Above the fallen Mexican, Once Dunn moved quickly towards better cover behind another pile of rocks to his left. Several bullets whistled past him as he tucked behind the wet rocks. His position offered a partial view of Hernandez’s shoulder. As he raised his rifle and took aim at the giant Mexican the ground beneath him moved. The rock pile in front of him crashed downward, leaving him at the edge of what is now the cliff. The pile of rocks crashed to the clearing below to the right of Vasquez.
As the ground around him slid downward Dunn wrapped an arm around a tree jutting out of the side of the hill. He used the inertial of his downward motion to swing around the tree and grab one of the trees in a clump to his left. Bullets flew at him from the rifles of Cook and Hernandez. As he tucked his massive body behind cover a bullet from Cook grazed his left thigh. His rifle tumbled to the ground below. Dunn had only his Colt and it lacked the accuracy needed at the distance between him and the two remaining. Scrum hands.
“I’m no help here,” said Once Dunn to himself as he winced in pain. He fired off two rounds from his pistol and crawled through the trees in the direction of the forest further to the north. Here he found taller trees to protect him from the rain and a slightly more secure cliff beneath him.
Ward saw Dunn’s rifle fall and then his friend slip into the cover of thicker trees. He knew his friend’s thinking. With only a handgun he would have to get closer to the two men to be of help. Ward reloaded his rifle and fired off a dozen rounds to keep Cook and Hernandez distracted so Dunn could move in closer.
While again loading his Winchester Ward stayed behind cover but watched the forest on the left side of the clearing. With no more shots fired from the trees he suspected his big friend would try and circle around and surprise Cook, the closest man to him. Through a heavy wall of rain and a thin group of trees he spotted Dunn working his way through the thick forest.
Ward pulled out his six-shooter and took approximate aim at the spot occupied by Hernandez. With his rifle doing the same on Cook's spot he maintained a slow but steady stream of fire. He hoped both would remain in position.
Paul Cook recognized the sound of both a rifle and pistol. He wondered if the other man taken a spot beside his friend? The clearing looked more like a sea of mud than a patch of ground. He turned to the right and saw thick brush and trees broken only by the trail to the mine. He didn't like being pinned down and decided to move. With rifle in hand he crawled along the ground until well into the forest. He pushed his leather-gloved hands against the ground to push himself to his feet. The snap of a branch stopped him halfway.
Once Dunn took two more steps forward before he saw Cook crouched thirty feet ahead.
Cook knew his rifle was useless; he could not get it raised and aimed in time. He grabbed his Colt and fell back to the ground, rolling to his right. His mud-encrusted pistol popped up from under him and pointed at Once Dunn. He fired two quick shots.
Once Dunn knew the man on the ground in front of him had a lightning-quick gun hand. His only chance was to take advantage of Cook's awkward position. Dunn already had his gun in hand and stepped behind a tree to his left. From the other side of the tree he returned fire.
Cook’s bullets had remarkable accuracy despite the odd angle from which he shot. The first bullet sailed through the air exactly where Once Dunn had stood seconds earlier. The second bullet slammed into the tree in front of Dunn. Once’s next shot found its mark, grazing Paul Cook’s left side. Cook winced in pain, but his gun remained in position. Both men fired again. Again Dunn found his target, this time in the right shoulder. The bullet lodged against the bone. Cook dropped his gun and cupped his hand over the bleeding wound.
Cook's bullet had hit Dunn in the right thigh, splitting the skin but not penetrating the muscle.
Once Dunn cursed and limped forward, gun still at the ready. “You've had it, Cook. Keep your hand away from that Colt.”
Cook slowly sat up and raised his right hand. The six-shooter rested on a patch of rotting leaves in front of him.
“Get up,” said Dunn. “And move to the clearing.”
“That coyote Ward will plug me.”
“He's not a coward like you. You just call off Hernandez.”
Both Ward and Hernandez held their fire when they heard the flurry of shots in the trees. They stayed behind deep cover and cautiously watched the area from where the shots rang out.
“Hold your fire, Raul,” shouted Cook as he limped into the open, blood seeping between his fingers.
“You too, Ron,” added Once Dunn.
Dunn let Cook move into the open but he stayed back a bit, keeping a boulder between him and Hernandez. “Tell Hernandez to put down his weapon and move into the open.”
“Hernandez. Drop your gun and get out here.”
The giant Mexican stepped into the open, his hands raised and empty.
“Cover them, Once,” shouted Ron Ward.” I'll be right down.”
Once Dunn trained his six-shooter on the two men while Ward made his way down the narrow trail. Within minutes he joined the other three in the heavy downpour on the clearing.
Ron Ward gestured with his rifle to Vasquez. “Hernandez, get the rocks off that man and carry him over here. Hernandez moved the rocks with ease and picked up Vasquez like he weighed fifty pounds. He set the injured Mexican on the ground beside Cook.
Once Dunn kept Cook and Hernandez covered while Ron Ward tied makeshift bandages around Cook and Vasquez’s wounds. “Now, let's get down that hill...” said Ward.
Hernandez interrupted Ward. “Not so fast. I remember you.” Hernandez pointed at Dunn. “He and I had a fight a few years back. I know I beat him but some say it was a tie. He's the only man I never beat. I'm not leaving without another chance.”
Once Dunn dropped his gun and stepped towards Hernandez. “You don’t have to ask twice.”
Ward chuckled and held back his close friend. “I don’t suggest you fight him, Hernandez. He’s in a sour mood today.”
Hernandez spit on Ron Ward’s boot. “Maybe you’re right. He looks too yellow to fight me.”
Ron Ward looked down at his boot then up at Once Dunn. “Hernandez, you’re ugly and don’t have any manners.” Ward handed Dunn his gun belt. “Once, you give this one a miss.” Ron Ward moved out into the centre of the clearing and raised his fists.
“You’ll fight me, little man?” “A look of shock filled the face of Hernandez.
“It doesn’t seem a fair fight.” Ron Ward turned to his right and set his hat on a boulder. “It might be fair if there were two of you.”
A bolt of lightening flashed and thunder clapped, natures bell introducing the start of the fight.
Hernandez turned bright red. “There’ll be nothing left of you when I’m done.” The giant man lunged at Ward.
Ward saw the man out of the corner of his eye and glided smoothly to his left. As he moved Ward swung a backhand blow into Hernandez’s stomach. His hand hit a stomach: a plate of steel.
Hernandez shook his head and turned to face Ward. Both men were soaked to the skin in the relentless rain. Their boots splashed in the thin mud as they circled each other. The Mexican swung meekly a couple times with his left trying to gauge his opponent.
Usually Ward would move in and swing as his opponent pulled the fist back. He resisted, convinced Hernandez wanted to get his powerful hands on Ward and move the fight to the ground. With nearly an eighty-pound weight advantage Ron knew Hernandez would have the advantage wrestling.
Instead, Ron circled and let Hernandez toss a few more jabs. Hernandez grew frustrated at the speed of Ward and briefly dropped his guard. Ward sprang. He threw his own pair of lefts catching Hernandez on the jaw with the second. With speed that matched the lightening Hernandez tossed a hammer-like right to Ward’s temple. The smaller man staggered from the blow, falling backwards onto a waist-high bush. Hernandez swept in and grabbed Ward by the collar. Ward absorbed six solid punches to the face. Blood flowed from a cut over h
is eye and a split lip.
Ward’s head cleared from the blow to the temple and he fended off most of the next half-dozen blows and managed to slam two short rights to Hernandez’s cheek.
Hernandez again drew back with his right, planning to put his full body weight behind the next blow. For a split second Hernandez leaned far enough back that much of his weight was off Ward. Ward slid out from underneath and splashed into the mud.
As he got up the giant Mexican caught him with a powerful backhand, sending Ward crashing back to the ground. Ward sprang back to his feet as Hernandez closed in, massive fists flying. Ward moved quickly bobbing and weaving away from the punches.
Hernandez continued his pursuit and onslaught of blows. A couple caught Ward in the face and one in the mid-section. Ward picked his spots, slipping in after dodging a blow and landing short crisp shots. He resisted multiple punches so he would not be within arm’s reach of the bigger man long enough for him to get his arms around him and slam him to the ground.
Dunn and Cook watched as ten minutes passed and the men exchanged blow after blow. A sharp left by Ward drew blood from the nose of the Mexican. Hernandez caught Ward with an uppercut and a right hook but couldn’t land a finishing blow or get a firm grip on Ward. The bigger man’s breath became laboured and Ward threw combinations of rights and lefts. Hernandez managed a few solid shots but his punches lacked power.
Ward slammed two strong rights to the face and two more to his opponent's body. Hernandez gasped. The Mexican’s knees buckled briefly and Ward drew back his right hand. He leaned into a punch timed to sail over the lowered left hand of Hernandez. The shot landed on the mouth, splitting open his lower lip.
Hernandez raised his hands to protect his face and Ward rained blows to his stomach. The big man drooped like a rag doll and Ward pounded a combination of lefts and rights to the head. Hernandez spun around and crashed face first to the sloppy ground, out cold.
Ward fought for breath and wiped the blood from his mouth. He pulled Hernandez’s face out of the mud and flipped him over so he could breath. “Cook, you and your friends have caused enough trouble. You’re bandaged up, so when Hernandez wakes up I expect you three to get to the doctor in town then leave this territory for good. If I ever see your face again I’m going for my gun.”
The rain pelted down on Hernandez as he regained consciousness. He stumbled to his feet and walked over to Cook and Vasquez.
From under the cover of the mouth of the mine Ward and Dunn watched Paul Cook and Hernandez help Vasquez to their horses. They followed the three Scrum hands until they saw them leave the trail and disappear northward. The three Scrum hands saw the doctor and then made a visit to Scrum. They forced the ex-rancher to pay them. They then climbed on their horses and made their way south, heading to Texas.
Ward and Dunn joined their friends at the Cochran ranch. Despite the rain, Donna and Tom ran out to greet the soaked riders.
Donna gazed at Ward's bruised and cut face. “What on earth happened to you?”
“I found myself a bit of a fight.” Ron got off his horse and tied it to a post.
“It looks like the fight found you.”
Ward managed a painful smile.
“Come on in. Let's get you cleaned up.” Donna took Ron by the hand and led him into the house.
A few days later the two friends helped with the cattle and horses of the group of ranchers. Ward visited the bank and learned that the money from the sale of the Scrum ranch had helped repay the losses of over forty local men.
Under the supervision of Jed Cochran and Tom Sheridan, Barry Scrum packed his personal belongings and left the land he had called home for over twenty-five years.
Donna Kelly, in the saddle of her favourite horse and Ron on his mount, took a leisurely ride to her family ranch. She was able to show him the whole area. He was surprised to see that there were two other hidden clearings with healthy grass fed water by several springs.
Ron blocked the sun from his eyes as he scanned the biggest clearing. “This land is first rate.”
“Pa felt the same thing. He figured there is about five hundred acres of virgin land between the three clearings.”
“And there's water up that far rise?”
“Plenty.”
Ron took hold of Donna's hand. “This is a fine valley. Maybe better than mine. Donna, it would make me proud to have you as my wife and settle in that very spot. What do you say?”
Donna threw her arms around Ron and kissed him. “You have just made me the happiest woman in the world. But you already have an amazing ranch?”
“Truth be told I already talked to Once and he's willing to buy it from me.”
“I love you, Ron Ward.”
“And I love you, Donna.”
Three weeks later Ron Ward and Donna Kelly said their vows in a meadow on the Kelly ranch. Ron sold his other property to Once Dunn and settled on the Kelly ranch with his new bride. They expanded their ranch with land purchased from the former Scrum spread.
The other ranchers also purchased additional rangeland.
Bart Sheridan packed his bags the next year and fulfilled his dream by attending school in Boston. With their ranch burnt out, his folks moved with him.
The following spring Mr. and Mrs. Ron Ward saw the birth of twins, named Jack and Rose, after Donna’s parents.
The End
Other Books by Randall Sawka from Books We Love:
Rough Business
Raining Trouble
Randall Sawka is a best-selling, award winning author living in Victoria, Canada with his wife Nancy. They have one grown child, Michelle. Randall and Nancy love to travel the world and experience new cultures.
randallsawka.com
Randall on Facebook
Raining Trouble Page 14
