by Joe Corso
Susie burst into the room. “Charlie, Bob, there’s a young woman in trouble outside. She’s being set upon by three rowdies in front of Pines Laundry.”
“Come on, Charlie, let’s see who the girl is.” The two men dashed down the street with Susie following close behind. Charlie was surprised to see that the girl was his Abby. Her tormentors had backed her into a corner where she stumbled and fell. As she was getting up her hand brushed against a piece of 2 x 4. She grabbed it and held it behind her and when she got on her feet, she swung the wood with both hands, attempting to fend off her attackers. Charlie pulled the gun from his shoulder holster and fired a shot in the air, and everything came to a stop.
“Okay, fellas, you’ve had your fun. Now leave the girl alone. She’s my friend and she’s here to visit with me.”
One young fella looked at Longstreet sheepishly. “Sorry, Mr. Longstreet, we didn’t know that she was with you.”
“Well, she is. Now why don’t you boys go back to whatever it was that you were doing?”
The three boys murmured something under their breath and sulked as they headed in the direction of the pool hall next to the Longhorn Bar and Grill and disappeared through the door. “Well, now that the fun is over, what do you say we go back to the store where we can chat over a cup of coffee. Bob, Susie, let me introduce you to Abigail Saunders.”
Now that it was safe, Abby rushed into Charlie’s arms and held him tight. Charlie looked up to see his brother and Susie gaping at Abby wrapped in his arms and holding him tight. He shrugged. “We met on the way here. Her family was with the wagon train.”
Robert looked at Susie and they both broke into grins.
“What?” Charlie said, looking first at his brother and then at Suzie. “What?”
“Nothing, brother. But it’s very obvious that this young lady is smitten by you.”
“That’s right - and you with her?” Susie added.
Abby looked longingly at Charlie. “I really did miss you, Charlie Longstreet, especially when Daddy told me you’d been shot. I thought I’d die when I heard that. I just had to see for myself that you had really recovered.”
Charlie glanced at Abby and he had to admit that he did miss her. He thought of her often when he was on the trail and especially during his recovery after being shot and the memory of her warm body next to his aroused him. But the thought was interrupted when Susie tapped a bottle with her spoon to get everyone’s attention. “Everyone, come into the dining room. The store will be closed while we have coffee and a slice of fresh chocolate layer cake I baked this morning.”
After finishing with his coffee and cake, Charlie tapped Abby on her hand. “Come on, let’s go for a walk. I want to hear how you and your folks are doing.”
Abby told Charlie where they were living and of her family’s plans for the small farm they had bought on the outskirts of the city. “Charlie, why don’t you come and pay us a visit. I know my family would love to see you.”
“And I’d like to see them, and you. I missed you very much. Especially our little love trysts when we were alone.”
Her eyes glistened with desire when he said that. She wanted him, and she wanted him now. “Please, Charlie, let’s ride off somewhere and make love like we used to. I missed you so very much - and I need you.” She turned her face and looked down. “I’m in love with you, Charlie. I’m madly and passionately in love with you and I don’t know what I’d do without you because you mean everything to me. I dream of the day I’ll be your wife, have your children, and grow old with you, and I hope that you feel the same about me. But it’s all up to you, Charlie.”
“I want you too, Abby, but it will have to wait until I tend to some unfinished business. It should be over soon, and when it’s finished, then we can discuss our future.”
THE PARKER RANCH
“Mr. Parker, two men are here to see you.”
“Hmm,” he said. “They must be the two gunslingers I met in town yesterday. I made them an offer and I told them if they were interested to come out to the ranch to see me. I guess since they’re here, it means they’ve accepted my offer.
“Have a seat, gentlemen. I take it that you accepted my offer.”
One of the men—Luke was his name—spoke first. “Me and Wes here are in agreement. We’ll do the job for you, but not for two thousand each. Make it five thousand each and you have a deal.”
Parker rose from his chair in a rage. “How dare you, sir! I offered you two thousand each; take it or leave it.”
The men rose. “Goodbye, Mr. Parker. Get someone else to do your dirty work.” They got as far as the door.
“Stop. Come back in here and sit down and let’s talk.”
The two men left Parker’s ranch smiling. They were promised five thousand each, but they insisted on half up front and got it. “When do you want to do it, Luke?”
“We’ll kill him the first chance we get. I don’t care if it’s tonight or next week, but as far as I’m concerned, he’s a dead man.”
CHAPTER 13
Charlie wrote a letter to Cole Younger and sent it by telegraph in care of Cole’s mother in Clay County, Missouri. His dilemma was he didn’t know whether to telegraph the letter or to send it by US Mail. Sending it by mail would take much longer, but it would be safer. By telegraph, the letter could be read by many people before Cole received it. Charlie decided it would be best if he telegraphed the letter in a simple code that Cole would understand. Charlie spent the better part of an hour constructing his letter properly, keeping it short and to the point.
“Cole, sorry for not writing sooner - STOP - My brother Bob is fine- STOP - Wish you and family could come. Bring Jeff and Florence too - STOP - If you and family don’t come it would trouble me - STOP - I miss you and need to see you - STOP - Great business opportunities here for family STOP
Your friend, Charles Longstreet.”
Charlie checked the letter. Cole would read between the lines. Jeff and Florence with “J & F” could only mean Jesse and Frank. “It would trouble me” would let him know him that he was in trouble. “I miss you” and “need to see you” would tell him that Charlie needed his help and to get his butt out here fast. “Great business opportunity here” Would let Cole know that they’d make money by coming here.
Good, he thought. He had the telegraph operator send the wire to Cole’s mother in Missouri. The following day, he received this wire from Cole:
“Rec’d your wire - STOP - looking forward to visiting you - STOP - Leaving tomorrow by rail and bringing family - STOP - Florence and Jeff delighted to come - STOP - Looking forward business opportunity - STOP -
Your friend
Cole”
Charlie walked down to the train station and asked the clerk for information on trains arriving from Clay County, Missouri. The stationmaster reached under the counter, pulled out a thick book, and skimmed through the pages until he found the one he was looking for. “Ah, here it is. A train is leaving Clay County at eight am tomorrow morning and will arrive in Virginia City on or about the third, which is six days from now.”
“That fast, eh?”
The clerk puffed up. “Well, today, we travel by rail at thirty miles per hour. Unlike traveling on a wagon train or by horse, now we literally fly across the continent. Your party will arrive here no later than the third. I’ll stake my reputation on it.” Charlie smiled at the clerk, then put his hand out. The clerk swelled with pride and shook it. After all, this was the Lone Jack Kid whom he had helped.
Charlie was about to leave the station when he turned to the clerk. “Thanks, partner, you’re a good man.” Then he left the station, the cold wind causing his coat to flap and whip against his hips like a cape.
Charlie rode out to see the two miners at their respective mines. He asked both of them the same question. “Are you getting your water?” They both answered “yes.” Charlie spent an hour with each of them and then he headed back to Virginia City. It was late when he arrived
, so instead of going to his brother’s, he stopped at the hotel to get a hot meal. In the middle of his meal, he heard the Tap - Tap - Tap. He put down his knife and fork, wiped his chin, and looked around to see who was making the tapping sound. He saw him standing by the bar. Charlie scanned the room and spotted two other possible causes for concern. Then his gaze turned to the one certainty. The one at the bar. Charlie made eye contact with the bartender, who motioned with his head and eyes to his right. Charlie looked to the bartender’s right and spotted an innocuous-looking man standing opposite the one at the bar. Charlie had a problem now. If he confronted the man at the bar, he’d have men in front and in back of him. What to do? What to do? He decided to confront his problem head on. Concealed by his table, he pulled his belt gun from its holster without being seen. Since the two men were to his left, he held his gun close to his right side, hoping the men wouldn’t notice it until it was too late. He rose from the table and kept his eye on the man behind him as he walked towards the bar; then, without any warning, he swung his pistol hand to his left across his chest and shot the man behind him just as the man was pulling his gun.
As the man fell, he turned his gun to the man at the bar. He walked directly to the man just as he had done the other two times, but this man made the mistake of going for his gun. Big mistake. Charlie had been holding his gun by his side at the ready and he shot the man before he could get off a return shot. He called out to someone who was checking the man behind him. “Is he alive?”
“No. He’s dead,” came the reply.
Charlie looked to the bartender. “Thanks Joe. I had a bad feeling about this guy.” Charlie reached down and checked for a pulse. The man was still alive. “Who sent you to kill me?”
The man sat with his back against the bar rail and he looked confused, trying to understand what Charlie was asking him. “Who sent you?” Charlie knew the man was dying and didn’t have long to live, so he tried coaxing the answer from him.
The man’s lips moved. “Parker paid - us - five thousand dollars - each to kill you. But - we, we couldn’t. We . . .” He suddenly gasped and Charlie heard the death rattle as his last breath left him.
“Did you hear what he said?”
Joe nodded. “I sure did and I’ll be a witness to it.”
“Good man, Joe. I owe you one.”
“No, you don’t. I saw what you were up against with these two and I for one didn’t like it. You handled everything with class, Kid, and I’m proud to stand with you. All you have to do is say when.”
Charlie looked at Joe with new admiration. It appeared that he had a new friend in town and his name was Joe. “That’s right decent of you, Joe, and I’m proud to call you my friend.” That pleased Joe the bartender. Charles Longstreet, the Lone Jack Kid, telling him that he was his friend. It didn’t get any better than that.
CHAPTER 14
THE PARKER RANCH
“Are you sure about this, Hank?”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Parker. He killed them both. It’s like he has eyes in the back of his head, ‘cause the men were positioned so that one would be in front of him, and the other behind him. How he knew there was a man behind him is a mystery to me. Maybe in the war he developed some sort of special survival instincts. What else could it be?”
Parker thought about it and then he dismissed it. “That’s a lot of horse shit, Hank. Many men fought in the war and they never developed those instincts. He’ll pay - one way or another, he’ll pay, and that’s for sure. This Lone Jack Kid is becoming a pain in my ass. He’s disrupted my businesses; he’s prevented me from buying gold mines that should have been mine. Businesses have just about become impossible for me to buy in town. The dam that my guys built that would’ve prevented miners from working their claims have been destroyed, the tolls from the gate leading into the city has been dismantled. He’s left me with no other choice but to plan an ambush and kill him.” Parker rose from his den chair and paced the floor. He stopped pacing and looked at Hank. “How many men do we have on the ranch that can ride with me into town when the time is right?”
Hank ran his hand through his hair while mentally counting the men he had. “Twelve men plus the two of us.”
“Well if we can’t kill that man with all the men we have, then we deserve to lose. Go into town and follow him. See if you can figure out his daily routine.”
“Okay, boss. I’ll spend a few days in town - follow him, see where he goes, what he does.”
“And, Hank!”
“Yes boss?”
“Don’t come back until you know his routine.”
“I understand.”
Charlie rode out of town just after daybreak, heading to the Saunders place. He was looking forward to visiting them. He was interested in the farm they bought. He followed Abby’s directions and he had no trouble finding the place. He dismounted and took two packages from his saddlebags and, as he was about to knock, the door sprung open and Abby jumped into his arms. Ezra knew Charlie was visiting them today so he’d remained home to greet him instead of tilling his fields. He’d do that later.
“Good morning, Ezra, Mildred.” Charlie tousled Ezra Jr’s hair. “And good morning to you too, little Ezra.”
“Come in, come in. Did you have breakfast yet, Charles?” Mildred asked.
“Well, I did have a cup of coffee.”
“That’s all? That’s no fitting breakfast for a grown man to have. Come in and sit down at the table. I have some flapjack batter left. I’ll make you some, and you’ll have it with my homemade maple syrup.”
Charlie smiled at her. “That’s very neighborly of you, Mrs. Saunders.”
“That’s Mildred to you, Charles.”
Charlie looked down at his hands and was reminded of the packages. “I brought this for you, Mrs. . . . I mean, Mildred. Just a little something for your new home. And this is for you, Ezra.” He handed them the packages.
Mildred opened her gift. It was a beautiful teapot inlaid with gold. “My goodness, Charles, but this is the most beautiful tea pot I’ve ever seen - and by the looks of it - expensive. Is that real gold?”
“That’s what the salesman said it was.”
“Well, it’s just beautiful. I’m putting it somewhere where it can be seen and I’ll only use it on special occasions.”
Ezra shook his package and heard it gurgle, which made him smile. He opened his package and broke into a full-fledged smile. “Well, look what we have here. Now this calls for a celebration. Mildred, bring us two glasses please, and one for yourself, if you’re so inclined.”
Mildred brought three glasses and sat down opposite Charlie. “Abigail, make sure the flapjacks don’t burn. When they’re ready, please bring them to the table; Charlie must be famished.”
Charlie was enjoying the way he was being treated. He couldn’t remember the last time someone fussed over him. Then he noticed little Ezra looking at him with a long face. “What’s the matter, little Ezra? Oh, wait a minute. I know what’s bothering you. You thought I forgot to bring you something, didn’t you?” Ezra nodded, thinking that Charlie forgot about him and a tear fell down his cheek. “Well, let’s see now. What would a young lad like you want me to bring him?” Charlie rubbed his chin. “Well, I couldn’t rightly get you a gun, now, could I?” Ezra shook his head. “I couldn’t get you a new Winchester repeating rifle. No, that wouldn’t work either, would it?” Ezra shook his head again. “Well, let’s see if this might be more to your liking.” Charlie reached into his pocket and pulled out a shiny new nickel-plated harmonica. “I think that this shiny new harmonica might be something that little Ezra might like.” He was about to hand it to little Ezra, but the boy reached out and yanked it from his hand and ran out of the room, squealing with happiness.
Mildred smiled. “You made that boy very happy, Charles. That was mighty thoughtful of you to think of that little fellow.”
“Now, Mildred, I couldn’t come a-calling and not bring a little something for everyone, now co
uld I?”
Abigail’s head turned. “Me too? You mean you brought me something too?”
Charlie laughed and slapped his thigh. “Now why would I leave you out? Aren’t you a part of this family? Or could I have been mistaken and you’re just the little ole maid that works here?”
Abby put her hands on her hips. “Now, Charlie Longstreet, you know I’m no maid. I’m their daughter and now I want to know what it is that you brought me since it was you that brought it up in the first place.”
She was getting worked up, so Charlie put his hands up defensively, then he reached into his pocket and took out a small rectangular box. “Now, what could I bring a young lady that she might like?” Charlie scratched his beard as if deep in thought. “It was truly vexing to me, but I decided that she might like this.” He handed her the box to open.
She tore the wrapping off the box and opened it. What she saw took her breath away. She gasped; she was looking at the finest pearl necklace she had ever seen.
“My lord,” Mildred said. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful anywhere, except maybe in the Sears catalogue. Put it on, child. Let’s see how it looks on you.”
Abby put her pearl necklace on and her face lit up. She turned to Charlie. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Then don’t say anything. Just enjoy them, and think of me when you wear them.”
Abby took Charlie by the arm and tugged on it. “Look at me, Charles Longstreet. Do you know what these pearls mean to me?” Charlie didn’t quite know what she was asking him. “This pearl necklace tells me that you care for me. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have given me pearls. You would have bought something that you can buy in any store and not something so personal.”
