Cindy was trying to get Raphe to leave, and Raphe was asking her to go back to Mexico with him.
“No,” Cindy said adamantly. “I’ve made up my mind; I’m staying here, and I’m trying to save your life.”
Without warning, a rung of the ladder broke, and Alex fell to the floor in a heap. The fall dazed him. When he regained consciousness, he was looking into the muzzle of a Colt .45. Raphe was looking down at him with a sadistic gleam in his eyes.
“Well, Alex,” Raphe laughed. “How nice of you to drop in. I’ll get rid of you and take Cindy with me.”
No way, Cindy thought. I’ve been such a fool! I love Alex, and you’re not getting any more of the money Alex and I suffered so much to get.
Just as Raphe was ready to pull the trigger, Cindy did the only thing she could do. She shot Raphe with her father’s revolver.
Alex heard two gunshots and thought for sure he was dead because he felt no pain. Then suddenly, Raphe fell with a thud right beside him. Raphe’s eyes were staring at the roof of the barn, and it took a moment for Alex to realize that Raphe was dead. Raphe had fired his gun, but his shot had gone wild; Cindy had spoiled his aim with a shot of her own. When Alex looked at the top of the ladder, Cindy was standing there holding her father’s revolver with a look of resolve in her eyes.
Alex was stunned. Cindy had saved his life twice in one day. He staggered to his feet and held onto the ladder while Cindy climbed down. She stepped over the body of the man who had lied to her and seduced her.
Cindy hugged Alex. “I’ve been a fool. Please forgive me. Can we start fresh?” she said with tears streaming down her face.
He took her tenderly in his arms. “Once more you’ve saved my life, Cindy. Yes, let’s put this behind us and get on with the rest of our lives.”
The people in the house had heard the shooting and came running.
“This ladder needs fixing, and the barn floor needs cleaning,” Alex said to his cowhands. “Would you take care of it?”
The tall, lanky cowboy whose friend had been killed by Tor nodded. “Again, with pleasure.” With a somber face he said to Cindy, “Good luck, Cindy. You’ve got the right man this time.”
“I know I have,” she replied, “and I’ll never forget it again.”
* * *
Frank was hiding behind a large boulder beside an oak tree, and when he heard the gunfire and saw the cowboys racing to the barn, he was such a coward that he dropped his Henry rifle, jumped on his horse, and galloped away. Alex picked up the rifle and checked the markings. Without a doubt, it was the rifle that had killed his father.
“Mother,” Alex said as he showed the rifle to her, “this is proof that Frank killed my father, and I’m going after him!”
Alex rode Midnight full tilt. Midnight was fast, and Alex caught sight of Frank in less than an hour.
Frank saw Alex coming, and after crossing a small stream, he dropped off his horse and lay in ambush.
Alex would not be fooled so easily this time. He dismounted and, using the training he had received from his Indian scouts, moved stealthily until he had Frank in sight only a few paces away.
Frank knew something had gone wrong when Alex didn’t ride past and started looking for him frantically. The night was dark. Frank searched in the darkness, and then he saw the outline of the sheriff standing nearby under a tree.
“Drop your gun,” Alex called out, “and raise your hands. You’re under arrest for the murder of Vard Vanor and Marl Nalor!”
Frank dropped his gun and raised his hands quickly. Alex gave a low whistle and Midnight appeared. He removed a rope from the saddle and walked toward Frank, wanting to take Frank alive and be tried for the two murders in court. But Frank had other ideas. Using a small pistol he had tucked under his shirt at the back of his neck, he fired at Alex, taking him by surprise. The bullet creased Alex’s cheek, but before Frank squeezed the trigger again, a bullet from Alex’s gun tore a hole through his chest.
The last thing Frank heard was Alex saying, “You murdered my father. You murdered Cindy’s father. You destroyed two happy families, and now you pay the price.”
Alex threw Frank’s body across the saddle of his horse and took him to the mortician in Timberland. he felt vindicated that he had at last found his father’s murderer. He then went to see the mayor to give his report.
“Last night we all thought that we were going to have to appoint a new sheriff,” Mayor Tipton said.
“You are,” Alex replied as he handed his badge to the mayor. “This is my last official act as sheriff.”
Alex tipped his hat to the mayor and got on Midnight. It had been an eventful night, and he was tired. As he was falling asleep in the saddle, he muttered, “Midnight, I need some rest. Take me to Thunder Canyon.”
Midnight had an ingrained instinct for destination, so he nodded and walked slowly so as to not disturb his sleeping rider.
* * *
The day dawned on a fresh new world. Kyle and Eva married right away and ran the ranch together. Cindy and Alex had some catching up to do, so they went to the pond in Thunder Canyon. There they talked of old times, swam, and listened to the sound of unknown children laughing and voices that didn’t seem angry anymore.
Cindy led Alex to the small, warm pond where she had bathed and offered herself to him. This time he didn’t hesitate, and he never would again.
Before the sun went down, Alex led Cindy to the house he had built at the mouth of Thunder Canyon. There he asked her to be his wife. They were married the following day and moved into their new home. Nine months to the day after they married, Cindy gave birth to a handsome baby boy with curly brown hair.
Alex continued practicing law, but when he was asked to run for mayor, he declined. Cindy turned the Trail’s end Saloon over to Nate, the bartender. . . .In memory of her father, she occasionally told the story of the nickel-plated revolver.
* * *
A few months after the shoot-out, Marian took a trip back to her hometown in Tennessee. Her letters said she had found a happy life there.
* * *
Ten years passed, and Jeffrey Hamilton brought his beautiful wife, Morning Flower, and their family back to the Ute reservation for a visit. Talking Drum was getting on in years, and they wanted him to meet their fine-looking children. Their oldest was a daughter, Monica, age seven, and twin boys, Ben and Brian, age five.
Jeffrey and Morning Flower spent hours with Talking Drum. His face was craggy, but his eyes were clear and his wisdom unabated. he was delighted to hold his great-grandchildren in his arms. Talking Drum fascinated the children with stories of the Ancient ones, but the new stories included the mystery of the canyon’s new inhabitants, Alex and Cindy. They had proven themselves worthy, and the Ancient ones had welcomed them.
Alex and Cindy talked of old times with Jeff and Morning Flower. They walked to the pond at the base of the waterfall and enjoyed watching their children play. Alex and Cindy had four of their own, the youngest a babe suckling at her mother’s breast. Their son, Jason, had just turned nine. Jason took a shine to Monica and held her hand as they jumped into the pond together. The twins were being taught to swim, and they were a handful
It was a warm day, and a light breeze rustled the branches of the trees.
“This place must be enchanted,” Jeff said. “I hear voices and laughter of children other than ours. Is it an echo?”
“The place is enchanted,” Alex answered. “If you listen closely, you’ll hear the voices of a multitude. Remember the legend of the lost city? It truly exists. Both Cindy and I have seen it.”
“It’s just a legend.” Jeff smiled and shook his head.
Morning Flower held Jeff’s hand and with a twinkle in her eyes, said, “You’ve lived in the city too long.”
They all laughed and listened to the laughter of their children playing in the pond. Unseen, the spirits of the Ancient ones smiled.
* * *
Legends of the past mingle
with truths of today.
The End
Legend of the Lost Page 25
