He knew the way and traveled fast. He arrived at the Bar H Ranch about noon on the second day. Everybody was in a festive mood. Sam was away on business, but Mrs. Harmony met Ty as he rode up to the house. She was dressed in a party dress.
“What’s the occasion?” Ty asked.
“I’m going to a wedding,” Mrs. Harmony replied. “Shorty and Wilma are getting married. Hermano is Shorty’s best man.”
“That’s wonderful,” Ty responded. “May I store my supplies in the barn? I would like to attend the wedding.”
“Of course,” she answered. “Store them in the back of the store room with the sacks of grain. I gotta go now—I’m matron of honor.”
“I’ll see you there after I store my supplies and change into proper dress,” Ty replied.
The wedding was being held in the new church and just about everybody was there. Shorty looked good in his new black suit, and Wilma was beautiful in her white gown. Everything about her was different—she was radiant. She was getting married to a good man, and she was happy. Hermano and two other Mexicans provided the wedding music.
They were happy that Ty had returned in time for the wedding. Ty gave a toast to the bride and groom.
Knowing he was going to need horses for his ranch and cattle for Kate’s ranch, Ty talked to some of the ranchers attending the wedding and asked them if they had animals to sell, and cowboys they could spare. He explained that he needed help to get the animals to Bitter Creek. They were pleased to sell him what he needed. He bought a thousand head of cattle, ten stallions, and two hundred breed mares. Then he hired ten cowboys. Sandy and a couple of the other cowboys who had ridden with Ty on the trail drive to Kansas were glad to be riding with him again.
Ty was in a hurry to get back to Azalee. He was behind schedule, so he worked fast and departed in only two days. Again, he loaded his packsaddles in the chuck wagon in plain sight. Nobody even asked what was in them. Ty had bought young animals selected for breeding purpose, so he didn’t have to worry about getting them to their destination fat. He had experienced men making the drive and, because they knew the trail, they moved fast.
Chapter 20
On the day the ranchers were to meet at the Shay Ranch, Kate, Azalee, and Gabe arrived early with food. Mr. and Mrs. Shay were glad to see them.
The ranchers and their wives arrived after dark. Everyone knew Kate and Azalee, and Kate introduced Gabe. This meeting was the first thing in a long time that gave the ranchers hope that they might be able to save their ranches. They were eager to meet the man who had helped Kate.
“Let’s have supper,” Mrs. Shay said. “We can talk while we eat.”
Gabe discretely studied the ranchers. He wanted to evaluate the men and women he and Ty would be working with. They were middle-aged, typical of the people one might meet anywhere in the West. The men’s faces were weather beaten; their bodies and hands were work-hardened. Some wore facial hair that was turning gray. Some of their wives were getting a little plump, but there was determination in their faces. These people had encountered trouble before, and they would stand the test.
When supper was finished, Kate stood and said, “Folks, this is Gabriel Harding, whom some of you have already met. He’ll tell you why he wanted to hold this meeting.” She turned to Gabe and said, “Come, Gabe, we’re all interested in what you have to say.”
Gabe walked to the center of the room and stood by the large fireplace with his right elbow resting on the mantle. He wanted everyone to see him, and he wanted to look into their faces. The ranchers and their wives, looking concerned, remained seated at the table. Gabe stood quietly, allowing them to get a good look. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m sure that each of you has individual and unique problems, but we all have one thing in common, and that can be stated with one word: Marcum!”
Several voices exclaimed, “Yeah!”
Gabe continued, “It seems that none of us can face him alone, but collectively we can face him very well. It won’t be easy and it’ll take time, but we can do it if we work together. I would like for each of you to tell me what you think your biggest problem is.”
“Rustling!” a rancher said. The other ranchers said, "Yeah," in agreement.
Gabe asked, “Why don’t you report the rustling to the sheriff?” He knew the answer, but he wanted to hear their answers.
“The sheriff works for the rustler,” a rancher said. Again, several voices agreed.
“The solution is obvious,” Gabe said. “The sheriff should work for the people who appoint him. If he isn’t doing that, we need another sheriff.”
“Who would be foolish enough to take the job? Marcum’s gunmen would kill him before sundown,” another rancher remarked.
“So that’s another difficulty we must overcome. What else?” Gabe asked.
“We had to mortgage our land to keep our ranches going. Our cattle were stolen, so we have no way to pay the bank, and the bank will not extend our notes. We’re all in the same boat that Kate was in,” Mr. Shay explained.
“Perhaps you can solve your problems the same way Mrs. Covington solved hers—by borrowing money to pay off the bank.”
“That would be wonderful,” one of the ladies chimed in, “but who would loan us the money? None of the bankers in the neighboring communities will loan us money because the banker in Long Bow won’t relinquish our notes. Marcum is the principle stockholder of the bank in Long Bow, and he wants to foreclose.”
“I’m working on that now, and I’ll know in a couple of weeks if I have a solution. The question seems to be, would you be willing to borrow money from a new lender to pay off your notes? Or would the banker at Long Bow be willing to give you more time if Marcum was no longer the principle stockholder?”
“The answer to both questions is yes. But how do we make that happen?” Mr. Shay asked.
“My partner is away on business,” Gabe said, “but he should return in a couple of weeks. If his trip is successful, he’ll be willing and able to solve the problem with the banker. This meeting is to give you a chance to think about what I’m telling you, so that when he returns, we can act right away. We must keep this discussion secret. If Marcum finds out that we’re organizing to block his attempt to take over our ranches, he could make it even more difficult for us than it already is. Our lives might be in danger.” Searching the faces of the ranchers and their wives, he asked, “Are there any questions?”
“How do we know that your partner can be trusted?” a rancher asked.
“When he returns, we’ll have another meeting. Look into his eyes and judge him for yourselves,” Gabe advised.
A grizzled old rancher said, “That’s good enough for me. How will we know when the next meeting will be held?”
Kate stepped forward. “The next meeting will be at my ranch. We’ll let you know the time. Now, we should thank Mr. and Mrs. Shay for hosting this meeting, then go home and let them get some sleep.”
* * *
Gabe, Kate, and Azalee discussed the meeting while riding home.
“Do you think the meeting went well?” Gabe asked.
“Yes, very well.” Kate replied. “Those people are desperate. Marcum has run off their workers, stolen their cattle, and taken over the bank where they have their land mortgaged. After tonight, they have a glimmer of hope. They have faced adversities before, and they’re willing to fight if they have someone to lead them.”
“I hope that I might be able to lead them,” Gabe remarked.
“Oh, Gabe!” Kate continued. “I saw enough tonight to see that you could lead them, but I lost one man to Marcum’s back-shooting gunmen, and I don’t want to lose another.”
“I don’t plan on getting lost,” Gabe said with a smile. “I was an officer in the Confederate Army. I have led men before and I can do it again—all I need is a few good fighting men.”
“But where can you get a few good fighting men?” Kate asked.
“Ty is one of the best fighting men I’ve ever s
een. He’ll be back in a few days, and together we’ll find the men we need,” Gabe answered.
“Ty’s been gone only four days, and I already miss him something terrible,” Azalee sighed.
When they reached the place where the sandy road crossed Bitter Creek, two riders sat on their horses in the center of the road blocking their way. One of the men said, “You’re out kinda late, aren’t you?”
“How is that a concern of yours?” Gabe asked.
“It’s not a concern of ours, but it might concern our boss. I’d like to be able to tell him what you’ve been doing, should he ask. Where’ve you been?”
Gabe shifted his weight in the seat of the wagon, freeing access to his revolver. He noticed that Kate had her Winchester in her hands, the hammer cocked, and she was ready to use it.
“Your boss is not my boss,” Gabe said. “Where we’ve been is our business. Now, get outta the way!”
The man closest to Gabe moved as though he was preparing to draw.
Forcefully and with confidence, Gabe said, “If you reach for that pistol, I’ll kill you.”
“And I’ll kill the rat with you,” Kate said, as she pointed her rifle at the second assailant.
The first gunman hesitated. He had heard that this man’s partner was deadly with a gun. This man was untested, but he looked like he might be as good as his partner. To save face with his companion, the gunman doing the talking, said, “You can go this time, but we’ll meet again.”
Gabe slapped the reins against the team saying, “Giddy up.” Then, in response to the gunman’s threat, he said, “I’ll be looking forward to our next meeting.”
Carefully lowering the hammer on her rifle as they rode away, Kate asked, “Do you think he’ll tell Marcum?”
“I doubt it,” Gabe chuckled. “He’d have to explain why he backed down to a beautiful, rifle-toting, female rancher. You were wonderful.”
Smiling back, Kate said, “I don’t think it was me he was backing down from, but you’d better watch out for him the next time you meet.”
“He won’t be a problem. If he was afraid to face me when he had the advantage, he won’t have the courage next time, either. But I’ll be on the alert. He’s the type that would lay in ambush and kill from cover.”
Kate, realizing that what Gabe said rang true, wondered, Could he have been the man who shot my husband? Thoughts of her husband did not diminish her feelings of comfort at being close to this unusually fine man sitting next to her.
They rode on in silence, engaged in their own thoughts.
The only sound was the sounds of the horse’s hooves plopping in the sand, the trace chains rattling against the harness, and the wheels turning.
Kate was beautiful, and her beauty drew Gabe like a magnet.
He was thinking, It’s going to be hard to spend the night alone in the bunkhouse tonight.
Kate was wondering, Should I offer the spare bedroom again?
When they reached the ranch, Azalee bid them good night. She wanted to be alone with her thoughts of Ty.
Kate stood by, while Gabe unhooked the horses from the wagon. When the job was done, he took Kate’s hands, looked into her eyes, and said, “Thank you, Kate, for backing me up out there.”
Kate couldn’t stand it any longer; she moved into Gabe’s arms and stood with her head on his chest holding him closely. He responded by holding her tightly pressed against his body. She felt the urgency of his need and hoped he would respond. To indicate her desire, she rubbed her body against his. Gabe didn’t want to act too fast, but he decided to chance it. He took her hand and moved slowly toward the bunkhouse. She followed eagerly.
Azalee wondered why it was taking them so long to put the animals away. She smiled to herself thinking, I wish Ty were here.
* * *
Three weeks passed with no sign of Ty. Azalee and Kate expressed their concern. Gabe consoled them, saying, “Dozens of things might be holding him up. He’s a capable young man. He’ll be along in a few days.”
On the morning of the third day, Gabe looked for signs of Ty. About midday, Azalee came running into the house. “There’s a dust storm coming!” she exclaimed.
“Nah, couldn’t be, there’s no wind blowing,” Gabe noted.
“Well, come look for yourself, there’s a dust cloud coming from the west,” Azalee insisted.
Gabe and Kate followed, thinking she must be mistaken. They were amazed to see that there was, without a doubt, a dust cloud. Gabe had seen clouds like that before and recognized it to be dust created by a large herd of cattle.
“It’s Ty!” he exclaimed. “He’s returning with a herd of cattle. That’s why he’s late. They’ve followed the trail that we took with Sam’s herd and drove them through Long Bow. That’s why they’re coming from the west.”
Azalee jumped up and down saying, “Could it be? Could it be? I’ve got to saddle my horse! I want to ride out to meet him.”
Gabe said, “The corral isn’t large enough to hold a herd that big. We’ll have to put them in the pasture down by the creek.”
“I’ll open the gate,” Kate said as she ran to the fence that enclosed the pasture.
Azalee galloped in the direction of the herd. Ty saw her coming and rode to meet her. When they met, they bounded off their horses and stood embracing, neither saying a word.
One of the cowboys said, “That’s the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”
Another cowboy, who had been on the drive to Kansas said, “I told you so. That’s why he’s been pushing so hard. Wouldn’t you have been in a hurry to get back to something like that?”
“Hell, man, I wouldn’t have ever left,” the first cowboy replied.
Ty yelled to the men, “Drive them through the gate by the barn, and hold them in the pasture by the creek. They’ll have plenty of grass and water. When you get them contained, start cleaning up the bunkhouse. That’s where you’ll be sleeping tonight. Keep your guns handy; you may need them.”
After issuing instructions to his men, Ty and Azalee rode to the house. Gabe and Kate were waiting with extended hands. Ty dismounted, grasped Gabe’s hand, and then embraced Kate. He was pleased to see that Kate and Gabe had become a pair.
“Did you have any trouble with Marcum while I was gone?” Ty asked.
“Yeah, a little, but Kate handled it well,” Gabe smiled.
“I’ll explain later,” Azalee said, taking Ty’s hand. “Where’s the gold?”
“I have it in a couple of packsaddles. They’re stored in the chuck wagon.”
“You mean you don’t even have them in a locked container?” Kate asked. “That’s incredible. Weren’t you afraid someone would steal it?”
“Nah, nobody would think that there’s anything of value in a couple of old packsaddles lying right out in the open.”
“Well, let’s get them in the house. I’ll feel better,” Kate said.
Gabe smiled, shook his head, and said. “That’s a remarkable young man.”
“Well, he is my young man now. I’ve got him back and I’m never going to let him go again,” Azalee said.
“It’ll take some doing to hold that young man, but if anybody can do it, you’re the one. I don’t know if he has told you or not, but he’s devoted to you,” Gabe said.
“Kate,” Ty asked, “Do we have enough supplies here at the ranch to feed a crew that big?”
“We’ve got enough for tonight, but we’ll have to restock tomorrow.”
“They can sleep in their bedrolls tonight,” Ty said, “and we’ll get fresh bedding and food supplies tomorrow. We have cattle to guard, and men to guard them, so we’ll have this ranch up and running in no time. I’ve even brought a stock of breed mares for my horse ranch. All I have to do now is find a ranch on which to raise them.”
“I’ve found that!” Azalee exclaimed. “I’ll show it to you tomorrow.”
“That’s wonderful,” Ty remarked. “Now, if only I can find a girl to help me fill the ranch hous
e.”
“I know where you can get that, too,” Azalee giggled as she flung herself into his arms.
Gabe and Kate smiled. “Well, Ty, it looks like you have it all wrapped up,” Gabe said. “All we got to do now is deal with a very powerful rancher who is hell bent on destroying us.”
“Minor detail,” Ty laughed, as he and Azalee ran away to be alone.
* * *
Ty wanted to be sure that his men were situated comfortably. “Men, there’s a couple of nice bars in town, but be careful who you talk to. There are many hired gunmen here, and they work for a rancher who’s trying to destroy us. Enjoy yourselves, but keep your eyes and ears open. Don’t allow yourselves to be drawn into a gunfight. We’ll fight them if we have to, but we’ll pick the time and place. Work starts early tomorrow morning, so get some rest. You’ll take your orders from Gabe; he’s the foreman of this ranch.”
“I want four of you to stand watch over that herd,” Gabe said. “You’ll be relieved at midnight. I’ll be riding among you, so let me know if you see or hear anything unusual.”
When Ty and Azalee got to the house, Azalee said, “Let’s look at that gold.”
Ty emptied the sacks on the table—they all looked in awe at the thousands of coins, mostly double-eagles, so many that they spilled onto the floor. After storing the coins in the storeroom, they fixed dinner.
Chapter 21
At the dinner table, they discussed Gabe’s plan for organizing the ranchers to stand against Marcum.
Kate said, “We should meet tonight before Marcum finds out what we’re doing. He, or some of his men, is sure to have seen that herd of cattle. We should have the meeting before he finds a way to intimidate the ranchers.”
Man Called Ty Page 13
