Revenge Requires Two Graves

by George Emery Townsend

  Chapter 25

  The Sioux

  Ray and Larry rode out a few hundred yards ahead of the train to head off any danger and watch for the dust of the train ahead of them. The boys would need their help if they were attacked. They really didn’t want to end their day with a real close hair cut so they decided not to wander further away from the safety of the train than they had too.

  They rode their horses in a slow walk as the sun bore down on them. Sweat ran down their backs, although it was a tossup as to whether it was the heat or the threat of an arrow. Ray couldn’t be sure.

  “Ray, do you really think the Sioux will come after that girl?” asked Larry.

  “Your guess is as good as mine, Larry. We just need to keep our eyes open for anything. I sure wish Zeke was here now, he’d have a good idea of what to expect.” Ray said wistfully.

  “Well at least we made it to the river bed again. There it is up ahead. Sure looks quiet, don’t it?” asked Larry as he looked up and down the dry bed.

  “Shit!”

  “What is it Ray?” spoke Larry as he pulled his gun from its leather and started panning the scene.

  “Look over there Larry, where we buried the brave.”

  “Oh shit, we’re in for it now aren’t we Ray. Someone dug him up.”

  “Let’s ride over there and see what we see,” Ray said as he turned Horse into the direction of where they had left the Indian brave. “Look Larry, unshod pony tracks. Let’s get free of this spot and let Quincy know what we found.”

  Turning their horses east they rode hard back to the wagons to put up the warning. When Quincy saw them approaching he rode out to join them. “What is it boys?”

  “I’m afraid the Sioux found our friend’s body back there in the dry river bed. Looked like he was taken away by several riders on unshod ponies,” Ray reported.

  “So soon, damn it! We just ran out of time, boys. I know it’s early but maybe we should get the wagons into a circle and hunker down,” speculated Quincy.

  “May I make a suggestion, Mr. Woods? If we circle now, the train ahead of us will move on too far to come to our aid. We don’t know if there’s a train followin’ us. My Pa always said there was safety in numbers.”

  “Your Pa was right, Ray. What do you have in mind?”

  “Well it’s risky but I’d say we push on. We’ll need to increase our speed to close the gap with the wagon train ahead of us. We place well-armed men, ridin’ parallel a couple hundred yards out from the train. It won’t give us much time to circle but it might keep us from ridin’ into an ambush. I‘d like to ride up to the train ahead of us and warn them of what might be comin’.”

  “You’re right Ray. It could leave them wide open for an attack. I figure if we hang around here long enough in a circle they’d just pick us apart and we’d miss our window to get across the Rockies. I sure hope that little lady we saved is worth it. Ah shit; I couldn’t leave anyone out here to fend for themselves against those savages either. Let’s get the men in position and I guess you got some ridin’ to do, Ray.” said Quincy as he turned his big Palomino back towards the wagons.

  “I’m ridin’ with Ray,” stated Larry.

  “I figured you would. Be safe boys, this train needs your kind,” smiled Quincy, as he tipped his hat in their direction.

  “See you in a few hours Quincy,” they both called as they turned west and headed out at a fast gallop towards the leading train.

  “How far ahead do you think they are Ray?” asked Larry.

  “Well they can’t be too far. They can only travel a few miles a day like us. I hope we can be back in our own camp before dark.”

  “Sounds good to me. Lets ride!” called Larry as he kicked the sides of his mount encouraging their horses into a full run.

  Dust in the air told them that they were getting closer to the procession of wagons ahead, when suddenly the attack hit. The boys must have ridden right into an ambush being prepared for their own train. Three from the group of ten Indians must have seen them coming and welcomed them with a cloud of arrows. The others went about the business of hiding their mounts and wiping away the signs of their tracks with large leafy branches. Ray and Larry pulled iron simultaneously and threw lead into the attackers. The Indians were as surprised as the Cowboys, and their arrows went wide. Fortunately for Ray and Larry their gunshots were truer. Their first couple shots missed their target completely, but had the advantage of five more. Their second and third shots ended the Indian’s defense and the fourth and fifth shots sent the rest of the Braves into cover.

  “Let’s get out of here Ray!” yelled Larry as he fired into the fleeing Sioux.

  “We can’t, Larry! These fellas aren’t going home without scalps and that girl. We need to finish this right now!” Ray shouted back.

  Ray dropped the spent shells from his chambers and quickly reloaded. Larry did the same. With guns in hand they charged ahead. Chasing down the would-be ambushers, they caught four still out in the open near a small ravine. The Indians fired back with arrows and tossed a couple clubs that missed their marks. The boys’ shots killed three before their bodies struck the ground. The fourth ran towards Ray with his knife drawn and a scream coming from his throat that scared the hell out of them. Without thinking Ray raised his .44 and placed a single shot into the oncoming attacker’s chest. He stumbled and went down in a heap, throwing up a cloud of dust when he hit the ground. That was going to be his final resting place.

  “Where's the other three, Larry?”

  “They made it to their horses, Ray. Should we let them go?”

  “Hell no! Do you see what’s on the back of that pony? I think that bundle is our dead brave. If they get back to their camp with that body, they’ll have half the Sioux Nation down our throats. If we can stop them, maybe we can buy enough time for the wagons to get clear. Let’s ride ‘em down and put ‘em out of commission,” Ray called as he put Horse into a dead run.

  Holstering his .44, Ray pulled the Winchester from its boot and cocked it. The three Indians were increasing the distance between them. Their ponies were obviously fresh where as the boys had been riding theirs most of the day.

  “We’ll never catch ‘em Ray!” Said Larry as he pulled up, grabbed his Winchester from the boot, and jumped out of the saddle. He hit the ground flat out on his stomach and brought his rifle to bear on the attempted assassins.

  When Ray saw what Larry had in mind he pulled up hard and also flew out of the saddle, landing on his feet. Larry fired first, dropping the furthest attacker from his mount. Ray changed his target as he had been sighting at the same rider. His shot was followed by a shot from Larry. Three ponies slowed and trotted on out into the tall grass without their riders.

  “Shit, that was close Ray,” said Larry, rising from the ground and wiping beads of sweat from his face.

  “Too close, Larry. If they had gotten away, we could have written off every man woman and child from that train behind us. But I still hate having to shoot at any one who’s fleeing the fight.”

  “It leaves a bad taste in your mouth Ray, but there was no other way.” Larry said quietly, shaking his head.

  “I know, come on. Let’s get this chore done. We need to get these bodies out of sight and do a better job than we did with the brave in the riverbed,” Ray said as he gathered up Horse’s reins and leaped back up into the saddle, replacing his Winchester into its boot. They moved the departed to a safe place where no one would find them, this time covering them with rocks. Once the ugly task was complete they headed west. The boys rode into the camp made by the wagons in lead of their own train.

  The wagon master was first to greet them, “Heard shots back there. Was that you two?”

  “Yes sir, we had a run in with some Sioux,” answered Larry.

  “Sioux you say,” scratched the Wagon Master’s chin, “did they get away?”

  “Not quite. We were riding up here to warn you when they jumped us. I guess they were pl
anning an ambush on our train to get a woman back who we rescued from a brave,” blurted Larry.

  “You mean tell, that they’re up in arms over a squaw you took?” cussed the Wagon Master.

  “Not exactly,” interrupted Ray. “We ran into a Brave and his woman. The brave attacked us and we had to kill him. The woman with him turned out to be a white woman. She’s back with our train now.”

  “Well this don’t sound like any concern of ours, Butch,” said one of the bystanders to the wagon master. “If she’s been with the Indians she ain’t white no more. I say you two go back to your train and send that woman back to the Sioux.”

  “Cletus, I’m runnin’ this train so you shut up and go back to your wagon,” demanded the wagon boss.

  “Listen, sendin’ that woman back now would be a death sentence for her. The only reason we rode up here was to ask if you wanted to slow some so the two trains could travel closer together until we can get past this threat,” explained Ray.

  “Sounds like a good idea for now, but once we get clear we’ll need to spread out again so we don’t end up with more people than water sources for camp,” agreed the wagon master.

  “Makes sense,” said Ray as he shock the man’s hand.

  After accepting a hot cup of coffee from the wagon master, they were once again in their saddles heading east.

  “That bunch sure didn’t seem very friendly,” said Larry.

  “Well they just got the news about a pending Sioux attack, so they’re probably a little worried. Can’t blame ‘em a bit about that. Give ‘em time and they’ll pull their defense into action.”

  “Yeah I guess. But to hear some of those people call for that woman to be sent back to the Sioux almost made me sick.”

  “It’s all fear Larry. They don’t want to have to face the real chance that they might die out here along this trail.”

  “Well, what you told them shut them up about the girl.”

  “Well its true Larry. Sending the girl back now wouldn’t do anything except get her killed. Sioux have been killed and it won’t be long before they figure out what happened. Then they’ll want to even the score. Zeke told me once while we were ridin’ ahead of the train about how the Indians are influenced by what they call good and bad medicine.”

  “What are you talkin’ about?” asked Larry as he increased the speed of his horse’s trot.

  “I don’t understand all of it, but it’s like the Sioux we killed earlier today. That is bad medicine for them and if they don’t avenge it, that bad medicine could grow. Now if for some reason they can’t avenge the killin’, they may call it too strong of bad medicine that they can’t overcome it, and they’ll leave it. Sometimes markin’ off whole sections of land where they will not travel because it contains bad medicine.”

  “That could be helpful if we can create enough bad medicine for them,” said Larry.

  “I sure hope so. Come on, I’m getting’ real hungry and I can almost smell that prairie stew cookin’.”

  They arrived back at the train around sunset. The wagons were already in circles with armed men walking the parameters. The boys stopped short of the wagons and called out, “Hail, the camp! Okay for two exhausted riders to ride on in?”

  “That you Ray?” came a reply from behind a small outcropping.

  “Yup, it’s Larry and me and we’re hungry enough to eat wagon canvas.”

  “Ride on in and be welcome,” came the response.

  After unsaddling their mounts and letting them walk off to join the remuda within the wagon circle, Ray and Larry headed straight for dinner.

  “I’ll go tell Quincy what’s happened. See you later,” said Larry as he walked off.

  When Ray entered the campfire area he saw Morgan sheepishly holding a plate and cup. “Ray, I got you a plate of food and some coffee. I…wanted to talk to you about what happened back in Laramie…please?” said Morgan with large brown eyes that melted his heart. Ray realized right then and there he would never be good with women. They’d always be able to wrap him up in knots. He made a mental note to try and stay clear of females if he wanted to be his own man.

  “Okay Morgan, what did you want to talk about?”

  “Come over here on this fallen log and eat while I explain.”

  “Explain what? You don’t have anything to explain to me. You’re in love with Jack and you want me to stay clear of you. I get it.”

  “No…” she said it so quick and so loud it appeared to escape her lips. Placing her hand over her mouth for a brief second she tried to capture the word as it fled from her pretty lips.

  “I mean, no that isn’t exactly correct. You see Ray, Jack comes from a family like mine. My parents, they want the best for me and well…”

  “Once again Morgan, I get it. Neither you nor your parents see me as being what’s best for you. No problem. My ma always told me not to hang around where you’re not welcome,” Ray said firmly.

  “You’re getting this all turned around, Ray. I just wanted to apologize for…”

  “Apologize for Jack and his friends jumping me. I don’t see where that has anything to do with you. That’s between me and Jack to settle. Now...I thank you for the vittles but I’m suddenly not all that hungry anymore.” And with that, Ray rose and walked away, leaving Morgan to stare at his disappearing shadow.

  Morgan looked down at the half eaten plate of food next to her. Picking it up she cursed under her breath and threw the plate across the camp.

  At the morning fires Ray saw Morgan standing by Jack. They were arguing about something, but Ray just tried to ignore them and continued to gather up his grub for the trail. Jack followed Ray to the Remuda to saddle Horse. He felt two hands squarely on his back as he was pushed hard to the ground. Rolling over onto his back he looked up into the enraged face of Jack Smoot.

  “Get up damn it!” threatened Jack “I don’t know what lie you told Morgan or what you’re tryin’ to do, but you’ll not come between me and what’s rightfully mine!”

  “Well, well, well…if it isn’t my old friend Jack Smoot. Where are all your friends hiding Smoot? Will they be holding me down again while you kick me?”

  “It was a fair fight and you spreading lies about me is gonna stop right now,” said Jack as he began to breath hard.

  “Jack, you appear a little nervous. Are you sure you want to take me on without your friends?

  By this time a small group had begun to circle around the two of them.

  “I figure I could whoop you and all your friends right now, unless they jump me like before.” Ray said coyly.

  Jack saw red; he knew what Ray was saying was the truth for all to hear. He had to clear his name, especially the image he had created for Morgan and her family. If Morgan’s Pa found out about his cowardly act, he’d be cut off from the Adam’s fortune.

  Jack charged forward and attempted to place a boot into Ray’s lower midsection. Ray blocked the kick with his left leg and rolled up onto his feet, egging Jack on. Ray had never wanted to pound anyone more than he wanted to pound Jack Smoot. When Jack lunged at Ray, Ray met Jack’s face with a hard driven fist, forcing Jack’s head back and making a severe cracking sound. He hit the ground and rolled over onto his back. Ray stood back, giving Jack room, wanting to enjoy this and hoping it wouldn’t end too soon. Jack slowly rose from the ground rubbing the back of his neck.

  “You know Jack, you can’t win. The simple fact that you can’t lay a hand on me shows everyone that it had to have been your friends that jumped me from behind. All you can hope for is that you land a lucky punch that gives you an advantage. But we both know that isn’t goin’ happen. The story will end here with you being shown as the coward you are and you gettin’ your butt kicked will just be the frosting on the cake.”

  “I hate you. You have ruined everything! I won't quit 'til you're dead in the cold ground you son-of-a-bitch.”

  Jack ran at Ray with his fist leading the way. Ray knocked his right hand aside
and stepped in close, striking Jack’s face with several blows from both his fists. Jack wobbled on his feet; Ray stepped back a little and brought a right cross into contact with Jack’s jaw. Jack crumbled to the ground, unconscious.

  Ray walked to where he had dropped his saddle, picked it up, and headed for Horse. Larry and John were standing next to the remuda with their horses already saddled.

  “Well looks like you’ve started your day off makin’ friends as usual, Ray,” said John.

  “Just mount up and let’s get out on the trail. I seem to have more trouble in the camp than I do out there with the Sioux.”

  “I hope that doesn’t change. Larry and I are both gonna be ridin’ with ya today. Quincy thought since we have to get so far out that another set of eyes would be a good idea,” said John.

  “Sounds good to me, the three of us ridin’ together again. Let’s go!” Ray called out as they rode out onto the trail heading west.