Confessions of a Gunfighter

by Tell Cotten

  “How long have I been here?” I asked.

  “Little over two weeks,” Yancy said. “You were soaked to the bone when we found you and your horse, and you had fever in your shoulder. You’ve been unconscious this whole time.”

  “I believe it,” I said as I rubbed my shoulder gingerly.

  It fell silent, and I finally just couldn’t help myself.

  “So, what happened to the herd?” I asked anxiously.

  Yancy hesitated, but then he shrugged and told me.

  “We were camped ’bout three miles behind the herd when Lee found us and told me the message about Kinrich. He also told me that you were wanting to turn yourself in, and then he told me a lot more. Then, later on, Ross had a talk with me too.”

  “Oh?” I asked.

  “Most of what they said were the same things that you just told us,” Yancy said. “But, we also wanted to hear it from you, to see if your stories lined up.”

  I nodded.

  “So, what happened after Lee found you?” I wanted to know.

  “Well, soon as we had our little talk, we caught back up to herd and discovered that you had gone missing. I figured you were in with Kinrich. But Ross and Lee strongly disagreed, and it was while we were arguing ’bout it that Kinrich and his men hit the herd. Now, they scattered the herd just like they had planned to. But Kinrich didn’t figure on us being there, and we really took it to ’em. We got ’em all, ’cept for one.”

  Yancy paused, and I couldn’t help but ask, “Who got away?”

  “Kinrich,” Yancy said, and he shook his head in disgust. “We had him, but somehow he slipped through our fingers.”

  “What happened to the herd?” I wanted to know.

  “The next day Lee and Ross took the men out and made a big gather. They got a rough count, and Ross figured that they lost around five hundred head. And that ain’t bad, considering how scattered them cows got.”

  “What happened after that?” I asked.

  “Well, after we got the herd thrown back together a rain came in, and it rained non-stop for two days. Lee and Ross were worried about you, and they took off in the rain looking for you. Cooper and I went along, and we found you a day later. We dug the slug outta you, and at a nearby ranch I borrowed a wagon and brought you back here while Lee and Ross took the herd on to Abilene. I figure they should be getting there in a couple of weeks.”

  “And where exactly are we?” I asked.

  “Midway, Texas,” Yancy told me.

  I was silent as I thought things over. A lot had happened while I had been out of commission, and I couldn’t help but feel that I had let everybody down.

  “What’s going to happen to me now?” I asked.

  “That’s a mighty interesting question,” Yancy said, and he looked at Judge Parker. “What do you think, Judge?”

  Judge Parker frowned as he thought things over.

  “I believe him,” he finally said. “Let’s proceed with the plan.”

  Yancy nodded and turned back to me.

  “Plan?” I asked.

  Yancy shuffled his feet.

  “It’s like this,” he said. “I’ve been after you and Kinrich for a long time now. But, now that I know what really happened, most of the blame falls on Kinrich.”

  I nodded.

  “However, we still have enough to send you away for a really long time,” Yancy said. “But, we want Kinrich worse. So, Judge Parker is willing to give you a full pardon if would do only one thing.”

  “And what’s that?” I asked.

  “I want you to take us to Kinrich’s valley and help us bring him in,” Yancy said. “If you do that, you’ll receive a full pardon.”

  I knew right away that I was going to do it, pardon or not. This was the chance I had been waiting for to make good on that promise I had made! If Kinrich wasn’t stopped he would just go on killing more innocent folks, and I was the only feller that could stop him.

  “I’ll do it,” I told Yancy. “When do we leave?”

  “Soon as you can ride,” Yancy replied.

  “Sounds good,” I said.

  Yancy nodded, and then they stood to leave.

  “You rest easy now,” Yancy said.

  “I ain’t going nowhere,” I smiled faintly, and then they left.

  So that’s how it was. I got myself all healed up, and three weeks later I was back on my feet and moving around.

  I was stiff and sore all over. But my gun hand was fine, and I was anxious to get started.

  Chapter seventy-five

  We left early one morning. I rode Desperate, and it was a good feeling to be back in the saddle.

  I got to spend a lot of time with Yancy and Cooper during my stay at Midway. Like the Tomlins, they were good, honest folks, and it gave me a good feeling to be around them.

  I also got to meet J.T. Tussle.

  I told him who I was, and J.T. Tussle fondly remembered my Pa. He said that Pa had been a good man, and he wished that Pa could have worked for him.

  Hearing that made me feel good, but it also made me a little sad. It would have been a fine life, working for J.T. Tussle.

  I had now been cleared of killing that lawman, and I felt like a huge burden had been lifted from my shoulders. I also didn’t feel like a bad person anymore.

  Now, I knew I had still killed some folks. But, all those fellers had been in the wrong, and I had been in the right. And that, at least to me, made a big difference.

  We traveled for a week, and that final night we made camp about a half mile from the entrance of Kinrich’s valley. I had already explained about the back trail; the plan was for Cooper to watch the back trail while me and Yancy went in the front.

  “I’ve got a favor to ask,” I asked them as we sat round the campfire.

  Yancy looked up.

  “Oh?” He asked.

  “I’d like to go in alone tomorrow,” I announced.

  Yancy shook his head.

  “No,” he answered firmly. “I’ve got a part in this too. Chino was my friend, remember?”

  I nodded.

  “I know, but I’d still like to do this alone. You see, a long time ago I made myself a promise, and I figure this is my one chance to square things.”

  “I made myself a promise a long time ago too,” Yancy said. “I aim to get the man that killed Chino.”

  I frowned thoughtfully.

  “What are you after: revenge, or justice?” I asked.

  Yancy scowled.

  “What does it matter?”

  “I’m after redemption,” I said.

  “You’ve already done your part,” Yancy said. “If it wasn’t for you, I would have never found Kinrich’s valley. I reckon you’ve redeemed yourself.”

  I could tell that Yancy wasn’t going to change his mind, so I gave up. Soon afterwards we turned in, and daylight found us saddled and ready to ride.

  Before we left, I rummaged through my saddlebags and pulled out my ivory handled Colt. I handled it some, and then I slid it in my holster.

  Yancy was watching me.

  “You ready?” He asked.

  I nodded as I stepped up onto Desperate.

  “I am now,” I said.

  We made a big circle, and I showed Cooper where the back trail was. He found a good hiding spot where he could keep watch, and then me and Yancy rode back around to the front of the valley.

  We pulled up in front of the entrance. Like I always did, I checked my ivory handled six-shooter and made sure that it was loaded and ready.

  Yancy did the same, and then he rode forward and examined the entrance of the rock passage. I stayed back.

  “You were right, Rondo,” Yancy said. “It is well-hidden and hard to find.”

  Yancy turned in the saddle and looked back at me, and his eyes widened in surprise.

  “What are you doing!” He exclaimed.

  I had drawn my six-shooter, and it was pointed straight at Yancy.

  “I’m going in alone,�
�� I declared.

  Yancy narrowed his eyes, but I didn’t waver.

  It was silent as Yancy eyed me, and then Yancy sighed. He laid his reins across his horse’s neck, stuck his hands deep inside his vest’s pockets, hunched his shoulders, and looked sourly at me.

  “There’s two ways we can do this,” I said. “The choice is yours.”

  Yancy frowned.

  “You’re dead set on doing this alone?” He asked.

  “I am.”

  Yancy’s frown deepened.

  “I know you’re bluffing,” he said. “One; you wouldn’t shoot me. And two; Kinrich would hear the shot.”

  I didn’t reply.

  Yancy scowled, and then he reluctantly agreed.

  “All right, I’ll let you go on in. But I’m only giving you five minutes. After that I’m coming in after you.”

  I nodded, relieved.

  “I figure that’s all the time I’ll need,” I said, and then I holstered my pistol.

  “Think you’re good enough?” Yancy asked.

  “Don’t know,” I replied.

  Yancy nodded, and then he studied me.

  “You starting to feel it?”

  “The feeling?” I asked.

  Yancy nodded, and I nodded back.

  “You can’t swallow, you can’t breathe, and your heart’s pounding. You’re sweaty, cold and hot at the same time,” I said.

  “Yep, that’s it,” Yancy agreed, and then he smiled. “Reckon you’ll be all right then.”

  I nodded.

  “One other thing,” Yancy said, and his voice was grave. “Don’t you ever pull a gun on me again.”

  Yancy and I looked at each other, and I answered softly, “Sure, Yancy.”

  After that I kicked up Desperate and rode through the rock passage. I came out on the other side, and then I studied the valley carefully, just like Glen Harris had done.

  The valley hadn’t changed much. It was still green and majestic, and Kinrich’s shack and pole corrals were still standing in the back.

  I glanced at the shack, and that’s when I spotted Kinrich.

  I got an eerie feeling, because he was sitting in the same spot that he had been sitting at when Harris had ridden in.

  But this time, I could tell that he wasn’t cleaning his guns.

  Chapter seventy-six

  Kinrich spotted me, but he did nothing as I rode down into the valley.

  I pulled up Desperate when I was about halfway to the cabin. I dismounted and walked towards Kinrich.

  I stopped when I was about thirty feet away, and it was almost the exact spot where Harris had been. My eyes shot over to the pole corals, but I didn’t see anybody.

  Kinrich had a wild, insane look on his face, and I knew that the man before me was nothing more than a coiled rattlesnake, ready to strike at any moment.

  Kinrich stood, and his hand hovered over his gun, as did mine.

  “I knew you were going to come,” Kinrich said.

  “That’s right, Kinrich,” I said. “I’ve come for you. Now drop your gun and come along real quiet like.”

  Kinrich chuckled a low, mean laugh.

  “You trying to bluff me, Button?”

  I shook my head.

  “No, Kinrich. I’m here to take you in, one way or the other.”

  “Well I ain’t dropping my gun, so that means it’ll have to be the other way,” Kinrich said, and his voice had a hint of sarcasm to it.

  “I know,” I replied.

  “First day I ever laid eyes on you, I knew it was going to come to this one day,” Kinrich said.

  I didn’t reply. Instead, I waited on him to make the first move.

  Suddenly, something flickered in Kinrich’s eyes, and we both grabbed for our guns.

  I made the quickest and smoothest draw that I had ever made. My ivory handled six-shooter was out and firing, but so was Kinrich’s.

  Our guns fired simultaneously, and together they made one thundering boom. I felt a wicked blow hit me somewheres down below, but I also saw Kinrich’s body jerk as he too took lead.

  The impact knocked me backwards, but I managed to stay on my feet. I braced myself and fired two more shots. My aim was true, and Kinrich’s body jolted under the impact.

  Kinrich was firing back, but his bullets went harmlessly into the ground.

  Kinrich was still on his feet. However, he started staggering as he tried to bring his six-shooter up again for another shot.

  I held my fire as I just stood there and watched him.

  I heard a distant shout from behind me, but I didn’t dare take my eyes off Kinrich.

  Kinrich was grinning wildly at me. Blood foamed out his lips and ran down his face. He tried to say something, but the blood was choking him up on the inside.

  Suddenly, Kinrich’s knees buckled, and he fell face down into the dust. I watched him warily, but he didn’t move anymore.

  Satisfied, I slowly holstered my six-shooter. Kinrich was dead, and it was all over with now.

  I tried to move, but strangely I couldn’t. I looked down and saw blood running down my side.

  Suddenly, I felt weak. I felt myself falling, and before I could regain my balance I hit the ground hard. Everything started spinning out of control, and all I could do was just lie there.

  Before I knew it, Yancy was there. He looked me over, and then he held me up.

  “It’s all right, Rondo,” he said. “It doesn’t look like the bullet hit any of your main vitals. I think after we dig that slug out you’re going to be just fine.”

  I tried to reply, but couldn’t. So I nodded, and then I passed out.

  ***

  When I woke up it was nighttime, and I was wrapped in some blankets. I looked around and spotted Yancy and Cooper sitting beside a campfire, drinking coffee.

  Cooper spotted me and grinned.

  “Well! It looks like you’re going to pull out of it!” He said.

  I could only think of one thing.

  “I’ve gotta get going,” I managed to say.

  “Is that so?” Yancy smiled. “Where do you have to go?”

  “Home,” I replied.

  “Oh? And what do you plan on doing when you get there?” Yancy wanted to know.

  Suddenly, I smiled.

  “Well, I reckon I’ll be going to church a lot.”

  Chapter seventy-seven

  Because I was wounded we had to ride slow, and it took us two weeks to get back to Midway.

  I was bedridden for a week, but after that I was able to move around some. I was still real sore and stiff, but I discovered that the more I moved the more limber I got.

  I stayed with Yancy and Cooper.

  They had a small house on the edge of town, and my daily routine was to sit out on the front porch and drink coffee while I watched the activity on the street. It quickly became boring, but there was just nothing else to do.

  However, I was healing fast, and soon I would be able to head home.

  I was rocking in a rocking chair on the porch one day while drinking coffee and watching things as usual. There was a cool breeze, so I covered my legs with a blanket.

  It was mid-afternoon, and Yancy and Cooper were off tending to their business.

  I watched a freight wagon roll by, and then I noticed a rider that was coming into town.

  There was something familiar about the rider, and I squinted as I looked at him.

  I suddenly recognized him. It was Lee Mattingly!

  Lee was walking his horse down the street, and when he spotted me he smiled and rode over. He pulled up his horse in front of the porch.

  It was silent as Lee looked me over.

  “Rondo,” he finally said.

  “Lee,” I replied with a curt nod.

  Lee chuckled.

  “You, uh, look comfortable,” he said.

  “I am,” I replied, and asked, “What are you doing here?”

  “We got the herd to Abilene, so I thought I’d ride over and see
if you got hung or not,” Lee explained.

  “That was thoughtful,” I said. “Where’s Ross?”

  “He’s probably back at the Tomlins by now. He seemed to be in a real big hurry to get back down there,” Lee replied.

  I couldn’t hide the worried look on my face, and Lee chuckled.

  I frowned, but didn’t say anything.

  “Coffee looks good,” Lee hinted.

  “Climb on down and help yourself,” I offered.

  “Thanks,” Lee replied.

  Lee dismounted, tied his horse to the hitching rail, and walked up and sat down beside me. I had an extra cup, so he poured himself some coffee.

  “Here, pour some of this in it,” I handed him a cup with some sugar in it. “Yancy says it’s the new way to drink coffee these days. Makes it taste sweet.”

  “Oh?” Lee said, and then he poured some in.

  He stirred it with his finger and tasted it.

  “Not bad,” he commented.

  After that we just sat there without talking, but there was nothing uncomfortable in the silence.

  That’s just the way it was with me and Lee now. We both had things to say, but we were in no hurry to say them.

  We both drank two cups of coffee, and then Lee glanced sideways at me.

  “I see you got shot again,” he nodded at my side.

  “I did,” I confirmed.

  “Dangerous habit,” Lee said, and asked, “Who shot you this time?”

  “Kinrich,” I replied.

  “Kinrich!” Lee said, surprised. “Again?”

  I nodded, and then I told Lee all that had happened. I also told him about the pardon.

  Lee was impressed.

  “So you killed Ben Kinrich,” Lee drawled.

  “I did,” I admitted.

  “Wish I could of seen that,” Lee said, almost wistfully.

  It was silent, and then Lee smiled.

  “So, this means you ain’t the most wanted feller in Texas no more.”

  “That’s right,” I agreed.

  Lee’s smile widened.

  “And that means you can now go back to Empty-lake.”

  “If I want to,” I nodded.

  “What do you mean; ‘if I want to’?” Lee asked. “Don’t you want to go back?”

  I didn’t want to look too eager, so I just shrugged.