The Streets of Vermijo

by Neil Hunter

  By this time Seaburgh was off his horse, holding the reins of both horses.

  ‘Keep an eye out,’ Hodges said, turning to yank open the side door that led into the warehouse. He vanished inside.

  Seaburgh nodded, easing out his handgun. He glanced down towards Vermijo’s main street. It looked pretty deserted but he didn’t take his eyes off it.

  Inside the musty building Hodges located what he was looking for. A few dozen gallon cans of coal oil. He picked up four and carried them out to his waiting partner, then went back inside. He unscrewed the tops of as many cans as he could in a couple of minutes. Used one to pour oil over the stacked ones, then ran a trail back to the door. By this time Seaburgh had looped rope through the cans and hung a pair from each horse’s saddle horn.

  Hodges struck a couple of Lucifers and touched it to the vapor rising from the spilled oil. As soon as the flames rose and ran back inside the warehouse he joined Seaburgh who was already back on his horse.

  ‘You take the west side, I’ll do the east,’ Hodges said. ‘Do as many buildings as you can. I’ll meet you at the far end of town.’

  ‘Anybody gets in the way?’ Seaburgh said.

  ‘Hell, you got your guns don’t you.’

  They spurred their horses away from the warehouse, each man taking his own route as they headed for Vermijo.

  ~*~

  The warehouse timber, long since dried under the Arizona sun, caught fire quickly, flame bursting through the walls and roof. The fire, fed by the spilled coal oil, engulfed the remaining cans Hodges had doused, heating up fast and as the cans expanded seams split, adding more oil to the inferno. First one, then another blew apart, spreading the oil. It didn’t take long before the interior of Salo’s warehouse became a raging mass of flame. More cans exploded and increased the blaze.

  By the time the fire was spotted by someone on the main street the fire was already beyond control, but within a couple of minutes folk were appearing, heading in the direction of the warehouse. Among them was the stocky figure of Janos Salo himself, face grim as he saw his merchandise going up in flames. He could see by the intensity of the blaze that there wasn’t a thing he could do, yet he was unable to stop himself getting as close as possible. The intense heat stopped him and the other onlookers from getting too close.

  Someone spotted the crumpled form of Linus Penny lying on the ground close to the wall, flames already licking at his clothing. They were forced to watch as the old man was engulfed by the spreading fire.

  ‘How did it start?’ someone said.

  Right then they didn’t have an answer.

  They soon would.

  A woman’s scream turned heads.

  Smoke and flame was rising from one of the buildings at the south end of town. Moments later a store on the opposite side of the street showed the same.

  ‘What the hell is happening?’ someone yelled.

  ‘Town’s being burned.’

  ‘Who’s doing this?’ Janos Salo said. ‘Who?’

  ‘I’ll tell you,’ someone said.

  Heads turned.

  Ruby Tucker leaned down from her panting horse. She was in no better condition herself. Covered in thick dust, her clothes wrinkled and damp with sweat as she slid from her saddle, dragging her rifle with her.

  ‘Two of Jim Lockhart’s damn deputies. The ones who robbed the bank. Come back to make Vermijo pay for what we did to them. That’s who.’

  She stared through red rimmed eyes, brushing ineffectually at her grimy hair. Jacked a load into the Winchester’s breech.

  ‘If you don’t want you town burned to the ground you’d better move your asses and arm yourselves ’cause those bastards intend to do just that.’

  Ruby didn’t wait. She strode off, taking herself in the direction of Vermijo’s main street and there was no mistaking her intentions.

  ~*~

  Frank saw smoke rising ahead. He was hard put staying in the saddle by this time. The leg wound was giving him more pain than he had expected, most likely because of the shaking it was getting from his ride back to Vermijo. He was on a double edged sword here. Dammed if he slowed down and likewise if he pushed his horse faster. A few miles from town he had picked up fresh tracks. Two riders, cutting in from cross country and then a single horse merging over the top of the two. He told himself it might easily mean nothing. On the other hand there was a chance it could mean trouble, so he urged his weary horse to a faster gait. Which in turn aggravated his wound. He’d seen more blood soaking through his makeshift bandage and admitted to feeling weak. He was determined to stay mounted until he reached town. He gripped the saddlehorn with his left hand, tightening his hold until his knuckles turned white.

  Frank Tyler, you can be a stubborn son of a bitch at times. Too much so for your own good.

  It was the way he had always been. Going his own way and getting himself into more scrapes than any man had a right to. Stubborn, his late wife had told him on more than one occasion. Liable to go off before he thought things through. Too eager to do what was right, giving little regard to the possible results. The numerous scars on his body lent credence to that. In his earlier career as a US Marshal that determined attitude had placed him in danger more than once, but Frank had the determination that would not allow him to back down. Catching his quarry, whether a single man or a wild bunch, had been the driving force that saw him persisting in the chase. He never made a tally on how many shootings he had been involved in. He saw it as part of his job. The outlaws and killers he went after were not known as peace loving characters. Cornered they preferred to go out shooting when the cards refused to present them with a winning hand. As far as Frank was concerned they made their own choices and paid the toll.

  As he grew older he maintained his ways, though had to admit things became harder as the years rolled by. Even so he persisted. The Lockhart incident showed him he was getting slower. He refused to allow it to put an end to his career and when the chance to bring his grandson, Luke, into the marshal service he was only too willing to pin on his own badge again. He had seen the potential the younger man had and made it his business to get Luke into the service, seeing it as a good opportunity for the boy. The incident at Vermijo, with the bank robbery and murder had become their first case together.

  He had tracked and dealt with his man but took a knife in the leg that was giving him a bad time. With his suspicions aroused and closing in on Vermijo Frank swore an oath he would not quit until he found out what was going on. Even though it was taking its toll on him.

  With the town closer he saw the blazing warehouse. A crowd of Vermijo’s citizens clustered around it. He saw straight off there was no way they would be able to bring such a blaze under control.

  Putting his horse along the last stretch Frank saw more fires. Flame and smoke rising from buildings on either side of the main street.

  He also saw a figure he recognized talking to the folk clustered near the burning warehouse. From a distance he saw the rider slide from the saddle, clutching a rifle, and recognition set in. It was Ruby Tucker, heading down towards the main street. By the time Frank reached the crowd she had reached the south end of town and showed no sign of stopping.

  He admired her courage. Yet he also saw the risk she was taking and knew he had to step in to help.

  ~*~

  Ruby heard the sound of hoofs behind her. Turned to see Frank Tyler riding in close. He looked as unkempt as she did. Dust grimed, a bloody bandage around his left thigh, Frank looked more like an outlaw than a US Marshal. Even so she was glad to see him.

  ‘They’re trying to burn the town around our ears,’ she said. ‘Couple of the old Lockhart gang.’

  Frank simply nodded, pointed with his rifle. ‘I’ll take this side,’ he said.

  There was no need for any more talk.

  Frank reined his horse about and vanished along the west side backlots.

  Ruby wasted no more time, cutting along to the east section of the stre
et. Smoke was billowing from already burning building as she skirted the flames shooting out from the first building. As she cleared the smoke she saw the rider further along the cluttered backlots. He was in the act of splashing more oil from a gallon can along the back wall of a store.

  She wasted no time in calling out. Simply raised her file and triggered a shot that went wide, but at least drew the rider’s attention. As his head turned in her direction Ruby recognized him.

  Ben Hodges.

  One of the Lockhart’s bully boys.

  It gave her little satisfaction her guesswork had proved correct.

  She came to a stop in order to take better aim. Shouldering her rifle. Finger slipping against the trigger.

  As she went to fire Hodges proved his skill by dropping the can of oil and making a smooth draw, his handgun a blur as he aimed and fired. Ruby felt the wind of its passing the second she pulled her rifle’s trigger. The closeness of the bullet caused her to react, stepping to one side.

  Hodges fired again. This time his aim was on target and it was only that Ruby had already moved that the slug tore across her right upper arm instead of hitting her in the chest. She lost her grip on the Winchester, covering the wound with her left hand as she snatched at her own holstered pistol, gritting her teeth at the burning pain in her arm.

  The sudden rattle of gunshots startled Hodges’ horse and it skittered sideways. Hodges had to yank on the reins to steady it.

  That diversion allowed Ruby the chance take another shot, moving her left hand to grip her Colt as she aimed, putting a shot into Hodges’ horse as it pranced around to face her. The heavy lead slug plowed into its skull, directly between the eyes and the stricken animal gave a shrill scream as it went down. Hodges, frantically kicking his feet clear of the stirrups, flung himself from the saddle. He landed awkwardly. Turned his gun muzzle at Ruby and fired a single shot that went well clear, then dodged into the alley between the next pair of buildings.

  Ruby went after him without a moment’s hesitation, flinging herself into the alley and flattening herself against the timber wall, gun up and ready. She was in time to see Hodges’ moving shape as he cleared the far end of the alley, stepping out onto Vermijo’s main street.

  Now you’ve got nowhere else to run, Ben Hodges.

  Ruby went after him without a moment’s hesitation.

  ~*~

  The second rider was off his horse, spilling coal oil across the back wall of his next target as Frank cleared the smoke from an already burning building, flame sweeping up the timber and curling over the roof.

  Charlie Seaburgh heard the sound of pounding hoofs as Frank spurred his horse forward, slamming into the outlaw. Seaburgh was sent flying, feet leaving the ground. He thumped to the dirt, the oil can slipping from his hands. Rolling frantically Seaburgh slithered across the ground. Breath driven from his body. As he came to his knees he snatched at the Colt on his hip, yanking it free, twisting round to see his attacker.

  Frank Tyler, dust streaked and browned from the sun, hauled his Winchester across his horse’s neck.

  ‘Son of a bitch,’ Seaburgh said. ‘We tried to kill you the day Jim died. Ain’t you ever going to lie down?’

  He triggered a wild shot that clipped Frank’s hat and spun it off his head. Dogged back the hammer to fire again.

  Frank fired first, his .44-40 slug ripping into Seaburgh’s chest, rocking him back.

  ‘Day I do,’ he said, ‘it won’t be any of your doin’, Charlie.

  Seaburgh was still falling when a second shot from Frank’s rifle slammed in between his eyes and by the time he hit the ground he was dead.

  Frank picked up shots coming from the main street.

  Ruby.

  He reined his horse around, taking it between buildings, and hoped Vermijo’s sheriff was still on her feet.

  ~*~

  Without even glancing down Ruby shucked out the spent brass hulls from the Colt’s cylinder and fed in fresh ones. At the mouth of the alley she peered around the corner and saw Hodges crossing the street, gun in hand. He had lost his hat somewhere, his hair flying loose.

  ‘Give it up!’ Ruby said as she stepped out of the alley. ‘End of the trail for you this time, Ben.’

  Hodges faced her, anger twisting his sweating face. There was a look in his eyes that warned Ruby this was a dangerous, unpredictable man.

  ‘A goddamn woman telling me that?’

  Hodges laughed. A taunting sound meant to put Ruby off her stride.

  ‘Sheriff of Vermijo to you, Hodges. We run you out before. This time you’ll stay. Most likely in a pine box for what you did to Sam Piggot.’

  Hodges finger eased back the hammer of the gun held at his side.

  Ruby was more than ready for his move and the second his hammer clicked back she brought up her own pistol and put a pair of .45 slugs in him. He toppled over on his back, trigger jerking and sending a shot that plowed a furrow in the dirt. Ruby walked up to him, nudging the gun from his slack fingers.

  Hodges stared up at her, shaking his head gently.

  ‘Shot by a woman,’ he managed to say in the few seconds before he died.

  ‘Now that ain’t going to do your reputation any good if they carve it on your headstone.’

  She became aware of a moist warmth running down her arm soaking through her shirt from the bullet tear. It ran over her hand and through the fingers gripping her pistol. The wound was starting to sting now. She closed her left hand over the bloody patch on her arm.

  ‘Ruby! Ruby!’

  Her husband Hiram was running in her direction, concern on his flushed face. When he reached her he threw his arms around her.

  ‘You’re hurt. My God, your bleeding. I have to get you to the doctor.’ He turned and called out as he saw other people appearing. ‘Somebody go fetch Doc Begley. Ruby has been shot.’

  ‘Hiram, honey, just calm down. It’s all over. We’re all safe now.’

  ‘But …’

  ‘Hiram, listen to me. Take a breath. Go over and see the store is safe. Watch out for any drifting sparks and such. We wouldn’t want anything to happen to the store. You see to that. I’m going to the office and wait for the doc. Now go and I’ll see you later.’

  ‘If you say so.’

  Hiram kissed her cheek, gently patted her shoulder and hurried off.

  Ruby saw Frank. Leading his horse across the street. He looked to be in as bad a state as she was. But managed a wry smile when he saw her.

  ‘Fine example of law officers we are,’ he said.

  ‘Frank, I do believe we brought ’em all down one way and another,’ she said. ‘That’s some tally.’

  ‘I guess.’

  ‘You seen or heard from Luke yet?’

  Frank shook his head.

  ‘I figure he’ll show up in a while That boy just don’t know the meanin’ of punctuality. He just naturally has to be late for everything.’

  Around them Vermijo was coming to life as bucket lines were being established to tackle the burning buildings.

  ‘At lest they didn’t get to burn the jail down,’ Frank said as Ruby led the way inside.

  ‘Now that would have been a shame,’ Ruby said, dropping into her chair behind the desk. ‘Think of all that paperwork getting burned up.’

  ‘That pile won’t feel so bad by the time we finish writing up what went off recently.’

  The door opened and Lawyer Trehearne burst into the office, drawing a soft groan from Ruby. She tried to ignore him as he launched into a tirade.

  ‘This is inexcusable. Dead men on the streets. Businesses on fire. The town in an uproar. And all down to your inability to handle your office …’

  Ruby pushed slowly to her feet. Travel stained, in stale clothing, blood still dripping from her fingers. The cold in her eyes could have frozen water.

  ‘Mr. Trehearne, leave this office right now before I add to what has already happened in Vermijo today. Just as a reminder I should tell you I still have unu
sed bullets in my gun.’

  Trehearne stepped back, face pale as he realized what Ruby had just said.

  ‘I have you as my witness, Marshal Tyler. This … this woman has just threatened me.’

  ‘Better add something else,’ Frank said. ‘I still got a loaded gun in my holster as well. Be wise to remember that. As to the sheriff threatening you, well I’d just of put it down to the stress she’s been under the last few days. Kind of wouldn’t be unusual if she was a little tetchy right now.’

  Trehearne had the good sense to back away, leaving the office without another word. Frank and Ruby looked at each other for a moment.

  ‘That man …’ Ruby said.

  They both managed worn smiles.

  Eve came into the office, flushed and not a little agitated. When she saw the condition they were in she gasped in shock.

  ‘You look terrible,’ she said.

  ‘Nice to be told. Doc Begley has been sent for,’ Ruby said.

  ‘Where’s Luke?’ Eve said. She failed to hide her concern.

  ‘Dare say he’ll turn up,’ Frank said. ‘Late as usual.’

  ‘Shouldn’t you be sending someone out to look for him?’

  ‘Be handy if we knew where he is.’

  Eve wasn’t happy about that but there wasn’t a thing she could do until such times as Frank decided otherwise. She filled mugs with coffee from the pot she kept on the stove, handing them to Frank and Ruby.

  ‘Go take a look in the saddlebags of those two dead men,’ Ruby said. ‘And mine. I believe you’ll find the money taken from the bank.’

  ‘Check mine,’ Frank said. ‘Some there as well.’

  Given something to take her mind from worrying about Luke, Eve hurried off.

  ‘Frank, can’t say I’m not worried about Luke.’

  ‘I know. We’ll give it until tomorrow then send a few riders out to look for him.’

  The doctor showed up a little while later, shaking his head at the condition of the pair.

  ‘No point asking what you pair have been up to,’ he said.

  ‘Quit grumbling, Doc,’ Ruby said. ‘It’s been a rough few days.’