The Gunslinger (Barnett Ranch)

by Pamela Ladner

  He’d passed a creek on his way into town and decided that would be a good place to stop. The people in town called it Chugwater creek and some referred to it as Chugwater springs. He pointed the horse in that direction and gave him another kick. It felt good to release all that pent up frustration. He was at the creek before he knew it. The horse was blowing hard, so he slowed him to a walk. He dismounted and led the horse around until he found a nice place to rest. Then he turned the horse loose to graze. He was ground tied so Jax didn’t worry. He took out his Bible and read the psalms. He couldn’t concentrate on his reading so he put the Bible away. He picked up a few rocks and skipped them across the water. Still he was frustrated, so he picked out a target and took aim with his gun.

  He didn’t hear the horse and rider come up behind him, until he heard the voice. “So, you really are good with that thing?” He spun on his heels. Virginia sat on top a bay mare with black points and the only white on her was a star on her forehead. “Damn,” he whispered under his breath. He’d come out here to get away from her and she’d followed him here. “What are you doing out here?” “Same as you, I imagine. I was pretty surprised to find you out here.” “Well, you aren’t the only one surprised.”

  He hoped she would leave but he was disappointed when she climbed off her horse and found her way over to him. “How about a little friendly competition” she asked. “No, besides, you shouldn’t be out here with me. It doesn’t look right and you could ruin your reputation.” “Please, I live on a ranch. I’ve been alone with men more times, than I can count.” “Maybe, but you’ve never been out alone with me, and I’m not taking any chances of a town getting riled up and forcing my hand in marriage to a woman I can’t even stand.” “Ouch, that hurts. Oh well suit yourself.” She climbed back on her horse and spun her around then stopped, took out her pistol and fired a shot into the ground in front of him. “Everyone around here knows I can take care of myself, and I can take care of my granny’s restaurant. You’re not needed.” “I guess we’ll see what your granny has to say about that. She’s the one that hired me, not you.” She kicked her horse into a gallop and headed back toward town.

  “Good riddance!” He was glad to see her go. She was infuriating. He’d been somewhat harsh with her but he had no need for her and refused to have people dream up all kinds of things between them. He was right to send her away. Why she couldn’t see that, he didn’t know.

  Chapter Four

  He’d been up since early this morning to look at a small place on the edge of town. He was, told it had a few acres with it and a small barn, to stable his horse. The house was in need of repair but he could rent it until he found something better. He made a deal with the homeowner that if he fixed the house up he wanted the first month’s rent, free. They shook hands on it and he even signed his name to a piece of paper with Mrs. Ellen as a witness.

  The place wasn’t much to look at but it would suffice for now. He was tired of staying at the hotel and he wanted his horse to be able to stretch his legs. He had some repair work to do on the fences as well but he would have to do that in the evenings after he left the restaurant.

  He escorted Mrs. Ellen back to the restaurant and left her in the kitchen while he chopped wood out back. Once again, Virginia was nowhere to, be found when he was doing actual hard labor. He was growing tired of her constant comments about his laziness. The insults had increased after he’d sent her away at the creek. She was asking for a whipping and if she didn’t back off he was going to give her one. Granted he’d never laid his hands on a woman in his life but it was becoming apparent that her father had never spanked her nor her brothers. She was spoiled, rotten and mean as a cur.

  Mrs. Ellen was trying awful hard to turn her granddaughter into a lady, but she was having no luck at all. It was obvious that the girl had no care for what people thought of her. She was who she was, and if you didn’t like it, she could care less. She had no female friends, she cussed like a sailor, when her grandmother wasn’t around and on occasion she drank like a man too.

  The more she did all of that the more she intrigued him. He caught himself watching her at times, just to see what she would do next. She was a beautiful woman, but you couldn’t see it for all her tomboy ways. It was no wonder, that she wasn’t taken. Men didn’t want a woman who could out shoot them, out cuss them or out drink them. They thought of her as one of the guys. The women thought of her as strange. She didn’t care that she’d developed a reputation. It didn’t bother her in the bit. She didn’t cross the street when hookers, walked down the same side as she. The other ladies did. The hookers thought it odd, but they respected her for it.

  She was also arrogant. He’d never once known a woman as arrogant as she. Most women were conniving, sweet, uppity, or just plain haughty, but she was just arrogant. She was blunt and honest, too. The woman was driving him crazy.

  He finished chopping wood and stacking it, then he sat out front in his chair whittling like he always done. She marched out the door propped her hands on her hips and started, “There you are. I thought I’d find you out here, not doing anything as usual. Seeing as how you ain’t got anything better to do than sit out here and whittle on that stick, I thought maybe you could go fetch some honey from the general store. We need some for the biscuits.” Jax took his sweet time getting up, just because it irritated her.

  He walked so slow molasses could have beaten him to the general store and back. He found he enjoyed annoying her. He saw her watching with her toe tapping and her arms crossed. She was impatient, too. He left that out of his original summation of her. He got the honey and smiled across the street at her, then he propped himself up against the post and dared her to come and get it.

  She marched across the street, stomping the ground in frustration. She snatched the honey from his hands. “If you ain’t the laziest, no good piece of cow patty, I’ve ever met, I don’t know who is. I don’t see why Granny puts up with you.” He grabbed her elbow and pulled her close as he escorted her across the street. He leaned over and whispered in her ear. “If we weren’t standing in the middle of a street full of people, I might be inclined to kiss you, just to shut that mouth of yours. In case you didn’t know it. This Lazy, no good piece of cow patty has been chopping wood all morning behind your granny’s restaurant.” She tried to pull away but he held tight. She turned her face up to his and he winked at her.

  He released her arm when they got across the street and she stomped inside while he took his seat out front. He watched the streets as trail hands roamed up and down. So far none had strayed his way today, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t.

  It was a little after one when a group of trail hands rode up to the restaurant. They looked more like rustlers than cowpunchers, so he kept his eye on them more so than usual. He followed them in and took his position by the counter. They made their way over to an empty table and took a seat. He unsnapped his holster and rested his hand on the hilt of his gun, like he’d done before.

  Virginia was clearing dishes off a table next to them. One of them said something off colored to her and she threatened him with her gun. They turned away from her and she went back to her chores.

  Mrs. Ellen poured the men all a cup of coffee and took their orders. Jax watched as the man who’d said something to Virginia, pulled out a flask and poured it in his coffee. He watched as he continued this several more times. Mrs. Ellen brought their food out and took their money. They quieted down while they ate their meals but Jax noticed the man watching Virginia every time she walked out to clear tables. She was taking a couple of plates from their table when the man stood up and grabbed her arm. “How about you and I go and finish this over at the hotel.” “How about you take your greasy hands off me before, I put a bullet in your guts.”

  Jax eased his way over and watched as another man slipped up behind her and pulled her gun out of its holster. “Well now, I guess you can’t shoot me now. Come on, honey we can have us a real good time.”
Virginia tried to pull her arm out of his grip and having no luck she stomped the heel of her boot down hard on his toe, then she punched him in the face. That infuriated him, and he pulled her to him lifted his arm to slap her when Jax stepped in. Both his guns were in his hands. “I don’t think I’d do that if I were you. She may not be able to put a bullet in your guts but I sure as hell can. Let her go!” “Who the hell are you?” “My names not important but if you don’t take your hands off the lady, I’m going to send you straight to hell.” “What lady, I don’t see no lady. All I see is a whore in men’s clothing.”

  Before either of them saw it coming Jax kicked a chair at one of the men sending him sprawling and while the others were distracted hit another over the head with his gun then put the barrel of his gun right smack dab on the nose of the man holding Virginia. “Let her go, now.”

  The man released her arm and she walked over to the other man and took her gun back. “I suggest you get the hell out of here.” She said. Both men scrambled to get up and ran for the door. Jax grabbed the other mans shoulder and pushed him toward the door. “Get out!” He didn’t release the hammer until they were out the door, then he put his guns back in their holsters.

  He watched as Virginia rubbed her wrist, then he pulled her closer, pulled up the sleeve of her shirt and inspected her bruises. “Shit, I should have killed him.” “It’s nothing but a bruise. I’ve had worse.” “Still, I shouldn’t have let him put his hands on you.” Ellen came out of the kitchen and pushed her granddaughter down into a chair to inspect them for herself. Jax picked up the chair he’d kicked across the room and righted it under the table, then he walked back outside to take a seat on his usual perch.

  He picked up his stick and started whittling again. No one else had been in the restaurant when it happened and he was thankful for that.

  Chapter Five

  Although Virginia was still irritating, she wasn’t as harsh on him. She’d quit calling him lazy and useless, but she did find other ways to annoy him. He was glad his work day was over and he was on his way home to his new place. He’d been working on fixing it up and it was coming along. It no longer leaked, and he’d mended all the fences. He turned the stallion loose, when he got there and latched the gate behind him. He wanted to get started on the porch. It was falling down on one side. He cut a small tree down and measured the length of the post on the other side. Once he had his measurements, he cut the tree to length. Then he lifted it into place and knocked it over a few inches with a hammer. The place was looking better, everyday. It still needed a good cleaning though.

  He was replacing the shutters when Mrs. Ellen pulled up in her buggy, followed by Virginia on her mare. They tied the horses off to the hitching post he’d erected a week after moving in and walked up on the porch. “Well now, you’ve done real good, fixing this place up.” Mrs. Ellen said. “I’m betting though, by the way you sweep, when you pick up a broom at work, that you don’t know squat about cleaning a house. Am I right?” He laughed at the bluntness in her statement. “Yes ma’am you’d be right.”

  She turned around and looked at her granddaughter. “Well Virginia, let’s get to it.” Virginia grabbed a bucket out of the buggy and followed her grandmother in the house. “Wait a minute, ya’ll don’t have to do that. I don’t feel right about it.” “Well now, see I figure, Virginia here owes you for saving her life. Seeing as how she’s been real nasty to you, it’s only right that she make it up to you.”

  They started by raising all the windows to let the air out. Then they picked up things from the floor, wiped down the table and the cabinets then swept the floor. When Jax found his way back to the house after working at the barn, he found Virginia down on her hands and knees scrubbing the floor. Her granny was sitting on the porch washing his clothes and yelling out instructions to her.

  He started into the house but Virginia yelled at him. “Stop right there, don’t you take another step on these wet floors.” “I just need to get something from the cabinet.” “Well you’re going to have to wait. Take a seat on the porch or find something else to do.”

  Jax was scratching his head. How was he supposed to sit on the porch while these two women cleaned his house for him? He’d done everything he could do at the barn, short of tearing the thing apart. There wasn’t much else he could do, so he sat down on the porch, stretched out his legs crossing them at the ankles and propped against a post. “I still just don’t feel right about this.” “Nonsense, Virginia needs a lesson in manners and you need your house cleaned. You’ve been real good to us and you saved her life. It’s owed to you.”

  He looked out across the property and watched the stallion play. He ran in circles with his tail in the air, cutting up, and having himself a good ole time. Jax thought it might be nice to be as carefree as the stallion. He was in a world all his own, when Virginia came stomping out, bucket in hand and poured the water out, being sure to get most of it on him. Then laughing she took off running for the barn. Jax gave chase. She didn’t get far before he picked her up over his shoulder and dumped her in the horse trough. Now it was his turn to laugh.

  Virginia squealed when she hit the cold water. What had possessed her to dump water on him? If she hadn’t done so, she would not be soaking wet from head to toe right now. She was climbing out when he came back out of the barn carrying a horse blanket. He draped the blanket around her. “Here wrap yourself up in this and dry off.” “Thanks.” He surprised her with his gentleness.

  She shivered and he tried to warm her up by rubbing her arms. “I’m sorry, you should probably get inside so you can warm up. It’s pretty chilly outside today.” “Thanks, but I’m fine.” Her clothes were clinging to places they shouldn’t and he was glad he thought to get the blanket. There was a womanly figure under all those masculine clothes.

  Virginia headed back to the house but Jax stuck around the barn. He stood by the fence and watched his stallion slang his head and prance around the barn. He realized that he’d just had the most fun he’d had since he was a kid. He also realized that Virginia was more than just an annoying tomboy.

  He pushed himself away from the fence and walked back to the house. Ellen and Virginia were inside. They had the stove going and while Virginia stood next to it getting warm, Mrs. Ellen was busy getting supper started. He really didn’t know what to think about it. He couldn’t remember the last time a woman done for him without being paid to do so. It bothered him and yet excited him at the same time. The sight of Virginia standing by the stove wrapped in a blanket and her granny cooking warmed his heart.

  He washed his hands and face then sat down at the table. The weariness of the day was catching up with him but still he didn’t want the women to leave. They were good company and for once Virginia wasn’t trying to get a rise out of him every five minutes. It was as if something had changed between them and they developed a mutual respect for one another. Still, he would not say it was anything more than that.

  Mrs. Ellen made conversation while she cooked. She asked him about his childhood and the life he had up until he arrived in their sleepy little town. He avoided most of her questions about that time, but answered those about his childhood. Virginia sat quietly, not speaking a word. He caught her staring at him from time to time but pretended not to notice.

  The meal was good as usual. Mrs. Ellen was a fine cook. He thanked them for coming out and walked them out. He helped Mrs. Ellen climb in her buggy while Virginia climbed up on top her mare. Mrs. Ellen waved goodbye and he waved back. Virginia kept herself stiff in the saddle. He nearly missed the half smile she offered before she spun her horse around and left.

  Jax watched them go laughing to his self at the strange way Virginia had acted. Again, he thought of the woman beneath men’s clothing. He stood there shaking his head. He tried to clear the thought out of his head.

  Chapter Six

  By Monday morning, Virginia was back to her usual self. She did everything possible to irritate him. She sent him
on one errand after another, smacked his feet with the broom to make him move them and started with her usual berating of him. If he didn’t know any better, he’d say that she was flirting. Surely, that could not be the case.

  More than once, he caught her looking his way. Mrs. Ellen popped her head out of the kitchen. “Virginia, would you run across the street for me and get some more honey?” Virginia looked up from her sweeping. “Yes ma’am, I’ll head on over there now.” She propped the broom against the wall and walked out. Seeing Jax leaning back on the back two legs of his chair with his feet propped up, Virginia smiled to herself. She eased up behind him and pushed down on the back of the chair sending Jax sprawling. Then she hurried across the street laughing, while Jax was still cursing her for being a little devil.

  Mrs. Ellen stepped out, smiled and said, “You know, I don’t recall her ever behaving like this before. Granted she grew up with men, but the way she is with you is unusual.” She crossed her arms, wrapping her shawl around her. Jax watched her a minute, trying to read the look that crossed her face, then he said; “You probably never seen her around someone she hated before.” “She doesn’t hate you.” She turned on her heel and walked back inside leaving him to think on what she said.

  He didn’t have long to think on it because a scruffy bunch of men rode into town and headed over. They hitched their horses to the post in front of the restaurant, and stepped up on the porch. One feller spit out a chaw of tobacco, nearly missing Jax’s boot. “I’d watch where I spit that if I were you.” Jax stared at the man. “You nearly got your chaw on my boots.” The man narrowed his eyes at Jax. “Well I guess it wouldn’t hurt them none. A little bit of tobacco spit might be an improvement.” Jax, stood up straight. He cracked the knuckles in his fist and popped his neck to one side then the other. He propped his hand on the hilt of his gun.