Jacob smiled. “I will, sir. Something small I can take with me back to Tucson would be kind and much appreciated.”
“Wonderful.” Kimball beamed. “I hoped you’d say that. Come with me.”
Jacob moved to follow the older man into the house, but instead he turned the opposite direction to lead him out into the pasture. Jacob was confused. Maybe it was something that had fallen out of his pocket, or a little medallion he kept pinned to a fence somewhere. Kimball walked through the grass with Jacob trailing behind him, evidently with a destination in mind.
“Here we are,” Kimball said proudly, far sooner than Jacob expected.
Jacob looked around. “Is it … I’m sorry, sir, but if you meant to get something from Blaze’s
saddlebags I think those are already in your house.”
“No, no. Not the saddlebags. I want you to have Blaze.”
“A horse? No, I—”
“You already agreed to take the gift,” Kimball said with a teasing glint in his eye. “You can’t let me down now, son.”
“Aw, now, don’t put it like that.” Jacob backed up a couple steps. The truth was, he and Blaze had bonded more quickly than any of the other horses he had looked at since his own was shot. If he had been forced to go after that wild gang with Bonnie’s horse, who knew what kind of disaster might have struck. Jacob already loved Blaze, and wanted to take him home.
“Don’t you need him?”
“Not hardly. With all the young ones around, he doesn’t get near enough exercise. You’d be doing both me and Blaze a favor. He’s a mustang, Jacob. Teaming up with a man like you would be the best thing for him.”
“Well, but …” Jacob dithered. “At least let me buy him from you, Mr. Kimball. I got a sack of cash in my bag that’s just been waiting til I found the right horse to invest in. I wouldn’t feel right taking such a gorgeous creature free of charge.”
“It’s not free of charge, Jacob Payne.” Kimball gently punched Jacob in the arm. “Didn’t I tell you I offered a bounty on any man who could bring my daughter Flora back safe and sound to me?”
“You did not.” Jacob grinned in spite of himself.
“Sure I did. Exactly the cost of one mustang named Blaze. Although, I suppose now that he’s yours you can change his name if you see fit.”
“I wouldn’t change his name.”
“Ah ha!” Kimball said, triumphantly. “You admit you’re going to accept him.”
“I mean … I … ”
“Give an old man like me something, Jacob. The best way I know to protect my daughter is to provide for the man who did. Blaze is yours.”
Jacob let out a slow breath before nodding. “Alright, Mr. Kimball. I … I won’t fight you. Blaze will come home with me.”
