He got to his feet and started walking in a circle- not going anywhere- just in a circle to keep from freezing to death. He called out to his brother every so often and cussed at Ben and then at himself for being so stupid.
Cal had been born on the frontier in Tennessee and his pa had moved them to Missouri when Ben was just a baby to be closer to the Mississippi for supplies from the river barges. He had spent most of his life in the woods and on the river and he considered himself a right good woodsman. He had learned to fight on the river front with the hard core rafts-men that took supplies down the Ohio where they would off load some onto keel boats to be pulled up river to Saint Louis. Then the rafts would continue down the Mississippi to New Orleans. He had learned to drink and fight and become as mean as anyone on the river. His brothers looked up to him and tried to be like him. Bull had been the closest but he was dead now. Ben just didn’t have the brutal meanness inside of him that his older brothers had.
Cal was still shivering as it got light the next morning. The rain had stopped and he was in a daze and still walking in circle. When he could see good he shook his head until he was alert and walked up the wash to where he thought they had tried to camp but there was nothing there, no supplies, no horses and no Ben. He turned and started back toward the river but still couldn’t see anything of their belongings. He was almost to the river when he saw an arm sticking out of the brush. He reached for the arm and as he touched it, Ben jerked in response. Cal dragged his brother from the mud and got him propped up against a bush. Then he started looking for something to build a fire with. He still had his possibles bag around his neck and much to his relief, the fire starter kit was intact and dry. He looked under the brush and logs along the river and finally found the nest of a pack rack that was mostly protected from the weather and from that was able to get a fire going.
As the warmth of the fire started to sink in Ben came around. He was still shivering but within an hour he was moving his arms and legs. Cal was walking back and forth through the mud at the bottom end of the wash and found two blankets he rinsed off in the river then set them over the brush by the fire to dry. Up higher in the wash he found both their rifles and started the tedious process of cleaning them. They each had a full powder horn and more round balls than they had powder to shoot. But the small keg of powder, all their food, traps, and everything else they had was gone.
Ben pointed down the river a quarter mile and as Cal turned to look he could see the spotted horse he had been riding for the last two or three weeks. He started walking slowly toward him and talked softly as he got close. The horse watched him closely but didn’t shy away as he reached out and stroked the horse’s neck. He then took a big handful of the horse’s mane and jump up on him and from up there he could see the other two horses just around a bend in the river.
As Zach opened his eyes and listened to the world around him he was relieved the rain had stopped. He could see the sky was still gray-looking through the smoke hole of their lodge but it appeared to be breaking up. He heard the sounds of some ducks on the river and the croaky call of a Raven as it flew overhead. He hugged his wives tight, kissed them both and got up, dressed and stepped out into the early morning light.
Everything was wet, the ground muddy. The well-cured hides of their lodge were soaked. He untied the horses from their picket line so they could graze then walked out of this little stand of cottonwoods and looked at the sky to the west. He smiled at the blue he could see to the west then turned his gaze to the mountains to the south. The peaks were all still hidden in the clouds and he remembered the first time he had heard of the Rocky Mountains. It was from the two men that had come to Pottersville that had been with Lewis and Clark in the Corps of Discovery. He remembered how he and his pa had listened as the men told the listening homesteaders that the mountains were so high even the clouds had a hard time going over them. He smiled as he looked, but he also felt a deep sadness knowing how his pa would have loved to be standing there with him looking up at these clouds as they struggled to climb over these high Rocky Mountain peaks.
Jimbo came up to his side and Zach rubbed his ears bringing him out the thoughts of his past. He could smell wood smoke and turned to see his wives along with Running Wolf and Raven Wing busy in camp. The women had a fire going and coffee on while Running Wolf was checking all of their supplies and laying the buffalo hides that covered them out over the brush to dry. It was a very cool morning and he hoped the sun would peek through the clouds soon.
He walked back to the fire and was greeted with smiles and a hot cup of coffee from his wives. Running Wolf walked over to them, accepted a cup of the hot strong coffee and said, “We need to let our supplies dry out some ‘fore we load up today or they will likely spoil.”
Zach nodded his agreement. He didn’t say anything about it to the others but he still had the feeling they would have to deal with Cal and Ben Beaumont and although he didn’t know why he was worried about it more than usual this morning.
They ate biscuits along with dried buffalo strips that they boiled then fried in a little bear grease. Then Zach told them he was going to take a look around. He saddled Ol’ Red, whistled for Jimbo and the three of them headed down river following their back trail.
Just a couple of miles from camp there was a small hill about a quarter mile south of the river and he rode Ol’ Red up on that hill where he could plainly see a column of smoke rising to the sky only a couple of more miles downstream.
Meeting the Beaumont Brothers
Ben felt weak and light-headed as he sat there by the fire. His joints ached from the cold and not moving throughout the night and he wondered just how he had survived. The only wood Cal could find was wet and as it dried enough to burn it was producing a lot of smoke. Cal was still out on his spotted horse trying to round up the other two that kept shying away from him every time he got close. Ben added the wet branches and logs that his brother had piled within his reach and he rubbed his aching knees trying to ease the pain.
Zach sat on Ol’ Red and wondered just what to do. He didn’t think an Indian would build a fire that put off enough smoke to be seen for miles away but he couldn’t figure out how Cal and Ben Beaumont could have found their way to Black’s Fork and were so close. He decided he had to get a closer look.
He knew Jimbo was as well-known as he was and so he motioned Jimbo to stay right by his side as he moved out heading for the smoke. As he got close he told Jimbo to stay and the big dog dutifully sat down on his haunches and waited. He had no idea just what the Beaumont’s had been told about him but he knew the Indians all recognized him by his grizzly claw necklace so he removed that and placed it in his possibles bag. He was only a couple of hundred yards from the fire when he stopped Ol’ Red and watched. He could see only one man by a fire that was bigger than was needed for a dozen men. He waited, watching until he was sure the man was alone.
He approached on foot not trying to hide at all. He hadn’t been seen or heard so when he was only fifty yards out he called out, “Hello the camp, alright to come in?”
Ben jumped at the sound of his voice and his legs still would not hold him, he fell right through the fire scattering burning logs for several feet. Zach spoke again, “Easy there, feller. I’s friendly enough.” Ben brushed the coals off his numb legs and Zach approached very cautiously looking all around for anyone else that may be there. Ben did not have his rifle and as Zach came around the smoke of the fire it was like he was looking at the ghost of Bull Beaumont and he knew immediately this was Ben Beaumont. He figured Cal wasn’t too far away- maybe out hunting so he kept a mighty close watch all around.
He put out his hand to Ben to help him up saying, “I’m sure sorry mister, didn’t mean to startle ya like that. Names Zach Connors an’ I sure was surprised to see the smoke of your fire. Even more surprised to find a white man out here, ain’t seen a white man since the rendezvous.”
Ben hadn’t said a word but the shocked and worried
look he had was gone. He reached out and took Zach’s hand and very carefully got to his feet. His legs were still weak and shaky and he held on to Zach’s hand steadying himself until he was sure he could stand on his own. He was shifting his weight back and forth on his legs trying to get the blood flowing in them again.
Zach could see there was nothing here but two blankets drying over a bush close to the fire and Ben’s rifle leaned against the same bush so he asked, “What happened here? You ain’t by yourself, are ya?”
Ben’s eyes were blood shot and his face pale and he slowly stepped closer to the warmth of the fire. Then he looked up and told Zach, “My brother is out rounding up our horses, they scattered in the storm last night. We camped up this here little draw to get outta da wind but a flood come down and near done me in. If’n Cal hadn’t pulled me outta da mud I’d a froze to death by now. Appears we done lost most all our truck in the flood.”
Zach offered him some jerky from the pouch he always carried then he walked over to the blankets and turned them so they would dry more evenly. Then he asked Ben, “Just what you and your brother doin’ way out here?”
Ben told him the story of their other brother sending word back home about how good the trapping was so he and their older brother came west to meet Bull up in Jackson’s Hole for the fall trapping season. But on their way their they run into Bull’s friends that was headed back home and found out Bull had been killed by some no good Indian lover named Grizzly Killer, and now he and his brother were going to hunt down this Grizzly Killer and take their revenge on him for killing Bull.
Just then, Zach caught a movement way out in the brush to the southeast and as he watched he could see three horses, the first ridden by a very big man. As they got a little closer he could tell Cal Beaumont was riding a spotted horse. The dream he’d had of his Pa warning him to be aware of the man riding a spotted horse came back to him and a shiver ran down his back.
Cal stopped when he saw Ben was not alone at the fire and Zach noticed he carried his rifle in a ready to shoot position. But Ben waved at his brother and shouted at Cal, “Least we ain’t on foot, big brother.”
Cal yelled back, “No thanks to you.” And he started forward again. Zach noticed Cal had not taken his eyes off him and when Cal was only a few feet away he asked Zach, “Who the hell are you and what ya doin’ here?”
Zach just smiled and answered, “Name’s Zach Connors and I’ve been scoutin’ upstream for beaver and headed back down to meet my pards down on Rendezvous Creek so’s we can decide where to trap for the fall. Seen the smoke of your fire and was mighty surprised to find a white man here.”
Cal just sat up on the spotted horse and looked Zach over. Zach could see the cruel meanness in his eyes. Cal then looked at his brother and said, “I see yer up and walkin’ so come get these useless nags and get ‘em tied up.”
Ben jumped at his brother’s words and Zach honestly felt sorry for Ben living his whole life with the likes of Cal and Bull Beaumont. He could tell in just the few minutes they had been together Ben was not like his brothers.
Zach noticed Cal was looking at Ol’ Red and was taking a mental inventory of all that he had with him. He didn’t have a bed roll so Cal was probably aware he was camped somewhere nearby. It was almost like Zach could read Cal’s mind. They had lost all their supplies and he knew at once that Cal would kill him or anyone else just for the supplies they carried.
Zach had set his Hawken down to help Ben but he had his knife and Cherokee Tomahawk stuck under his belt. He thought he knew Jimbo well enough that he figured Jimbo was close by watching them all but staying out of sight. He didn’t believe Ben would start any trouble but he had no doubt that what Cal started Ben would help him finish. Zach had hoped he could reason with them about the death of their brother but he now knew beyond any doubt there would be no reasoning with Cal Beaumont.
Zach knew Ben was not armed and was several yards away caring for their horses and he was still moving very slow and carefully. Zach reached down and picked up his jerky pouch and offered Cal some jerky and as he did Cal pointed his rifle right at Zach’s chest and said, “I’ll take the whole pouch and all your other truck as well.”
Ben heard that, turned and yelled at his brother, “Cal, this man’s tryin’ ta help us, what ya doin?” Cal yelled back, “Shut up an’ get over here, ya dimwit. He is helpin’ us, he givin’ us all his truck then he takin’ us to his camp and givin’ us the rest of it!”
Cal Beaumont never heard a sound and Zach saw only a flash of gray as Jimbo came from the brush behind Cal and two hundred pounds of dog going full speed hit Cal in the back knocking him face first into the fire. One vicious growl and snap of his jaws and most of Cal’s right ear was gone. Jimbo didn’t even slow down as he went for Ben. Ben put his arms up in front of his face as Jimbo jumped up on Ben, knocking him to the ground as well. Zach yelled, “Jimbo, hold!” and Jimbo stopped his attack and just sat down in front of Ben making sure he didn’t move.
Cal had rolled out of the fire He had burns on both hands and the whole side of his head was bloody from his ripped off ear. His rifle was on the opposite side of the fire from where he was and Zach just walked over picked it up. Zach called to Ben telling him to get up and come over and sit by his brother. Ben didn’t dare move for Jimbo was still there with his lips curled and his soft growl coming from way down in his chest.
Zach called to Jimbo and the huge dog came over and sat down by his side, then he told Ben again to get overt here by his brother. There was a hatred and meanness on the face of Cal Beaumont that Zach had only seen one other time and that was on the face of Thunder Cloud, the Blackfoot War Chief that he had fought and killed on the east side of Sweet Lake. He thought again about the dream of his Pa telling him he’d never learned about the treachery of men and he knew his pa had been right. He had never been around men like these before.
As Ben sat down by Cal he had a questioning, puzzled look but the look on Cal’s face was still one of pure hatred. Zach opened his possibles bag and took out his Grizzly Claw necklace and put it back around his neck. Cal watched, then noticed the Grizzly claws on Jimbo’s collar and the hatred burned ever deeper.
Grizzly Killer stared at Cal for a couple of minutes then said, “My name is Zach Connors but they call me Grizzly Killer and this is the Great Medicine Dog, Jimbo. Yes, I killed your brother at Rendezvous at Sweet Lake but it was a fair fight. You can ask anyone that was there, but then I don’t suppose you care about that. Some men are just born mean and cruel and think because their bigger or stronger they can do anything they want. I gave your brother every chance to apologize but he had the same look in his eyes that you have and he came at me. Ben, I can see your different than your brothers. Maybe if’n you were away from them you could be a good man. But if you follow your brothers paths you’ll end up in an unmarked grave, as well.”
Cal’s ear was still bleeding but he paid no attention to it at all as he said, “So’s you jest gonna shoot me down with no chance at all?”
Grizzly Killer just looked disgusted as he said, “Ain’t that what you were fixin’ to do to me?”
Cal now had more of a worried look and Ben looked more scared then anything, but Cal said, “You claim you gave Bull a fair chance… will you give me that same chance?”
Grizzly Killer didn’t say a thing as he thought about just what to do. He couldn’t just shoot Cal down even though he knew that would be the smartest thing. He finally said, “I’d let you both go if I thought you’d go back to Missouri, but I just don’t figure you will. I never killed nobody that wasn’t tryin’ ta kill me. I can see you’re a mighty big and dangerous man but so was your brother and he never even laid a hand on me.”
Cal started to get an evil grin when he realized Grizzly Killer wasn’t at all like he was. This Grizzly Killer was a fool or he would just shoot and be done with it.
Cal started to get to his feet and Jimbo, with a vicious growl, jumped forward and Cal drew a
knife from the inside of his boot and said “I’ll kill that mangy mutt if he gets any closer.”
At that, Grizzly Killer laughed right out loud and he could see the anger building in Cal. Then he said, “It makes no difference to me, big man, whether you fight me or the dog. Either way, you’ll be meetin’ your dead brother and the devil hisself mighty quick.”
There was no doubt in Zach’s mind Cal Beaumont was a dangerous man. But he believed Cal was so big and strong he had never had to think to win a fight, he had always been able to win without thought. He called Jimbo back and then he looked at Ben and asked, “Are you in on this?” Ben didn’t say a thing and Cal spit in his direction. Zach told Jimbo to watch Ben and then sat his rifle down. Cal’s hands were burned but he seemed to just ignore the pain as he held his knife with its ten-inch blade in his right hand.
Zach was removing his possibles bag when Cal charged- not waiting for him to get set but he had been expecting something like that and simply jumped to his right and Cal’s lunge missed by a couple of feet. But now he was ready and told Cal, “You don’t have to die any more than your brother did.”
Cal, with an evil laugh just said, “They’s no man alive can kill me in a knife fight!” and he lunged forward again. This time Zach dropped to the ground as Cal swung his knife where only a moment before Zach had been. Zach kicked with both feet, hitting Cal in the side of his knee as he went by and Cal let out a moan and hopped to a stop putting no weight at all on his left leg.
Zach thought he could now see some doubt in the eyes of the big man but the hatred and anger won out as Cal started forward again. This time Zach moved to Cal’s left knowing his left knee was now weakened. But the big man surprised him and moved left ignoring the pain in his knee. His knife caught Zach on the hip and drew blood but he had been moving away from the deadly knife and the cut wasn’t deep. Zach hit the ground and rolled right back up on his feet and Cal lunged forward again. Zach started to Cal’s left again only this time he stopped dead still. The momentum of Cal’s lunge carried him to where he expected Grizzly Killer to be. This exposed Cal’s whole right side and with a vicious swing of his own knife Zach opened up Cal’s side clear down to the ribs.
Grizzly Killer: Under The Blood Moon Page 24
