Showdown in Badlands

by Shorty Gunn

  The cool autumn sun cleared timber tops, lighting the trail starting steeply downhill. By late morning, Dickson could see the distant rooftops of buildings and houses beyond trees as they rode closer to Peralta. One final turn and they exited pines coming out on the dirt street at the far end of town. Dickson was about to make his promise to bring the Goss brothers back to justice a reality. Even before he reached the first buildings, people on the street began noticing the string of horses, pointing them out as others did too and the first knot of onlookers started up the street to meet the deathly caravan.

  ‘Hey, that’s Ike Goss!’ someone shouted.

  ‘Yeah, that’s him all right. He looks all tied up like a Christmas turkey!’ another commented, drawing tense laughter as men converged on the riders.

  ‘Where’d you finally run him down, Marshal?’ A voice came out of the milling throng of people.

  ‘Is that all his brothers roped on in back?’ A youngster ran up wide-eyed at all the excitement, staring up at Dickson.

  Through all the shouted questions and comments, Dickson rode stoically forward without answering a single one. He’d waited a long time for this day and he wanted to end it in front of the mine men’s office who hired him. Farther down the street more people spilled out of stores and businesses, building the crowd to larger proportions. When Dickson reined to a stop in front of the mining office, the street was filled boardwalk to boardwalk with excited, shouting men and a few women pointing and gesturing.

  Rolo, sitting at his desk, heard the wild commotion outside. Getting to his feet he went to the window. One look at the wild scene and he shouted to his partner, ‘Edward quick, let’s get outside. Ben Dickson is back and you’ll never believe who he has with him!’

  Pushing through the door, Rolo’s face lit up in a broad smile. ‘Ben, for God’s sake we’re glad to see you. I began to think something bad might have happened to you and maybe you weren’t coming back, as much as I hate to admit it.’

  Before Dickson could answer, Rolo’s eyes fell on dirty, heavily bearded, bone thin Ike. He hardly recognized him.

  ‘Here’s the Goss brothers I promised you.’ Dickson’s voice broke his concentration, easing down. ‘The two in back can’t stand trial. They already tried killing me and lost. Elwood’s dead too. The wolves took care of him so there was nothing to bring back. After you get someone to take care of these bodies and lock Ike up, I’ll need a doctor. So will Goss, but only to keep him alive long enough until you can hang him.’

  ‘Some of you men get Ike down and over to our wagon yard just outside of town,’ Rolo ordered. ‘We can lock him up in the powder house after I have my men clear it of caps and dynamite. How’s that sound, Ben?’

  ‘It’ll do until you can build a gallows. And do it right here on Main Street so everyone can see him swing. He’s earned a big crowd watching him go.’

  ‘Shouldn’t we at least have some kind of trial first?’ Chambers interrupted. Several people in the crowd began echoing the same sentiment.

  ‘Yeah, let’s do it legal like,’ a well-dressed man in a top hat shouted out. ‘After all, Peralta is populated by decent, God-fearing citizens – aren’t we? We’re not a bunch of blood thirsty savages!’

  Immediately conflicting opinions broke out as arguments for and against hanging Ike took sides. Shouting matches escalated into near fights as the mob began shoving and threatening each other before Rolo, on the boardwalk, raised his hands, shouting at the top of his lungs to stop the growing conflict.

  ‘Listen to me, all of you. This man has just come back from nearly two months trailing the Goss brothers. I say we should let him decide how to handle this. After all, he faced them with guns blazing, didn’t he? That gives him the right to have his say first. Be quiet and let’s hear what Ben thinks.’

  Dickson mounted the boardwalk tired, dirty and in pain. The bickering and infighting fired his short-fused temper. His eyes ran over the throng of men and women with disgust. What did these town people know or understand of cold, sleepless nights on the trail with little food, facing ambush and a bullet in the belly every minute, day and night? He took in a slow, painful breath, trying to contain his anger and not cuss the whole bunch of them out.

  ‘Quiet!’ someone shouted up front. ‘All right, mister. What about it?’

  ‘Every one of you here knows I’m a United States Deputy Marshal.’ He paused long enough to let those words sink in. ‘You also ought to know by now that I do what I say I’m going to do. I said I’d bring the Goss brothers back here to pay for what they did and here they are. There’s no question that they killed John Standard, and robbed the freight wagon. I don’t care which one of them pulled the trigger, they were all involved in it. Ike is the only one left alive, so he should pay for that murder. You don’t have a court here in Peralta yet, and you don’t even have a jail. If you have to wait for a line judge to show up that could takes weeks and even months. That could also mean lawyers get involved too. With those lily-fingered liars to defend him, Goss might only get a prison sentence instead of the hanging he deserves. You want to go through all that?’

  The crowd erupted again in chaos; everyone began shouting and arguing until Dickson pulled his Colt, firing a single shot up into the air to stop them. As they quieted down, he continued. ‘You want my opinion, here it is. I say hang Ike Goss, right here on Main Street next Sunday after church. It’ll be a lesson no one will ever forget, and when the word gets around to other towns they’ll know Peralta is no place to commit robbery and murder like these brothers did!’

  This time no one could stop the raucous outbursts. Dickson let them go. He’d planted the seed he wanted, and it looked and sounded like it took root. He turned to Rolo and Chambers. ‘I’m heading over to the doctor’s office. I’ve got a chest wound that’s giving me a lot of pain. Maybe he can do something for it. You two see to it Ike stays locked up until Sunday, and keep guards on him day and night. Then we’ll conclude business about my fee and the time involved before I leave. Get these people going on a gallows too. The sooner they start the better.’

  ‘Wait a minute, Ben.’ Rolo put a hand on his shoulder. ‘Even if they get it up and ready, we don’t have anyone around here who wants to be a hangman. We’ve never done anything like that before.’

  Dickson’s cold stare bore into Mackenzie for several uncomfortable moments before he spoke. ‘Don’t worry about it. I’ll hang him for you. And I won’t even charge you extra for it.’

  As the crowd thinned out, one old man in back still stood watching the tall man talking to Rolo and Chambers. White haired, half bent with age, Dell Berry was a long-time friend of the Goss family. He felt the same way about the sudden rise of the mine men buying up property all over the country running people off their land with the lure of money. Turning, he started up the alley to his mule, Jenny, tethered in back. He had urgent news for Vernal Goss. He meant to tell him about it as quick as Jenny could get him there. He knew Vernal wasn’t going to let his son hang without trying to stop it, no matter who he had to kill to do it.

  Hattie Goss was at the side of the house, feebly swinging an axe for firewood, when she saw Dell riding up the slope toward the ranch. She stopped, straightening up, glad to have some company and relief from Vernal’s endless complaining. ‘Dell,’ she greeted with a tired smile, as Berry eased down off his mule. ‘It’s been a while since we’ve seen you. I’m sure glad you rode all the way out here. I know Vernal will be glad to see you too.’

  ‘I don’t bring good news. Hattie. I’d best tell it to Vernal first. Then he can tell you on his own. I’m sorry.’

  Her tired eyes bore into him as her voice sunk to a whisper. ‘Is it about my boys, Dell? If you know something please tell me. Don’t be afraid. I’ve been waiting a long time wondering where they are and if they’re all coming back home.’

  Berry put both hands on her shoulders, looking down on the frail woman. ‘All I’d say right now is it’s about one of them. Don’t ask
me no more about it. It might be best you stay out here while I talk to Vernal. Where is he, Hattie?’

  Vernal sat in the living room next to a sputtering fireplace, waiting for Hattie to bring in more wood. His usual blanket lay across useless legs trying to warm him. He heard footsteps coming up the stairs outside. Twisting in the chair, he saw his old friend come through the door.

  ‘Dell Berry! It’s about time you came out to see an old cripple like me. Sit yourself down and let’s talk a while.’

  Berry walked across the room shaking hands before pulling up a chair and sitting face to face with Goss. He hesitated, trying to put the words right as both men stared at each other until Vernal finally spoke up.

  ‘What is it? What’s happened in town? I can tell by the look on your face it’s some kind of trouble. Whatever it is, I need to know it.’

  Berry straightened up, trying to avoid Vernal’s searching stare. ‘All right, here it is. That marshal named Dickson rode into town this morning. He had Ike with him hog tied on his horse, and the bodies of Virgil and Emmett, roped over their saddles. Dickson says he killed Elwood someplace up in the mountains. He’s gonna hang Ike come Sunday morning after church right out on Main Street. I’m sorry to be the one who has to tell you all this, but I thought it best you hear it from a friend instead of strangers.’

  Vernal’s jaw dropped and his mouth trembled before uncontrollable shakes began wracking his entire body. He gripped the arms of the chair hard with both hands trying to stop it but couldn’t. Dell leaned forward resting his hands over the old man’s, trying to help until the tremors finally passed, and Vernal got his breath back. His lined face twisted red in rage, and his voice came out a sinister whisper.

  ‘I . . . I . . . shoulda shotgunned him when I had the chance. It ain’t too late yet, either. I’ll kill him one way or the other, for what he’s done to me and my family!’

  Berry blinked hard, almost too scared to speak up. He took the risk anyway. He didn’t want to see his old friend hurt any further – or worse, even killed himself.

  ‘Vernal, we’ve been friends a long time. I can’t imagine the pain you’re going through right now, but there’s no way you can kill Dickson. I mean . . . you can’t even get up out of that chair, much less into town. I know you want to avenge your boys, and I don’t blame you one bit. There’s no way that can happen. Don’t torture yourself thinking about it. God takes care of men like Dickson. In due time, he will. You’ll see.’

  ‘I ain’t waitin’ for no fool God to do a damn thing. I said I’ll kill him and I will. You better head on out of here, Dell. I’ve got to tell Hattie about her boys, and I don’t want any company when I do.’

  Berry got to his feet, looking down on his twisted old friend. He started to try to reason with him again, but stopped. Nothing he could say or do would help now. Dell was back outside on Jenny starting down the hill when he heard Hattie’s anguished scream echoing down through timber. He didn’t stop or look back.

  That afternoon Doctor Orlay Mendelssohn adjusted his spectacles before carefully placing his slender white hands on Ben Dickson’s chest wound, probing it slightly. When finished he looked up. ‘Well, Mr Dickson, you’re going to have considerable scar tissue because this couldn’t be stitched up at the time of the wound, and it’s too late now to try that. However, it seems to have healed up surprisingly well on its own. Did you use something on it? I see a slight residue of what looks like white powder?’

  ‘I carry some medicine powders Indians gave me down in Arizona, a long time ago. They crush it from some kind of plants, using it on their own people. I’ve used it before, but not on something this bad. Out where I was I had no other choice. Have you taken a look at Ike Goss yet?’

  ‘Yes, earlier this morning. He’s dying, you know. Gangrene will take him quickly now. I’m actually surprised he’s lasted this long. Most men would have died weeks ago.’

  Dickson twisted on the examination table, peering through a curtained window barely able to see the gallows being built at the far end of town. ‘They better hurry up with that scaffold. I want Ike to pay up in this world, not where he’s going.’

  Mendelssohn raised his eyebrows, taking a step back and studying his patient thoughtfully. ‘You sound like a hard man, Mr Dickson. You have no pity for anyone?’

  ‘They’ll be none for me when my time comes. I don’t waste sympathy on anyone else, either.’

  The doctor shrugged, letting the subject drop. ‘At any rate I think it’s best you rest up and don’t do anything strenuous. You don’t want this wound to start bleeding again. That could cause trouble. I would also suggest you do no riding for at least another week or a bit longer. That could open the wound up again. I’d like to take a look at it in another three or four days.’

  ‘I plan to be here at least until Sunday. After that I’ll be gone. I’ve got some business to take care of tomorrow. Then I’m done in Peralta.’

  Most Saturdays, the mine office was generally closed unless extra paperwork had to be dealt with. This Saturday was one of those exceptions, but not for paperwork. Rolo unlocked the door early that morning to allow Ben Dickson in. It was pay day for the extraordinary manhunter and one he’d waited for a long time. He already had the figures in his head. He didn’t need a pencil and paper to total them up.

  ‘Morning, Ben.’ Chambers came across the room and shook hands. ‘How’s that chest wound coming along? Better, I hope.’

  ‘The doctor says another week and I’ll be good as new, but I won’t be here. You two ready to lighten that cash in your safe?’

  ‘We are,’ Rolo answered, also shaking hands. ‘What exactly do we owe you for all you’ve done? Edward and I have a figure, but we want yours to see if we’re correct.’

  ‘I’m sure you remember the original fee we agreed upon was four hundred dollars per man whether I bring them in dead or alive?’

  ‘We do,’ Mackenzie nodded.

  ‘You’ll have to take my word for it that I took care of Elwood. The wolves got to his body before I could bring him back. That makes three, him, Virgil and Emmett dead. Ike will be tomorrow when I hang him. I’m doing that one for free, something I rarely do. I get paid for men I take down, but Ike is a special case. I personally want to see him die for all the trouble I had to go through tracking them all the way into the badlands for nearly two months plus this wound. I’ll count that as a personal pleasure. Four hundred times four comes to sixteen hundred dollars. Is there any disagreement with that number from either one of you?’

  ‘None whatsoever,’ Rolo agreed. ‘We’ve got your money right here in the safe. Do you want bills or silver and gold?’

  ‘I only take coin. I don’t trust paper. It burns, tears and flies away in the wind. I like the heft and jingle of real cash.’

  ‘Good enough.’ Edward went to the safe, twisting the dial until the heavy steel door swung open. Reaching inside he withdrew two steel trays lined with glittering coins and three large leather pouches. Back at the counter, he carefully counted out the money. ‘Do you want to count it before I sack it up, Ben?’

  ‘I’m counting with you. I can see what’s going in.’

  As Chambers tied off the top of each pouch, he looked up at Dickson. He had a question that had been haunting him since the lawman first rode back into town with Ike towing his dead brothers. ‘Do you mind if I ask you something?’

  ‘Likely not, you’re paying for it.’

  ‘Would you tell us exactly how you managed to finish off all three brothers and still stay alive yourself? It’s hard for us to even imagine something like that.’

  ‘There really isn’t much to tell. Men on the run are always at a disadvantage. They’re always looking back wondering if someone like me is gaining on them or going to show up in the middle of the night. They lose sleep at night making poor decisions that grow worse every day. The Goss brothers were no different. Because Ike was the leader and meanest of the three, he’s the one I think killed John Standar
d. He lasted the longest because he’s like his father, Vernal, but not long enough to outsmart me. He’s getting no older than tomorrow. I’m going back to Birdie’s now to begin packing up. It’s been profitable doing business with you two even if it did take longer than I originally thought. I’ll see you tomorrow at the rope party.’

  The tall man exited the office, closing the door behind him as Rolo and Edward stood looking at each other until Mackenzie went to the window watching Dickson secure the pouches in his saddle-bags before saddling up and riding down the street, out of sight. He turned back to his partner, shaking his head in amazement.

  ‘It’s still hard for me to imagine a man like that with a soul cold as ice. When it comes to life and death, it’s all nothing more than a business deal. He even looks forward to hanging Ike. I’ve never heard of anyone like that. In a way, I hope I never do again. It’s scary. There is just something about his attitude that frightens me even though we’ve called him friend for this short time. I know I’d hate to call him our enemy, that’s for sure. He thinks nothing of taking anyone’s life for the right price.’

  Edward cast a long, silent stare at his partner before responding. ‘You do remember it was you and me that hired him, don’t you? We wanted a man to find John’s killer, and agreed to pay for it. Does that make us any better than he is? I don’t think so. Some might call what we did paying Dickson blood money. Our hands aren’t clean in all this because we didn’t pull the trigger. We’re as much part of it as he is. That’s the way I see it. Now that it’s over I guess I’m having some second thoughts myself. I’ll be glad when tomorrow is over. I can’t say I’m looking forward to watching Ike hang or anyone else either. I want it over and done with. Maybe then we and this town can get back to normal. Whatever that is.’

  Rolo nodded, slowly letting his partner’s words sink in. ‘So will I, Edward. This whole thing has gotten a lot more brutal than I ever thought we’d be part of.’