Ride The Wild Range

by Cheryl Pierson

  As I lowered my gun, I could see Eddington breathe a deep sigh of relief. Evidently, he understood just how things were too. I came forward steadily, until I got to Jacobi's side.

  "Are you all right?" He still didn't look at me when he asked the question, keeping his stare steady on Eddington.

  "I'm fine. But Grandpa—"

  "I know, son," he said gently. "I saw most of it. Have you seen Marshal Trask?"

  "No," I said. "But I know that part of the story's true."

  "Well, I sure didn't shoot the old timer!" Eddington blustered. "That was Trask's doing!"

  Jacobi ignored Eddington, giving me a quick glance. "How?"

  "Roy Shale told me." I gave him a brief version of the conversation Shale and I'd had, and of what happened after Wheeler tried to leave camp.

  "They thought maybe – Indians had done it." I would never forget the fear on their faces when Wheeler's corpse had ridden into our camp, tied to his horse and fresh-scalped. Suddenly, I was very, very tired.

  "I've not seen any sign of Indians," Eddington said.

  Jacobi shook his head. "More'n likely, it was Trask's doing – trying to convince them to see the job through." He put a hand on my shoulder and squeezed gently. It was as if he knew how I felt, with everything catching up to me now.

  "Any idea where Trask might be?" Eddington asked thoughtfully. "Oh, we'll find him," Jacobi said. "And when we do, we'll settle this once and for all."

  "Kill him, you mean?" Eddington's tone was fearful, his eyes wide.

  Jacobi gave a faint smile. "Oscar, did you believe it could end any other way? We're the only people, besides Mike Dawkins, who know what Aldous had in mind; what he tried to do."

  Eddington blanched. "Maybe – maybe we could take him prisoner—"

  "That," Jacobi said flatly, "is one option that's been taken off the table. We won't be taking any prisoners."

  Chapter 40

  Splitting up was the only way we'd be able to ensure our safety to any degree. Eddington, of course, thought we should stay together; but Jacobi told him we were splitting up – he'd be going one way, and Jacobi and I another – together. I sensed Jacobi's uneasiness at the sudden turn in Eddington's intentions, and Aldous Trask's, as well.

  A man he'd trusted for years turned out to be a force to be reckoned with in a way he'd never expected, while a man he'd had no use for had unbelievably come riding to the rescue in a way that seemed...well, oddly timed, to say the least.

  "Go around toward the west side," Jacobi said. "Will and I are gonna head east and circle around."

  "But – sh-shouldn't we all stay together?"

  Jacobi shook his head, a faint smile on his lips. "There's no call to be scared of the dark, Oscar. It's several hours 'til sundown, anyway."

  Eddington bristled. "I ain't scared, Kane. But Trask, he's one of those to shoot first, then ask the questions."

  "Well, Oscar, he's not gonna be asking any questions this time around. He knows why we're here. And he knows what'll happen. So shooting all of us – would be the best outcome."

  "But I haven't done anything!"

  "You know what he planned, though." Jacobi's eyes held a glint of laughter. "Come on, Eddington. Did you really think Aldous would let you live, either way?"

  At Eddington's blank look, Jacobi went on to explain. "If you turned down his proposition, he can't let you live to tell about it. If you helped him out, he'd have to kill you for the same reason – as well as the fact that he wouldn't want to split up the payment with you."

  Eddington shook his head. "I have to admit, it makes sense. Just never thought of it like that. When I realized he planned to go through with it, I began trailing him. I had to do some mighty hard riding to catch them; they had a day and a half on me before I discovered they'd found Will and had headed back."

  "This better have a good outcome, Oscar," Jacobi said amiably. But I knew him well enough by now to understand what he wasn't saying. So did Eddington.

  "I should've told you, I know. I should've come to you as soon as Trask—" He lowered his head, and I felt he truly was sorry for what he'd set in motion.

  Still, I couldn't find it inside me to forgive what he had done. He'd nearly succeeded in ruining my life; at least, that's how I saw it. And there was no getting around the fact that my grandpa was dead because of him.

  Jacobi didn't answer. He took a step away, motioning me on ahead of him, toward the east. "Let's wrap this up, Eddington. You come out of it all alive, you're still gonna answer to me."

  "I'm here to help, dammit."

  "None of us would be here if it hadn't been for your mouth," Jacobi reminded him tightly. "Now, get going. Fire a shot if you get in a bind."

  He turned and followed me in an unhurried lope, and I knew he didn't like being out in the open like we were. I picked up my pace, falling into a trot as he passed me, and we headed into the thick woods once again.

  I pointed to the cave as we ran by. "Here's where I hid earlier," I told him, "before I followed Eddington."

  He slowed, hearing my winded breathing, then came to a stop and turned to face me. "You're learning, Will. I lost you for a few minutes. Wondered where you'd gotten off to." He gave me a grin and reached out to tousle my hair. I'd lost my hat in the dust-up with Shale back by the wagon. "Glad I found you again."

  "I found you," I corrected.

  "No. I knew you were there, behind that tree."

  "I got behind you," I teased.

  He turned sober. "No. I knew. There's no one I'd rather have at my back than you, son."

  That brought a lump to my throat, and I could do nothing but nod. But Jacobi just smiled and started off again, and I followed him.

  * * * * *

  We'd slowly made our way around through the woods when a shot sounded not far ahead of us. I looked up at Jacobi, and he put a finger to his lips. He stood still, listening. From the distance came the faint sound of voices, and though we couldn't understand the exact words, the tones were of two men – one threatening, one pleading.

  Jacobi leaned close to my ear. "Slow. Careful. Work around to the right, I'll go left."

  "We need to hurry!" I kept my voice to a whisper, but the urgency made it unsteady.

  He laid a hand on my shoulder. "Hurrying can get you killed. There's time."

  He moved away from me, and I did as he'd said, stealing deeper into the woods at the right, and angling toward the voices too.

  It didn't take me long to get to a place where I could see what was going on.

  Through the trees, I saw that Trask had captured Eddington, just as I'd figured, and held him at gunpoint. If Jacobi needed any further proof, he would soon be in a spot where he could see for himself.

  "Where is that boy, Oscar?" Trask's words became clear as I edged nearer, inch by inch.

  "I told you, I don't know!"

  Trask towered above the Marshal, his pistol pointed straight at Eddington's head. Eddington had taken the worst end of a beating, from what I could see. It hadn't taken Trask long to find him and get the best of him. I wondered how it must feel to be a lawman who was always on the losing end of a fight. I remembered the feel of Jacobi's hands pulling me off of Eddington at Colbert's Ferry Station, when I'd gone after him myself.

  And then, how Jacobi had taken up where I left off. Now, Trask had the best of Eddington.

  Trask's lips turned up in a sneer. "You're pathetic, Eddington. Your life isn't worth shit right now, you know that?"

  "I'm not killin' no boy, Aldous, or helpin' you to do it."

  "You must not need the money as bad as I do," he replied, almost offhand.

  Eddington started to get to his feet, and Trask kicked him back to the ground. I figured by now Jacobi was around back of them, watching and hearing everything for himself.

  "I ain't never needed money bad enough to kill a child."

  Well, I bristled at that. This child had nearly choked the life out of Eddington's bulky frame several months pas
t.

  "Be wary of that young'un, Oscar. He kicked your ass when he was barely out of short pants," Trask said derisively. "He ain't no boy, as you say, and he sure ain't no child. May be young, but he's got a bagful of tricks, all taught to him by one of the best."

  "I wish to God I'd never said anything to you." Eddington had levered himself back into a crouch on the ground, one knee down and one up. His hat was gone, and it looked like Trask had relieved him of his pistol.

  Trask pursed his lips. "Don't blame me for having the gumption to do something about the situation. You could have, if you'd had enough sense to make your own plan."

  "You and Kane were friends! Partners, at one time!"

  Trask gave a soft laugh. "It's nothing personal, Oscar. Don't you see that? All these years I've worked as one of the best damn lawmen in the Territory. What have I got to show for it? I plan to take the money off the dead bodies – what the old man paid them – and then collect from the step-nephew, Compton, once the boy is dead. I'll have everything, then."

  "Everything?" Eddington gave a short laugh, and Trask's eyes hardened.

  "I plan to use it to buy my own spread; set myself up in the cattle business."

  "You ain't gonna live long enough to do that, Aldous. You harm that boy, you'll have Jacobi Kane breathing down your neck until you're dead."

  "Maybe." Trask stiffened, but his gun never wavered. "I intend to take care of that – problem. After I see to you."

  I could tell Trask was getting ready to pull the trigger. Surprisingly, Eddington didn't cower away. He rose slowly to his feet, staring down the barrel of Trask's revolver.

  Trask took a step back, as if wary of Eddington being too close.

  In the next instant, Jacobi stepped out of the trees behind Trask. He moved so silently that only the widening of Eddington's eyes gave him away.

  Trask turned, and Eddington rushed him. But Trask pulled the trigger as soon as he sensed movement from Eddington. A cry of pain echoed just behind the deafening blast of the Navy Colt, and Eddington fell to the forest floor, clutching his gut.

  Trask fully turned toward Jacobi, but Jacobi's foot came up in a blur, kicking Trask's hand, sending the revolver flying.

  Trask went for his backup, a snub-nose .38 he kept tucked in his waistband. But before he could pull it, Jacobi was on him, knocking him to the ground, then following him down.

  He landed so hard on top of Trask that the marshal's breath whooshed out of him like a gust of wind on a March day. Jacobi grappled with him as Trask got his air back, and they rolled and slugged at each other in the dry leaves.

  I wanted to come out from where I stood, hidden, and see if Marshal Eddington was still breathing. No matter what he'd done in the past, I didn't want to see him come to his end all alone here in these woods.

  But, I knew Jacobi would be distracted if I did come out, and right now, he needed to be able to concentrate on what he was doing. Trask was a worthy opponent, close to the same height and build as Jacobi, but a few years older.

  I wasn't worried on Jacobi's account, but I well knew anything could happen. I stood ready. I'd kill Trask if I had to.

  They were fighting close now, and it was hard to see from where I stood. I took one step forward, knowing that with only a few more inches, Trask would be able to see me plainly if he glanced my way—and I was worth everything to him, as he'd told Eddington.

  I held my breath, raising my rifle. In the next moment, a shot sounded from where Trask and Jacobi struggled. It was muffled, and I realized it had come from between the two of them.

  Trask's pistol!

  "You ruined everything!" Trask wheezed.

  I heard him plain enough. It was the sound of a man who had gambled everything and lost – everything, including his life. He was dying.

  Jacobi had ended up on top, the gun between them. He pushed away from Trask with disgust and slowly got to his feet. The gun was still in Jacobi's hand and he flung it away, into the woods beyond where I stood.

  He was breathing hard, but I could see no wound, save for the new-forming bruises and the trickle of blood that ran from the corner of his mouth.

  He reached for his bandana and wiped it away, stuffing it back in his pocket. All the while, he kept an eye on Trask.

  "I ain't goin' anywhere," Trask muttered. "Not quite yet, anyway."

  "You're a snake, Aldous. Slippery. Tricky."

  "And greedy, you might say."

  "I would say."

  Trask tried to take a deep breath. Jacobi watched him with no sympathy in his expression.

  "I'm...sorry about the boy. Didn't like having to see him dead, but...it was the only way. I wanted that ranch...bad."

  "Bad enough to die for..."

  Trask managed a weak smile. "Looks like it."

  I slowly made my way out of the trees and Jacobi glanced at me. I knew he was reassuring himself that I was unhurt. I stopped at the sprawled form of Marshal Eddington. He was still.

  I pulled him over, slowly, onto his back. His eyes were open, staring up into mine. I fought back a gasp. I had seen dead men before; had even killed when I had to. But this was different. This was a man I had known. Even though he'd been a burr under Jacobi's and my saddles often enough, it took me by surprise to face the emotion rising inside me.

  And then, I got angry on top of everything – to think he'd been the one who had started this whole mess in the beginning. I stood up, straightened, and backed away a step. For an instant, I felt like I was going to lose what little I'd eaten that day. But I breathed deep and turned away from Eddington's corpse.

  Trask was watching me, and I would not bring shame on myself or Jacobi. I walked over to where Jacobi stood, and he looped an arm around my shoulders.

  Trask smirked, then was brought up short by a spasm of pain. He took a long breath then let it go on a sigh. In the next instant, he was gone.

  Jacobi's breath stopped, then started again. I knew he was saying his own goodbye to a man he'd counted as a friend up until an hour ago.

  "Come on, son, we've got some buryin' to do." He squeezed my shoulder, and I followed him out of the woods, back to the wagon, where the shovel was located.

  My grandfather would be first, I vowed. While Jacobi dug his grave, I'd find some wood to make a cross from.

  He'd be buried next to my father, under the tree where Lisbeth and I had played so long ago.

  Chapter 41

  Getting back to our ranch seemed like it was gonna take forever. But we couldn't just go off and leave the wagon behind. A rig like that would have cost a pretty penny. Even if we didn't use it much, there'd be nothing like it to haul supplies from Ft. Worth when we needed them.

  We'd also gained eight new horses – three from the men my grandfather had hired, two that pulled the wagon, and Grandpa's own; along with those of Trask and Eddington.

  We had to stop a little more frequently than we would have if it had just been me and Jacobi riding back with no wagon to bring home. I was glad we had us some good fall weather instead of it bein' in the dead heat of summer or the harsh cold of winter.

  I drove the wagon with the extra horses on a tether behind me at a fairly slow pace, compared to what I'd be doin' if I was riding Arrow alongside of Jacobi. But I wasn't impatient like I might've been even a few days ago when we'd set out on this trip.

  Going back home one last time had been the right thing for me. I'd seen the graves of my family. I'd seen my grandpa die, and be buried beside his son. And I hoped, somehow, they'd made their peace in death. I knew that somewhere inside Papa, he'd wished for that to happen, as had Grandpa.

  In the back of the wagon were six packets, each belonging to one of the dead men – Roy Shale, Bill Atkins, Jack Wheeler, Aldous Trask, Oscar Eddington, and Grandpa. There were blisters on my hands from where I'd spelled Jacobi at the shovel, digging the graves. We'd buried Grandpa first, Jacobi saying a few words over him that seemed fitting. Then, I'd put the cross up that I'd made out of stic
ks and a small bit of twine. It looked pitiful next to the sturdier ones that had been put up for Papa, Mama, and Lisbeth.

  As I'd turned away for the last time to leave the small cemetery, I noticed Jacobi standing silent, his hand on Lisbeth's cross.

  "I'm sorry," he said quietly. Then he turned to look at me. "There was no other way."

  I nodded solemnly. "I know that. Lisbeth wouldn't have wanted to live – not like that. She would've thanked you for what you – had to do." He nodded, his hand moving off the cross in a slow caress.

  We walked away together and shortly, we dug a hole to bury Shale and Atkins in together. We were anxious to do what had to be done and head for home, and with only one shovel, it was slow going.

  By dark, though, we'd buried Trask and Eddington as well, a little ways off from where my family laid. It was done, and I was glad to see an end to it all.

  Exhausted physically, and with all my emotions wrung out of me, I managed a couple of bites of beans out of a can from the supplies before I staggered off to lay down on my bedroll. I fell asleep before my head hit the ground.

  From somewhere in the depths of sleep, I felt a large, calloused hand settle gently on my head, brush back my hair in a caress that would never be given had I been awake.

  I soaked up that feeling of being cherished and cared for; of being loved and understood. Though I had not been an orphan for long before Jacobi rescued me, I realized that Jacobi was the father I'd always wished for, even when Papa had been living. I'd longed for someone to see the good in me, the usefulness, and the worth; someone to include me and give credence to my ideas and thoughts; someone who would watch over me as I slept and with a touch, let me understand how valued, how important, and how loved I was.

  There were no dreams for me that night. My reality was all I could have hoped for.

  * * * * *

  The next morning when I awoke, Jacobi already had a rabbit roasting over a small fire and coffee was made.

  I was hungry. My stomach growled loudly as I stood up, inhaling the wonderful aromas. I made a quick trip into the woods to wash up at the creek, then came back to see Jacobi dishing up some of the rabbit on our camp plates.