“Toss the weapon aside,” Duff ordered.
Dooley did. “Don’t shoot.”
“Who’s in the cabin?”
“There ain’t nobody in there,” Dooley replied.
“Elmer, look inside and make certain the girl’s not there.”
“No need to look. She ain’t there,” Dooley said.
Duff called out, “If anyone is in there, let out a yell. We’ll kill all three.”
“There ain’t nobody there, I’m a-tellin’ you. Peabody, him and some of the others took the girl soon as we heard you was comin’.”
Elmer stepped in through the door, was gone for a moment, then came back out. “He’s right. She ain’t there.”
“Where is she?” Duff asked.
“I don’t know where they took her.”
“Kelly, hurry back and get Wang, would you?” Duff ordered.
Kelly nodded, then started back down the trail.
“How did you know we were coming here?” Duff asked Dooley.
“Someone told Peabody.”
“Who told him?”
“I don’t know who it was that told ’im. All I know is, someone told ’im that you was told where the girl was, ’n that you’d more ’n likely be a-comin’ for her. So Peabody left us here to take care of you, ’n he ’n a couple others took the girl somewhere else.”
Kelly and Wang came then, leading three horses each.
“Did you get visitors back there, Wang?” Duff asked.
“Shi.”
“Where are they now?”
“Dead.”
Even though he’d fought and been bested by Wang once, Decker couldn’t believe it. “They was two of ’em. You ain’t tellin’ me that the Chinaman kilt both of ’em, are you? I mean, I didn’t even hear no shootin’.”
“I told you Wang doesn’t use guns,” Duff said.
“Wait a minute,” Dooley said. “Are you a-tellin’ me that this here Chinaman took out both Morris ’n Peters without usin’ no gun?”
“I know it wasn’t a fair fight, just two of them against Wang,” Duff said. “but don’t blame yourself. How could you know that Wang can defeat any five men?”
“What are we goin’ to do with these three?” Simmons asked.
“I suggest that we take them into Merrill Town,” Duff replied. “The folks in and around Merrill Town are most likely to be the ones that’s suffering the most from men like these. It might do them good to see them put in jail.”
“Once we get ’em there, they’ll more ’n likely hang, don’t you think?” Elmer asked.
Rand and Beans both put hands to their necks and pulled on the collar.
“It could be. What happens to them will be up to Sheriff Wallace,” Duff said.
Neither Duff nor Elmer noticed the smug look that passed between their three prisoners.
The Double D Ranch
“What do you mean you are now charging ten dollars a head?” Kendrick asked. “We have agreed upon five dollars.”
“I never planned on you kidnapping the governor’s daughter. That has made my position much more precarious,” Dobbins replied.
“You knew the risks when we entered into this arrangement,” Kendrick said.
“You have greatly increased the risks, and I think it’s worth more money now.”
“All right,” Kendrick said. “But this time I want an agreement signed between the two of us. I don’t want you coming back to me later and asking for even more money.”
“I would be foolish to sign such an agreement. Why, you could show that to someone and it would be evidence that I was a party to this.”
“Yes, it would. But if you expect any more money from me, you are going to have to sign the agreement.”
“All right. What do you want the agreement to say?”
“Get the pen and paper. I’ll dictate it.”
A moment later, Dobbins sat at the desk in his office, pen poised, ready to write.
“By these presents, I hereby agree to the terms between myself and Dirk Kendrick,” Kendrick dictated.
Dobbins made the entry. “What next?”
“Sign it.”
“Sign what? This doesn’t say what the terms are.”
“You said yourself that if you wrote out the terms this document could be used as evidence,” Kendrick said. “This is only between the two of us. Nobody else will ever see it. I just want to make certain that you don’t raise the price of doing business again.”
“Yeah, all right,” Dobbins said as he signed the paper.
“Date it,” Kendrick ordered.
Dobbins added the date.
“There now . . . what the hell?” The expression on Dobbins’s face went from confusion to shock. He didn’t have time to register panic before Kendrick shot him.
Then, with Dobbins’s body lying dead on the floor, Kendrick completed the agreement.
I, by use of this document, transfer all land, buildings, equipment, and livestock constituting the Double D Ranch.
Chapter Twenty-five
Merrill Town
When Duff and the others rode into town that afternoon, their entrance aroused the interest of all the citizens of the community. Dooley, Beans, and Rand had their hands tied behind their backs, riding on horses that were being led.
“What you got them men tied up for?” someone shouted.
“Where are you a-goin’ with ’em?” another called out.
“We’re a-takin’ ’em to jail,” Decker called back. “Where do you think we’re takin’ ’em?”
By the time the nine riders reached the jailhouse, they were part of a regular parade. The citizens of the town, drawn by curiosity, hurried down the street, along each side, as well as behind the procession.
One of the citizens had hurried ahead to notify the sheriff of the approaching caravan, and he and Deputy Bullock were waiting outside the office.
“What is this?” asked Sheriff Wallace.
“Sheriff, ’tis three prisoners I have for you,” Duff said.
“What do you mean, you have three prisoners for me? By what authority do you claim such a right?”
“We’re deputies to the governor,” Elmer said. “And our authority is in any county in the entire state, includin’ this here ’n. And we’ve brung you three no-accounts just like Duff said. ’N you’ll either take ’em or else we’ll take over your jail ’n throw ’em in there our ownselves.”
“What am I supposed to hold them for? What crime have they committed?” the sheriff asked.
“They kidnapped the governor’s daughter,” Duff said.
“Is that a fact?”
“Aye.”
“How come I haven’t heard anything about the governor’s daughter being taken?”
“’Tisn’t general knowledge yet.”
“D’ ya hear that?” one of the citizens said. “The governor’s daughter has been took.”
“Who took her?” another asked.
“Accordin’ to MacCallister it was these three sumbitches they just brung in.”
Word spread quickly through the rest of those who had hung around long enough to find out what was going on. Most of the onlookers had drifted away once the parade was finished, but a few stayed on so they could get the word and share it with the others.
“Did you get the girl?” Sheriff Wallace asked.
“Nae, she wasn’t there. These three say she was taken from the cabin before we got there.”
“Well now, that’s a shame, ain’t it?”
“Aye, ’tis at that, but I was thinkin’ that you might be able to find out if you ask a few questions. You’ll have the opportunity, seeing as we will be leaving these prisoners with you.”
Sheriff Wallace stared at the three men who were still bound and mounted. “I’ll do what I can. Deputy Bullock, get ’em down, ’n get ’em inside.”
“What you goin’ to do with ’em, Sheriff?” one of the citizens of the town asked.
“Fi
nd out if the girl’s still alive,” another said.
“She better be. If these men kilt that girl, they need to be strung up,” yet another said.
“Sheriff, you got to protect us!” Dooley said in a frightened tone of voice.
“Get on inside, Dooley,” the sheriff said. “There ain’t nobody goin’ to be hangin’ you.”
“Do you know these men?” Duff asked, surprised to hear the sheriff refer to Dooley by name.
“Yeah, I know ’em,” Sheriff Wallace replied. “They ain’t none of ’em ever give me no trouble before this.”
“Yes, I believe you said the same thing about Mr. Woodson and Mr. Jenkins right after they tried to kill me,” Duff said.
“Yeah, I did say that. Because neither one of ’em had ever give me trouble before. Could be, MacCallister, that you’re the kinda man that brings out the worst in folks. Have you ever thought on that?”
“Sheriff, do you know why an Englishman wears a monocle?” Duff replied.
“What? No, I don’t. Why would you ask me somethin’ like that?”
“Because it is apropos to this situation,” Duff replied. “An Englishman wears a monocle so he will only see half of what he can’t understand. It is clear to me that you understand nothing of what you see.”
“I don’t understand,” Sheriff Wallace said.
Duff chuckled. “My point precisely.”
* * *
Poke and Jug were among those who had seen Dooley, Beans, and Rand brought into town.
“They didn’t get the girl,” Poke said.
“You know what that means, don’t you? That means we won’t be a-gettin’ the rest of our money,” Jug said. “Wonder how come it is that they didn’t get her?”
“You heard what the Scotsman said. He said they moved her.”
“I wonder where at they took her?” Jug asked.
“I don’t know. But if we could find out, we could tell the governor ’n still get our money,” Poke said.
“I know how we can find out,” Jug suggested.
“How’s that?”
“All we got to do is go to Blowout ’n just keep our eyes and ears open.”
“I don’t know,” Poke said. “Kendrick spends more time there than he does out at the Blanco Cabin.”
“Yeah, well, that’s just what I’m a-talkin’ about. If he’s there, there’ll be others there, too, and someone’s goin’ to say somethin’ ’bout where the girl is. Then we can go back ’n see the governor ’n collect the rest of the money. Besides which, if we are there, Kendrick for sure ain’t goin’ to be suspectin’ us of bein’ the ones that told where the girl was. He’d never think we’d come there if we done such a thing.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. Only the rest of the money ain’t enough,” Poke said.
“What do you mean?”
“If we’re takin’ a risk like that, I think it ought to be worth at least a thousand dollars apiece, rather than just a hunnert,” Poke said.
A huge smile spread across Jug’s face. “Yeah. Hey, Poke, you ever been to Californy?”
“What? No. Why the hell did you ask that?”
“On account of, oncet I get the thousand dollars, that’s where I’m aimin’ to go,” Jug said.
Poke grinned. “Yeah. Yeah, that’s a good idea. What do you say we go to Blowout?”
* * *
After Duff and the others left the sheriff’s office, they rode on down the street to the CSS Alabama Saloon.
“Hey, Gleason,” Kelly said quietly. “What was MacCallister talkin’ about back there, what with seein’ half what you understand ’n all that? Does he always talk like that? I mean, sayin’ things that’s so highfalutin can’t nobody know what he’s talkin’ about?”
“Kelly, let me tell you somethin’ ’bout Duff MacCallister. I’ve been most all over the world, ’n I’ve seen more men than just about any ten people has ever seen. ’N I tell you straight out that Duff MacCallister is the smartest man I ever know’d,” Elmer replied. “Just pay attention to him ’n you might learn somethin’.”
“He sure is smart, all right,” Kelly said as the six of them reached the saloon and tied up at the hitch rack.
“MacCallister!” Prescott bellowed as the six men set foot inside the saloon. “Good to see you back.”
“Hello, Mr. Prescott. Would you be for setting all these fine gentlemen up with the beverage of their choice?”
“Sure, ’n I’ll be glad to do just that. And who might these men be?” Prescott replied.
“We are the Ten Guns from Texas,” Elmer said.
“I beg your pardon? Ten guns from Texas?”
“Five of us, two guns each. Five times two makes ten. ’N seein’ as we’re in Texas, that’s Ten Guns from Texas,” Elmer explained.
“But there are six of you.”
“Wang don’t count, on account of he don’t carry no gun,” Elmer explained further.
“The Chinaman . . . uh . . . that is, Mr. Wang,” Decker said, “he don’t need no gun. I seen him kill two men with only a-usin’ his hands. Well, I didn’t actual see it, but I seen ’im do it after he had already done it.”
“How could you see it, if you didn’t actually see it?” Prescott asked, having a hard time following the conversation. “And who is it Wang killed?”
“Decker’s right. Wang kilt two of them what snatched up the princess,” Simmons said.
“The princess?” Prescott asked, more confused than ever.
“The governor’s daughter has been taken,” Duff said. “They are holding her for ransom.”
“Oh, yes. I’ve heard about that,” Prescott said.
“It was the Fence Busters that took her,” Elmer said.
“Damn! How much are they askin’ for?”
“’Tisn’t money they’re asking for,” Duff said. “They want the governor to reverse the law that now makes it illegal to cut fences on public land.”
“The governor can’t do that, can he?” Prescott asked. “I mean all by himself. He had to have the legislature pass it in the first place, so won’t he have to have the legislature unpass it?”
“Aye, ’tis my understanding that he will have to get the legislature to repeal the law.”
“Well, don’t you think he can talk ’em into doin’ that?”
“I suppose he can, but the governor fears that if he does that, the Fence Busters will always be able to force him into things. I think ’tis a good decision he has made not to give in to them.”
“And you’re lookin’ for her?”
“Aye.”
“In that case, your first drinks are on the house,” Prescott said. “What’ll you have?”
As soon as Prescott served up the drinks, the Ten Guns from Texas took them over to a table.
“The girl wasn’t at the cabin, so what do we do now?” Elmer asked when they were seated.
“It might be wise to go out to the Slash Bell,” Duff said. “Bellefontaine has dealt with these people for a long time now. He might have an idea that would be useful.”
“Yeah,” Elmer said. “That’s a good idea.”
“Drink up, m’ lads. Our task remains undone, so we’ll take the next step in our mission to rescue the damsel in distress.” Duff held his glass up.
“To the Ten Guns from Texas,” Kelly said.
“Ten Guns from Texas,” Decker repeated, lifting his own glass.
“My word, Elmer, you’ve actually brought these blokes around,” Duff said with a little chuckle.
* * *
A few minutes later, Deputy Bullock watched from the alley across the street as the Ten Guns from Texas rode out of town. He looked after them for a long moment until he was reasonably sure he knew where they were going. Then he rode back to give his report.
“They’re gone,” Bullock said, stepping into the sheriff’s office a short while later.
“You sure?” Sheriff Wallace asked.
“Oh, I’m damn sure. I seen all six
of ’em ridin’ away. Looks like they was all a-headin’ out toward the Slash Bell.”
“Yeah, that’s where they would go all right, especially since Bellefontaine’s always stickin’ his nose in ever’one’s business.” Sheriff Wallace got up from his desk, took the ring of cell keys down from the wall, then walked into the back of the jailhouse and unlocked the cell door.
“All right, Dooley, Beans, Rand. MacCallister ’n the others are gone. Looks like they’re headed toward the Slash Bell, so don’t go that way.”
“Don’t worry ’bout that,” Beans said. “We’ve done run into that bunch once, ’n we don’t plan to do it again.”
“You tell Kendrick I let you fellas go,” Sheriff Wallace said. “But tell ’im he needs to look out for MacCallister and that bunch with him.”
“Ten Guns from Texas,” Bullock said.
“What?”
“That’s what they’re a-callin’ themselves, the men that’s with MacCallister. They’re callin’ themselves Ten Guns from Texas.”
“They’s ten of ’em? They was only six that come out to the cabin,” Beans said.
“That’s all they is now,” Bullock said without any further explanation.
“You tell Kendrick now,” Sheriff Wallace repeated. “You tell him that I let you men go.”
“We’ll tell ’im,” Dooley said as he, Rand, and Beans strapped on their guns.
Chapter Twenty-six
Blowout
No gilt-edged mirror hung behind the bar of the Pair of Kings Saloon, but there was a real bar and an ample supply of whiskey. There were also several large jars of pickled eggs and sausages on the bar, and towels tied to rings were placed every few feet on the customers’ side to provide the patrons with a means of wiping their hands.
The saloon had an upstairs section at the back. At the moment, Penny was taking a customer up the stairway with her.
Poke and Jug were standing at the bar, nursing a beer.
“You was right,” Poke said. “All we had to do to find the governor’s daughter was to come here. I mean she’s here, walkin’ aroun’ free as the breeze. Ever’one in town knows that.”
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