Blue Bonnet

by Risner, Fay

  Bat didn't see how he could do any good by himself on foot. One shot and they were bound to scatter. Besides, he didn't have the heart to shoot Lim or his younguns. He'd ride back to the ranch for help and go in on Lim, look around and drive the cattle back through the gap in the wire they left from.

  It would take a few hours to get back to the ranch so Bat headed out right away. The night was dark, but he knew the way like the back of his hand.

  By the time dawn was breaking, Bat rode to the barn. The cowhands were getting ready to leave. Hunker said, “Ya back already, Boss?”

  “I ran into a problem, and I need some men to go with me over to Lim Withman's place. Last night, I spotted him and two of his boys rustling cattle on foot with their pack of dogs near the west line shack. Weren't the first time, either. I fixed one gap in that west fence yesterday a mile from the line shack and figured it was Lim drove off them steers,” Bat explained.

  “What ya figure on doing?” Hunker asked.

  “Nose around to find the cattle and head them back through the gap in the fence. Give Lim what for for stealing my cattle and warn him now that I'm wise I don't want it to happen again. I figured if I took ya'all, Baldy and Windy along with me he'd see I mean business. That might make Lim think twice about rustling.”

  “Sounds right. Let's go,” Hunker said.

  About mid day, the men rode across the Withman land. They were close to the homestead when a rifle went off and dust kicked up in front of Blaze. He reared and kicked his back hooves in protest. Bat held on and settled the horse down.

  “Lim Withman, stop shooting at us. Bat Kayhill here. I want to talk to ya,” Bat yelled.

  Two more shots scattered the dust.

  “Get down men and flatten out. That sucker is libel to get a better aim directly,” Bat ordered.

  The men lined up on the dirt and scrub grass back of the slight rise in the ground and eyed the run down buildings.

  Hunker said, “One of them shooters is on the back side of the barn, and another one behind the house. One more beside the chicken house.”

  “Want us to start shooting back, Boss?” Windy asked.

  “Nope, not yet. One thing I don't want to do is shoot at the house with it full of little younguns. Don't relish shooting at any of them over my cattle. Just want to do get the beeves back peaceful,” Bat said. He yelled, “Lim, I just want to talk. Throw yer rifle out so I can come down there.”

  Another shot blasted from behind the barn and landed a few yards in front of them. Close enough that the cowhands ducked down.

  Bat said, “I don't think he is aimin' to hit one of us just yet. How about I crawl behind this knoll to the trees and come in behind the barn? That would catch old Lim off guard. Hunker, ya want to go with me?”

  “Yip, beats layin' out here in the hot sun, gettin' shot at,” Hunker said dryly.

  “Boys, fire a shot ever so often, but just don't aim too close to them shooters and not the one by the house atall,” Bat ordered.

  The two men bellied the ground over to the stand of cottonwood trees. As they stood up to eased from tree to tree, Baldy and Windy pelted the ground in front of the barn with bullets.

  Bat and Husker were on the blind side of where Lim hid. When they made it across the clearing, Bat eased along the barn and edge around the back. Lim, his rifle raised to his shoulder, was peeking out at the knoll and itching to take another shot.

  Bat said quietly, “Lim, I'm right behind ya. Hunker and me have guns aimed at ya. Drop that rifle and call out them two sons of yers. We're goin' to have that talk.”

  “Boys, throw yer guns down and come out. Kayhill has me dead to rights,” Lim called.

  A shot rang out from the knoll.

  Husker yelled, “Boys, quit shooting. We got them cornered.”

  “Now you can come slow with yer hands in the air, younguns,” Bat called.

  Six leggy, rib showing, spotted hounds heard the stranger's voice. They came barreling out from behind the chicken house, headed right for Bat and Hunker.

  “Call them dogs off or we will shoot ever one of them,” Hunker yelled.

  Two gangly shaggy haired boys shouted to their dogs. The dogs froze, looked from the boys to the strangers and slinked back to the boys.

  Once he was cornered, Lim confessed to rustling the cattle. Bat explained he didn't want to take Lim away from his family. They needed his worthless hide. Bat ordered Lim and his boys to drive the cattle back through the gap and fixed it since they did the stealing. Bat said he'd let taking his cattle go this time. Next time, he'd send the sheriff out to handle the situation. Lim seemed to get the message.

  By late Friday afternoon, Bat was on his way back to Dead Horse for the weekend in the buckboard. Monday morning, he'd stop by the Mercantile and load boards and nails to make the line shack repairs.

  Doc's buggy was tied in front of his office so Bat stopped to let Doc check his leg.

  “About time you came in,” the short, elderly man grumped.

  “I've been busy, Doc,” Bat excused.

  “Better roll that pant leg up and let me see how you're healing,” Doc ordered. He examined the wound. Then he pushed around on both legs, asking if it hurt when he poked. No was Bat's answer for all the pokes. Doc said, “Looks like you've healed. Be careful of that burn for awhile so you don't reopen it. You're free to go as soon as you pay your bill.”

  Bat tied his horses to the Mercantile hitch rail. He looked up and down the street. Several horses tied up in front of the Lucky Horseshoe Saloon belonged to his cowhands. They had beat him to town.

  A burst of raucous laughter came from behind the bat wing doors. It sounded like the customers were having a good time. One of the laughs was Hunker's loud, nasally squawk.

  Bat thought he just might make his next stop the saloon for a snort or two with the men. So what if he was a little late for supper? Tessie needed to learn to be flexible.

  First, Bat had to check for mail at the post office. “Howdy, Mrs. Wagaman. Any mail for me?”

  Mrs. Wagaman turned to look in the pigeon hole with his name over it. “Yes, there is.” She fished out two letters and handed them to Bat.

  “Much obliged, Ma'am,” he said.

  With his eyes on the saloon across the street, Bat stalked out of the store without looking either way. Then he had a sudden thought about Tessie's cranky disposition. His girls were punctual about eating at six o'clock. They had a rule about being clean. They didn't like him coming to the table, smelling like cows. Tessie didn't want him sitting on her good chairs with half the ranch dust still on him. He reckoned it wasn't fair to the girls to let their supper get cold. As late as it was, he better get home in a hurry and take a bath before supper.

  Bat turned sharply and collided with Leta Mays coming past the mercantile. He hit her hard enough he had to grab her by the shoulders to keep her from falling over backward. The impact knocked a brown wrapped package out of her hands. It sailed into the air and ended up in the street near one of his horses. The horse whinnied in surprise and danced sideways. One hoof penned the package to the street.

  “I am so sorry, Miss Leta. I shouldn't be in such a hurry. I've got to start lookin' where I'm headed when I come out of a store like that,” Bat apologized.

  “That's quite all right. I'm afraid I was in a big rush, too. I needed to make a dress delivery before I go home for the night. Where did that package go?” She looked around the boardwalk and spotted the package on the edge of the street under the horse's hoof. “Oh dear, there it is.”

  “I'll get it for ya.” Bat raised the horse's leg and picked up the package. “I hope there's no damage to the dress. If there is, I'll pay for a new one to replace this dress since this was all my fault,” Bat insisted. He brushed the package off and placed it in Leta's hands.

  “I'm sure the dress is fine. Thank goodness, I had it wrapped in paper. That kept it from getting dirty. Well, I should let you get to whatever it was you were in a hurry to do,�
� Leta said, starting around him.

  “Nothing real important. I was just headed home to clean up before I sit down to eat with my girls. Been out on the ranch for the last three weeks and got as grubby as my old cows. Reckon I should warn ya to stand down wind of me,” Bat said, chuckling.

  Leta laughed. “So that's why I haven't seen you around. I thought maybe you still might be at your daughters recuperating. I heard you had an accident.”

  “Yes, ma'am. I mean, Miss Leta. I mean, Leta,” Bat stammered, removing his hat. “Just saw Doc. He says I'm just about as good as new now. Ya want to go to church with me and Billie this Sunday?”

  “All right. How about I fix a picnic for after the service,” Leta said with pleasant excitement in her voice. “It's been a long time since I've been away from town, and I do love rides in the country.” She looked up at the blue, cloudless sky.” This certainly is a nice time of year to have a picnic before summer days get too hot. Don't you agree?”

  “I agree. That should suit Billie fine, too. She won't have to cook for once. We can use Billie's buggy. How about goin' to Rector’s Grove and picnic by Rector's Creek north of town? Always cool in the shade of the cottonwood trees near the runnin” water,” Bat planned.

  “I think that would be a fine idea. See you Sunday.” Leta walked briskly across the street.

  By the time Bat climbed into the buckboard and started down the street to the livery stable, he saw Leta going into Billie's house. That dress must have been his sister's order.

  Sunday morning when Bat picked up Leta, she came out of her house carrying a wicker picnic basket. He took the basket from her and put it behind the seat, before he helped Leta into the buggy.

  Bat pulled over and stopped in front of Billie's house. The buggy rocked as he jumped out in a hurry. He walked briskly up the front steps and knocked on the door.

  The breeze caused a piece of paper to flap in front of his nose. It was tacked to the door. Bat put a finger out to pen the note to the door so he could read it. “I've walked to church this morning with your girls. We had something to discuss. See you there.”

  He hated knowing his sister and daughters were conferring about something and keeping him in the dark. More than likely, they were conspiring to find him a woman to marry before word got out that he'd ordered a bonnet without a woman to give it to. They feared if the eligible women in town knew he had done something so far fetched they wouldn't come near him.

  When Bat came back to the buggy, Leta asked, “Is something wrong? Why didn't Billie answer her door?”

  Bat tried to look as though he wasn't too bothered. “Billie left a note on the door. Guess she walked to church with my two girls so they could talk about something. I have no idea what the three of them are cooking up. Now that worries me.”

  Leta laughed as he clicked to the horse and flipped the lines. “Is your birthday coming up?”

  “Nope,” Bat said. “ Why did ya ask?”

  “You really shouldn't worry. I just thought maybe they might be planning you a surprise birthday party,” Leta said.

  “Nope, can't be that,” Bat said, puzzling over the sudden togetherness between Billie and the girls.

  When Bat and Leta walked down the aisle between the pews at church, all the old gossips in town gawked at them and a few whispered to each other.

  Bat was glad to see Billie had at least thought to leave a space for Leta and him to sit by her. He'd hate to think they would get stuck sitting by Mrs. Petermier or one of the other old women.

  Billie glanced up and smiled a greeting at both of them. Bat slid in next to his sister with Leta beside him. Billie winked at him. Puzzled, he returned the wink. He didn’t have any idea what she found amusing enough to wink about it.

  He noticed his daughters took turns, leaning past Billie so they could stare at Leta. Why should they be so curious about the seamstress all of a sudden? She wasn't a stranger in town. They knew Leta well. She did a lot of sewing for Tessie and Ethel.

  The girls took turns smiling at him. That made him wonder what on earth did those two figured he had in mind besides a picnic?

  Before he left the house, Bat had told his daughters Leta was going to church with him and on a picnic later with him and Billie. He whispered in Billie's ear about going on the picnic. Leta had fixed enough food for all three of them. For once she wouldn't have to fix Sunday dinner.

  After they filed passed the preacher, Bat asked Billie if she was ready to go on the picnic or did she need to stop by home first?

  Billie laughed like he'd said something really funny. When Bat looked confused, she said, “I'm afraid you two will have to enjoy the picnic without me. I already told your girls I'd eat dinner with them today.” Billie rushed after his two daughters as she called, “Wait up, Ethel and Tessie. Let me walk with you.”

  “How do ya like that now? Those three are completely leaving us out of their Sunday.” Bat didn't like the three women in his life not including him.

  Leta slipped her arm in the crook of Bat's arm and patted his hand to get his attention. “Oh well, we might as well take off and enjoy our picnic. We'll have fun by ourselves.”

  “But that wasn't nice of Billie to take off with the girls when ya had enough food fixed for her, too,” Bat complained.

  “I don't know about you, but I'm hungry. Between the two of us, I'll bet we can eat Billie's share. I hope you like the food I packed in the basket.”

  “I will. I've never been particular when it comes to eatin',” Bat assured her as he helped her into the buggy.

  As they left the city limits, Leta stifled a giggle.

  “What's so funny?” Bat asked.

  “Nothing funny really. Truthfully, I'm afraid that was a nervous giggle. It feels strange for me to go on a picnic alone with a man. I haven't dated in years until we went out to eat at the hotel.” She studied his face for a reaction. “That is if you called us eating at the hotel a date.”

  “I reckon that was exactly what it was,” Bat agreed. He'd always defended the meal in public with Leta as a business lunch, but now didn't seem to be the time to split hairs with her when Leta looked so happy.

  It appeared that Leta did enjoy his company even though there wasn't any chance of more than just a friendship between them. Bat wondered if the seamstress had any idea how old he was. If she asked Billie, his sister would have told her right out that he was about ten years her senior. He imagine Billie defended the age difference with the fact Bat was in good health with a lot of energy. Of course, he figured Leta could see that much for herself.

  When Bat noticed Leta watched him closer than she did the scenery, he asked, “Do I have the eggs from breakfast running down my chin yet?”

  Leta's laughter was a joy for him to hear. “No, I was just studying you.”

  “So what do you see?”

  “A handsome man with a strong jaw line and chiseled chin with a dimple. Your face and hands are brown from exposure to the sun. Your eyes are soft hazel and always alert when we are together.

  Sometimes, I think it might be you're nervous about being with me. You're not used to courting a woman anymore than I am going on a picnic with a man. I feel like you watch me to make sure you said the right things, because you aren't quite sure, and you do want to please me.”

  Leta stopped talking and waited for him to speak. “You sure hit that nail on the head. I have two left feet and both of them are in my mouth most of the time. Ya might see I'm right if you're around me long enough,” Bat joked. “Fact is, I do want to please ya.”

  “Well, believe it or not, I feel the same nervous way you do when I'm with you. How about we give up being uneasy around each other, and just be ourselves to see how that goes over,” Leta suggested.

  “Sounds like a good idea to me,” Bat agreed, smiling from ear to ear.

  Chapter Ten

  The sun drenched day and the peaceful grove were perfect for a picnic. Leta’s large, white straw hat brim curled in the gen
tle breeze, hiding the row of miniature pink roses nestled against the crown, as she spread a quilt on the grass. Bat set the basket down on the quilt which helped hold a corner down. He tossed his cowboy hat in the grass near the quilt and knelt down to sit beside her.

  Leta chattered away as she laid out fried chicken, baked beans, boiled eggs and two slices of apple pie. Bat watched her, not really paying attention to what she said. Instead, his thoughts were on how pretty she looked in her pink dress with white lace trim, and how comfortable she had made him feel with that speech of hers in the buggy.

  They enjoyed the lunch and got to know each other better. When Bat helped Leta out of the buggy at home later that afternoon, she said as an after thought, “Oh, have you changed your mind about buying that bonnet you ordered?”

  “Nope, what made ya ask a thing like that?” The question caught Bat off guard.

  “For awhile you were regular about checking to see how much I'd done to the bonnet. Lately, you haven't mentioned it. It's all right if you've changed your mind. I'd find someone to buy it,” Leta said evenly.

  “I reckon I've been busy lately. The bonnet did slip my mind. Now that ya brought it up, how are ya comin' with it?” Bat asked.

  “I should have it done Wednesday if you’d like to stop by the shop to check,” Leta said in a business like tone.

  “I’ll do that,” Bat said. “I'll see ya Wednesday afternoon after I get back from the ranch.”

  An unexplainable sadness washed through Bat as he watched Leta walk through her picket fence gate and enter her house.

  As Wednesday crept closer, he stayed down in the dumps. He couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. On Tuesday afternoon, he decided maybe he should go back to Dead Horse and talk to Billie. She could straighten him out.

  “Come in,” his sister called when he knocked on her door.

  “Ya always tell people to come in when ya don't know who it is?” Bat complained.

  Billie raised an eyebrow, cautioning him to take it easy. “Of course not, but for some reason, I've been expecting you.”