Lee (The Landon Saga Book 6)

by Tell Cotten

  Ike’s face was pale and tight-drawn, but controlled. He stood rigid, and a harsh coldness was coming over him.

  His eyes suddenly blinked, and we grabbed for our Colts.

  Ike was fast. We brought our six-shooters up at the same time, and our shots blended together.

  I heard a loud thump as my bullet hit flesh, and Ike flew backwards and landed on his back.

  I also felt a wicked blow hit me somewhere below, and I staggered backwards but managed to stay on my feet.

  Gunshots erupted around me, and in the corner of my eye I saw Brian stagger as he took lead. But he was also firing his Henry furiously, and I heard a scream of pain.

  Ike was trying to raise himself up, so I fired again. My bullet caught him in the chest, and he was flipped over backwards.

  I started to turn to the others, but before I could another bullet slammed into my shoulder and threw me backwards. I landed hard on my back, but I managed to keep ahold of my Colt.

  Brian was down on one knee beside me. He had dropped his rifle, but now he held his Colt and was still firing away.

  Two of Ike’s men were still standing, and they were firing at us. While lying there I fired twice at the closest one, and his body jerked backwards. Meanwhile, Brian took care of the other one, and they fell at the same time.

  I turned my attention to the other two, but they were down for good.

  I heard a grimace beside me. I looked sideways and saw Brian fall over onto his back.

  I was about to say something when I heard a noise. I looked and spotted a man running out of the bunkhouse. He disappeared around the corner, and a few seconds later he reappeared. He was a-horseback, and he was riding out in a dead run.

  With pain everywhere, I managed to get up on one knee. Breathing hard, I lifted my Colt and aimed. I emptied my six-shooter at the fleeing man, but his horse never broke stride as he rode up the hill and disappeared.

  I grimaced as I lowered the Colt. I was dizzy, so I allowed myself to fall gently onto my back. With my elbows on the ground and my hands pointed upward, I stared up at the blue sky and breathed.

  “Brian?” I gasped.

  “I’m here,” came the abrupt answer.

  “Hit bad?”

  “I think so. You?”

  “Not sure yet.”

  “They all dead?”

  I glanced sideways at them.

  “They ain’t moving.”

  “Good.”

  “Let me catch my breath,” I gasped. “Then I’ll see what I can do.”

  “All right,” Brian sounded tired. “Don’t die on me.”

  “I’ll try. You don’t die either.”

  Brian grunted, and then it was silent.

  I’m not sure when it happened, but I must have passed out after that because I don’t remember anything else.

  Chapter fifty-nine

  I woke up to pain. My head hurt, my ribs hurt; it even hurt to breath.

  I also heard a familiar snoring, and I was relieved to hear it.

  My eyes were dry and matted, but I forced them open anyhow. I blinked a few times before I spotted a ceiling above me.

  I was in a bunk. I turned my head and spotted Brian Clark sleeping in another bunk.

  Moving slowly, I felt at my right hip, and a wave of panic came over me when I realized that I wasn’t wearing my Colt.

  With considerable pain, I swung my feet out and sat up. The movement caused my head to swirl, and I had to close my eyes as I gathered myself.

  Several minutes passed, and I opened my eyes again and looked around.

  I was in a bunkhouse. The room looked familiar, but I couldn’t place where I was.

  I spotted my gun-belt and Colt on another bunk, and there was also a new shirt and pants folded beside them.

  There was a noise at the door. A young man walked in, and he was small, lean, and had red hair. He looked familiar, but I couldn’t place him.

  “You’re awake!” He said loudly, and I winced as a sharp pain exploded in my head.

  “Not so loud,” I managed to say.

  “Sorry,” he said, and asked, “How do you feel?”

  I grunted in response.

  “Where are we?” I asked.

  “You don’t know?” He looked at me with an amused look.

  “No.”

  “You’re at Mr. Tomlin’s ranch headquarters,” he informed. “Rondo Landon brought you here.”

  “Rondo?”

  “Sure, him and Ross. You were in bad shape. You had a bullet in your shoulder and another one stuck between two ribs. Mrs. Tomlin dug ’em out though.”

  “How ’bout Brian?”

  “He got hit in the leg, hip, and arm. You boys were sure lucky.”

  I grunted at that.

  “What happened to my horse?” I asked suddenly.

  “Is he the blind one?”

  “That’s him.”

  “He’s fine. He’s down at the barn.”

  I nodded and asked, “Where’s Rondo?”

  “In town. He should be here tonight.”

  I was confused about a lot of things. I shook my head to clear the cobwebs, and I winced as sharp pains shot through my body.

  “Who are you?” I asked as I tried to ignore the pain.

  “You don’t recognize me?”

  “I do, I just can’t think straight right now.”

  “I’m Rory. Rory Wheeler.”

  I nodded slowly as my memory came back.

  “You work for Mr. Tomlin.”

  “That’s right.”

  “Is Mr. Tomlin here?”

  “No. He’s out.”

  I frowned as I tried to force myself to think. But I was just too tired, and with a sigh I leaned back on my bunk.

  “You don’t look so good,” Rory said. “Why don’t you get some more rest? Rondo can explain everything later.”

  “I think that’s a good idea.”

  Rory nodded and left the bunkhouse. Meanwhile, I closed my eyes and drifted off.

  Chapter sixty

  I woke up a few hours later.

  Brian was awake too. He was sitting up, eating a bowl of soup, and he grinned when he saw me.

  “Well! You’re still alive,” he said.

  “And you still snore,” I managed to smile back.

  “Hungry?”

  “I could eat.”

  “There’s a pot of soup on the stove.”

  I nodded. I breathed deeply and tried to stand, but I was too wobbly and dizzy. With a grimace I eased back down, and Brian smiled.

  “Stay there. I’ll get it.”

  I nodded gratefully, and Brian put his bowl down and limped over to the stove. He fixed me a bowl of soup, grabbed a spoon, and hobbled back to me.

  “Thanks,” I said as I took the bowl.

  Brian nodded and sat back down on his bunk. I suddenly realized how hungry I was, and it was silent as we ate.

  “That was a violent gunfight,” Brian finally said.

  “I reckon it was,” I agreed.

  “We were lucky.”

  “I suppose we were,” I said, and then I smiled. “Mebbe our luck is changing.”

  Brian grunted as we ate some more soup.

  ***

  Rondo rode in that evening, and he looked relieved to see us awake and sitting up.

  “Well! It looks like you boys are going to make it,” he smiled at us. “We were worried for a few days.”

  “I wasn’t,” I smiled.

  “No, you weren’t worried about anything,” Rondo chuckled.

  “What all happened?” I asked.

  “Well, Ross rode into town all worried, so we rode out to Ike’s headquarters. We found Ike and four of his men dead, and you two were passed out. We borrowed a wagon and brought you here. Mrs. Tomlin patched you up while we went back and buried Ike and his men.”

  “What about Butch?” I asked curiously.

  “Last I heard, he was back at Ike’s headquarters. He’s not saying much, an
d neither are his men.”

  I frowned as I thought on that.

  “Well, Butch never did do me much harm,” I figured. “As long as he doesn’t cause me any trouble, I won’t go after him.”

  “I’m glad to hear you say that,” Rondo replied. “Besides, you’re in enough trouble as it is.”

  “What do you mean?” I narrowed my eyes.

  “One of Ike’s hands got away,” Rondo explained. “He came riding into town, yelling that you and Brian shot Ike down in cold blood.”

  “That ain’t exactly how it happened,” I corrected.

  “I know that, but the damage has been done,” Rondo continued. “There’s some bigwig politician from back east in town, and he and Ike were friends. He’s demanding justice. He’s written letters back east, telling everybody what you did, and he’s also been in to see me several times demanding that I do something.”

  I scowled and shook my head in disgust.

  “So what happens now?” Brian spoke up.

  “You boys should be safe here for a few weeks. But, soon as you’re able to ride, I suggest you boys clear out until things settle down.”

  “What are you going to do about the politician?” I asked.

  “I told him I’d look around, but I also told him that Lee Mattingly knows how to cover his tracks.”

  I smiled at that, and then a curious look crossed my face.

  “How about Ross? Does he go along with that?”

  “He’ll do whatever I tell him.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means just that,” Rondo said, and then he changed the subject. “You boys are short on equipment, so I took an extra saddle and two horses from Ike. He won’t be needing them anymore. They’re at the barn, and Mr. Tomlin bought you both some new clothes and two new hats.”

  “I appreciate that.”

  “That about covers everything on my end,” Rondo said, and then he asked, “Now, where have you two been? What happened?”

  “Do you want the short version or the long one?” I smiled faintly.

  Chapter sixty-one

  Recovery was a slow process, and during the next few weeks we took several long naps and played a lot of poker.

  We finally started feeling better. We were still stiff and sore, but at least we could move around some.

  Rondo rode out to see us one evening, and he looked worried.

  “That politician is still stirring up trouble,” he told us. “He’s demanding that you two hang for killing Ike.”

  “I don’t think I’d like that,” I frowned.

  “Can you boys ride?” Rondo asked.

  “I can,” Brian spoke up. “How about you, Lee?”

  I nodded slowly.

  “We could leave in the morning,” Brian suggested.

  “No,” I shook my head. “There’s something I’ve got to do first.”

  “What?” Rondo asked.

  “We came back here to get our hotel back,” I reminded, and Rondo frowned disapprovingly.

  “How are you planning on doing that?” He asked.

  “I once rode into town and delivered a message for you,” I explained. “Remember?”

  “You delivered a message to Palmer,” he recollected.

  “That’s right,” I nodded, and asked, “Care to return the favor?”

  “Who’s the message for?”

  “Jeremiah Wisdom.”

  Rondo frowned thoughtfully and asked, “What’s the message?”

  “Tell him I’ll be coming to see him in the morning.”

  Rondo looked hesitant.

  “Are you sure about this? I’ve got to know him some, and he isn’t all that bad a feller.”

  “He was in cahoots with Ike,” I replied in a curt voice.

  Rondo studied me for several seconds, and then he nodded.

  “All right, I’ll tell him.”

  “I appreciate it.”

  “Promise me one thing,” Rondo added. “Talk to him first.”

  “What for?”

  “You might be surprised and work something out.”

  I had my doubts, but I agreed for Rondo’s sake.

  “All right. I’ll talk to him,” I said.

  Rondo nodded and turned to leave.

  “Watch out for that politician,” he warned me.

  “I will,” I promised, and Rondo left.

  Chapter sixty-two

  We saddled our horses after breakfast the next morning.

  Rondo had a good eye for horseflesh. He’d picked us out two good-looking horses, and they were real gentle too.

  We thanked the Tomlins for taking us in, and then we climbed on our horses and took out.

  We used No-see-ums as a packhorse, and he trotted along close behind my horse.

  Even though the bouncing hurt, it felt good to be back in the saddle. It also felt good to be wearing normal clothes again.

  We were silent as we trotted along. Brian looked like he wanted to say something, but he never did.

  We finally arrived at town. The streets were mostly empty, and nobody paid us much attention.

  A cold, empty feeling grabbed at me as we walked our horses down the main street. Seeing our hotel brought back a lot of memories, and I felt a pinch in my stomach.

  We dismounted in front of the hotel, and I looped my reins around the hitching rail and tied them in a slipknot. Brian did the same, and then we checked our weapons. I looked at him and nodded, and we stepped up onto the front porch.

  The oak doors were open and pushed back. We walked through the swinging doors, and I stood to the side while my eyes adjusted.

  I took a long, slow look around, and I frowned thoughtfully.

  The floors were clean, the bar shined, and all the glassware shone. Everything was neat and tidy and organized.

  A new, fancy glass mirror hung behind the bar. I studied it a moment, and then I heard a movement from the kitchen.

  It was April, and June was trailing behind her.

  April spotted us, and a warm look crossed her face. June was happy too, and her eyes shone brightly.

  My heart jumped. In a mere matter of seconds, I was flooded with all sorts of confusing emotions.

  I started to smile, but then I remembered why I was here.

  April noticed my somber look, and her grin vanished.

  I looked past them and spotted Jeremiah Wisdom. He was sitting at my corner table, and he had a game of solitaire laid out in front of him.

  I took in a big breath and walked towards him while Brian stayed at the door.

  I glanced at April, and she looked worried.

  I turned my eyes back to Jeremiah. He just sat there calmly, looking up at me with his hands on the table.

  “Stand up,” I said quietly, and my voice carried well in the empty room.

  “I don’t want to fight you, Lee,” he said calmly.

  “You’ll have to,” I replied roughly. “I came here to get my hotel back.”

  “Why?” Jeremiah asked abruptly.

  I was taken back by the question, and several seconds passed as I thought on that.

  “Because it’s mine,” I finally said.

  “No, it’s not,” Jeremiah said matter-of-factly, and then he added, “Even if you got it back, you can’t stay here. You’re a wanted man.”

  “I’ll worry about that later,” I said, and I lowered my gun hand over my gun handle.

  Jeremiah saw my movements, but he didn’t move.

  “You’re a reasonable man, Lee,” he said. “What happened with Ike; that’s debatable. But this isn’t right, and you know it.”

  “You were in cahoots with Ike,” I accused.

  “I was,” Jeremiah admitted. “But, everything I did was legal.”

  “You cheated me at cards.”

  “No, I didn’t.”

  “You expect me to believe that?” I raised an eyebrow.

  “I don’t have to cheat.”

  I frowned thoughtfully, and then
I changed the subject.

  “It’s doesn’t matter,” I said. “I lost something that didn’t belong to me, and that’s why I’m here.”

  Jeremiah looked intrigued.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “The hotel was only partly ours,” I explained. “We had a silent partner, and it wasn’t her fault we lost the hotel.”

  “Her?”

  I frowned irritably, and with a sigh I replied, “Jessica Tussle. She was our partner.”

  Jeremiah nodded slowly.

  “She’s the lady who showed up the day you lost the hotel.”

  “That’s right.”

  It fell silent as Jeremiah thought on that.

  “I’m a reasonable man,” he finally said. “So, before there’s any trouble, I have a proposal.”

  “Let’s hear it.”

  “If I understand this correctly, you’re only here because of Jessica.”

  “That would be correct, yes.”

  “All right then. I’ll give Jessica her part of the hotel back, and I’ll be her new partner. I’ll offer her the same deal that you and Brian had.”

  I glanced over at Brian, and he nodded slightly. I looked at April next, and the expression on her face was begging me to accept the offer.

  “All right,” I said softly. “The hotel’s yours and Jessica’s.”

  Jeremiah smiled pleasantly, but I didn’t return the smile. Instead, I turned and looked at April, and our eyes locked.

  Several long seconds passed, but April and I didn’t seem to notice.

  I was about to say something when a man wearing a fancy vest burst through the door. The swinging door caught Brian in the back, and the impact knocked him over.

  He held a rifle, and he also had a wild look in his eyes.

  He spotted me standing there, and with an outraged yell he swung his rifle up.

  Chapter sixty-three

  He fired before I could do anything, and I heard a sharp whip as a bullet flew by my head and hit the wall behind me.

  I jumped sideways, drew my Colt, aimed instinctively, and pulled the trigger. The Colt bucked in my hand, and I heard a loud thump as my bullet hit flesh.