Lone Jack Kid: The Buffalo Hunt (The Lone Jack Kid Book 3)

by Joe Corso

  The sheriff sat at his desk and wrote the names down. “Here’s the list. Now what’s this all about?”

  “Do you have a bookstore here in San Diego?”

  “Yeah, we have James Woolsey’s Bookstore situated around the corner from here.”

  Charlie opened the door. “Come on, Sheriff, and let’s you and me and Wild Eagle take a little walk. You have some questions with my story, right, Sheriff?”

  “It’s not that I don’t believe you; it’s the mystery of who you are.”

  Charlie was getting a kick out of the sheriff’s confusion. “I don’t have to tell you anything, Sheriff. If you gave me a hard time, I could arrest you lock and you in your own jail. But I’m not gonna do that. In a few minutes, I’ll let you in on my little secret.”

  They walked around the corner and stopped at a little storefront.

  “Here’s the bookstore you asked me about.”

  The three men entered and Wild Eagle and Ban-Chu sat by the entrance while Charlie and the sheriff browsed a few racks of books until they came to a section devoted entirely to Ned Buntline’s books.

  “Do you know who this man is, Sheriff?”

  “That’s Ned Buntline. Of course I know who he is. Everyone knows who Ned Buntline is. Now why in tarnation would you ask me a stupid question like that? Do I know Ned Buntline? Jeez.” He shook his head.

  Charlie took a book off the shelf and handed it to Winnenger. “Have you ever read this book, Sheriff?” he asked with a gleam in his eye.

  “Of course I read the book. Everyone’s read that book. I must have…” Then it dawned on the sheriff. “Then…” He looked at the cover and then at Charlie. “Then… you must be… must be…“Are you the Lone Jack Kid?”

  Charlie smiled. “When I was in New York, Boss Tweed took me to Coney Island where I saw kids having a great old time on the merry-go-round. If you were on that merry-go-round, you’d have won the brass ring. Yes, it’s true. I’m the Lone Jack Kid.”

  Winnenger looked at Charlie and, for a moment, he was speechless.

  “I don’t know what to say. Now I feel like such a damned fool at the way I’ve been behaving.”

  “Don’t be so hard on yourself, Sheriff. Just don’t tell anyone who I am and we’ll be fine.”

  They turned to head back to the jail and almost bumped into the clerk, who was now standing in front of them, holding her hand to her face, staring at Charlie.

  “I can’t believe that the Lone Jack Kid is in this store, standing right here in front of me.”

  Charlie and the sheriff looked at one another in shock. The very thing Charlie wanted to keep a secret…. Charlie knew from experience that three people could keep a secret if two of them were dead. No matter what the girl promised, soon the whole town would know that the Lone Jack Kid was in town.

  “What’s your name, girl?”

  “Susan.”

  “Look, Susan, I would appreciate it if you kept my being in town to yourself. Supposing I sign a book for you. Would that make you happy?”

  “Yes, I’d really appreciate that.”

  “I’ll make a deal with you, Susan. I’ll sign the book if you promise not to tell anyone I’m in San Diego. Do we have a deal?”

  “Yes. I promise I won’t tell anyone.”

  Charlie signed a Buntline book, saying, “To my friend, Susan. The Lone Jack Kid.”

  “Sheriff, I think there’s gonna be trouble brewing in San Diego because the cat is out of the bag now. I’m gonna go down to the train station and wire Sheriff Bates the reward money. Then I think Wild Eagle and I will have dinner while we still can. Would you care to join us?”

  “Hell yeah, I’d like to join you. I don’t want to miss anything that might happen.”

  “First, we have to stable our horses. Now where would I find the stables, Sheriff?”

  “That’d be the Circle Bar Stables. Old Tyler Bar runs it. Come on; lead your horses and I’ll walk with you. It’s just around the corner.”

  Chapter 13

  There were no telegrams waiting for Charlie at the train station, which housed the telegraph office. Charlie kept his word and sent Sheriff Bates the reward money for the town’s new jail. The sheriff, Charlie, and Wild Eagle sat outside the station, waiting for a reply, which wasn’t long in coming. Charlie read the telegram out loud so his companions could hear what Bates wrote. The Horse Head Crossing town council and especially the now permanent sheriff, Warren Bates, thanked Charlie profusely for the donation. They assured him that they would contact him through his brother Robert when the jail was completed.

  It would be another five days before the Grand Duke Alexis arrived, so Charlie and Wild Eagle had nothing better to do than to enjoy the pleasures that San Diego offered, while trying to stay out of trouble. Just the fact that Susan at the bookstore knew the Lone Jack Kid was in town was like a storm brewing. Charlie had yet to meet the woman who could keep a secret. Susan kept her word and didn’t say anything to anyone…anyone, that is, but her mother. She felt that the one person in the world she could trust to keep a secret was her mother, and she was too excited not to tell her; so the following morning, she confided in her, having first made her mother promise not to tell another living soul. Susan told her all about Charles Longstreet, and how the handsome young celebrity walked into her bookstore that day with the sheriff, an Indian, and a big wolf.

  “And he was so nice, Ma. He even signed my book. Look!”

  She showed her mother her signed copy of Buntline’s dime novel, The Adventures of the Lone Jack Kid.

  Her mother asked her endless questions. “How tall is he? Was he wearing his guns? Is he thin or fat? What color are his eyes? And does he have a nice smile?” Her mother smiled and asked coquettishly, hoping the dashing cowboy had taken a liking to Susan, “Did he flirt with you?”

  “No, Momma, he was a perfect gentleman!”

  “Oh,” she said, disappointed. “It would have been nice to have someone as famous as him interested in you.”

  Susan frowned. “Momma, he just signed my book and he asked me to promise that I wouldn’t tell anyone… and I won’t… well… tell anyone but you. Telling you is different, because you’re my ma.”

  Her mother straightened her skirt and put on her shawl. “Well, you had better be getting on now or you’ll be late to work, and I have to meet Cynthia Jones for breakfast.”

  Susan scampered out of the house and went straight to work. Her mother noticed the signed copy of Buntline’s book on the table. She picked it up and took it with her.

  “Hi, Cynthia.”

  “Hi, Ruth.” She noticed the book. “What book did you bring with you?”

  “Oh this? This is Susan’s book.”

  Cynthia was curious now. “Why did you bring it with you? Are you going to take it to her?”

  “Why, yes. As a matter of fact, when we finish breakfast, I’m going to take her the book. It’s her favorite book and it’s special to her.”

  “It looks like an ordinary book to me, so why is it special?”

  Ruth smiled smugly. “I promised Susan that I wouldn’t tell anyone, but I guess it would be all right if I told my best friend. But you have to promise not to tell anyone. You promise?”

  Cynthia rolled her eyes. “All right. If you insist, then I won’t tell anyone. Now what’s the big secret?”

  Ruth handed Cynthia the book. “Look who signed it.”

  Cynthia opened the book and looked at the first page. “My God… Is this real?”

  Ruth gave Cynthia a self-righteous smile. “Charles Longstreet, the Lone Jack Kid, just arrived in San Diego and he doesn’t want anyone to know he’s here. Now you understand why I asked you not to tell anyone. Susan told me and she swore me to secrecy. And now I’ve sworn you to secrecy. So you see, you mustn’t tell anyone.”

  “You have my word I won’t tell anyone. Now tell me what Susan said about him. Is he handsome? Did he seem like a nice person? Come on; tell me what she said.” />
  For the next hour, Charles Longstreet was the subject of a long conversation. The questions Ruth Prestor couldn’t answer, she embellished with what she thought could have been the truth. When the two women said goodbye and left the restaurant to go their separate ways, Cynthia couldn’t wait to tell her husband, Randy, so she stopped at the gun shop where he worked.

  San Diego was not the town it would become a decade later, so the news that the premier shootist, the Lone Jack Kid, was visiting their town spread like wildfire.

  Charlie had no idea that the girl at the bookstore hadn’t kept her promise. Hoping his secret was safe, he and Wild Eagle decided that since it was a few days before the grand duke was expected, they’d make themselves scarce and get away for two days hunting. That morning, they went to the stables, saddled their horses, packed their burro with supplies, and took off into the mountains.

  Wild Eagle was happy.

  “Good we go hunting. I no like towns. Too crowded. Too many white men. Camp in mountains. We hunt, see country. It’s good we do these things.”

  “Yeah, I agree with you, Wild Eagle. I can’t wait for the grand duke to get here so we can leave this dirt-water town and head for Nebraska.”

  Two days later, they stopped in front of the stables, tied their horses to the post, and waited for Tyler to take their animals. When Tyler approached him, Charlie handed him a five-dollar gold piece.

  “Groom and feed the animals, Tyler. We might need them tomorrow.”

  “Will do, Mr. Longstreet.”

  Charlie turned to leave but did a double take when he heard Tyler mention his name. “I didn’t tell you my name, Tyler. How did you know it?”

  Tyler blushed a little. “Shucks, Mr. Longstreet, everyone in town is talking about how they never had a man as famous as you visiting our little town and we’re honored that you’re staying here.”

  “I’m not staying here, Tyler. I’m meeting the boat tomorrow and then I’ll be leaving.”

  He turned to Wild Eagle, whose face was serious. “Not good, Charlie. Now men will try to kill you.”

  “I know. Come on. Let’s visit our little friend over at the book store.”

  Chapter 14

  “Okay, Susan, who did you tell I was in town?”

  Susan shook her head. “Why, no one, Mr. Longstreet.”

  “No one?”

  “That’s right, no one. Well, no one except for my mother, but she wouldn’t tell anyone about you.”

  “So you told her about me?”

  “Yes.”

  “And she was the only one you told?”

  “Yes. I only told her.”

  “Then she must have told someone.”

  Susan suddenly understood that her mother must have told Cynthia when she met her for breakfast that morning. “Should… should we go ask her?” Cynthia’s voice trembled.

  Charlie looked at the frightened girl and shook the suggestion off with a wave of his hand. “No. The damage is done. I just hope we can leave town without any trouble. Come on, Wild Eagle, let’s go down to the pier. The grand duke’s ship should be docking any minute now.”

  Charlie watched Grand Duke Alexis as he walked down the gangplank, followed by his bodyguard and his retainers. He was a tall, nice-looking young man, a haughty expression on his face as he searched the crowd for his escort, who was supposed to meet him. His expression changed from annoyance to absolute delight when he saw Charlie and Wild Eagle walking toward him.

  Charlie eased his way through the crowd. “I guess I’m who you were looking for, Alexis. I was sent by President Grant to meet you and then accompany you to Nebraska for the buffalo hunt.”

  Alexis’s face lit up in a smile. “It’s so nice to meet you, Mr. Longstreet.”

  The grand duke leaned closer, conspiratorially. “You know, I was told that Charles Longstreet himself was to meet me when the ship docked.” He leaned in even closer. “I’ve read all of the Lone Jack Kid books and I must say I enjoyed them immensely.”

  Charlie liked this young man, not because he read the books written about him, but because he was warm, intelligent, inquisitive, and approachable. Charlie surmised that the grand duke had to project an air of haughtiness when he met people because he was Russian royalty and it was expected of him, but Charlie knew that when they were alone on the prairie, he’d be just another kid experiencing life in a different country and in a different environment, and since Alexis was about his own age, he felt comfortable with him.

  “Come on, Alexis. I’ll take you to your hotel, where you can freshen up. Later, we’ll have an enjoyable dinner, and tomorrow, we can leave for Los Angeles, get on a train, and head for Nebraska.”

  Alexis stopped in his tracks and grabbed Charlie by his arm when he noticed a large wolf standing beside him. “The wolf. Is he yours?”

  “Yes he is. His name is Ban-Chu.”

  “Ban-Chu?”

  “Yes. He won’t bother you once he realizes you’re no threat to me.”

  Alexis nodded. “Please, Mr. Longstreet—”

  “Charlie, call me Charlie.”

  “All right, Charlie. Look, I would prefer to remain in San Diego for another day or two. I heard rumors on the ship of a large gold strike here in San Diego and I so much would like to see for myself if the rumors are true. I’ve never visited a real gold mine, so if you would be so kind as to indulge my little whim and take me there, I would appreciate it. Then we can take the train and leave for Nebraska.”

  Charlie didn’t want to appear cowardly and tell the grand duke that people might be gunning for him and he would prefer to avoid that unpleasantness if at all possible. Now he knew that wasn’t going to happen.

  The grand duke, having freshened up, walked slowly down the stairs with his bodyguard following. He looked around and spotted Charlie and Wild Eagle sitting at a small table, waiting for him. Ban-Chu was lying beside Charlie. When Alexis and his bodyguard approached them, the wolf sniffed the scent of the two strangers and stood protectively. Alexis stopped when he saw the wolf and his face lit up into a broad smile.

  “He recognizes me! Now that we’re not in a crowd, I can appreciate what a beautiful animal you have.”

  “Yes, he is a beautiful animal. I found him just after his mother gave birth to him. She died with an Indian arrow in her, but my friend and I managed to save two of the four pups. Ban-Chu is my friend.”

  “What kind of name is that?”

  “Ban-Chu means ‘wolf’ in Apache.”

  Alexis reached down to pet the wolf, but Charlie advised him not to. “Wolves are unpredictable. They don’t make friends easily and as a rule, they don’t trust people.”

  “I see. Well, I guess my petting him will have to wait.”

  “Excuse me, Alexis, but I have to apologize for not introducing you to my friend, Wild Eagle.”

  The grand duke nodded respectfully toward the Indian and introduced his bodyguard to his host as Anthony.

  Charlie shook Anthony’s hand, then continued explaining who Wild Eagle was and how they met.

  “Alexis, Anthony, Wild Eagle is the chief of the Kaw Indian Nation and he’s my blood brother.”

  Alexis’s eyes widened. “Blood brother, you say. How interesting. Do you mind if I ask how that came about? I mean, your becoming blood brothers?”

  Charlie explained how he found the great chief badly wounded and near death. He explained that after Wild Eagle recovered, they cut their palms and clasped them together to let the blood flow into each other’s body. Alexis, not having read Buntline’s latest book, was fascinated, never having heard of such a ritual before.

  “Besides being my blood brother, Wild Eagle is my friend, and maybe the best friend I ever had.”

  Wild Eagle’s expression never wavered, but he felt the same way about Charlie. They were friends for life… and maybe beyond this life if there was a spirit world, as the Indians believed.

  “This calls for a celebration.” Charlie caught the eye of the bart
ender. “Send your best bottle of whiskey to our table.”

  The bartender poured three drinks and placed the bottle on the table.

  Charlie raised his glass to Alexis and said, “Here’s to our new friend, the Grand Duke Alexis. May he enjoy our company and have a successful buffalo hunt.”

  All eyes were on the small table in the corner. Everyone knew of the two famous men sitting at the little table opposite the bar, with the Indian and wolf, and they were proud to have such men visit their little town. But there were troublemakers who would never let a body be. If they could bully someone, they would do it with delight, and although Charlie hoped to avoid such unpleasantness, he knew something could happen. It was as if a long fuse had been lit, leading to a keg of dynamite. The fuse was lit, but Charlie didn’t know it. Not yet he didn’t. Not until he heard the three taps. Tap-tap-tap… tap-tap-tap.

  Wild Eagle reached for his Winchester, lying against the wall a foot from where he sat. He levered a round and looked for the source of the tapping. Alexis looked around, wondering what the concern could be, while Anthony pulled his gun from his shoulder holster.

  Charlie reached over and patted Alexis on his arm. “There is no danger for you here. Whoever gave the three taps is looking for me and only me.”

  Wild Eagle took Charlie’s arm. “I kill him, then we go.”

  Alexis knew the Indian meant what he said and was surprised when Charlie smiled. “It’s all right, Wild Eagle. I’ll handle this troublemaker myself.”

  Charlie walked slowly to the bar and looked around the dining room. “Who’s the coward that is challenging me?”

  A man sitting against the wall in the back of the room stood. “I’m calling you out, Kid.”

  Charlie was tired of asking the fools who continually challenged him if they wanted to die today. Oh well, he thought, I may as well try once more.

  “You don’t have to do this. You don’t have to die today. Come over to the bar. I’ll buy you a drink and we’ll forget you ever challenged me.”