by Duane Boehm
The town looked its usual sleepy little self. Light gusts of wind kicked up whirlwinds of dust and storekeepers were out in front of their shops sweeping the dirt back into the street in a never ending battle. Each of the two saloons had a couple of horses tied in front of them and women were out doing their shopping. At the feed store, Gideon spied Ethan’s wagon and harness team. Walking into the store, he found Ethan paying for his feed.
“Hello there, stranger,” Ethan said. “I was just coming to look for you. I went by the cabin yesterday evening and it didn’t look like you’d been there for a few days.”
Earlier that year, Ethan had bought the Holden homestead and when the old couple moved to town, he let Gideon move into their cabin. The purchase of the homestead had been the catalyst for Frank DeVille’s ill–conceived plan to kidnap Benjamin in an effort to financially ruin Ethan. Frank had ultimately paid for the crime with his life.
“I haven’t been back to the cabin since the stagecoach robbery. It has kept me busy,” Gideon said.
“George here was telling me all about it. How is Joann doing?” Ethan asked.
Ethan was the only person that Gideon had confided in when he had learned that he had a daughter and he was anxious to talk to him in private. “If you are done here, why don’t we take the wagon to the office and have some coffee?” Gideon said.
They rode to the jailhouse where Gideon threw a couple of sticks of wood into the coals in the stove and put a fresh pot of coffee on before sitting down with Ethan. “Abby did a silly thing today. She let Joann and Winnie take a buggy to go see Marcus and sure enough, they ran into the stagecoach robber, Ted McClean, that I let get away. Joann took a shot at him and his horse bucked him off so that they got back here safely. Now both of the girls are scared. That’s twice now that he has tried to have his way with Joann,” Gideon said.
“He must be one horny man,” Ethan said.
“Well, he’s not the only one, but I haven’t attacked anybody yet,” Gideon said.
They broke into laughter. “Yes, you have some lost time to make up for and privacy can be hard to come by, believe me I know. How did meeting Joann go?” Ethan said.
Gideon smiled thinking about it. “Pretty good I think. I know that I feel a bond towards her and I hope that she does the same towards me. She’s a lot like Abby, or Sarah for that matter, and not afraid to share her opinion. And she is not happy that Abby is divorcing Marcus. She’s afraid that I might still take off and leave Abby all alone. It kind of surprised me. I guess in my mind I thought that she would be all happy that her parents were marrying,” Gideon said.
“I wouldn’t worry about it. With all you’ve been through in your life, that is nothing. Time will take care of that one,” Ethan said.
“I hope so. She has a right to be concerned I guess,” Gideon said as he poured them both cups of coffee.
“The auction of all DeVille’s land and cattle is only a couple of weeks away. Have you decided if you are going to try to buy your homestead back?” Ethan asked.
“I went and talked to that little thin–lipped Mr. Druthers at the bank. He was actually friendly to me and pretty much told me that he would loan me whatever I wanted. The only thing that I could figure out is that it must be because I’m sheriff now. I know how he has behaved with you and most everybody else around here,” Gideon said.
“So you are going to do it then?” Ethan asked.
“I didn’t say that. What if I bought it and decided I couldn’t stay. I’d really be in a fix then,” Gideon said.
Ethan took a sip of coffee and studied Gideon before setting his cup down. “When are you going to stop this nonsense and just admit that you are back for good and the past is behind you? It’s as if you can’t let yourself know that it’s okay to be happy,” Ethan said.
Gideon rubbed his scar, seemingly at a loss for words. “I don’t know, Ethan. The old way was such a part of me that there are days I feel lost like I don’t know who I am. It’s true that I’m happy, but I keep thinking something is bound to happen,” he said.
“Gideon, I believe God had a plan for you and it was surely a trial, but you passed it and now you will reap its rewards,” Ethan said.
“I feel that way too most of the time, but I just can’t shake looking over my shoulder. Enough of this, what are your plans for buying Frank’s land?” Gideon said.
“Druthers was all nice with me this time too. When I wanted the money for the Holden place, he acted like I was a risk and this time he was ready to whip out the money. I think he is afraid people will go to Durango or Denver to get the money if he doesn’t do it and he will be left out in the cold. Anyway, you know how DeVille’s land surrounds three sides of the Holden piece and I would like to buy all of those connecting parcels. Depends on the prices to see if I get them and anything else,” Ethan said.
“What does Sarah think about buying more land? I had to listen to you two battle over the Holden place and I can’t imagine she is thrilled about it,” Gideon said.
Through the window Ethan watched a wagon pass, momentarily lost in thought. “The kidnapping was so hard on Sarah. She’s still not herself completely and it took some of the fire out of her. It’s coming back a little at a time, but she doesn’t care what I do about the land right now,” he said.
“She’s a strong woman. She’ll get back to herself,” Gideon said.
“Oh, I know. She always bounced back from the miscarriages. It just took a while. She gave Benjamin and me you know what for tracking mud into the cabin the other day. That’s the first time she has raised her voice at him since she got him back. His eyes got as big as saucers. I think he thought those days were over with,” Ethan said with a laugh.
“I know she set me straight a time or two,” Gideon said with a chuckle.
“What do you think the land will bring?” Ethan asked.
“I don’t have a clue. It will flood the market, that’s for sure, but I wonder if big money from Denver will be down here,” Gideon said.
“I’m afraid of that too. I’ll be glad when the day gets here,” Ethan said.
“So that we don’t bid against each other if I decide to buy, I would also like to have that piece south of the old homestead unless you have your eye on it,” Gideon said.
“No, I figured that you would try to get it if you get the homestead,” Ethan said.
Taking a swig of coffee, Gideon said, “I’ll also be glad the day that Ted McClean shows up so I can get this over with.”
“I was supposed to invite you, Abby, and the girls over for dinner after church tomorrow, but I’m guessing you won’t stray that far until this is settled,” Ethan said.
“No, I’ll be sleeping here until I get him. I sure hate missing out on Sarah’s cooking though,” Gideon said.
Gideon had come to love Sarah as a sister. Her tough love had been as essential as Ethan’s friendship, back when he was still struggling with his past life. She had also been his chief nurse during his recovery from the gunshot wounds. He would be indebted to the whole Oakes family for as long as he lived.
“I hate that I will miss your sermon too. I’m starting to enjoy hearing you speak even though my mind sometimes drifts to all the ornery things that I did in my youth with that preacher up there,” Gideon said with a grin and a wink.
Ethan smiled back at him. “We never hurt anybody and it was just pranks. Besides, you were the ringleader and I was merely the follower corrupted by your wayward ways,” Ethan said.
“That’s not how I remember some of it,” Gideon said.
“Well, you can remember what you want and I will do the same,” Ethan said.
Growing serious, Gideon said, “I got an anonymous letter from Pueblo threatening me or someone that I love. It’s got me a little worried. I can take care of myself, but I worry that they might go after Abby.”
“Who do you think it might be?” Ethan asked.
“I’m not sure. I think that it might have something to
do with the Colfax County War. The letter mentions me fighting land barons again. The settlers there hired me to help protect them against the Maxwell Land Grant goons. I killed a couple of men before it became a free–for–all and I left,” Gideon said.
“Don’t you know the names of the ones that you killed?” Ethan asked.
“Sure I remember their names, but I’m not sure how much that helps. I’ll just have to be on the lookout for strangers showing up that look suspicious,” Gideon said.
“And they would have to hang around here before they found out about Abby anyway,” Ethan added.
“That’s true. It never gets easy does it, Ethan?” Gideon said.
“No, I’m afraid it doesn’t. I have to get home. You know how Sarah is when you are late for dinner,” Ethan said.
“I’ll see you soon,” Gideon said as he walked Ethan out the door.
Gideon made another walk of the town before businesses closed for the day, stopping in the shops to check if anyone had seen any strangers and learning that no one had seen anybody out of the ordinary. He headed over to the hotel to have dinner before retiring to the jail with a meal for his prisoner.
After a lifetime of rambling, being cooped up in the little office was getting Gideon edgy. He had never thought about how much time he would have to be spending at the jail when he had prisoners and it annoyed him that he had never considered it when he took the job. Once he was sure that city council was pleased with his performance, he planned to start badgering them about hiring a deputy.
Gideon grabbed his rifle and sat out on the bench in front of the jail until late into the evening. Occasionally someone would stop to have a brief conversation with him, but most of the time was spent staring into the darkness. Finally ready to sleep, he went inside and hung the oil lamp on the hanger by the door, setting the wick just high enough to light the entrance, but leaving the rest of the room in the shadows.
He stretched out in his chair behind the stove with his revolver in his lap and his head against the wall. The arrangement wasn’t particularly comfortable, but he had slept in a lot worse places over the years. Drifting right off to sleep, he never awoke until the first hint of light was coming through the window. Standing and working the kink out of his neck, Gideon said to no one, “I wish that son of a bitch would have shown his face. Sleeping in that damn chair is going to get old fast.”
Gideon spent Sunday keeping an eye on the town. Doc Abram came over after church and played checkers with him for a while and Abby showed up in the afternoon with a picnic basket of food that they shared at his desk. The rest of the day was spent walking the town or sitting out in front of the jail with his rifle. By nightfall, he was in such an ill mood that he would have gladly welcomed the devil in for a battle of wills.
Moving the lamp back to the hanger by the door, Gideon took his seat behind the stove. His back was stiff from the previous night’s sleep and he had a hard time getting comfortable. After some twisting and turning, he fell into a sleep.
During the night, Gideon awoke to the sound of the bell. Regaining his senses with a rush of adrenaline, he peeked around the stove to see the outlaw standing at the door with his pistol drawn. McClean saw Gideon and fired his gun, hitting the potbelly stove and making it ring like a church bell right next to Gideon’s ear at a deafening volume. Before the outlaw could shoot again, Gideon fired two shots at him. Ted McClean let out an ear–piercing scream, collapsing onto the floor in a fetal position with his hands tucked between his legs and his gun off to the side.
Gideon, with his finger stuck in his ear trying to shake the ringing out of it, calmly walked out from behind the stove to retrieve the outlaw’s pistol and set it on his desk. He drew his leg back and kicked McClean hard in the chest, sending the man sprawling over onto his back and screaming again.
“Do you feel like having your way with a lady now? Maybe you want me to drag your ass over to a whore?” Gideon spat out at the outlaw.
“I think you shot off my balls. I need a doctor,” McClean whined.
Gideon turned the wick up on the lantern, sending light washing over the room. McClean was holding his crotch and whimpering, his hands and pants covered in blood. Gideon reared his leg back and kicked him in the ribs.
“I guess the doctor wins out over a whore then – your choice. If you ever have the abilities to be with a woman again I suggest it not be my daughter that you grab,” Gideon said as he put his boot on top of the man’s hands and pressed them into his crotch until the outlaw screamed again.
Grabbing McClean’s legs, Gideon hoisted them up against his sides and locked them in the crooks of his arms. He dragged the man like a mule pulling a plow across the street to the doctor’s office where he knocked on the door until he saw a light in the room. Doc Abram opened the door in his nightshirt, looking tired and in an ill mood.
“What do you have?” Doc asked.
“I drummed you up some business. He finally showed up tonight and I got him,” Gideon said.
“Well, drag him on in and help me get him up on the table,” the doctor said.
The doctor gave Gideon a look when he saw where the blood was but didn’t say anything as he unbuttoned the outlaw’s pants. “Help me get his pants down,” Doc finally said as he struggled with the trousers.
They got his pants off and the Doc Abram took his first look at the wounds. “Damn it, Gideon, you shot the end of his pecker off and from the looks of his sack, I will probably have to castrate him. I’ve been doctoring for forty–five years and I’ve seen cowboys gored in the groin, I’ve seen them kicked in the groin, but this the first time I’ve had one shot there. Hell, you never even hit his leg or abdomen. You only hit his manhood. How in the hell did you manage that?” the doctor ranted.
“Good aim, Doc. Good aim,” Gideon said with a smirk.
“Didn’t you learn anything when you gut shot Hank Sligo and we had to listen and smell him die for three days,” he said.
“This is different. He was going to rape Joann,” Gideon said, refusing to acknowledge that shooting Hank Sligo in the stomach to make him suffer for the role he played in kidnapping Benjamin was a similar action.
“Yeah, it’s different all right. One was for Benjamin and this one is for Joann. At least you got them. You might as well go get yourself some sleep. There is nothing more that you can do here and he sure in the hell is not going to escape,” Doc said.
“How is Zack doing?” Gideon asked.
“He’s fine. Sleeping in the back. He’s ready to get out of here. Why don’t you let him sleep at the jail until he is ready to travel or whatever he is going to do?” Doc said.
“Okay, good. I’ll ask him tomorrow. And I’ll see you in the morning then, Doc,” Gideon said.
Gideon walked back to the jail and dropped onto the cot. The adrenaline rush had not worn off yet and he could not sleep. He thought about what Doc Abram had said, but no matter how he looked at it, he could not feel guilty for what he had done. In his book, there were certain lines that were not to be crossed and when they were, the punishment would fit the crime. Exhaustion finally overtook him and he drifted off into dreams of Abby.
Chapter 8
Gideon had breakfast at the hotel and then took a walk of the town, figuring Doc was sleeping in after his late night treating Ted McClean. He bought some candy for Winnie, hoping that a little bribery might soften her feelings towards him some, and then walked to Abby’s house.
“What brings you here so bright and early?” Abby asked when she greeted him at the door.
“I got some good news for you,” Gideon said as he stepped into the house.
Joann and Abby were cleaning house. Gideon had never seen Abby in an apron. The garment made her look much more domesticated, belying her true personality, and it made him smile.
“Why are you smiling?” Abby asked.
“I guess I’ve never seen you in an apron being the little homemaker and it struck me as funny. It’s not quite
my picture of you,” he said.
“Well, a house doesn’t clean itself. Last time I checked, I was running low on servants. I’m sorry if I ruined your image of me as the carefree girl you once knew,” Abby said a little testily.
“Don’t get all riled. It’s a good day,” Gideon said.
“What’s your news?” Joann asked.
“I got Ted McClean last night. He came for his brother,” he said.
“Is he alive?” Abby asked.
“I shot him and he’s hurt pretty bad. I think his days of chasing women are over with for good,” Gideon said.
Joann and Abby exchanged glances, wondering exactly what Gideon meant and both deciding not to ask. “Are you okay?” Abby asked.
“He shot the damn potbelly stove and my ear is still ringing from it, but besides that I’m fine. Doc wasn’t too happy to be getting a patient in the middle of the night, but he’s happiest when he has something to complain about anyway,” he said.
Joann ran up to Gideon and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you. You don’t know what a relief this is to me. I’ll sleep much better tonight,” she said.
“I told you that I would get him,” Gideon said.
“This calls for a celebration. Why don’t you join us for dinner tonight? Can you come at six?” Abby said.
“As long as you have this house cleaned properly,” he said.
“I’ll waylay you with this duster if you are not careful. If you are going to stick around me, you better be the one that gets used to getting orders,” Abby said with a smirk on her face.
Gideon grinned at her without commenting before remembering the sack of candy he was holding. “Here is some candy for Winnie,” he said.
“You can give it to her yourself tonight. Otherwise, she will eat it as soon as she gets home from school and ruin her appetite. It’s going to take more than candy to soften that hardhead. I can tell you that,” Abby said.
