Luke's Gold

by Charles G. West

  “You’re drivin’ a herd of horses on the far side of that ridge?”

  “Yes, sir, me and my pa and my brother.”

  “How many head are you drivin’?” Cade asked.

  “Sixty. And I’d best be gettin’ these three back before Pa wonders what happened to me.”

  Cade slowly shook his head, amazed. “How old are you, son?”

  “Ten,” he answered, sitting up as tall in the saddle as he could.

  “Ten,” Cade repeated, smiling. “What’s your name?”

  “Ben.”

  Cade couldn’t help but chuckle. “Well, Ben,” he said, “maybe you’d best get these horses back to your pa. Come on, I’ll help you drive ’em back.” Knowing horses as well as he did, Cade figured the boy probably caused the animals to stray by chasing after them, possibly getting between them and the herd. If left alone, a horse will naturally try to return to the herd. A horse is a scary animal, and when frightened, his instincts tell him to run. He feels safest when he’s close in the herd.

  Hank Persons pulled his horse to a stop when he saw the three strays coming up from a treeless ravine to rejoin the herd. Starting up again, he immediately reined back hard when he saw his son followed by another rider leading a packhorse. At once concerned, he dropped his hand to rest on the rifle strapped to his saddle. He hailed his elder son riding the other side of the herd. “Johnny! Keep ’em movin’ on down the valley.” He then rode out to meet Ben and the stranger.

  “How do,” Hank said guardedly as he came up to face them, glancing from Cade to Ben, and back to Cade again, trying to get a measure of the stranger.

  “Howdy,” Cade returned.

  “He turned them strays around and helped me bring ’em back, Pa,” Ben reported.

  “Your son didn’t need much help. I just mostly followed him back,” Cade said. He looked over the herd, noting another youngster on the far side of the slowly moving horses. “You look like you got your hands full, just you and the two boys.”

  “I reckon we can handle it,” Hank said, still wondering if the stranger had any funny business on his mind, like rustling a herd of horses. Shifting his gaze back and forth along the tree line, he searched the edge of the valley half expecting other riders to appear.

  “Well,” Cade said, “I’ll be movin’ along. I just wanted to make sure the boy got back all right.” He turned Loco’s head toward the opposite side of the valley and touched the horse lightly with his heels. “Good day to you,” he called back over his shoulder.

  The stranger had ridden no more than a dozen yards when Hank made a quick decision. “Hold on, there, Mister,” he called out and rode up to catch Cade. “I ain’t bein’ very neighborly, am I?” He reached over and extended his hand. “My name’s Hank Persons, and I wanna thank you for givin’ my boy a hand.”

  Cade smiled and shook his hand. “Cade Hunter—no thanks necessary. Like I said, I mostly just followed him back.”

  “We’re fixin’ to stop for some chuck pretty soon. There’s a stream at the north end of this valley. You’re welcome to join us for a little coffee and beans if you ain’t in a hurry to get someplace.” Hank told himself he might be making a big mistake. Lord knows I’ve sure misjudged some folks before. But he thought Cade Hunter looked like a decent man. And the truth be told, he had lied when he said he and his sons could handle the horses. He wasn’t sure of that at all.

  Cade hesitated, then decided. “Sure, why not? I just ate somethin’ when I stopped back there to water my horses, but I could use another cup of coffee. Much obliged.”

  At the end of the valley, Cade helped herd the horses down to the stream to drink. When they were drinking and grazing peacefully, the small family of wranglers gathered to start some coffee to boil. “Well, you already know Ben,” Hank said. “This here’s my older boy, Johnny.”

  Cade shook hands with each boy, noting that Johnny couldn’t be more than twelve or thirteen. It was a considerable undertaking for a man and two boys that age to drive a herd that size anywhere at all, and he expressed as much to Hank.

  “Well, I had a hired hand to help me,” Hank confessed, “but he run off with my wife a week ago Tuesday, and left me a little shorthanded.” When Cade blinked hard in surprise, Hank continued. “I wouldn’ta minded so much if they’d just waited till I got these horses delivered to Coyote Creek.” At a loss for what to say, Cade glanced at the two young boys busily fixing the noon meal. Noticing his concern, Hank said, “They know what it’s all about. It don’t bother them none.”

  It was an awkward moment for Cade, but Hank didn’t seem overly concerned about it. He pulled a coffeepot from one of the boys’ saddlebags and knelt down by the stream to fill it. Cade studied the lean features of his host while he waited for the pot to fill. Hank Persons wore a forlorn expression that Cade at first thought was for the loss of his wife. After talking to the man for a while, however, he decided that forlorn was Hank’s natural state. As thin as he was, Cade figured his wife had not been much of a cook.

  As if reading Cade’s thoughts, Hank blurted, “Ted Randell, that was my hired hand’s name. He was pretty good with horses.” He shook his head while he thought about it. “Left me and the boys in a bind.” He laughed then. “Wait till he finds out what a she-cat he run off with.” Cade didn’t know whether to laugh or not, so he just nodded. Hank went on. “I noticed when we brung ’em down to water you looked like you ain’t no stranger to workin’ with horses.”

  “I’ve done a bit,” Cade replied.

  “Where you headin’?”

  “I thought I’d go up to Helena,” Cade answered, “look around, maybe run into somebody I know there.”

  “Don’t seem like you’re in much of a hurry to get there.”

  Cade shrugged. “Maybe not, just so I get there sometime, I reckon.”

  “How’d you like to earn a few dollars doin’ a little wranglin’?” Hank’s sad features took on an even more serious expression as he looked Cade in the eye. “I’ll tell you what’s the truth, Cade. I could sure as God use some help. I ain’t got but two days’ drive from here to Coyote Creek where I’m supposed to deliver these horses to Mr. Carlton Kramer’s foreman, but I’m afeared it might be a little too much for my young’uns to move ’em through the mountain passes between here and the prairie. Make it a lot easier if I had one more experienced man to help out.” He paused, waiting for Cade’s reply. “Whaddaya say, Cade?”

  Cade took a moment to weigh his priorities. He had a mission to complete, and he wanted that to be over and done with, but Hank did need some help. “I suppose I could lend a hand,” he finally said. “Although it looks to me like that boss-mare over there has a pretty tight control on the herd.” He motioned toward a white mare standing a few yards away from the other horses. Cade had picked her out as soon as they had reached the stream and the other horses waited to drink until after she’d had her fill. Looking at her now as she grazed peacefully on the other side of the stream, Cade knew without looking that the other horses were relaxed and peaceful as well. “Seems to me if you can get her to go where you want, the rest of ’em will go with her.”

  Hank glanced over at the mare when Cade gestured. “What you said right there is why I want you to go with us,” he stated.

  Cade grinned. “Well, what the hell,” he said, “if Ben don’t mind, then I reckon I’ll come along.” He reached over and tipped the boy’s hat over his eyes.

  Both boys laughed, and Ben pushed his hat up and replied, “I reckon I don’t mind, Pa.” Hank extended his hand and he and Cade shook on it.

  While they were drinking their coffee, Cade asked, “Who is Mr. Carlton Kramer?”

  “If you was from around here, you’d know who Mr. Kramer was,” Hank replied. “He’s got a butcher shop in every minin’ town and gold camp in the territory.” Hank flashed a quick grin when Cade looked concerned and glanced at the horses grazing peacefully. “He needs horses to tend the cattle he raises for the butcher shops. I
expect he’s the biggest cattle rancher in the territory, too.”

  Cade laughed. “For a minute there . . .”

  For the next couple of days, Cade found peace again doing what he loved best: working with horses. Lem Snider was not forgotten, but the bushwhacking murderer was pushed to the back of Cade’s mind as he helped Hank and his sons deliver the herd to Coyote Creek. It was late morning when they drove the horses through a narrow pass that led to a wide expanse of bunchgrass prairie. A creek ran along the base of the hills they had just left. On the other side of the creek, Cade saw a small shack and a series of rough corrals. Hank had explained that Kramer used the place to train the wild horses he bought to herd his cattle out on the free range. A couple of men rode out to meet them as they herded the horses toward the creek. One sat ramrod straight in the saddle, and he rode with his elbows sticking out like wings. He looked to be older than Hank, with gray sideburns. The man beside him appeared to be Indian.

  The white man greeted them. “Howdy, Hank. We figured you oughta be showin’ up any day now.” He looked over at Cade and the boys. “See you got a new man. Where’s Randell?”

  “He lit out for parts unknown,” Hank replied. “Reckon he got the itch to wander.” He didn’t bother to mention the baggage his hired hand had taken with him. “This here’s Cade Hunter.” Cade nodded.

  “I’m Jack Walker,” the foreman said. Tilting his head toward the rider next to him, he added, “This here’s Jim Big Tree.” Walker looked Cade over before asking, “That a ’73 Winchester you carrying there?” He didn’t wait for Cade to answer. “I hope you know how to use it. You might need it.” Looking back at Hank, he explained, “We’ve been havin’ a little trouble with Injuns. There’s been a couple of raidin’ parties hit us durin’ the past two weeks. Jim says they’re Blackfoot. We didn’t have no horses the last time they hit, so they just snooped around and left. Time before that, they run off fifteen head, so if they’ve still got scouts watchin’ us, we might get a visit from ’em again.” He gazed at Cade. “So I hope you’re handy with that Winchester, young feller.”

  “I expect I’m a fair shot,” Cade answered, “but I wasn’t plannin’ on stayin’. I was just helpin’ Hank and the boys drive their horses this far, and then I’m on my way to Helena.”

  When Walker’s expression showed a trace of disappointment, Hank spoke up. “That’s right, Jack, Cade just said he’d help us as far as Coyote Creek.” He glanced at Cade then. “I owe you some pay, too.”

  Cade shrugged. “You don’t owe me anything. I’m glad I could help.”

  “I’da had to pay Ted Randell,” Hank countered.

  “All the same, we’ll call it even,” Cade said.

  Jack Walker listened to the exchange between the two, thinking that with the threat of Blackfoot raiding parties about, he’d feel a hell of a lot more comfortable if they’d all stay around for a while. “Listen, fellers,” he said, “Mr. Kramer is sendin’ a crew over here from Deer Lodge to break these horses. I expect they’ll show up any day now, but in the meantime, me and Jim are gonna have our hands full holdin’ on to ’em if we get hit by Injuns again. I can guarantee you wages—the boys, too—if you’ll stick around till they show up.”

  “Hell,” Hank replied at once, “me and my boys will stay. We ain’t in no hurry to get back.” He glanced over at Johnny and grinned. “Hell, we don’t have to get back a’tall, do we?”

  Cade thought about it for a minute, then shrugged. “I reckon I can stay and help out.”

  “I appreciate it,” Walker said. “If it’s the same bunch that comes back, there ain’t but about twelve of ’em, and they know there was only Jim Big Tree and me to take care of the horses. By God, we can give ’em more’n they bargained for if they make a try for these horses.” He paused, then asked Hank, “Those boys know how to use a rifle, I reckon?”

  “Ever since they was old enough to lift one,” Hank answered.

  Walker suggested that they should pair off and guard the herd after nightfall. “Might not have to do it but one or two nights. The crew from Deer Lodge oughta be here by then.” He looked at the two young sons of Hank and said, “We can split the boys up—maybe one with me and the little feller with you, Hank.”

  Ben spoke up. “I wanna go with Cade. We’ve already worked together.”

  “Well, I don’t know,” Jack said, looking at the boy’s father, thinking that he might want his younger where he could personally keep an eye on him. “Whaddaya say, Hank?”

  Hank shrugged. It was already obvious to him that Ben had taken a shine to the young man from Colorado. “Is that all right with you, Cade?” he asked.

  “Why, sure,” Cade replied at once. “Me and Ben make a good team.” The boy beamed, and walked over to stand next to Cade.

  Walker smiled as well. “All right, whaddaya say Cade and Ben take the first watch? Hank, you got any preference?” When Hank volunteered to take the second watch with Johnny, Jack said, “Me and Jim’ll take over till sunup, then.”

  With that settled, they moved the herd farther out in the prairie to keep the grass from being overgrazed near the camp. When the sun started sinking low on the horizon, Jack and Jim Big Tree rode back to start supper, leaving the others to bring the horses back close to camp. “Come on, Ben,” Cade said, “we’ll show ’em how to move those horses where we want ’em.”

  “I expect you’ll need some help,” Hank said.

  “Nah, we don’t need any help, do we, Ben?”

  “Nope,” Ben replied confidently and pulled his horse up beside Loco while Hank and Ben’s brother held back to watch. When Ben was close to Cade, he leaned forward in the stirrups and quietly asked, “How you wanna do it?”

  “Let’s do it the easy way,” Cade said as he started Loco forward with Ben keeping pace beside him. Holding Loco to an easy walk, he headed toward the white mare grazing near a blue roan stallion that was obviously the leader of the greatest part of the herd. Ben, knowing the roan to be the leader, started for him. Cade held him back. “Never mind about ol’ stud there,” Cade said. “You go on up and turn that white mare. She’s the boss-mare. The others will follow her, even the stallions.” He held his horse back while Ben approached the mare. “Let her know you’re the boss,” Cade called after him.

  A curious audience of Hank and Johnny watched in openmouthed surprise as little Ben rode brazenly up to the mare and effectively turned her toward the camp. As soon as she lifted her head and loped away, she was followed by the rest of the horses, the blue roan stallion right behind her with a group of bachelor stallions bringing up the rear. “Look at that,” Hank chuckled.

  “He’s already too big for his britches,” Johnny mumbled.

  When the horses were back in close to the camp, everybody helped drive them into the two largest corrals. That taken care of, all hands took a little time to eat supper. As the sun gradually sank behind the mountains behind them, Cade and Ben prepared to take their turn as nighthawks. “Ben, you keep your eyes open,” Hank couldn’t resist cautioning his younger son.

  “Pa,” Ben complained, embarrassed, “you don’t have to tell me that.”

  Cade was careful not to show the smile the ten-year-old’s remark caused. Ben was a rambunctious kid, eager to fill a man’s role. Cade understood that. It was reminiscent of another kid he remembered: young Cade Hunter. That youngster had taken on the role of executioner of the men who killed his father. It was something Cade tried not to think about too often. Looking now at young Ben Persons, he hoped the child would never know the burden of living with something like that on his conscience. Realizing he had permitted his mind to wander to unpleasant places, he shrugged and blinked away the dark memories. “Come on, partner,” he said to Ben. “We’d better get on the job.”

  According to what Jack Walker had told them, the Blackfoot raiding party had come down from the mountains to the north, probably following the river. Walker had figured that, if it was the same bunch of Indians, they would
be discouraged by the sight of more men in the camp, and might decide it was not worth the risk. Cade was inclined to agree, but he felt the responsibility of taking care of Ben. So he stationed Ben at the back corner of the upper corral, the one closest to the shack. He didn’t tell Ben that they had decided to give him and Cade the first watch out of concern for the boy’s safety. Jim Big Tree and Walker figured if they were raided, it would most likely come in the hours before dawn, just as before.

  As hard dark set in, the two lookouts took a wide tour around the corrals to make sure everything was peaceful. Then Cade sent Ben back to his post with instructions to fire his rifle in the air if he saw anyone approaching the corral. “And everybody’ll come a’runnin’. You see that stand of pines over there?” he said, pointing toward a spot near the base of the hills north of the camp. “That’s where I’ll be, so make sure you don’t shoot me if you see me comin’.” Seeing a questioning look on the boy’s face, he was quick to assure him. “I’ll be comin’ over to check on you every half hour or so. If you need me, just whistle like a whip-poor-will three times. You can do that, can’t you?” He demonstrated, and Ben immediately imitated his whistle. “Right,” Cade said. “You do it better’n I do.”

  “We have been away from our village a long time. I think it is time we returned home.” Running Fox tore another strip of meat from the portion of deer haunch roasting over the fire. It was the same conclusion that his friend Bear Track had come to. The Blackfoot raiding party had been away for more than two weeks, and their village was a long way from this valley where so many white men now lived. Starting out with twelve warriors, they had been successful in running off fifteen horses from the white man’s camp at the edge of the hills. Half of their raiding party returned with the stolen horses, but Bloody Feathers, Running Fox, and four others elected to stay and plan for a second raid on the camp. When they scouted the camp a week later, there were no horses in the pens the white men had erected, only a couple of horses the two men rode—and these were kept too close to the hut to chance stealing.