The Red River Ring

by Randy D. Smith

  Bent stomped toward the cabin and called. “Mary Fellows, come out.”

  Mary stepped from the doorway and gasped. “You. You’re the one. I should have known.”

  “Long time, no see,” Bent said with a grin.

  “Why are you doing this?” Mary asked as Sarah poked her head through the doorway.

  “You know why.”

  “Who is this man?” Sarah asked as she stepped from the doorway.

  “Tell her. You and I are old friends, ain’t we, darling?” Bent said.

  “Is this the man you were talking about? The man who assaulted you?” Sarah asked.

  Bent laughed. “I wouldn’t hardly have called it an assault. Is that how you explained away Pac?”

  “Shut up you bastard,” Mary hissed.

  “There’s only one bastard in this canyon and you raised him,” Bent snarled.

  Sarah shook her head in disbelief. “You raped her. You were one of the gang that raped her.”

  “Is that what I did?” Bent mocked with a smile. “I raped a poor defenseless woman?”

  Mary stood silently, trembling with anger.

  “It was a long time ago, I’ll admit. But a rape? I seem to remember it different.”

  “What’s he saying?” Sarah asked angrily.

  Mary shook her head.

  “I rode up on this small ranch in the Palo Duro, some twenty years ago during the war. There was this widow woman living there with her two small sons and a couple of ranch hands. I took a job with her. She was having Indian troubles what with her husband lost in the war and all. I worked my hands to the bone for her. Risked my neck more than once. Gave her everything I had to give. Everything.”

  “You forgot to mention that you were an outlaw on the run,” Mary snapped.

  “You’ve been telling the story your way for years. At least let me tell it my way just once. Well, after a spell I decided that I was in love with this widow woman. Told her that I loved her. Told her I would do anything for her. Raise her sons as my own. Be a father to them. Work the ranch. Change my life. I’d do it all for her. And she said yes.”

  Sarah cut her eyes in disbelief to Mary. She only stared at her feet.

  “After a spell, and some mighty good times, she was pregnant. That was alright. I loved her and I wanted a child with her. A son.”

  “And then the Rangers found you and I learned what you really were,” Mary snapped.

  Bent put his finger to his lips and shushed. “Quiet, this is my story now. So, I had to leave for a while because of some urgent business. When I returned my son had been born but she met me at the door with a shotgun. Put me off the place. It seems that her husband wasn’t dead after all. He had come back from the war and I was no longer welcome. Of course she didn’t tell me that he took one look at her and hit the trail. I told her I loved her and nothing else mattered. I asked to see my child and she said that the infant had died in childbirth. My child was dead.”

  “Did you do that?” Sarah asked.

  Mary did not answer.

  “Well, I had to leave for a while. The Rangers were still dunning me for some past due notes. After a few years when things had cooled down, I came back to Texas, tried to rebuild my life and learned the truth. I had a son but he was being called a McMurphy to hide the truth. I was good enough for everything else but my name wasn’t good enough to put on my own son.”

  “You lied to me,” Mary said.

  “I lied to you? Hell, woman, how would you know the difference?”

  “Why the rape story?” Sarah asked.

  “To hide her woods colt. To hide to the world what she really was, so she could marry a fancy pants businessman like Mr. John Fellows. So she could turn up her nose at the likes of most folks and lord it over Silverton, Texas,” Bent yelled. “What would your fancy new husband think if he knew that your lover was an outlaw on the run who you serviced whenever he needed the company?”

  “Shut up! Shut your mouth!” Mary screamed.

  Bent lashed out with a backhand blow across her face sending her sprawling to the ground. “Let me tell you how it is, bitch. Fellows knows the truth and so does Pac. They’ve known for years. I took great pleasure informing Mr. Fellows what a whore he had married and watching his face as I did it. And I found a little slut just like you to control Pac and get the information I needed to run your precious family into the ground.”

  “God, how I hate you,” Mary swore.

  Bent grabbed her by her blouse, jerked her to her feet like a rag doll, and pulled her face to his. “Hate? You have no idea what hate is. You’ve no idea how I’ve taken that hate and turned it back on you.”

  Sarah started to come to her aid but hesitated as she watched Bent lift Mary off her feet.

  “And now I’m going to destroy everything you’ve worked for. I’m going to take it all, your wealth, your power, your position, your children and your grandchildren. I’m going to sell these girls to a bordello in Mexico. In a few weeks they won’t even remember who they are. I’ve killed Blomberg, Reese and I’ll see Temple in the grave as well. And your precious Pac will learn the truth about his loving Sulky before he dies. They’ll be nothing left of the McMurphys but ashes.”

  “You’ll never get Temple,” Mary slurred as she tried to force loose his grip. “You’ll never get past Pommel to do it. You’ll die before you do, you insane bastard.”

  Bent hurled her back into the wall of the cabin and drew his revolver as she slumped half conscious in the dirt.

  Sarah threw herself between Mary and Bent. “No! Don’t kill her!” she begged.

  Bent hesitated then slowly uncocked his revolver. “Alright, for now. But only because I want her to see it all.” He turned his back to them and walked away.

  “Damn!” Red Meadows cursed softly to Blake. “Black Tom is having a bad day with his women.”

  Blake nodded as he watched Bent walk to his horse and pull a fifth of whiskey from the saddle bag. “Not too loud. He’s going for the whiskey. In an hour or so, he’ll be in one of his black moods. Then there’ll be hell to pay. We need to play like bugs in the corner till he gets this worked through his system.”

  “It might be a good time to mount up, take our losses and head for greener pastures,” Meadows said.

  Blake rubbed his leg and nodded. “When I get the chance, I’ll saddle them up. Be ready to ride.”

  “We ain’t in very good shape for a hard ride,” Meadows said.

  “I got me a feeling that it is as good as it’s going to get for a while,” Blake answered. “Right now I’d just as soon face the McMurphys as stay here with Bent. It’s going to get rough and I don’t much want to see what he does to that woman.”

  Valdez and Sulky rode into the hideout. She jumped from her horse and threw herself into Bent’s arms. He pushed her away and took another drag on the whiskey bottle.

  “What’s wrong, honey? Ain’t you glad to see me?” Sulky teased.

  “Your boyfriend’s in that cabin only he’s got a slight headache,” Bent said.

  Sulky put her hands on her hips and stomped. “I thought I was through with that. I was to be your girl now.”

  Bent smiled and took another swig. “You are my girl, honey. We just want to wait until Pac is awake enough to appreciate it. Why don’t you see if you can wake him up and get him out here so we can tell him.”

  “I don’t have to do him no more. I’m your girl now, ain’t I, Tom?”

  “You sure are,” he said as he slapped her on the butt. “Valdez, why don’t you go with her so she’s safe?”

  Valdez nodded and followed Sulky into the cabin.

  The women gathered in the corner as Valdez leveled his revolver at them. Sulky went to Pac and gently stroked the side of his face. “Wake up, Pac. Are you awake?”

  Pac groaned and shook his head. “I’m sick. Leave me alone. My head is killing me and I can’t focus my eyes.”

  “Wake up, honey. It’s me, Sulky.”

  �
�Sulky? What are you doing here?”

  “I’ve come to see you, honey.”

  “But how did you find me? How did you know?”

  “Black Tom sent for me. I came as soon as I could.”

  “Why would Black Tom?” Pac hesitated as his thoughts cleared. “Oh god, no.”

  “Of course, sweetie. How else would I know about you? Get up. He wants to talk to you.”

  Pac tried to raise his head but couldn’t. “I can’t. My head. I can’t.”

  “That’s too bad. I’ll go tell Tom. Maybe he’ll want to talk to you in here,” she said as she left the cabin.

  Valdez smiled and tipped his hat to the women before following her.

  Mary and the girls went to Pac. Sarah fixed a wet rag and handed it to Mary. She placed it over his eyes.

  “Does that feel better?” she asked.

  “It helps. What are you doing here, Mom? I can’t see.”

  “We were taken by some of Bent’s men. They killed Reese.”

  “Reese is dead?”

  “Maybe not. He wasn’t dead when we left,” Sarah said.

  Pac swallowed hard and grasped his mother’s hand. “I don’t know what I can do. I can’t get my eyes to work. I’m helpless.”

  “I know honey. You’ll be alright in a while. You’ve got a nasty crack on the head.”

  “Why is Sulky here? Did Bent take her too?”

  “No, she came on her own. I’m afraid she deceived you,” Mary said.

  Pac nodded. “Yes, I’ve been wrong about a lot of things. I’ve been a fool. I’m sorry. I’m sorry about Reese and all of you. I loved her. I can’t believe she’s doing this. It wasn’t until I saw them beating that black cowboy that I realized what I was doing. I let his lies screw up my thinking. I’m so sorry.”

  “They weren’t all lies,” Mary said softly.

  “Yes they were,” Sarah interrupted as she placed her hand on Mary’s shoulder. “The man is insane and he’s invented things in his mind. You’ll know the truth. All your mother ever did was try to protect you.”

  Mary looked into the face of Sarah and wept silently.

  Sarah drew Mary to her waist and held her in her arms. “Your mother is a fine woman, Pac. That’s all you need to know.”

  Chapter XXI

  Pommel lifted a small rock with his finger and outlined a horse track. “There’s traffic up this canyon. I’d say several horses have been through here recently.”

  Sam Ketchum nodded and rode his horse past Pommel. “It’s hard to tell in these rocks but I’d say you’re right.”

  Temple sat back in his saddle and scanned the walls above the narrow canyon. “This is a good place for an ambush.”

  “Yep,” Pommel said as he mounted his sorrel. “It’s a perfect place for a rustlers gang to work from. This canyon was used by Plains Apaches when I first came out here. A company of Rangers cleared out this canyon in 52. Most folks have probably forgotten about it. No one would run cattle up here. There’s no water.”

  “You think Pac is still alive?” Temple asked.

  “Probably or they would have dumped him by now. I figure they had some kind of hold on Pac. Gambling debts, a frame up or something he’s done that they’ve got wind of, whatever it is I figure he was your spy.”

  “You think he killed Blomberg?” Temple asked.

  “You know him better than I do. What do you think?”

  Temple shook his head and spurred his horse up a sharp incline to the next canyon ledge. “He’s got a temper but to shoot a man in the back of the head while he sat at his desk? No. Pac wouldn’t do that.”

  “That’s my reading. Pac is no back shooter,” Pommel said as he urged his sorrel to follow.

  Ketchum pointed to a sandy blow out in the center of the canyon floor. “Look there, Major. It’s full of pony tracks.”

  “After a while rustlers and even Injuns get lazy. They should have ridden around that sand to keep it clear of tracks. They’re using this canyon right regular.”

  “You remember where those Apaches hid out?” Temple asked.

  “Yep, I was with the Rangers when we wiped them out. It’s another mile or so then about a hundred yards back in a cut. It’s an open area with shear cliffs on three sides. The only way in or out is this canyon. It makes a great place to lay up but it’s a death trap if you’re caught in it.”

  “Quiet,” Sam Ketchum said. “I hear horses above.”

  “Let’s fall back to the bend of the canyon and wait until they come through,” Pommel said.

  “What if they outnumber us?” Temple asked as he turned his horse.

  Pommel smiled. “Then you shoot real fast.”

  As they turned the bend, Pommel signaled for Sam to take a position on the far side of the canyon. Sam pulled his Winchester and dismounted as Temple took control of his horse. They waited as the sounds of the horses became louder. Sam signaled that two riders were approaching.

  “Wait here,” Pommel ordered. “I’ll face them down while you and Sam keep the drop on them with your rifles.”

  When they were within yards of the bend, Pommel levered a round into his Winchester and stepped into the open. “Hold on there, boys,” he said calmly as he stepped out.

  Meadows and Blake held up their horses and quickly scanned the canyon walls for more riflemen.

  “You boys don’t look so good,” Pommel said as he pointed the Winchester between Blake and Meadows. “Looks like you’ve been shot up a might.”

  “Shot up enough that we’re through,” Blake said as he raised hands. “We’re just riding out of this canyon and out of the territory if you’ll allow us to pass.”

  Meadows raised his good hand and nodded agreement.

  “Are the rest of them laid up in Apache Draw?” Pommel asked.

  “We call it the Roost, but it’s the same place,” Blake said as he saw the barrel of Ketchum’s Winchester pointing at him.

  “How many?”

  “A dozen, maybe more,” Blake said. “More than you and him want to tackle.

  “There’s eight,” Meadows said. “Black Tom Bent, three Mexicans and four others.”

  Blake cut a harsh look toward Meadows.

  “We don’t owe them nothing,” Meadows said. “All I want to do is ride out of here.”

  “Throw them guns on the ground and you can do just that,” Pommel said.

  “Good enough,” Meadows said as he unbuckled his gun belt with one hand and tossed his Winchester and revolver to the ground.

  Blake shook his head slowly. “I need these guns. It’s a long ride to Arizona.”

  Pommel swung his rifle barrel toward Blake. “Tough. Buy more when you get to town.”

  “Give up your Colts, Burt,” Meadows said softly. “If he don’t get you that nigger’s sure to blow your head off.”

  “You’re a gutless wonder,” Blake said as his eyes shifted toward Ketchum.

  “You got the high, low and Jack against you,” Meadows said. “Ain’t no shame in knowing when you’re licked.”

  “He’s a smart hombre,” Pommel said. “How smart are you?”

  Temple rose from behind a rock into Blake’s line of sight and leveled his Winchester.

  Blake smiled as he realized another rifleman had the drop on him. “Looks like I’m smart enough. I paid thirty dollars a piece for these,” he said as he gently fingered his nickel plated Colts from his holsters and tossed them into the dirt. “Take good care of them.”

  Pommel smiled. “I’ll hang them in a place of honor. Let’s have a look in those saddlebags. I wouldn’t want to find out later that you stashed a hideout.”

  Temple and Sam stepped into the open as Pommel went through Blake’s bags.

  “Look at this,” Pommel said as he pulled a .41 Lightning from Blake’s bag and showed it to Temple. “You recognize this?”

  “It’s Pac’s. I’d know that Ivory grip anywhere,” Temple said.

  “Is he dead?” Pommel asked.

  �
�When we rode out he was in good shape. I don’t know what his condition is now,” Meadows answered.

  “We gonna just let them ride out?” Temple asked.

  “We do that, or shoot em, or waste a man to guard them,” Pommel answered.

  Temple nodded and glared at both. “Ride hard gents. If I ever see you again, I’ll shoot you on sight.”

  “Don’t come to Arizona,” Blake said. “I’ll never set foot in Texas again.”

  “Fair enough,” Temple said. “I’m taking your word for your life. Ride hard.”

  Meadows and Blake spurred their horses forward and galloped down the canyon.

  Pommel strapped on Meadows’ rig and buckled it in the back so the Colt would balance butt forward with his own gun on the right side. He tossed the Lightning to Temple, picked up Blake’s Colts and tossed them to Sam Ketchum. “You could use some fancy new Colts, couldn’t you?”

  Sam nodded, blew off the dust, and slipped them into his gun belt.

  Pommel chuckled as he picked up Meadows’ Winchester and handed it to Temple. “We look like we’re ready for a gun fight.”

  “Do you?” Reese McMurphy said as he brought his horse around the bend.

  Temple turned to see his brother leaning over the saddle horn with is left arm in a sling. “What happened to you?”

  “The Ring’s Mexicans hit us last night. One of them bounced a slug through the hall doorway, off my breast bone and up through my shoulder. Left me for dead and took Mom, Sarah and the girls.”

  “What are you doing here alone in that condition? Where the hell’s the sheriff?” Pommel said as he stepped forward for a closer examination.

  “That son-of-a-bitch was nowhere to be found. Neither was John Fellows nor any deputies. The bullet went out my shoulder so I poured some whiskey on the hole and bandaged it myself. I followed their trail and hoped I would run into someone before they got away or I passed out.”

  “I take back everything I ever said about you, little brother,” Temple said. “You’re one tough hombre.”

  “They got Sarah, Mom and the girls. Nothing else matters.”