by Bill Sheehy
The bunch on the bridge broke up, running off the other way. Buck slid the horse to a halt, out of the saddle before the animal had stopped. Glancing to the only man left standing he saw it was Louie, trussed up with a noose hanging around his neck.
Standing straight with his gun at arm’s length, Buck aimed at the running men who had reached their horses and were swinging into the saddle. Squeezing the trigger, Buck saw one rider jerk to one side. Grabbing the saddle horn on the running horse, the wounded man fled. Quickly shifting his aim Buck got off another shot. The bullet must have hit the horse as the front of the animal crumbled, throwing the rider head-first to the ground.
Not seeing any other targets, Buck rushed toward Louie to rip the noose away.
‘Hold up there,’ someone yelled as a slug tore at the bridge plank near Buck’s feet.
Buck swung around to see a man coming at him from the end of the bridge. Isaac Black, his gun pointing, laughing.
‘Wal, ain’t this pretty?’ he called, stopping and holding his six-gun swinging from Buck to Louie. ‘I got me a couple rangers. Yes sir. And won’t old Fitz be paying me extra for this? You better believe it.’
Buck stood, his Colt as his side. ‘What do you mean, Fitz paying extra?’
‘Oh, hell, you don’t know nothing do ya? Hoo boy, now that’s something.’
‘It’s clear you’re part of the Vigilance Committee.’
Black laughed loudly. ‘Part of it? Hell no, we are it. All the time you was thinking there was a gang when it was just a couple of us. That’s all it took. Not a gang. Boy, does that make you look foolish. We was laughing every time we heard you was looking for a gang.’
‘And what does Fitzwalter have to do with it?’
‘More showing how dumb you are. It was Fitz who’s been behind it all the time. It was his idea and it’s him been paying us to do the dirty work. And now, when I shoot you and kick your Mexican partner off the bridge there’ll be a bonus. Ha! I told you I’d be shooting you, didn’t I?’
Buck shook his head. ‘Not while I’m still standing, you won’t.’
‘Oh, yes. What could be better. Ya did some fancy shooting coming to stop us, but think about it. I’m betting your six gun is plumb empty. Yup, I’ll take my time and do you with one shot then come kick your pard all the way to hell.’
Buck turned his head as if glancing down at his pistol but his eyes never left the other man. Black, laughing, followed his glance. That was all Buck needed. While Black had been talking Buck had been slowly reaching around with his left hand to the Colt behind his belt. When Black looked down, Buck came around with his extra gun and shot the man in the chest. Twice.
Black staggered back a step or two, looking down at his body then crumbling.
Buck lifted the noose from Louie’s neck and using his pocket knife, cut his hands free.
‘Boy, you sure took your time,’ Louie complained. ‘I didn’t think you were ever going to get here.’
‘Oh, stop your bitching. I got here as fast as I could. Had to finish my coffee, didn’t I? Anyway, who went for a ride with that bunch? Me or you? How’d that happen, anyhow?’
‘Ah hell. It was that Winterbottom girl. Came asking if I’d help her. So of course I did. And they were waiting.’
‘Of course you did,’ said Buck cutting Louie’s feet loose. Then looking down where the horse had fallen, he frowned. ‘C’mon,’ he said and took off running.
The horse was dead. Buck could see where his bullet had struck the animal in the head. Rushing over to where the rider lay in a heap, he saw it was Mathilda Winterbottom. Feeling her neck, he felt a weak pulse.
‘Louie,’ he called, ‘she’s still alive. Bring my horse down. We’ll get her back into town to the doctor.’
Chapter 38
Buck carried the girl to the doctor’s office while Louie went to the store to get her father. She was still unconscious and Buck was told to go away. He was going out the door as Winterbottom came running in.
Outside, he found Louie talking to the sheriff. Slowly taking it all in, Sheriff McDonald could only shake his head.
‘You really think she was part of the gang?’
‘Wasn’t any gang,’ said Buck. ‘According to Black, it was just a couple of them. And,’ thinking ahead, he glanced at Louie before going on, ‘I don’t really think Mathilda had much to do with them. Not with the hangings. Look at it, she’s young, a girl just coming on to being a woman and that Isaac Black must have looked like something to her. Now yes, she did get my partner to go help her, but you have to remember, he’s a Mexican and they are all great lovers, ya know? As far as her being part of the Vigilance Committee? I’d say no.’
‘Louie said Black claims Fitzwalter was behind it. That I can believe. He somehow never did fit in here. I can see how Jacobson or Runkle would have reason for doing something like that, but Fitzwalter? His little horse operation isn’t big enough for that.’
Buck shook his head. ‘And you’re probably right. But remember what that marshal told us. You recall he came over to tell you to keep an eye out for a real bad man – uh, can’t remember his name. Didn’t he say that outlaw and Fitzwalter had known each other sometime in the past? Well, what if the horse ranch he’s got is really just a place outlaws could hide out? For a price. If so, then Fitzwalter would have as big a reason as the other ranchers to stop any statehood talk.’
‘Um, maybe. Guess I’d better telegraph the marshal, let him know what’s been happening and what Fitzwalter might be up to.’
‘Might think about getting someone to drag Mathilda’s horse off the road too. Oh, and bring in Black’s body. Personally I’d be for leaving it out there to rot, but with the stage coming by once in a while might not be a good idea.’
Chapter 39
The rest of the afternoon was spent hanging around waiting for Mathilda to regain consciousness. By nightfall the doctor could only report that her condition hadn’t changed. He joined the sheriff, Buck and Louie at the saloon for a drink before going back to his office.
‘Her father is there now,’ explained Doctor Bass. ‘He hasn’t left her side. Keeps looking up at me as if there might be something I should be doing. There isn’t. She must have landed on her head when her horse went down. Suffering from a concussion, I’d say. There’s not much can be done except wait. She’s a young woman and pretty strong. All we can do is wait and let her sleep.’
After the doctor had left, the others sat around sipping their drinks. Having talked what had happened into the ground they soon found themselves with little to say. Finishing his glass of beer, Buck wished them a good night and left. Louie wasn’t far behind.
Sheriff McDonald joined Louie and Buck at breakfast the next morning, saying nothing had changed with Mathilda overnight. There wasn’t much talk while the men ate their pancakes, sausage, eggs and slices of toasted homemade bread. They were relaxing over their coffee when a man came into the restaurant.
‘Why, it isn’t Saturday, Mr Jacobson,’ said Sheriff McDonald. ‘Not usual seeing you in town middle of the week.’
‘Nope, and don’t think I want to be here, either. I came in early hoping you’d be offering me some breakfast.’
‘Ah, no. Sorry, but we just finished. You been here an hour or so back, well, maybe. But. . . .’
Jacobson chuckled. ‘Oh well, can’t have everything.’ Looking at first Buck then Louie, he sobered. ‘Course, the reason I came in was to talk to you two. You were showing a lot of interest in one of my men – Smokey?’
Both Buck and Louie nodded but didn’t say anything.
‘Well, he’s dead. Came riding in yesterday afternoon all stretched out over his saddle, barely hanging on, all bloody. Been shot in the shoulder. By the time he got to the ranch he’d about bled out, was weak and breathing shallow. Me’n Mirella laid him out and washed up his wound. The bullet had taken him from the back, shattered that big bone and tore a hole you could nearly walk through coming out. He never wok
e up. Died a couple hours later. Now I don’t know where he’d been or what he’d been doing. I know where he was supposed to be, but it wasn’t any place he’d likely get shot. So I came in to find out if y’all knew anything.’
He stopped, waiting. Buck thought about it a minute then explained. ‘I was the one who shot him, Mr Jacobson.’ And went on to explain what had happened and what his hired hand had been doing.
‘Well, I can say it isn’t surprising. No, don’t get me wrong. If’n I’d have known, I’d have sent him packing. But, well, he’s changed in recent times. Been something not exactly right since he got most of his growth. Hearing he’d been part of the vigilantes doesn’t surprise me. Too bad, he was a good hand and a likable young man to boot. But you can’t never tell, can you?’
After the waitress filled their cups for the third or fourth time, the men sat quietly, thinking about what had gone on. It was then Winterbottom came pushing through the door. Scowling, the mayor came over to the table and threw down a packet of money in front of Buck.
‘There,’ he said snarling, ‘that’s the money owed you. Now you’ve been paid so you don’t have to stay around.’ Not taking his gaze off Buck, he went on. ‘Matty just died. She never came awake, never said a word. You, mister, killed my daughter. You got your money, you’ve done your job. Now get out of my town. Get out of my sight.’
Chapter 40
Sheriff McDonald followed the two out of the restaurant and stood for a moment on the boardwalk.
‘Boys, I don’t know what to tell you. Will isn’t himself since his daughter started acting up. I’ve known him since, well, since he arrived in town. Even then, taking over the general store and then becoming our mayor, even his keeping involved, everything came after his daughter. Well, hell, you know how it is with youngsters. They get to a certain age and think there ain’t nothing they don’t know or can’t handle. Matty wasn’t no different. She wasn’t a child when they got here but she was still polite and hard working. Always there when Will had to do something, being mayor took him outa the store and Matty’d take care of business. I don’t know when it happened but things changed. It was a slow change, but here this past year or so she wasn’t somehow so polite. I don’t know. Her pa didn’t either. He was getting to his wits’ end, watching her carrying on. I guess what I’m trying to say, is don’t let his anger bother you. He’s just lost the centre of his life and needs someone to blame. You’re handy.’
Buck nodded. ‘Finding out what she’s been doing behind his back has got to be painful. Having her die, I can understand the pain he’s got. Well, maybe not really understand it, but. . . . Anyway, don’t worry about it.’ Glancing at Louie, he looked back at the lawman. Smiling he shook hands with McDonald. ‘I reckon he’s right though. Louie and me, we’ve done what we came here to do. No reason for us to hang around. Would only be a burr in his side, renewing the pain every time he saw us. We’ve been paid off, so I’d say it was time to be travelling.’
‘Well, that’s probably best. But don’t go away thinking we don’t appreciate what you’ve done for us.’
Louie smiled and nodded. ‘Yeah. Now the newspapers can let the big guns back in Washington, D.C. know that the territory is safe to become a state. Your little town will grow because of it and maybe your mayor will be too busy to dwell on his loss.’
Chapter 41
Saddling up, Buck tied down his saddlebags. ‘Not much food stuff in there,’ he said, patting the leather pouches. ‘I don’t reckon we should wait for the mayor to open up to store to stock up. Guess we’ll have to wait until we get to the next town.’
‘That’s not a worry,’ said Louie swinging into the saddle. ‘We can be over in Fort Rawlins by supper time if we don’t dawdle around. That’s about the closest place to load up.’
Buck nodded.
Riding out of town, neither looked back. ‘What have you got in mind?’ asked Louie as they neared the bridge. ‘Any idea of where we’re going? That money we were paid will take care of things for a while but sooner or later we’re going to have to look up some work.’
‘Uh huh,’ said Buck slowly, ‘but you know we didn’t completely wrap up what we’d been paid to do. Fitzwalter was the organizer of the Committee and all we did was take that away from him. I’m thinking we’re not done here.’
‘Huh. Any chance you’re thinking about Yarberry?’
‘Well, he did say he was going to shoot us, only when it was the right time to do it. I can’t see any sense in letting that ride, not knowing if or when he’ll be coming. Nope, I’d say we still got a few things to do.’
Mention of Yarberry made them once again pay close attention to the land they were riding through. Buck didn’t say anything but he’d been thinking. Remembering the time it took them to ride from the Mustang Ranch into town, he figured they would be well past the horse ranch by late afternoon. From what they’d been told the stage road curved around the end of the mountain range.
‘We’ve got coffee and a couple cans of beans,’ he said at one point. ‘I’m thinking we’ll turn off the stage road once we’re past Fitzwalter’s place. Find ourselves a place to hunker down for the night up in the foothills above the main ranch.’
‘That bad man the territorial marshal came over to talk about, he might be there at Fitzwalter’s place too. Shouldn’t ought to forget him.’
‘Wasn’t. The good news is there’ll only be two of them. I don’t count on the dude, Fitzwalter, for much. With Black out of the way there’s likely to be only the two to worry about.’
Finding a long, shallow gully angling back up into the foothills, the two men reined off the roadway. For another hour or so they rode, keeping off any high ridges, holding the horses to a steady walk. Riding through the scrubby manzanita brush and stunted pines and pin oaks meant following random game trails, always keeping to a southerly direction. The gully itself deepened into a wider ravine as they went along. Slowly the floor of the low ravine had gained in elevation until coming to the end of it, up and over a little rise they came onto a wider trail. While in the low ravine, the sun had gone behind the higher hills. Riding up the slope, they found themselves back in sunlight.
‘Think this could be the trail they talked about?’ asked Louie. ‘Coming over from Fort Rawlins?’
Sitting their saddles and inspecting the trail, Buck nodded.
‘Not much horse traffic, from what I can see. Those horse droppings over there look to have dried out. Say a few days anyhow. Yeah, I’d guess this is it.’
‘So which way, on up a ways to look for a camp place, or back down the way we came?’
‘Up. If anyone should ride along here they’d be less likely to smell smoke if our fire was higher. Riders don’t usually pay much attention to what’s above them either.’
‘Well, after being ambushed, I gotta say, I sure do.’
Supper, a couple cans of beans heated by a small fire and coffee brewed in their fire-blackened pot, was over quickly. Smothering the fire, they spread their bed rolls off near a huge boulder on what looked like a soft place. The horses, hobbled, nibbled at a patch of scrub grass nearby.
Up with the sun, they quickly threw together a little fire and for breakfast heated the left-over coffee.
‘What do you have in mind?’ asked Louie as they saddled their horses.
‘Haven’t got much of a plan. Just ride on until we can see what’s there. Hide out and maybe see what we’re up against. I figure we can leave once Yarberry and Fitzwalter are taken care of. That other fellow too. Probably be a good idea to see how many hands there are. After we get all that figured out is when we can make a plan. Basically I suppose it’s going to be simply surprise them and hit ’em hard.’
Chapter 42
Riding the trail they’d come up on, they made their way down toward the valley. Still riding through brush there was little chance they could be seen from very far away. At one point, coming up a low rise they found themselves looking down on the back o
f a big barn.
‘Guess that’s it,’ said Buck, and reined back behind a clump of trees. ‘We can leave the horses here and go see what’s what.’ Taking his extra six-gun from the saddle-bag, he once again shoved it behind his belt.
A door at the back of the barn had been hung on leather straps. Slowly pulling it open, they eased inside. The planks used in the construction of the barn had been green and after years of drying in the sun, there were large gaps between them. If the barn had ever been chinked the mud had dried and fallen out. Sunlight filtering through those gaps cut the shadows. Other than bales of hay stacked along one side, the barn was empty.
Walking with his revolver held along his leg, Buck went to the front. Looking through an opening between the planks he could see the cabin across the yard. A huge tree off to one side shaded part of it. Smoke lifted lazily from a stove pipe atop the cabin.
‘There’s a bunch standing around a corral,’ Louie said quietly. He had gone to one side and was bending down to look out through a gap. ‘Looks like four men leaning against a corral rail watching what was happening inside.’
Buck went over. ‘Nothing moving over at the cabin,’ he said, finding his own opening farther down the wall. ‘Yeah, there’s a couple men saddling up a bronc. Looks like they’re going to take some kinks out some rough stock.’
Louie moved down so he could see both those leaning on a rail and the men working in the corral. In there, two men had the head of a smallish brown sorrel. They were holding it with a piece of blanket over the animal’s eyes. A third man was trying to cinch a saddle on and was having a job of it. The horse might not have been able to see but it didn’t like what was happening.
Finally saddled, the hand climbed on and got settled, holding the reins tight he nodded to the others. For a long moment after the blanket had been whipped away, the sorrel simply stood, head down. All of a sudden, like an explosion, it bucked. The rider was thrown, landing on his butt some distance away. The horse stopped and once again stood quietly with its head down, almost as if asleep. Buck could hear the men standing outside the corral laughing.
