Once a Ranger

by Dusty Richards

Several in the crowd booed him but quickly hushed.

  Guthrey put the noose around Burroughs’s neck and tightened it behind his left ear, then put the mask over his head. The drop Burroughs faced should snap his neck when his body reached the end of it—otherwise he would strangle. Applying the rope, Guthrey silently prayed the drop did the job.

  Guthrey pulled the lever he’d tested a dozen times with a sandbag at Burroughs’s weight that was used for practice. The rush of the man’s form went through the open hole and the rope creaked when his weight hit the end. The crack of his neck was loud enough Guthrey heard it, and he turned to his men. “It’s over. Let’s go down.”

  They silently nodded.

  Doc used his stethoscope to listen to the man’s heart while he lay in the wagon that had been backed under the scaffold in preparation to receive his body. Doc took the instrument out of his ear and said, “The man is dead.”

  The ropes were untied. Next the noose was removed, and Cam coiled up the rope as the jail’s property. Then the body was covered by the two helpers from the funeral parlor.

  Burroughs’s corpse, accompanied by the reverend, lay in the coffin that was now nailed shut by the two men. They hauled him out for the grave already dug. The matter of Cally and Dan’s father’s death was over—Guthrey hoped his wife and brother-in-law would have some finality on this day.

  “Some guy wanted to buy the rope,” Cam said with a scowl.

  “No. Store it at the office and we will burn it later. They’d only want to cut it in pieces and sell it at carnivals.”

  “I told him hell no.”

  “Good. I need to check on my wife. I’ll be back in short while.”

  “I’m going back to the Peters Ranch and look after Olive,” Cam said.

  “I understand. Tell her we all share her loss.”

  “I will. Thank you.” Cam went for his big horse.

  Guthrey walked downhill to his house as the dispersing crowd left the center of town. Several people spoke to him but he just waved. He was in no mood to talk about Burroughs or the man’s intention in killing Bridges. At the doorway, Cally rushed to hug him, and it was obvious she had been crying.

  Dan stood up from a kitchen chair and nodded. “It went well.”

  “Yes, thank God.”

  “I’m going back to the Cody Ranch and help Noble. We haven’t seen anyone who looked threatening, but after Mark’s murder, who knows.”

  “This is secret. I telegraphed the agent at San Carlos for a tracker. He sent me a Mexican man, Vance, who had lived among the Apaches most of his life. His Apache wife recently died and he wanted to leave the agency. They said he’s a good tracker. He’s searching for a Box K branded horse and where these men have holed up. I gave him a badge to keep out of sight unless he needed it. He has a packhorse and supplies. Those men had to have a base and he might find it.”

  “That was smart. They simply popped up. No one in that country saw them come or go. Noble and I have checked with about everyone up there. The old man thinks they rode smoke.”

  “I agree, Dan, which is why I hired Vance. He may find how they did it.”

  “Noble will sure approve of your plans. I’ll go back, and we’re keeping our eyes open.”

  “We’ll get things to normal someday,” Guthrey said. “One of us needs to check on our man at the Bridges Ranch. Cally may soon want to go back home, but I’ll handle it. You get back with Noble—nothing may happen but we can’t take a chance.”

  “I agree. If you learn anything let us know.”

  “I will, Dan.”

  “Bad day for you?” Cally asked, holding his hand.

  “Yes, but a part of the job I accepted.”

  “I was up there with you spiritually, at least, and I felt every pain in your heart. Thought about Dad, who loved this dry land and worked to water it. How proud he must be up there of us able to carry on his dream.”

  “Yes, Cally, we are fighting to keep it, and winning.”

  She hugged him and sobbed. The day must have been a killer for her, bringing all those memories back. He squeezed her tightly. It was too much for anyone with a heart, and Cally had a soft one. She’d hidden it behind a façade the day he first arrived on their ranch. Who would want an old Texas Ranger on their place anyway? She said openly that she could not afford him. Lots of sand had blown by them since then. It damn sure wasn’t water save for the shallow river.

  He was proud he’d stayed and even more so for his lovely wife—someday law and order would prevail in this stickery land of cactus.

  “I guess I’ll go home in the morning,” Cally said, wiping away the tears with a handkerchief. “Things have settled down some. We really should, seriously, consider building a house here. You will only get more involved in this job in the future.”

  “I thought we decided and that you would do that?” he asked.

  She wrinkled her nose. “No, that’s a husband’s job. I will furnish it.”

  “There is a man builds houses here. His name is Dresscoe. I think he does a fine job. Stay another day and we can look at his work.”

  “If you think I need to be here, I’ll stay. Now sit down and eat lunch. I have some sun tea. It isn’t hot but it may not be cool either. Sorry.”

  “Sure. You join me. Dan’s already gone back. I simply need to sit here and let the day go on.”

  “You don’t drink. I noticed that a long time back when you first came here. Men offer you liquor and you turn them down. I am proud that you don’t drink, Phil. Most men on days like this would throw a drunk.”

  “I saw that the getting drunk business didn’t solve much. I just don’t care for it. Haven’t for years. A few times in my youth I considered it, but I didn’t like anything that took my thinking and regard for others away. So sometimes I have a beer but that’s all.”

  “Don’t change. You know, Olive said—well, she told me she had a crush on you years ago when you were in the Rangers.”

  “Olive and I met several years ago. I didn’t really let on I knew her from before until one day I came by their place and she thanked me for keeping my secret about her. She ran off back then to a wilder life. I don’t know how, but she finally reached her senses when she met a man who had a freight business, married him, went back to church, and had a good life until he died of a heart attack. A few years later she married Mark, also a widower. She’s a good Christian lady today.”

  “I took what she said as nice to know, not as a scandal, and you know the Lord forgives us for those past sins.”

  “Amen.” He chuckled and picked with his fork at the enchiladas she had fixed for him. “I sent Cam, who is a widower, to care for her. He’s a kind man. I didn’t want to be—well, involved, even as a friend, that close to her. I don’t need Olive—I have you—but I can resist things better at this distance.”

  “Thanks, big man. I appreciate your honesty.”

  “No problem.” He began eating his meal, feeling good it was all out.

  “Dan acts more normal when he’s working for you than he does working on the ranch, right? What can we do?”

  “Did you ask him what he wants to do?”

  “No. I simply figured the ranch is half his. What else could he do?” She turned up her hands, seated across from him. “That might be what he needs. Someone to ask him what he wants?”

  “Do that someday when you two are alone.”

  “My, my, we seem so serious today. Maybe we need some time—in bed today?”

  “I agree.”

  They both laughed.

  * * *

  THE NEXT MORNING Guthrey met his deputies. Cam was still out at the Peters Ranch. No one said a word. The jail was empty. Guthrey sent Baker to check on the other two men at the Davis Ranch. His men all knew about Vance and no one had seen him either so he must be looking hard in the chaparra
l for any signs of the killers. Poor man had so little to go on, Guthrey about felt sorry for sending him out there.

  Midmorning, Guthrey went to locate Dresscoe. He found the man, in his forties, amid a mountain of coffins of turpentine-smelling wood stacked around in his shop.

  They introduced themselves to each other and shook hands.

  He showed Guthrey to some new wooden benches to sit on.

  “I want to build a house on my property under the hill. There are two acres there and a decent well. And I need a windmill, holding tank, and the rest. Probably even move the corrals in back.”

  “I have one thing to say. If you want a good house to last here you need all redwood in the foundation and lower part. There are ferocious termites here that will eat your house up in four years. They won’t eat redwood.”

  “How expensive is it?”

  “More so than pine lumber cut locally. But we can get some.”

  “Can you come to my house for supper? Bring your plans.”

  “Sure. I will be there at six?”

  “Fine. My wife is here today and I want her approval as well.”

  “I understand. See you then.”

  He went back to the house and told Cally that Dresscoe was a nice man who’d be there for supper.

  “What will I fix him?”

  “Food, of course.”

  “Oh, Phil, you are no help at all.”

  That evening after her fine meal, they settled with their builder on a plain bungalow with stairs to the attic as a place for guests to sleep and four windows to ventilate it. The corrals would be rebuilt in back of the old and new structures, plus a windmill and shower area were included. Dresscoe promised to save them all he could but thought the entire plan would approach fifteen thousand dollars.

  “We can afford that,” she said.

  “Fine.”

  The three shook hands. Dresscoe hurried off to his own house to get the project going.

  The two hugged each other inside the jacal.

  “Well, you will have the nicest house in town someday,” he teased.

  “I already have the best husband.”

  “That is in doubt,” he teased some more. She was sure enough heady company for him.

  * * *

  EXCITED ABOUT HER house plans, Cally decided to stay in Soda Springs for a bit. Things were quiet enough in town that Guthrey rode out to the ranch two days later and checked with his man Guermo. Midday he rode up on Cochise and Deloris ran out to greet him.

  “Good day, senor. Get down. I can make some coffee and serve you some of my sopaipillas. Guermo is out checking cattle today. The screwworms are bad this year.”

  Guthrey dropped off his horse and loosened the cinch. “I’m glad you two are here. Have any troubles?”

  “No, everyone who came by has been very helpful. Is your wife okay? I miss her.”

  “She is going to build a house in town so we can be closer. I imagine she will be back here soon. I hope you’re comfortable in the house while we’re both gone. You have plenty of supplies?”

  “Oh, sí. We have enough of everything. She likes to be with you, like I do my man.”

  He agreed and went inside after Deloris. The little children drew back at the sight of him and he wished he had brought hard candy for them.

  “Is the baby fine?”

  “He is very healthy.”

  “That’s swell. You’re certain that Guermo doesn’t need anything?”

  “No, senor. He is so pleased to be a vaquero again he comes home singing every night.”

  “I know the feeling,” He nodded, amused. The man probably was pleased to be back in the saddle after squatting at that empty ranch and trying to get by for so long.

  “Dan and Noble will be back in a week or two. But I’m glad he’s happy.”

  “You don’t know how nice it makes me feel. He is never sharp, never angry. I will try to be sure he always gets to stay in the saddle.”

  “I understand.” He sipped her rich coffee and approved of it.

  Obviously things were in good shape at the ranch. The boys could help catch things up in a few days if Guermo was behind. But the situation looked to be in good hands. Since Guthrey had promised Cally he’d be back, he rode over to Soda Springs after thanking Deloris and eating some of her honey drizzled sopaipillas. My, how delicious they were.

  Back at his place near sundown, he put up his stallion and Cally met him coming in.

  “Is it all dried up?” she asked.

  “It’s dry and I saw a few cows and calves. They’re finding things to eat. And Guermo is treating several cattle for screwworms each day, but says he’s keeping up. He is so happy, Deloris says he sings coming in each night on his horse.”

  “Really?”

  “I don’t blame him. He likes the role, and after the near starvation they had squatting on that deserted ranch, your place is heaven.”

  She smiled. “You did good hiring those two.”

  “Yes. Has my new deputy been here today?” He wondered where the man was at.

  “No, did you expect him to come by?”

  “I guess he’ll come in when he needs us.”

  “Come.” She took his hand. “Your meal is in the oven.”

  “More clouds today. No rain again.”

  “If I could wring some out I would.”

  He hugged her shoulder. “I bet you would.”

  EIGHTEEN

  WHEN GUTHREY WOKE up before dawn, he went outside to relieve his bladder. He discovered the silhouettes of two horses hitched to his corral and someone rolled up in a blanket on the ground.

  He squatted down and the man woke up.

  “Senor Guthrey. I found some things you might want to see.”

  “You found them?”

  “I think they stayed at this place I found.”

  “Good. I’ll get my wife up and after breakfast we can ride out there.”

  “Sí, but they are not there now. I think they may come back. They left some things. I think they rode from Peters’s windmill to this place.”

  “Sounds great, Vance. I’ll be ready to ride up there right after breakfast.”

  His man stood up and folded his blanket. “You will see.”

  “Cally, we have company—”

  “I know. I’m dressed. I’ll make you two breakfast. It’s nice to meet you, Vance,” she said to him.

  “It is nice to meet you as well, senora.”

  “He’s found something and thinks it’s their hiding place.” Guthrey finished dressing and soon found his chair.

  “I have ridden many miles. I have seen many things. But I think you will agree this is their hideout.”

  “Have they been there lately?”

  “No one was there while I was in there. Their trail goes to Tombstone. I think they may stay down there most of the time.”

  “Good. Why’re you so sure that they are the same ones?”

  “I found two more nooses made up there.”

  Cally sucked in her breath. “Oh my God.”

  Guthrey agreed with her. “Two more nooses?”

  Vance nodded. “That is why I am so sure these are the men that lynched the rancher.” He turned his palms up at both of them.

  “How did you ever find this place?”

  “I found some tracks near the windmill. At a distance from where they must have waited in the brush cover for some time for him to come out there.”

  “I’m not complaining, but my men lost their tracks leaving there.”

  “They carefully swept those tracks, I think, but to the south is where they stayed and, I think, they hid to watch for him to come check on his mill. Maybe for as long as two days.”

  “Determined, huh?”

  “I have some coffee. You d
rink coffee, Vance?”

  “Sure. Thanks for having me in your house.”

  “You can come anytime. In my house, you’re his man and we are family.”

  The man nodded but he still looked uncertain.

  “Listen, what she says is the truth.”

  “Since my wife died, I have had no family. I am very grateful for your invitation.”

  She waved the pancake turner around. “Don’t ever worry. You’ve got a big family with all of us.”

  “Vance, I’m amazed at what you found, but the fact that they had two more nooses worries the fire out of me. Those others are still being guarded, but I had about thought those men had left the country.”

  “No, they have a packhorse grazing around there and all their things are in that cabin.”

  “That packhorse have a brand?”

  “It is not the Box K brand you mentioned. He has an E K on his shoulder.”

  “Nice work. We might ride to Tombstone and check the liveries first. If they are staying there we could find out, if that pony is in the stables.”

  “I didn’t go there. I was afraid I might make the killers nervous and they’d run.”

  “You have spent all your life as an Apache and you talk straight English for a man that’s been there that long.”

  “A preacher from the Dutch Reformed Church and his wife raised me. They were assigned to that reservation. So I lived in his house and we learned Apache together and I learned English. He corrected me a lot. Then I married Yellow Flower after her corn ceremony. She was a very lovely woman.”

  “I imagine so.”

  “I had proved myself as an Apache warrior. Some complained about me taking her as my bride, but no one challenged me. They knew I could fight.” He looked away. Obviously he’d reached into his heart talking about his life. Guthrey understood.

  * * *

  AFTER THE MEAL, they rode to the office and Guthrey told Zamora their plans.

  In a whisper he told Zamora, “This hideout he found still has two more nooses inside it.”

  “Holy Mary, do you think they have plans to hang the others they scared as well?”

  “It looks that way. Baker should check on both places today and tell them to keep up their guard. And don’t tell them what was found. Simply that we are concerned the killers may still be around here.”