Brides of the West-Part One

by Hestand, Rita

  "I'm fine…" She said shaking like a leaf with the gun still in her hand.

  He took the gun out of her hand and away from her.

  "Just load honey…" He told her.

  She began reloading.

  A round of shots echoed from the outside and Billy was dead. He yelled out as he fell. "Doggone! They got me. They got me Joe…did you hear me, Joe."

  Harley and Joe kept advancing toward the cabin.

  David rushed from his cover and pulled his trigger and Joe fell, but he wasn't dead. He was still trying to reach the cabin.

  Harley tried to get to the back of the cabin, but he was surrounded and they took him prisoner.

  "Hold it right there, Harley." Came George's booming voice as they tied his hands and put the gun up beside his head. "You want to live, you do as we say. Understood?"

  Harley nodded. "Sure, I don't want no trouble."

  Joe kept creeping up the hill on his side, his gun in his hand. He'd been shot at least once, the pain was so intense in his side, and he didn't know if he was hit anywhere else.

  He saw David jump out of the bushes again and aimed. The gun went off and David fell with a thud. David's face screwed up for a second, and then as he fell, he sighed with what sounded like some sort of strange relief. Saul rose up and began shooting walking straight for Joe. He emptied his chambers on Joe. He was a target now and all Joe had to do was pull the trigger.

  Joe smiled like a fat cat who'd just stolen the milk.

  Just then, Gil came running out and warned him. "Don't even think about it Joe."

  Joe glanced at Gil and began to laugh harshly, "You ain't takin' me in…" He declared and aimed his gun at Saul. Gil blasted Joe right between the eyes.

  Joe fell backwards and with his eyes wide open, he died instantly.

  "I guess we are Joe, I guess we are…" Gil shook his head and looked up at Saul. Saul turned to look at David and Gil fell to his knees.

  "Oh sweet Jesus, no!" Gil cried aloud.

  It was over in a blink of an eye, and not without dire consequences.

  They had one prisoner to take back, Harley.

  Harley kept protesting he was an innocent, but no one listened.

  Lou looked at Harley, "If he doesn't shut up, gag him. I don't want to listen to him all night long."

  Callie came out in stunned silence as they all saw the destruction of those few precious minutes. Acrid smoke from all the gunfire swirled in the night air.

  Joe was dead! Sprawled over a fallen log, his long legs were gnarled in a twist.

  Lou managed to come out on his own two feet, but he was holding his shoulder. Three of the men in the posse were dead, one was David.

  Gil looked down and saw him and tears rolled from his eyes. He bent over him and brought him up against him. "Oh God…no!"

  Saul put his hand on his brother's shoulder. "We'll bury him on the home place…"

  "Yeah…"Gil managed to agree in a muffled voice.

  Callie saw Gil bent over in agony and went to comfort him. "Dear God, he was so young…I'm so sorry…"

  "Yeah…" Gil nodded.

  David, Guthrie, Taylor's sixteen-year-old son, and Demus were dead.

  Taylor wiped his eyes and shook his head. "He insisted on coming with me. I think he wanted to show me what a man he was. Well, he showed me." Taylor stood solemnly over his son now. "I'll take him home and put him in the family plot with his baby sister."

  "I'm sorry Taylor. They…got Guthrie too. I guess we are gonna have a lot of explaining to do to the women." Lou remarked.

  "Might as well get to burying these no goods."

  Everyone stood about for a while, gathering their wits and courage to go on.

  As they all moved toward the cabin, Lou asked. "Who was that fella?" He nodded as two of the boys carried the body out of the cabin.

  "His name was Demus, and he was nearly hung for Mr. Dugan's death."

  "What?" Lou shook his head.

  "I'll tell you about it on the way home." Gil said, his eyes straying to his dead brother once more. He couldn't talk right now. He could only mourn for his brother.

  "We better get to burying them; " Lou called everyone around him. "Gather your lanterns and let's get this done. I don't know about you boys, but I'm more than ready to go home."

  They all nodded.

  They buried Demus that evening not far from the cabin. Gil marked his grave. "Maybe someday we can find his family and they can take him home."

  Callie nodded; the tears cascaded down her cheek freely. The feelings among them all were one of sorrow and quiet.

  "That's Mr. Guthrie," Callie shouted when they drug him out of the bushes.

  "You know him?" Lou asked.

  "Yeah, him and his family." Callie cried, turning away from all the sorrow. "Why was he out here in this?" She mumbled.

  Lou looked at her and shook his head, "He was repaying an old debt…and I'd say that account was paid in full."

  However, when they got ready to bury Joe, and laid him out on the ground, with lanterns all over the ground to light the way Callie stared into his face. "All of this…for what Joe? I'm glad you're mother can't see this…"

  Lou started to say something, but decided it would be best not to utter another word. Callie being the only woman on the scene, he figured she'd seen and heard enough for one day.

  They camped outside that night and rested. It was a night to contemplate and a night to be still.

  The next morning, Callie gathered flowers for the graves of the men who fought so gallantly. The only body they took back was David's, and Mr. Taylor's son, and Lou decided he'd tend to Guthrie's body himself.

  Harley quit mouthing, when they threw Joe's body into the ground like a rat.

  When Callie looked at Demus's grave, she cried. "Poor man. All he wanted was to clear his name. Can we see to that, Gil?" She murmured.

  "Sure, we'll take care of it. I promise." Gil put his arm around her shoulders.

  It was a long trip home and no one wanted to camp over, they just wanted to go home to their families and pray to God thanks that they survived it.

  It rained again as they wearily made it back to town.

  It was near mid-night the next night when they finally rode into town. The town was quiet, and not much was said as they parted and went their ways.

  Lou wanted to notify Mrs. Guthrie of the happenings right away. He sent George to find her.

  Lou looked at Callie though, "Callie, Sam's with Jo. Why don't you plan on spending the night tonight and we'll talk tomorrow…?"

  "I'm too tired to argue…" She murmured.

  "I think I'll take David home tonight with me, we can bury him in the morning, Gil." Saul said.

  "Alright, I'll sleep at the jail tonight, if Lou doesn't mind." Gil said. "I'll take Harley on over to the jail and lock him up."

  Gil glanced at Callie. It wasn't the time to talk, and his heart was still too heavy. He needed some time first. However, their eyes met through the darkness, and she nodded, a shy smile spreading over her.

  "Goodnight," she managed.

  "Sure." Lou nodded. "Goodnight boys."

  Chapter Twenty

  Lou took Callie over to Jo's. But it was Sam who came and unlocked the door. Precious was right beside him but he ran out the door the minute he got Gil's scent.

  Lou and Callie watched as Precious dashed for the horse and rider going toward the jail.

  Sam looked a little pale and shaken when they turned to look at him.

  "Sam…what are you doin' up this late?" Lou asked with a smile, bursting into the house as though he had every right to do so.

  "Just got Jo down for the night." Sam said contritely.

  "What are you talking about?" Lou asked his face screwed up into a frown. "You got her down."

  Sam took a deep breath, his eyes centered on Lou's alarmed face.

  "You see, Harley robbed Miss Jo, and gave her a concussion."

  "What?" Lou's face was
a mask of emotions as he stared toward the stairs.

  "I was hiding in the back, like she told me to. When someone came to the door. It was Harley. He was looking for me and Callie." Sam said. "But I cracked the door so I could see and hear what was going on, because he had a gun and I was scared he'd use it. I didn't want anyone hurting Jo because of me or Callie."

  "Harley?"

  "That's right. Harley seemed mad when she wouldn't tell him anything. And when she said she'd been busy, he must have gotten the idea to rob her. So he took the money then knocked her in the head. I waited until I was sure he was gone, and then went out to see about her. She wasn't moving and I was afraid she was hurt real bad."

  Lou was beside himself with fury.

  "I been tending her and closed the cafe up for a couple of days. Doc doesn't want her on her feet for a day or two. Some ladies have been comin' from the church every day to tend her too."

  "Harley?" Lou frowned. "My God, when did this happen?"

  "Night before last. I guess you don't know about Mr. Phelps either." Sam hung his head.

  "What about him?" Lou was becoming anxious to hear the whole story now.

  Callie was stunned into complete silence as Sam continued to tell the rest.

  Sam hung his head, and his voice cracked when he tried to explain. "He's dead. Joe robbed the bank again, just before they took off. Mr. Phelps went for his gun, and Joe killed him." Sam's face was screwed up in a wad of frowns. "I was going to get the doc for Miss Jo when I saw the bank door open. I thought it was strange, so I went in. Then I found Mr. Phelps. But it was too late. He was already dead. It looked as though he reached for his gun, and Joe must have shot him. Joe and Harley held up the bank again and took the money…again."

  "My God. How is Jo?" Lou demanded to know as he started up the stairs.

  "She'll be okay, but she needs rest. I been fixing her some food and seeing after her." Sam said, and then as though he just realized Callie was behind Lou all the time, he reached for her in one long grasp.

  Callie hugged him to her and cried. "It's all over honey. They got them. They even recovered the money, we were wondering where it all came from. Now I guess we know."

  "You got all of them?" Sam asked, as he pulled out of her reach.

  "Yeah, all of them." Callie kissed his cheek and cried.

  "Did you get Joe?" Sam asked frowning.

  "Yes honey, he's dead."

  "Who shot him?"

  "Well…Gil."

  "Good."

  "And Harley?"

  Lou frowned as he headed up the stairs to check on Jo. "Harley ain't dead, but he might wish he was before I get through with him."

  "Anyone else hurt?" Sam asked.

  "Yes, a few…" Callie pulled him to her for a moment, just to hold him and reassure her that the world hadn't gone completely mad.

  "You want to go see Jo?" Sam asked.

  "In a minute, let's let them have a few minutes alone." Callie grinned.

  "I'm sure glad you are alright. I was worried out of my mind." Sam squeezed her tight. "I did just as Jo said and stayed out of the way so they wouldn't find me, but it sure came close. After what they did to Jo, I was worried they might do more to you."

  "It's all okay, now. We'll go home tomorrow and this will all be behind us." Callie promised.

  "I don't know if we can go home, Callie…" Sam shook his head.

  "What do you mean?" Callie asked, very tired from riding so long without a break.

  "They tore the place up…" Sam blurted.

  "Who did?" Callie's eyes rounded on him.

  "Joe and his bunch. They ripped the mattresses, and broke all the dishes and we can't stay there anymore, Callie." Sam said shaking his head and looking a little lost. "It's a mess."

  "We'll be fine Sam. We'll figure it out tomorrow. Tonight I just want to see Jo, and find a bed to crawl into." Callie sighed heavily.

  "You can sleep in my room tonight. I'll make a pallet on the floor." Sam offered.

  But as they neared Jo's bedroom she was already protesting. "No she won't. She can have the back spare room to herself. She's worn out, just look at her." Jo shook her head as she sat up in the bed. She was holding Lou's hand and he looked so concerned for her.

  "I hear you had some trouble too." Callie sat beside her at her bedside.

  "Yeah, Harley…" Jo glanced at Lou. "I hear you brought him back to town alive."

  "He may not feel so alive when I get through with him." Lou growled.

  "Now don't you talk that way. You been a good Sheriff for a while now and you aren't going to change that. Harley can tough it out in court." Jo laughed, "all I want is my money back and to see him rot in jail."

  "I guess I should get to the jail. George went to fetch Mrs. Guthrie and she'll be wanting his body to take to the undertaker." Lou said. He bent over Jo now, and kissed her forehead. "You just do like Sam says here, you hear me. He's been taking real good care of you, I've heard. I'll be back in the morning."

  "He has at that. I don't know what I'd do without him." Jo smiled.

  "Get some rest, I'll see you tomorrow." Lou promised.

  "Goodnight…" They all called to him as he left.

  "You look plum tuckered, girl." Jo glanced at Callie.

  "A little." Callie smiled. "But I'm glad to be back…"

  "I’m sorry the way things worked out Callie…with Joe I mean. I always knew you felt sorry for him. And in some ways I did too. But after all of this, I am not so sure he deserves our pity."

  Callie looked down now, a tear slipping past her cheek. "No…he didn't."

  Jo extended her hand to her. "You need rest. Listen, there are clean sheets on the bed, and it's waiting for you."

  "I'll make out just fine." Callie agreed.

  "Where's Gil?" Jo asked.

  "He's staying at the jail tonight. Too tired to go anywhere else, I guess. His…brother died…David."

  "Oh no, I'm so sorry…is Saul and Gil alright?"

  "They will be, I'm sure, in time." Callie murmured. "He was trying to get Joe, for killing Sally, and he just stood up and Joe shot him and killed him. Saul came out about that time shooting, but he ran out of bullets and Joe still wasn't dead. That's when Gil rushed out and got Joe in the head. It was horrible."

  "Well, life can be so unexpected sometimes. Get some rest; we'll talk tomorrow, honey." Jo let her go.

  Callie pulled the covers back on the bed and flopped on the edge of it. It was a much softer bed than she was used to sleeping on. Without taking a thing off, except her boots, she curled up into a ball and lay down. Tears washed over her like a tidal wave. And sleep was still a vague dream right now. Too many realistic dreams flashed before her eyes. Too many dead.

  Sam came into her room for a minute, pausing at the door and seeing her sobbing. "Goodnight sis." He whispered and closed her door.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  The next morning, before dawn Gil rode out to the home-place. Saul was up and preparing to bury David. He'd made a plain and simple casket from pine and they buried him near his Ma and Pa.

  Saul and Gil stood in front of the grave for a long while, staring out over the land and not saying anything at all, and yet communicating their sadness in a way that any cowboy could recognize.

  Gil put his hat back on his head and looked at Saul finally. "I think he's with Sally now, and I think he's happy."

  Saul turned to look at him and a slight smile creased his face. "Of course he is. Maybe for him it's best this way, because he'd have never been happy on earth without her."

  "I guess we Sutton's latch on pretty hard to what we want, don't we?" Gil said.

  "We do." Saul nodded. "I'll miss him though…"

  "Yeah…me too."

  "Did Mrs. Guthrie come into town last night?" Saul asked.

  "Yeah, she was pretty torn up. Lou and I took him over to the undertaker for her and the funeral is tomorrow." Gil said.

  "You know sometimes it doesn't seem possible th
at something like this can happen, tearing families apart and hurting people like this. Kinda makes you wonder about old man Dugan too. If he'd have claimed Joe and done right by Virginia, would any of this ever have happened?"

  Gil shook his head. "I guess we'll never know the answer to that one. The gun that killed Mr. Dugan wasn't Joe's though, we found that out. It was Jed's."

  "How do you know?" Saul asked.

  "Both Jed and Joe had the same kind of gun. However, when we killed them, Jed's left gun was missing. He always carried two. Joe had his in his hand when he died. And I'm thinking that Sally's death was nothing more than an accident gone wrong. I don't think it was intentional. They got to jostling her around and she landed on that fireplace. And David might still be alive if he hadn't wanted some sort of restitution for her death. But I gotta admit, I don't blame him."

  "It's all just a shame…" Saul shook his head.

  "It is at that. Say, did you hear Lou is hanging up his guns?" Gil asked him as they headed to Saul's house for a cup of coffee.

  "No kidding? Why?" Saul smiled.

  "He's retiring and he's getting married." Gil smirked.

  "Jo?"

  "Yeah, I'd say that was a good thing for both of them." Gil remarked.

  They took their jackets off inside and hung their hats up on a peg, and then proceeded to pour them some coffee.

  "When you gonna settle down?" Saul looked at him seriously.

  "I've been thinking about that. Callie's a funny gal, Saul. She don't trust easy, especially men." Gil studied on it for a few minutes.

  "I can understand that, she had a pretty rotten Pa herself." Saul nodded as he sipped his coffee and waited to hear more.

  "I realized her Pa leaving like he did, hurt her more than she wanted to say. It's gonna take a heap of trust and a little bit of figuring before I can talk to her about marriage."

  "Do you love her?"

  Gil glanced up at his brother and smirked. "Of course I do. She's got a little of Ma in her, spitfire and crass, and yet…she has the most tender of hearts I've ever known. She cares about people. She wants to help them, and sometimes, she puts herself in great danger to do so, without regard to herself."

  "Does she know that Mrs. Boggs is dead?"