North to Montana

by Colin Bainbridge

  When he had finished the former marshal was thoughtful. He rubbed his hand across his chin.

  ‘So you’re now the owner of the Forty-Five,’ he said. ‘I didn’t know that Cliff Nation and Henrietta had any family.’

  ‘Neither did I till I heard from that attorney,’ Nation replied.

  ‘I’m tryin’ to think back to the accident,’ Quitman said.

  ‘Where did it happen?’ Nation asked. ‘Was it somewhere on the Forty-Five?’

  ‘Nope. It wasn’t far out of town. I assumed Cliff and Henrietta had been on their way to town to pick up supplies or maybe just have a run out. They used to do that sometimes. Their buggy was found overturned with the pair of them underneath it.’

  ‘Do you know who found them?’

  ‘Sure. It was young Duane Gunter.’ He turned to the old-timer. ‘You remember him, Muleskin? He often helped out at the Forty-Five.’

  ‘I remember him,’ Muleskin replied.

  ‘Is he still livin’ in Gunsight?’ Nation asked.

  ‘Nope,’ Quitman replied. ‘I think he left town not long after the accident. He shows up from time to time, but I ain’t seen him in a while.’

  ‘So what happened to the Forty-Five?’

  ‘Nothin’ much. The cattle were sold off and then it was left to go to rack and ruin. I don’t know why. It weren’t much of a place, I guess.’ He suddenly recollected that Nation was now the owner. ‘Sorry, I never meant. . . .’

  ‘It’s OK,’ Nation replied. He paused for a moment before asking the question which was uppermost in his mind. ‘I don’t know how to put this, but, lookin’ back, are you quite sure that Cliff Nation and Henrietta died as a result of an accident?’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Don’t get me wrong. I’m just feelin’ my way. Somebody took that shot at me, so there’s obviously more to this whole business than meets the eye. There’s somethin’ goin’ on and it’s connected in some way with the Forty-Five and what happened in the past.’

  ‘Well, I didn’t have any reason to think otherwise,’ Quitman said. ‘If there had been anythin’ suspicious, I think I would have noticed it. Nope, I think you’re barkin’ up the wrong tree there.’

  ‘There wouldn’t have to be any obvious signs,’ Muleskin said, ‘but somethin’ must have happened to skitter their horse. It could have been done deliberately.’

  Quitman shrugged. ‘I suppose you’ve got a point,’ he said. ‘But if that was the case, if someone did it on purpose, they wouldn’t be likely to leave any evidence.’

  They sat in silence for a moment. Nation picked up his glass and finished the rest of his whiskey.

  ‘Well, I don’t know where this leaves things,’ he concluded, ‘but I sure appreciate your help.’

  They continued to talk but when the time came to leave, Nation had the feeling that he hadn’t made much progress. As they mounted up, the former marshal addressed Muleskin.

  ‘Say, I forgot to ask about Midway. How’s the old fella doin’?’

  ‘Same as usual,’ Muleskin replied.

  ‘Bring him along next time,’ Quitman said.

  Nation looked back as they rode away. The former marshal remained standing on the porch. It was then that it struck him that Quitman had enquired after the dog but hadn’t mentioned Double-Cinch Annie. Was there something odd in that? It seemed more likely that he would have enquired after both of them rather than one and not the other. But then, he had only referred to the dog as an afterthought. There was probably nothing in it.

  As they rode back to Gunsight, Nation began to feel unwell. Muleskin couldn’t help but notice the way he slumped over the saddle.

  ‘Are you feelin’ OK?’ he asked. Nation shook his head. ‘You’ve been overdoin’ things,’ the old-timer responded. ‘It’s only a day since that bear varmint attacked you. There’s poison in a bear’s claws. You’d better rest easy when we get back. Maybe you should have mentioned it to the doc. I’ll get him to come over and take a look at you.’

  As far as Nation was concerned, it seemed to take an age to cover the last leg of the journey back. When he and Muleskin reached town he was feeling really bad but did his best to sit upright in the saddle and not show it. The old-timer helped him from his horse and then through the batwing doors to his own room. Nation was about to remonstrate with him about being given his mattress but he couldn’t fight his exhaustion any longer; he would have collapsed had not Muleskin caught him and laid him on the bed. He dimly heard his voice telling him to lie still before blackness came over him.

  When he came to, he didn’t know where he was. Then slowly his senses returned and he recognized the old-timer’s room. He was covered in a clean sheet and blankets and his throbbing head was propped on a mound of pillows. It was dark, the only illumination coming from a shaded lamp. He became aware that someone else was in the room with him. Wincing with the effort, he turned his head, expecting to see Muleskin, but to his surprise it was a woman. She was dressed in a faded purple gown and her hair was arranged in a huge chignon. She smiled at him.

  ‘Well, Mr Nation,’ she said, ‘it seems like you’ve pulled through at last. How are you feeling now?’

  ‘Not too bad. My head hurts.’

  ‘That isn’t surprising. At least you’re past the worst. How about your chest? Some of those scars were quite deep.’

  He looked down to see that his chest was freshly bandaged. ‘It feels fine,’ he said. ‘Maybe a little bit sore.’ He glanced round. ‘Where’s Muleskin? I didn’t mean to take his bed. He’ll be needin’ it.’

  ‘Just lie still. Muleskin is asleep. I would have transferred you to one of the rooms upstairs but it didn’t seem to be worth disturbing you.’

  ‘I’d best get up. I’m fine now. A few hours’ rest is all I needed.’ The woman’s previous words suddenly registered with him. ‘Say, how long have I been lying here?’ he said.

  ‘Two days.’

  ‘What time is it?’

  ‘Four in the morning. It’ll soon be dawn.’

  ‘I didn’t mean to inconvenience anyone.’

  ‘It’s no inconvenience. In fact, I’m glad to have been able to be of some help. We don’t get too many visitors. This town isn’t exactly the kind of place anyone goes out of their way to stop by.’

  ‘Would I be correct in assumin’ you’re Annie?’

  ‘I am indeed. Annie McGrew. And you’re Buck Nation. Muleskin has told me something about your circumstances.’

  ‘I owe Muleskin. And now it seems I owe you too, but don’t worry. Just as soon as I can get saddled up, I’ll be on my way.’

  He made to get out of bed but Annie restrained him. ‘You may be over the worst,’ she said, ‘but you’re in no fit state to be going anywhere. Just take it easy. I guess you could probably do with something to eat? I’ll rustle up some grub.’

  She got to her feet and walked out of the room, her skirts swishing as she did so. Nation struggled to an upright position. He looked through the window. The sky was still black and it was suddenly borne in on him that she must have been sitting up with him all night. Before long she was back, carrying a tray on which stood a bowl of broth and some bread.

  ‘Here, try this,’ she said. ‘Later, you can maybe have something more substantial.’

  He spooned some of the broth into his mouth. It tasted good and, when he had finished, he already felt strengthened. As he did so he observed the woman more closely. He guessed that she was in her early fifties. Her yellow hair was streaked with grey and there were crow’s feet lines about her eyes. She must once have been quite a beauty and she was still a good-looking woman with a figure he couldn’t help admiring.

  ‘Thanks again,’ he said when he had finished. ‘I sure appreciate everythin’ you and Muleskin have done for me.’

  She rose to take away the bowl and spoon. ‘I’ll leave you now,’ she said. ‘Try and get some more rest. As for those other matters, we can decide what’s to be done next in the m
orning.’

  She turned down the lamp and went out the door but Nation remained looking through the window, thinking over what she had said. There was something comforting about her words, as if she was on his side, as if already there was some kind of understanding between them. She seemed to have taken control of the situation after he and Muleskin had returned from the visit to Quitman. He could begin to see why she had gained her sobriquet of Double-Cinch Annie.

  By the time day had dawned and he had managed to eat some breakfast, Nation was feeling a lot better. Afterwards, he, Annie and Muleskin sat on the back veranda smoking, the dog lying at their feet. Nation doubted whether a mug of coffee had ever tasted so good. Muleskin and Annie seemed to be in a reflective mood.

  ‘You should have seen Gunsight in the old days,’ Muleskin said. ‘You wouldn’t believe it could be the same town. The place used to be jumpin’.’

  ‘So what happened?’ Nation asked.

  ‘Of course there was the cholera epidemic,’ Annie replied, ‘but things recovered some after that. Nope, the main cause of the decline was the cattle industry movin’ on. The range round Gunsight was never ideal. You’ve seen yourself how rough some of the country is; blackjack thicket, mesquite, chaparral. Once they opened up the rich grasslands round Powder Valley and the Bighorn Basin, it spelled the end. Now they’ve moved on to Montana. Maybe we should have moved on too. I guess I kind of hoped things would change, that the town would pick up again.’

  ‘You and Muleskin must go back a-ways,’ Nation prompted.

  ‘We sure do,’ Muleskin replied.

  ‘Muleskin was indispensable to me in those days,’ Annie said. ‘You could say he was my right-hand man. He helped run the place and keep order, especially if Marshal Quitman wasn’t around for any reason.’

  ‘That goddamn bear didn’t help things any,’ Muleskin said bitterly, ‘once he chewed my leg up.’

  Annie reached out and placed her hand on his arm. ‘There isn’t any point in going over it all again.’

  ‘Muleskin’s got my sympathy,’ Nation responded. ‘I ain’t exactly on good terms with the varmint myself.’

  ‘Some day!’ Muleskin muttered beneath his breath.

  ‘That’s enough about the past,’ Annie said. She turned to Nation. ‘Muleskin has told me somethin’ of your story but it might be an idea if I was to hear it in your own words. I assure you it’s not because I’m curious. It’s just that if I have the facts clear, I might be in a better position to help.’

  Nation felt comfortable with Annie and Muleskin and it didn’t take him long to recount his story. When he had finished, Annie sat in silence for a time while they drank the coffee and built themselves fresh smokes. Eventually she spoke.

  ‘You think that what happened to Cliff and Henrietta may not have been an accident?’

  ‘Yes. And the fact that someone took those shots at me would seem to suggest I’m right to think that way.’

  ‘But who would know you’re here in Gunsight?’ Nation had no answer and could only reply with a shrug.

  ‘What about this man, Duane Gunter,’ Annie said. ‘I can remember him. He still comes back from time to time. He used to help out on the Forty-Five. Maybe it’s significant that he left the area shortly after Cliff and Henrietta were killed.’

  ‘Didn’t he have somethin’ to do with Mrs Winslow at the grocery store?’ Muleskin said.

  His question remained unanswered. Nation was musing on Annie’s words. ‘Maybe Gunter was involved in what happened to Cliff and Annie,’ he said, ‘especially if it wasn’t an accident.’

  ‘Whatever the truth of the matter, the old Forty-Five place has been allowed to go to the dogs since then,’ Muleskin remarked. ‘It certainly ain’t much of a prospect.’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know,’ Annie replied. ‘I reckon it could be made profitable if someone was to give it time and attention.’

  ‘You said yourself the cattle industry is dead now in these parts.’

  ‘Which isn’t to say it couldn’t be revived,’ Annie replied, looking at Nation as she did so.

  ‘I ain’t ever had much hankerin’ to take up ranchin’,’ he said. ‘Besides, like you were just sayin’, this wouldn’t be the place to do it.’

  ‘Some folks seem to have made a success of it,’ Annie said. ‘Take Selby Rackham at the Grab All.’

  ‘The Grab All?’ Nation queried.

  ‘Yes,’ Annie said. ‘It’s a big spread over by the Little Purgatory river.’

  ‘You know Rackham?’

  ‘Not personally. He used to work right here on the Forty-Five,’ she replied. ‘You remember him, don’t you, Muleskin?’

  ‘I remember him. I never took to the fella much.’

  ‘Not many people did,’ Annie replied. ‘I don’t know why. He did well enough by Cliff and Henrietta.’

  ‘What happened to him after Cliff and Henrietta died?’ Nation said.

  ‘As far as I know, he took responsibility for selling the cattle. Then he moved on. There’s nothing unusual about that. A lot of cowhands live that way, moving from range to range.’

  ‘Well, it seems he did pretty well out of it,’ Nation commented. Muleskin and Annie exchanged glances. ‘I ain’t implyin’ anythin’,’ Nation continued. ‘I’m just tryin’ to get the picture straight. If Cliff and Henrietta’s accident weren’t an accident after all, it would be useful to know who might have been involved. You mentioned Duane Gunter. Now it seems there was someone else around at the time, this man Selby Rackham – who apparently runs a big spread of his own. You said it was near a river?’

  ‘The Little Purgatory.’

  ‘How far is that?’

  ‘I don’t know exactly,’ Annie said. ‘Not too far. Why?’

  ‘You don’t intend headin’ over to the Little Purgatory?’ Muleskin said.

  ‘In view of what you told me, I’m figurin’ to do just that. See if anybody can tell me more about this hombre Rackham. I figure it wouldn’t do any harm to check him out.’

  ‘Be careful,’ Annie said. ‘If someone’s gunning for you, you’d better be on the alert all the way.’ Her words seemed to silence them for a while. Finally Annie turned from one to the other of her two companions. ‘If you’ve got no objections,’ she said, ‘me and Muleskin would sure like to go along with you.’

  ‘It could be a wild goose chase,’ Nation responded.

  ‘That doesn’t make any difference,’ Annie replied. ‘This goddamn town has been getting us both down. It would be a relief to leave Gunsight behind for a while.’

  ‘Neither of us would miss the place even if we never saw it again,’ Muleskin said. ‘There’s only one thing I got to ask.’

  ‘Yeah? What’s that?’

  ‘Old Midway comes along too.’

  Just at that point, Nation felt the dog’s tongue on the back of his hand and leaned over to stroke its head.

  ‘What do you think, Midway?’ he said. The dog looked up at him through baleful eyes.

  ‘I reckon he’d have somethin’ sensible to say if only he could talk,’ Annie said.

  Nation thought for a moment, looking at the old-timer’s face, and then he grinned. ‘OK,’ he said. ‘I guess I oughta know there’s no way we could leave Midway behind.’

  Chapter Three

  Selby Rackham rode his horse up to the crest of a low hill and looked down on the range spread before him. It presented a huge panorama of rolling grassland, low hills and grazing cattle. At a considerable distance, he could see the sunlight glinting on the waters of the Little Purgatory River. It was strange to think that, not too long before, the entire region had been Indian country. Now it was all his. And he had started with nothing, hiring himself out to two-bit ranches like the Forty-Five till he had seen the light. It was a fool’s game, riding the range in order to put money into another man’s pocket. The Forty-Five had been just the start. Once you took the first step, it was easy: things seemed to follow one after another. From that point he had
steadily built up his wealth and power till he now owned just about the biggest spread in southern Wyoming. And the Grab All was not the final destination. He would soon be in a position to realize a long-standing project, which was to buy himself an even bigger and potentially more lucrative spread in Montana. He had investigated the potential of ranching in the mountain valleys of the Rockies even before riding for the Forty-Five. There had been not a cloud on the horizon till now.

  He watched as a figure detached itself from the surroundings and his foreman came riding up the slope. ‘Well?’ he rapped as Gunter stopped alongside him. ‘Did you deal with Nation?’

  Gunter looked uncomfortable. He shook his head. ‘I think I might have hit him,’ he said, prevaricating.

  ‘Think? Might have? What sort of language is that?’

  ‘I followed him to the cemetery. It was dark so I figured it was a good time. He must have ducked just as I opened fire. There was a dog. I can’t be sure but. . . .’

  ‘But nothing!’ Rackham yelled. ‘I don’t want to hear about no dog or anythin’ else. I told you to remove this Nation varmint and it seems like you’ve messed up. I don’t know even know what you’re doin’ back here.’

  ‘Maybe my aunt got it wrong,’ Gunter began. ‘Maybe Nation has nothin’ to do with Cliff and Henrietta. Even if he has, it don’t have to mean anythin’.’

  In an instant Rackham’s six-gun was in his hand and pointing at his foreman.

  ‘Shut up! I’m not listenin’ to any more excuses. You’ve got your orders. So go and carry ’em out and don’t come back until you have. I don’t want Nation anywhere near the Grab All. I want him dead. Hell, it ain’t askin too much. You can even take a few of the boys if you want. Only make sure you don’t let me down again. Now get goin’!’

  Gunter didn’t wait for any second invitation. Digging his spurs sharply into his horse’s flanks, he rode off. There was a sneer of contempt on Rackham’s face. For a moment he was tempted to put a bullet into his foreman’s back but instead he placed the gun back in its holster. He had meant what he said. There would be no more chances for Gunter.