Cindy managed the saloon, but she didn’t live in an upstairs room; she lived in the big house on the hill with her mother.
By choice, Sheriff Alex Vanor remained a bachelor. He practiced using his gun until he was as fast as ever, but he told no one. He pretended that his arm was still paralyzed in the hope that it would lure Raphe and Frank back to Timberland, where he had the authority to arrest them for the murder of Vard Vanor and Marl Nalor.
The only time he saw Cindy was when they passed on the street or when his job as sheriff required him to be in the Trail’s End, but he longed for the quiet days when he and Cindy played in the pond at the base of the falls. He hired workers to build a new home overlooking the stream and held out a faint hope that one day they might share it.
Sometimes Alex visited with his friends Gray Wolf and Soaring Eagle. The Indians had learned to raise cattle, so they no longer went hungry; however, their tribe had diminished, and their land, once vast, was reduced to a small area.
Alex spent most of his spare time sharing his thoughts with his old friend, Talking Drum. When Alex asked him about Cindy, Talking Drum counseled him to wait.
“Cindy will come to you when she’s ready. If she doesn’t, then it doesn’t matter, because she wasn’t meant for you. She’ll always be the girl you love, and she’ll always remember you as her childhood friend, but in her heart she will belong to another man.”
* * *
Alex had no way of knowing that five grim-faced men were riding north from Chihuahua, Mexico. The leader was an ex-lawman out of Dodge who had gone bad and then rode west to use his talent with a gun to get a foreman’s job at the Bar H.
The other was his nephew—his sister’s son, a big, handsome, mixed-breed who considered himself a lady-killer. he was a fair hand with a gun, but he was a coward.
Riding with these two unsavory characters were three of old Mexico’s most ruthless pistoleros. One was tall with dark, brooding eyes and a smile that was nothing but a twisted leer. Another was also big and tall—dark for a Mexican—and he moved quickly. His weasel-like eyes were constantly searching, as though he was expecting an attack from an unexpected source. The third was short and square-built. he was an evil soul with sullen eyes. A knife slash in some past encounter had left a scar across his cheek.
These pistoleros were all professional killers, and they had each been paid five hundred dollars to do a job that others had tried to do and failed. If they failed, the five hundred would buy them a funeral, but if they succeeded, they would get a bonus of five thousand, which could be exchanged for a lot of pesos in old Mexico.
Their price was high because they were the best, and the prize they sought was very big. Their purpose was to kill Alex Vanor, the sheriff of Timberland. He stood in the way of a fortune in land, and he was the guardian of three women, each wealthy in her own right. Also, the younger woman would sell for a lot of money as a sex slave in a prime location in Mexico.
The grim-faced men rode north in silence, each harboring his own twisted thoughts of what he would do with his ill-gotten money. The smell of dust marred the night, and the horses left tracks that were the only things that marked their passing.
The five dangerous men stopped in Juarez for a few nights of drinking and whoring. Frank Fadden, the leader, and Raphael Rojas, the handsome snake, tried to remain aloof from the three hired killers. Each killer had a quarrelsome nature and a hair-trigger temper. The tall, thin one, who was called Garcia, killed a drunken cowboy in El Paso just for bumping into him. One look at the killer, and the cowboy’s friends wanted nothing to do with him.
They followed the Old Spanish Trail north along the Rio Grande. They would be in Timberland in about two weeks. Frank was looking forward to spending a few nights with Marian and then sharing more nights with Eva.
Raphe was looking forward to bedding the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. he knew she would be mad as a hornet because he had killed her father, but she would overlook anything for a few hours in bed with him.
* * *
Timberland was prosperous. The new sheriff kept things safe without dampening the spirits of the miners and cowboys. That improved business, and everyone liked the new sheriff.
The unmarried women knew that Alex was not seeing Cindy, so that made him fair game. He was the most eligible bachelor in town, and he had invitations to supper almost every night. Some of the women offered more than supper, and when conditions were right, he took them up on their offer.
Timberland was usually quiet on Sunday nights, so every Monday morning Alex rode to Thunder Canyon to check on the workers and see how they were progressing with the new house. On his way back to town, he usually stopped at the Bar H to have supper with his mother and Kyle. The ranch was prospering under Kyle’s management, and the cowboys were happy. The smile had returned to Eva's face.
After supper, Alex rode back to Timberland. The sun had gone down behind a bank of clouds, and it was getting dark. Everything was going well and he should have been happy, but he wasn’t. Things were going a little too well, and he had a feeling that something bad was going to happen.
* * *
Monday night wasn’t the wildest night of the week, but tonight the town was even quieter than usual. Without knowing why, Alex checked his gun. It was working well, and it moved in and out of the holster easily.
As he walked through the doors of the Trail’s End Saloon, he looked at Nate, the bartender. Nate always gave Alex a certain look to let him know if trouble was brewing.
Tonight Nate moved his head in the direction of a table in the back corner of the saloon. Alex’s gaze followed the movement, and he saw three hard-looking men seated at a table, drinking heavily. One look and Alex knew they were pistoleros.
Cindy was nowhere to be seen. Alex looked at the top of the stairway and back at Nate. Nate’s eyes were both sad and troubled as he shook his head. That let Alex know that Raphe was back and Cindy was with him.
Alex figured that Frank had hired these pistoleros and that he and Raphe had come back to take the Bar H and kill him.
The pistoleros didn’t know Alex, and he never wore his badge in plain sight. Besides, they were too busy having a good time drinking.
Alex had to warn Kyle that his life was in danger, but where was Frank Fadden? He pondered for a moment, and then it hit him. Of course. Frank would be in bed with Marian. What’s wrong with these women? Alex thought. Frank killed Marian’s husband, but why should that stop her? It hadn’t stopped Cindy, and Cindy had witnessed the senseless killing of her father.
Alex walked to the big house and looked into the open window of the bedroom. A kerosene lamp was burning on a table; the bed was occupied by two writhing bodies. Marian was vigorously welcoming Frank.
This was the break that Alex was looking for. he rode Midnight at full gallop to the Bar H and found Kyle and Eva in bed. It wouldn’t be right to interrupt them, so he sat in a chair on the porch and waited. After about an hour, the bedroom light came on, and Alex knocked on the front door. Kyle came to the door, buttoning his shirt. He didn’t say anything, but his eyes asked the question, “Why are you here?”
“We’ve got to talk,” Alex said. “Can you come out on the porch? I don’t want Mother to know what we’re talking about.”
“Just a minute; I need my boots. It’s cold tonight.”
Alex told Kyle what he had seen and suggested that they prepare for a fight.
“When they come,” Alex said, “there’ll be five of them. Both Frank and Raphe are cowards, and I doubt that they’ll want a straight-on gunfight, but I don’t know about the pistoleros. They’re coldblooded professionals, and they’ve killed a lot of men. You’re a military man—what do you think?”
“I think you’re right,” Kyle said. “They’ve come to take by force what they couldn’t get by their usual methods. If they can do away with you and me, they’ll get the largest ranch, the biggest house, and the most prosperous saloon in this area. Eva and
Marian are wealthy women, and Frank has proven that he can get whatever he wants from them.”
Kyle looked again at Alex. “It pains me to think that Eva might go back to Frank willingly, but I’d hate to bet my life that she wouldn’t, especially after what Cindy and Marian have done. I’m sorry to have to admit it, but I think you were right to keep this from Eva. She’s your mother, and I can just imagine how you must feel. I love her, and I’m not going to let Frank destroy her. If he gets her, he’s going to have to kill me.”
“He’ll kill you for sure, if you don’t kill him first,” Alex said. “We know that Frank is a coward, so we know what to expect from him. Raphe is a coward, too, and he’ll use Cindy to get to us. Frank will use both Marian and Eva any way he can. Those three hired killers are the ones we have to face head-on. If they’re good enough for Frank to pay them what I’m sure he had to pay, then they’re very good. They believe they can do the job or they wouldn’t have come. We’ve got to find a way to meet them on an even footing, but we can’t take them on all at once.”
“What do you suggest?” Kyle asked.
“I suggest you get your men to back you in this fight. They like working for you, and none of them want to work for Frank again. You worked with them when Raphe was here. How do they feel about him? Will they stand up to him?”
“They tolerated Raphe, but none of them liked him. They know he’s a coward, so they’re not afraid of him. They’ll stand up to him if I ask them to.”
“Good! The pistoleros don’t know me, so I’ll get one of them to meet me in the street for a shoot-out. If he draws, I’ll kill him before the other two realize what’s happening. That’ll cut them down to size, and then I’ll ride out of town. The other two will follow me, believing that I’m running from a fight. They’ll be expecting to accomplish what they came to do and then collect their pay. If I can get them out in the open, we might have a chance.”
“How do you know that you can beat the first one? They’re good or they wouldn’t still be alive. Regardless of how good a man is, there’s always someone better. With you dead, I wouldn’t have a chance. We’d better find another way.”
“I’m listening,” Alex replied.
“Why don’t I get my men and ride into town with you?” Kyle suggested. “We’ll eliminate these skunks once and for all.”
“I agree that would eliminate the skunks, but it would be unfair to the townspeople. This is a private fight. We don’t want to kill a lot of innocent people. If the pistoleros don’t see us in town, they’ll come looking for us. When we get them out in the open, we’ll have them on neutral ground. Frank wants you out of the way almost as much as he wants to eliminate me.”
“You told me that Frank is getting what he wants from Marian, and we both know that before he leaves, he’ll have her sign the big house over to him and give him check-cashing rights to her banking account. As soon as he gets everything Marian has, he’ll come for Eva and the ranch. Eva says she loves me, but Cindy said she loves you and that isn’t stopping her. So why should I think it will stop Eva?”
“I can tell you, Kyle, it won’t,” Alex said, shaking his head sadly, “and I can’t explain why either of us still wants these women. But what I can tell you for certain is that we’ve got to be winners and then decide if we want what we’ve won. One thing is for damn sure—when the dust settles, both Frank and Ralph will be dead, or we will.”
Shaking his arm that had been paralyzed, he practiced drawing his gun from the holster. “I’m as good as new, and I’m going to bring it to a close. Frank and Raphe won’t come after me alone—they’ll have their hired guns with them.”
Alex got on his horse. “Kyle,” he continued, “you’ve got a little time, so get your men together and prepare to defend this ranch. I’m going back into town and stir up those pistoleros. When they come after me, I’ll bring them to you. If you’ll get your men to back you, together we’ll put a finish to the problem.”
“We’ll be ready,” Kyle affirmed, “but don’t take unnecessary chances. If they come to the ranch, we’re going to need your help. Do you want to talk to eva?”
“I wish I could,” Alex said as he started to leave. “But what would I talk about? I wish she would support us in this, but frankly—no pun intended—I doubt that she will. She’s your woman, so you decide how you want to handle her. I don’t know when I’ll be back, but you’d better be ready.”
“We’ll be ready, Alex.” Then Kyle called out, “Eva, I’m going to talk to the men. I’ll be back in about an hour.”
“Why do you want to talk to the men at this hour?” she asked.
“I’ll tell you when I get back,” Kyle answered.
Alex again looked at Kyle, shook his head, and rode away. You poor man; you’re like me. You love a woman you can’t trust. Thank God most women aren’t like that. He remembered Marl saying, “Our women are beautiful and sensual, and that’s why we love them.”
Back in the bedroom, Eva looked out the window and watched Kyle ride away. Kyle doesn’t trust me, she thought, but he’s wrong. I’ll back him all the way. Frank lied to me, and I’m almost certain he killed Vard. Kyle and Vard are different. Vard loved me, and for reasons known only to him, he allowed Frank to take me. But Kyle will fight for me.
Kyle was thinking, The problem is, men outnumber women twenty to one. What few single women there are, are daughters of merchants, farmers, or ranchers, and their fathers keep them hidden away from the cowboys, miners, and soldiers. If a pretty woman walks on the street, men will be hitting on her every time she turns a corner. Many married women are flattered by all the attention, and when conditions permit, more than a few accommodate the handsomest of the lonely men. Some women are either so prudish or so ugly that no one wants them.
Chapter 23
It was twilight when Alex rode into town. He knew that the word was out when he saw people scurrying for cover. Drawing his rifle, he slid from the saddle and slapped Midnight on the rump. “Go to the stable, Midnight.” Midnight bobbed his head and disappeared down the street. Midnight would return if he whistled, and he didn’t want to get him killed.
Alex ducked into the shadow of a doorway just as a shot rang out. The bullet hit the framework of the door by his head, and splinters hit him in the face. He pretended to be hit by the bullet, cried out loudly, fell, and rolled under the boardwalk where darkness hid him.
“Aiee! I got him,” said a man with a Spanish accent. “He’s a dead hombre. I get the bonus!”
“Hermano, if you want that bonus, you’ve got to prove you earned it. Drag him out into the light so we can look at him,” his partner yelled.
Sure that his bullet had hit its mark, Hermano walked to where he had seen Alex fall. Alex drew his long hunting knife, and when his would-be assassin bent over to drag him out, Alex made one quick slash across his throat, grabbed the falling man, and pulled him under the elevated sidewalk. Using darkness as a shield, Alex moved silently away.
“Hermano!” the other Mexican called out. “Bring him out so we can see him. We want the good people of Timberland to see how invincible their high-powered sheriff really is. It seems he’s not so unbeatable against really good men. . . . Hermano! Bring him on out!”
The pistoleros waited, but there was no Hermano and no sheriff.
* * *
When the fracas started, Cindy had just arrived to talk to Raphe. “Enough is enough!” Cindy yelled at Raphe. “I don’t want anything more to do with you. I know you killed my father!”
A loud argument in Spanish broke up their conversation.
“Raphe, what’s that ruckus all about?” Cindy asked.
Raphe had been waiting to hear this exchange. He knew it was only a matter of time until the pistoleros made short work of Alex. Delighted, he jumped up and exclaimed, “They got him! They got him!”
“What do you mean, ‘they got him’? What’s happening?”
“It’s already happened,” Raphe answered. “Frank
and I hired three of the best pistoleros in Mexico. Alex killed the others, but he won’t kill these. They’re the best, and they’ve done the job. By now, Frank will have control of your mother’s house and estate, and then he’ll go to the Bar H and get Eva to sign over her bank account and her ranch. Together he and I will control Timberland and everything around it.”
Raphe was grinning as he stared at Cindy. “You belong to me, Cindy, and you’ll do exactly as I say or I’ll sell you to the Comanchero. They’ll use you until they tire of you, and then they’ll sell you to a house of prostitution in Mexico. But don’t worry, until then I’ll take care of you,” he said as he rushed out the door.
His gleeful laughter made Cindy cringe and a chill skittered up her spine. She knew that Raphe wasn’t making an idle threat. He had sold her to the owner of the Bamboo Curtain in New Orleans. He was also the man who had conspired to kill Alex’s father, and she had seen him shoot her father in cold blood. Marl had died in her arms at the foot of the stairs inside this very building, and now they’ve killed Alex.
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