by Joe Corso
The cowboy grabbed Charlie by the shoulder and spun him around, only to find a forty-four Colt pressed into his belly. Charlie’s hand had moved so quickly the troublemaker never saw him pull his gun. His friend with the cigarette stepped behind Charlie, and now there was a man in front and behind.
“Ban-Chu, come.”
The wolf sprang to attention and came to Charlie. Charlie pointed to the man behind him. “Ban-Chu, attention.” He had trained the dog to respond to the word “attention” when he needed him to neutralize a threat.
The wolf stood still, his attention riveted on the man Charlie had pointed to. If he had told him to attack the man would be dead already, because the wolf would have ripped his throat out by now. Charlie heard the lever of a repeating rifle chambering a round and turned, thinking it might be a third man. He was relieved to see Percy standing behind the man standing behind him, with Lobo ready to pounce. Charlie turned to the man who had challenged him.
“You were saying?”
By now a crowd of spectators had gathered on either side, but nowhere near the line of fire. The man opened his mouth and closed it like a fish out of water. He looked around for support, but his support was neutralized twice, once by the angry-looking wolf, and second by Percy, holding his repeater low, but with the barrel facing the man standing behind Charlie. Ban-Chu bared his fangs and uttered a low, threatening growl. Charlie looked at the man once again and shook his head, yawning.
“I’m getting bored. Either go for your gun or, when you see me coming, stay the hell away from me, or so help me God I’ll kill you the next time I see you. Do you understand what I’m telling you, Mr. Tough-Guy-Gunslinger?”
The man finally got up enough nerve to challenge Charlie again. “I still think I can take you, Kid.”
“Do you want to bet your life on it?”
“I’ve got a reputation of my own and yeah, I think I can take you.”
“Then stop talking about it and get in the street, away from these innocent pain-in-the-ass civilians.”
The two men stood about fifteen feet apart but, unlike in other gunfights, this man didn’t circle around Charlie. He was looking for an advantage, but Charlie was too smart and too experienced to fight him facing the sun, and there was no other boon for the stranger to take advantage of. So they faced one another, knowing that in a few seconds one of them would die.
“Go for your gun, stranger. I’ll give you that much and then I’ll kill you.”
“You think so eh, Kid?”
“No I don’t think so—I know so, and I’m getting tired of waiting.”
The stranger turned to his right but spun around quickly with his gun drawn; but Charlie expect ed that move fired two shots and then everything faded to black and the gunman collapsed dead before hitting the ground.
Charlie pointed to the second man. “Let him go, Percy. Step down in the street, stranger. We still have something to settle.”
“I’m not tangling with you, Kid. You just killed the Pecos Kid and he was fast with a gun.”
Charlie shook his head. “He wasn’t that fast. He was just tricky. He tried to pull that turn his body to the side trick, which must have worked for him many times. I expected he’d pull something like that and I was waiting for it. Now, quit your gabbing and let’s get this over with.”
The man started to walk away but Charlie yelled out to Percy to keep him there. Percy pressed the barrel of his Winchester in the stranger’s back.
“You heard what the man said, stranger, so stay right where you are.”
Charlie grabbed the man by the arm and was about to take him to the sheriff’s office when the sheriff walked towards them through the crowd.
“I heard gunshots and came to investigate as fast as I could. What happened here?”
Charlie tilted his head toward the stranger. “Him and his friend there challenged me to a gunfight. I’d like you to go through your wanted posters and see if these two show up on any of them.”
“Happy to do it for you, Kid.”
“While you’re at it, Sheriff, lock this guy up for disturbing the peace and whatever else you can think of. I don’t like getting shot in the back and these two bushwhacking bastards are just that type.”
“I’ll do that, Kid. I like the idea of keeping him locked up in case his face is on one of those wanted posters lying in my drawer. By the way, I’m Sheriff Yancy Speerman, and I know who you are.”
“Yeah,” Charlie said. “If you didn’t you’d be the only one in town.”
The sheriff laughed. “I take it you read the papers then.”
“Yeah I did, and to say I’m not happy about it is an understatement.”
“Well if it’s any comfort to you, these two men are the worst of the lot. There’s a few other troublemakers in town. Wade Hampton is one and Frank Sturgess another. There are a few more, but those two could cause you some grief, so just remember their names.
Chapter 26
Charlie woke to a pounding on his hotel room door. Ban-Chu growled. Charlie reached over and grabbed his gun from the night table and walked to the door. He stood beside it, thinking it might be an enemy. He didn’t want to be hit with a shotgun blast through the door.
“Who the hell’s pounding on my door?”
“It’s me, Sheriff Yancy Speerman. Open up. I want to talk to you.”
Charlie opened the door and the sheriff sat down by the bed as Charlie walked over to the basin on his bureau and washed his face.
“What did you want to talk to me about, Sheriff?”
“Those two troublemakers are wanted in Colorado for bank robbery, and there’s a three hundred dollar reward on each of them. I came here to give you your reward money.”
Charlie took the money and counted it, then handed Speerman a hundred dollars. “Your share, Sheriff.”
Speerman looked at the money and smiled. “Damn, but that’s a lot of money, Kid. Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it, Sheriff, you earned it.”
Later at dinner, Charlie and Percy discussed their plans. “Everyone in town knows that the Lone Jack Kid is in town, and it’s only a matter of time before Wade Hampton and Frank Sturgess call me out. I think we should ride out of here and try to catch up to those two bushwhackers who shot me before they kill any more innocent people.”
“Yeah maybe we should ride out,” Percy said.
Charlie was about to say something but a knock on the door interrupted him. Both men reached for their guns. “Who is it?” Charlie asked loudly.
“It’s Mayor Simpson. Can I come in and have a word with you boys?”
Charlie motioned for Percy to position himself so that when the door opened he’d be behind it. Charlie didn’t want to chance someone holding a gun to the mayor’s head, coercing him.
“Come on in, Mayor.”
The door opened and the chubby form of Mayor Simpson walked through. “Where’s your friend?” the mayor asked.
“Right behind you, Mayor.”
Simpson turned and saw Percy standing behind him with his rifle barrel pointing toward the floor.
“Sorry about that, Mayor, but you can never be too careful. What was it you wanted to talk to us about?”
“The town council has decided to have a holiday in your honor, so we’re holding a square dance at Zeb’s stable.”
Charlie frowned. “You’re gonna hold a square dance among all the horses?”
“No, no. It’ll be outside, behind the stables in the corral. It’s big enough so everyone in town can come and enjoy the evening. The ladies are all bringing something special they’ve cooked up and there’ll be punch.” The mayor winked. “Of course, the punch will be flavored with some fine spirits. And then there’s the music. A few of the boys play special instruments like a washboard, a bottle, a couple of fiddles; we even have a base fiddler among our natives. It’s going to be a grand night and it’s in your honor, Mr. Longstreet.”
Charlie was confused. “What’s spe
cial about me, Mayor?”
“We’ve been following your exploits through the dime novels—and the newspapers have kept us apprised of your hit Broadway show. Why, you’re the most talked about gunfighter celebrity we’ve had hit this town since it was founded, and we can’t let an opportunity like this pass by without celebrating it. Who knows when we’ll have another such auspicious occasion? We have a committee decorating the corral with bunting, and flyers are being printed to pass around to the people in town and the surrounding ranches and farms. Everyone will be here to celebrate your success.”
Charlie and Percy realized their plan to ride out of town just flew out the window. “That’s mighty neighborly of you, Mayor, and both Percy and myself would be honored to attend your gala celebration.”
After the mayor left, Charlie thought it would be a good idea to buy some respectable clothes for the occasion.
They found a men’s clothing store near the end of Main Street where they were greeted by a pretty young lady. “Good afternoon, gentlemen. How can I help you?”
“We need some proper clothes to wear to a square dance.”
“You mean the one we’re having on Saturday at Zeb’s place?”
“Yes, ma’am, that dance.”
She looked knowingly at Charlie. “Well, we can’t have the famous Lone Jack Kid going to the dance looking like a saddle tramp now can we?”
Charlie smiled. “What’s your name, pretty lady?”
“Lorraine.”
“Hi, Lorraine, it’s nice to meet you. Now, how about showing us some clothes.”
“I’ll take care of you. But please excuse me for a moment.”
She ran up two steps into the office and returned just as quickly with another young lady following her. “This is my sister Janie and she’ll take care of your friend.”
Percy stared at Janie with his mouth open. The two girls were beautiful and personable.
“Hi, Janie, my name is Percy and it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Charlie looked at Percy and chuckled.
Percy noticed and shrugged.
“Come on, Percy, let’s pick out some clothes so you’ll be dressed proper-like for Saturday’s dance,” Janie said as she took Percy by the hand.
Percy looked back at Charlie and said, as he was being led away, “I’m beginning to like this town, Charlie. Maybe we should think about staying here a while longer.”
“Follow me, Mr. Longstreet. The shirts are over by the wall.”
She looked as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. Then she apparently made a decision. She looked shyly at him and said, “You know I read all of the books written about you, and I thought they were wonderful. Did you fight in the battle of Lone Jack?”
Charlie didn’t like talking about himself much. He felt he was bragging. “I was there all right.”
“Were you really in a gunfight with a deserter? And was Mr. Buntline there with you?”
“Right again. Give the little lady a cigar.”
Lorraine blushed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ask all those questions, but I never thought I’d meet anybody as famous as you. I just had to ask.”
Charlie knew that by now all the stories Buntline wrote about him were part of his legend. People wanted to believe in heroes. They truly wanted to believe what was written about him in those dime novels. The truth was that Charlie was just a lonely cowboy, an ex-soldier, who Buntline made into a bigger than life legend. A guy who would rather be alone on the trail away from civilization with just his horse and his wolf friend, and no one near him to ask foolish questions about a book that stretched the truth. There was more than a hint of truth in those books, but where did the truth end and the legend begin? He wasn’t quite sure himself.
“Here, try these pants on.” Lorraine handed him a pair of chino pants.
Across the room Percy was trying on shirts and he and Janie were getting along just fine. They were talking and laughing and they looked really comfortable in one another’s company.
Charlie turned to Lorraine. “Did you know that Percy is a doctor?”
That got her attention. “Percy a doctor? A real doctor?”
Charlie gave her a tight-lipped smile. “That’s right, a real life medical doctor. He just graduated from medical school, and before he began his practice he wanted to see the wild west and experience life a little before settling down.”
Lorraine’s eyes opened wide with excitement. “We need a doctor real bad in Yuma. All we have now is Dr. Jenkins, but he’s a veterinarian and not a real doctor. I wonder if Percy’d be willing to remain here in Yuma and start a practice here?”
Charlie absently rubbed his chin. “Well, there’s only one way to find out. Let’s go ask him.”
Chapter 27
“Excuse me, Percy, but Charlie here tells me that you are a medical doctor. Is that true?”
Janie looked at him. “Percy, you didn’t mention you were a doctor.”
Percy’s face turned crimson. “I only recently graduated from medical school and I haven’t set up a medical practice yet.”
Lorraine became animated. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about, Percy. Yuma needs a doctor real bad. Doctor Jenkins has been treating people but he’s a veterinarian and not a real doctor. We sure could use you here. I’m sure the town council will even help you set up your practice. We have a few empty stores and you could choose the one you like .”
Janie added her thoughts. “Please, Percy, say you’ll stay here in Yuma.”
Percy looked to Charlie for help but all he got from him was a sly smile. “Some friend you are,” Percy said caustically.
Charlie laughed. “Who said we’re friends.”
Percy was at a loss for words. “After all we’ve been through together, and we’re not friends?”
Charlie chuckled. “You’re right, Percy. We have been through a lot together, and I guess that would make us friends. When I first got to Tucson my first thought was to shoot the man who was impersonating me, but when I found out it was you . . . well I kind of felt sorry for you.”
“You felt sorry for me?”
“Yeah, I did. I felt for sure that somebody was going to kill you really quick-like.”
The girls looked at one another, then at the men, and again at each other, feeling privileged to be privy to this very private conversation.
Then Charlie lightened up, putting his arm around Percy’s shoulder and smiling at him. “Well, as you said. We’ve been through a lot and shared a number of adventures together. You’ve kind of grown on me.”
Percy smiled. “I’ve grown on you?”
“Yep. I’ve kinda gotten used to having you around. Soooo, I guess you can say that we are now friends.”
Percy started to say something but wound up just shaking his head. “Charlie, you sure have a long winded way of saying what you mean. You could have just said we’re friends and let it go at that, but no, you had to drag it on and on, just to torture me.”
Charlie frowned at the two young women. “Look at the way he carries on, girls, and all the while I thought he was my friend. Does he sound like a friend? I ask you, does he?” Charlie was having a great time joshing Percy. “Now why don’t you answer these two fine looking women’s question? They asked if you would consider staying in Yuma and be their doctor. It’s a simple question, Percy, so why don’t you tell them you’ll stay.”
Charlie was in a very good mood when he stepped out of the clothing store. He agreed to take Lorraine to the dance on Saturday and Janie agreed to accompany Percy.
As he turned to say goodbye to the ladies a bullet slammed into the door frame, missing Charlie’s head by inches. Charlie spun around and dropped to the floor with his colt in hand, crawling behind the safety of two barrels on the porch, ready to be placed on a wagon.
Percy hadn’t left the store yet. When he heard the gunshot he grabbed both girls by their waist and dropped to the floor. He had a hand gun which he wasn’t ve
ry good at using. He wished he had his trusty Winchester which he had left at the stable.
Charlie yelled out to the shooter. “Let’s settle this like men. Give the word and I’ll step out onto the street. We can go at this like men instead of bushwhackers.”
A voice Charlie didn’t recognize shouted at him. “Come on out with your hands where we can see them. We’re gonna give you a chance to show us how fast you are with a gun.”
Charlie didn’t trust them to keep their word. If they’d shoot him while leaving a store, it stood to reason they’d shoot him as he walked out onto the street.
“You first. I don’t trust back shooters.”
“Okay, Kid, we’ll give you that much. We’ll be on the street waiting for you.”
Charlie watched two men step into the rutted, wide boulevard. One was tall, with a long beard and unkempt hair. The other looked like a dime store dandy with slicked back hair and fancy guns wrapped around fancy duds.
“We’re waiting for you, Kid. You’re not yellow now are you?”
“Don’t worry about me, fellas. While I’m coming out to face you, you should think about meeting your maker.”
Charlie stepped down into the street. “Who are you boys? What are your names?”
“We’re the Baskom brothers. Why do you want to know?”
“I always want to know the names of the men I kill.”
Charlie began the slow circle of death that sometimes precedes a gunfight, trying to keep both brothers in his line of sight. He couldn’t allow one of them to get behind him or he’d be at a severe disadvantage.
The brother with the fancy guns went for his gun, but Charlie was faster and shot him before he cleared his holsters. The second brother managed to get his gun out of his holster, but he wasn’t quick enough. So why did Charlie feel something slam into his body and push him forward as if he’d been gored by a bull? His reflexes took over. He allowed the force of the bullet to spin him around to his right, permitting him to fire at the figure holding the smoking gun. Charlie’s aim was slightly off, hitting the man in the side of his neck instead of his chest. The man dropped his gun and grabbed his throat. Blood spurted from between his hands as he dropped to his knees.
