Patty Wilkinson Writing, traveling, having fun and meeting up with friends old and new!

#53 The Deal

The Deal

By

Patty Wilkinson

(Some strong language, violence and adult themes)

Dedicated to Bob, Tony and all my good friends old & new who enjoyed Laramie Jubilee 2017 as much as I did!

Chapter 1

I was leaning on the bar of the Laramie saloon, gazing over at my girl, Millie Johnson. She was busy tending customers down the other end of the room and I was feeling real cantankerous.

After a few minutes she became aware of my presence and threw me an apologetic glance and a little shrug.

It should have been her night off, but two of the other girls were sick and so it was down to her to cover.

Well I’ll tell you I guess it couldn’t have happened at a worse time, because I needed to speak to her. Hell I really needed to spend some time with her…….We had stuff we needed to talk through…..but it didn’t look like she’d be free any time soon….and that was really bugging me.

“Hey Jess Harper you look like you’ve lost a dollar and found a bent nickel, so what’s bothering you?”

I turned to look into the twinkling old brown eyes of my good friend and Sheriff of Laramie, Mort Cory, as he wandered over a beer in his hand.

I sighed deeply, ”How long have you got Mort?“

“As long as you want son,” he said with a friendly grin. ”I’m officially off duty. I’ve got Lon my Deputy back minding the fort and I’m about to enjoy a beer or three.”

“Well you see it’s this way Mort” I said taking a good pull on my beer and I began to explain about the mess that was my life right then, casting my mind back to a recent conversation with Slim. Slim Sherman that is, my best buddy and partner in the Sherman Ranch and Relay station…….

He’d been sitting at his desk all evening, grunting and sighing and now it was very late. Our young ward Mike Williams was long abed and Mrs Daisy Cooper our elderly housekeeper had also turned in for the night and I was just thinking of doing likewise when he suddenly cussed something fierce.

Well that was real unusual for my pard and I kinda figured there must be something badly wrong for him to act that way.

“Oh come on Slim, just make the dang figures up, nobody reads those Relay Reports anyway.”

He looked up, his eyes kinda misty like he’d forgotten I was even there. Then he shook his head and said quietly, ”It’s not the Monthly stats that’s bothering me Jess, it’s our business account.”

“Can’t tally the figures eh,” I said with a grin, “you wanna do what I do and work on the one as gives us the best outcome.”

“Oh we all know you can’t add up,” he said with a faint smile, before sobering again. “Look Jess quit joshing will you this is serious.”

I was leaning on the wall by the desk, but at his tone I threw him a worried glance, “Do you wanna come and sit a spell and tell me about it?” I asked.

He just nodded, “I guess we need to talk Jess, yeah.”

Once we were settled in front of the dying embers of the fire he took a deep breath before turning bloodshot, tired eyes on me.

“We’re in deep trouble pard, financial trouble that is.”

My eyes opened wide in shock at that bombshell.

“I know we’ve had kind of a run of bad luck, what with the drought last summer and then losing some stock in that freak snow storm in the fall, but things should look up soon shouldn’t they? We’ve got the stock back up on the high meadows with all summer to fatten them up…… “

“No you don’t get it Jess last year was really bad too. I’ve been trying to pay off our debts from when Mike was real sick and needed the doc, not to mention the repairs on this place after that storm struck….We’ve just been getting in deeper and deeper and unless we can get a substantial injection of cash, we could very well lose the ranch,” he finished, his voice raw and emotional.

“Look Slim, take it easy pard, we’ll think of something.” I said hating to see him this way.

“Oh yeah,” he said sarcastically, “so what are you thinking of doing Jess…robbing a bank, because I guess that’s what it will take, the amount we need.”

“Don’t even joke about it,” I growled, the notion of bank robbin’ being a bit near the bone, bearing in mind my less than squeaky clean past.

He shook his head then, ”Sorry Jess I wasn’t thinking.”

I just shrugged it off, ”So what are we gonna do?“

He looked real upset then.

“Well there’s only one thing I can think of, but you won’t like it Jess…you really won’t.”

“Go on,” I said softly, “you know what this place means to me Slim, I’d do anything, and you know that.”

He’d been staring deeply into the embers of the fire, but now he turned to look me in the eye.

“Take up old man Mason’s offer to go mustang breaking for him over the summer.”

My head shot up at that notion and I gave a little gasp of shock, ”Hell Slim!”

Silas Mason was everything I hated and despised in a man. He treated his staff like dirt and thought he could buy people…’every man has his price,’ being his mantra

Then iffen that wasn’t bad enough, although he traded in horses he really didn’t like them too much and saw them just as a way of making money….and lots of it. Oh sure if anyone could see us out of this spot of trouble it was Mason, he certainly wasn’t short of a dollar or two and it was only last month that I’d turned down his latest offer.

Although he ranched just outside Rawlins he’d been over to the ranch to do some horse trading and he’d paid top dollar for a big buckskin I’d just green broke.

“So Harper are you going to cave in and come and work for me?” he’d asked yet again as he was about to ride out.

“I can pay you a lot more than this two-bit place can afford,” he said casting a critical eye around the yard.

“Well you know I kinda like this two-bit place,” I said genially, ”and I guess I’d rather go a few rounds with a grizzly with a belly ache than come and work fer you Mason,” I finished in the same pleasant tone.

It took a moment for what I’d said to sink in and then he looked furious, his huge frame shaking with anger and his ugly mug contorted as he desperately tried to think of a comeback.

He’d finally just cussed and rode out hard and I felt kinda sorry fer the poor critter he was sittin’ as I figured he’d take out his wrath on the beast as I’d seen him do in the past.

Now I turned back to Slim…

“It’s the only way?”

“I reckon so, yes, and that’s only if he’ll take you on….after they way he left, maybe he won’t be interested anymore?”

“Oh, he’ll take me on alright,” I growled, “even if I have to beg him.”

Now it was Slim’s turn to look shocked, “You’d …you’d do that Jess?”

I just nodded, ”If it’s what’s needed to get us back on track, sure ….sure I will.”

I knew Mason had been down to Denver on business, and would be staying over in Laramie on his way home, the following week; so I rode out to the hotel to meet up with him.

When the tall, balding rancher pulled his hotel room door open and saw me standing there he looked somewhat less than pleased to see me.

“What in Hell are you doing here Harper?” he spat.

“We need to talk.”

“So what makes you think I’d want to do that?” he asked, moving to close the door, but I was too fast for him and neatly placed my boot in the way.

He looked down and then back into my eyes before sighing deeply, ”You’d better come in then.”

I nodded and followed him into the smart hotel room, looking around me before turning to face him.

Then I took a deep breath and said, ”I’ve decided to take you up on that offer Mason, I’ll come work fer you….just for the summer mind, nuthin’ permanent.”

His head shot up at that news and he was unable to hide the triumph in his eyes although his tone didn’t match what I knew he was thinkin’.

“So….you want to work for me then do you?”

I took another deep breath; gee this was so dang hard for me….but then I thought of the ranch and the distress in my pard’s eyes at the thought of losing it all….

“Yup, that’s what I said didn’t I?” I replied gruffly.

“And here’s me thinking you’d rather wrestle a grizzly with belly ache,” he said, now flaunting his advantage.

He sure wasn’t about to make this easy for me.

“I guess I changed my mind.”

“Um…” he said thoughtfully, “I’d heard rumors that all was not well at the Relay.”

“Well that’s none of your goddamn business,” I yelled suddenly losing the battle to keep my temper.

“There’s no need to be so touchy,” he replied, his eyes now gloating….

“So you need my help then Harper?“

I just nodded.

“Say it,” he spat, ”I want to hear you say it!”

I stood there clenching and unclenching my fists, having to really stop myself from lashing out.

Eventually I managed to reply, “Yes I need your help…so is the offer still open?“

He smiled like the cat that’s gotten a mouse by the tail and is considering the most fun way of dispatching it.

Then he seemed to relent.

“Well I’ll tell you what I can do for you Harper. You know as how I’ve got me a whole mess of ornery critters waiting to be green broke? Well if you can do that by September first I’ll give you double your wage and that’s a tidy sum…. real tidy, should see you out of this spell of bother and still have some left over too.”

“Go on,” I said thinking this looked way too good to be true.

He gave me that cat like smile again.

“You don’t get the job done by September first, you get nothing.”

“What!” I yelled. “And that’s a fair deal?”

“I never said it was fair, take it or leave it.”

I knew how many animals he’d got and that would mean me working every dang hour God sent and then some…but what could I do, the man had me over a barrel.

I moved towards him and offered my hand, ”Deal,” I said.

He took it and shook firmly, ”Deal…be at my place Tuesday next week…….”

Now Mort turned shocked eyes on me, ”Hell Jess that’s one heck of a call boy, so can you deliver?”

I just shrugged, ”Dunno, but I’ll give it my best shot.”

Just then Millie sashayed over and I turned quickly to Mort.

“Don’t say nuthin’ Mort I ain’t told her yet.“

“Ain’t told me what honey?” she asked turning smiling brown eyes on me.

“Err…..just how dang pretty you’re looking tonight,” I improvised.

It was a little while later that old Tom, the barkeep, finally relented and let Millie off for the rest of the evening, what was left of it anyways.

We were cuddled up together on her couch, in front of the fire, in her cosy room above the bar when she asked about my conversation with Mort.

“You two looked thick as thieves,” she said with a giggle, ”so what were you talking about all evening…Err and what is it you haven’t told me… I really don’t buy that ‘looking pretty tonight’ rubbish,” she said turning questioning eyes on me.

“It ain’t rubbish,” I replied quickly, ”you’re looking real pretty…..you always do….but yeah you’re right, I guess we need to talk………“

*******

“What, you’ll be gone all summer?” she cried looking totally crestfallen.

“I’m real sorry sweetheart, but you can see as how I have to go?”

She nodded.

“Oh yes of course…I’m sorry Jess I’m just being selfish; I’m going to miss you so, so much though.”

I looked deep into those beautiful eyes and ran a finger gently down her cheek.

“Me too…. I’ll miss you like hell…”and I gave a little groan before leaning in and kissing her very tenderly.

Then I pulled back.

“You’ll wait for me, you won’t see anyone else will you?“

She shook her head, ”How can you ask….besides we’ve gotten us an understanding haven’t we.”

I nodded.

“You bet,” and leaning in kissed her much more deeply, before taking her in my arms…… and as she responded eagerly to my kisses…….I knew just how darned difficult it would be to leave her.

Me and Millie went way back. We grew up on the Texas panhandle together and I figured we’d been best friends ever since. We’d dated on and off throughout the years, sometimes not seeing each other for months on end, but then we’d meet up and carry on like we’d never been parted. Then if neither of us were dating anyone else we’d be inseparable and iffen she shared her bed with me on occasion, well that was our dang business and we were both happy that way.

That was until I really thought I would lose her as she hooked up with a guy who was going West with the Wagon Train and she looked set to go with him and make a new life for herself….. However when she really thought it through and decided she just couldn’t leave me….and I figure that’s when I finally came to my senses and realized I couldn’t live without her in my life too

All that had been a good while back and we’d decided not to get wed just yet as neither of us felt ready to start a family…. and kids….well they just have a way of comin’ along once folk get themselves hitched…So we decided to wait until the time was right…But we were still committed to each other….and no I shouldn’t have said that…about her seeing other folk…she just wouldn’t I knew that really, but I guess I was feeling a mite uneasy at having to ride out and leave her alone for so dang long.

When I awoke the following morning the sun was flooding in, lighting up Millie’s beautiful face and I sat up, leaning on my elbow, looking down at her, feeling real terrible at the thought of leaving her.

I figure she must have become aware of me watchin’ her as after a while her eyes flickered open and she gave me a wonderful sleepy smile and then reached up to kiss me…..

“I’m going to miss you something fierce,” she said softly.

Then more firmly, ”And the same goes for you, you won’t go seeing anyone else while your away will you?”

I laughed at that idea, ”You’re kiddin’ me…anyways even iffen I wanted to….which I don’t,” I said emphatically, ”I ain’t gonna have a spare minute…any time I get free I’ll be sleepin’.”

She giggled and then looked serious, ”Poor Jess, this really is going to be hard on you isn’t it?”

I shrugged, ”I’ll manage.”

“Um, well you just steer clear of that Sadie,” she said throwing me a mock frown.

Sadie was Mason’s nubile young wife and if rumor was anything to go by she fancied anything in pants and weren’t too bothered about her husband knowing about it either, reckoned it kept him on his toes.

“Sadie Mason,” I chuckled, ”hell I ain’t goin’ within a mile of her, I really ain’t interested….”

“Um, it’s not you as will be doin’ all the running and taking an interest from what I’ve heard,” she said bitterly.

“Millie…..”

“What? “

“Quit yer frettin’ and come here……………..”

Chapter Two

It was noon before I finally made it back to the ranch and Daisy had cooked up a storm for my last Sunday dinner there for a while. However the atmosphere was real low as I guess we were all kinda dreading me goin’ off for so long.

I guess that Daisy was worried that I wouldn’t get fed enough or go gettin’ in trouble. Her being a typical Ma who tends to worry some about her ‘boys’, as she calls us ….Me in particular…although I dunno why that’s so….. When I said that Slim rolled his eyes and exchanged a look with Daisy and even Mike laughed. Well OK I figure maybe I have kind of a talent for ending up in the odd spot of bother, if I’m bein’ real honest.

I’d shared the deal, about me havin’ to git all the critters green broke by September first or no money, with Slim and was beginning to regret it I can tell you. See ol’ Hardrock there could worry for Texas and right now that looked exactly like what he was doin’. Anyways I threw him a warning look as the last thing either of us wanted was Miss Daisy being privy to the agreement as I knew she’d fret something fierce knowing how tough it would be for me to meet the deadline.

It was bad enough as it was, because she knew I really didn’t like Mason or the set-up he had there and I figure that was at the bottom of her worries.

“You will try and be patient with Mr Mason won’t you dear, you won’t go….err well you know, go letting that temper get the better of you?”

“Relax Daisy I’ll be a pussy cat. I’ll just keep my head down, git the job done, and before you know it I’ll be home again gettin’ under your feet.”

Then it was Mike’s turn to voice his worries.

He’d been uncharacteristically quiet throughout the meal, but now he turned those big innocent eyes on me and whispered….”Why do you have to go Jess…I don’t want you to…I really don’t,” and then he gave a huge sniff.

Daisy and I exchanged a glance before I turned to him and said gently, “We’ve been all through this Tiger; we’re a mite short on cash right now, so I’ve gotta go and earn a few extra bucks.”

“I could get me a job,” he piped up, ”I could work at the mercantile delivering parcels for Mr Green, he always says what a big help I am when I lend a hand loading up the wagon.”

I flicked a glance over to Slim and then back to the boy.

“That’s real good of you to offer Mike,” I said sincerely, but knowing that the ten year old was way too young to send off to work.

“But see the thing is, the only reason I’m free to go off is because you’re gonna be home on school holidays and can help Slim run the place….. I couldn’t go without your helping ol’ Hardrock around here.”

“Really?” he asked his eyes opening wide in amazement before he turned to my partner.

“Is that right Slim, you want me to do all Jess’s jobs?”

Slim looked slightly phased for a moment but recovered quickly.

“Why sure, helping with the relay teams, riding fence with me…but I figure we’ll leave any mustang breaking until he lands home,” he finished winking at me.

“Oh thanks,” I said sarcastically, “just what I need after four months of bronc bustin’….is more of the same.”

“Oh well, could be it won’t come to that,” he said cheerfully, ”if you make this proposed small fortune over at the Mason’s place.”

Then he sobered and threw me a concerned glance, yup ‘if’ I thought.

Chapter 2

Everyone got up real early to see me off the following morning and once Traveller was saddled up and a good sized gunny sack full of food, courtesy of Daisy, was hoisted up on my saddle horn, I whistled up Blue, my dog.

He barked in excitement and capered around me, before jumping up to put his paws up on my shoulders and I patted him briefly.

“Git down big fellah, show yer master some respect,” I laughed.

“Are you sure it’s a good idea taking Blue along,” asked Slim looking anxious, “you know….the way he is?”

“Sure, sure he’ll be fine, I’ll explain….and anyway…..”

“Anyway what Jess?”

“Well I figure iffen you aren’t comin’ along I’ll need Blue to watch my back,” I chuckled.

Then I hopped lightly up in the saddle and with a quick, ”Adios”, kneed Traveller off up the rise at speed, not wantin’ to draw out the leavin’ for young Mike’s sake.

We finally fell into an easy trot, Blue loping along beside me his tongue hanging out and looking for all the world like he was laughing and I cast my mind back to the time I’d found him….or should I say he found me. As I rode along I cast my mind back to the day I first saw him….

See I was up in the mountain territory near Rawlins, hunting wild turkey for my supper and saw a couple through the bushes.

As I neared the spot I slid down from Traveller, pulled my rifle out of the scabbard and continued on foot, walking stealthily through the undergrowth where I’d had seen the wild turkeys. After a little while I heard a gobbling sound and peering forwards saw my quarry several yards away.

I inched forwards and then as I took one more step there was suddenly a loud snapping noise and I felt an excruciating pain in my right leg and fell to the ground in agony. After a few minutes I was able to gingerly sit up and looking down saw my leg caught in a huge rusty steel wolf trap. The sharp edges of the trap were cutting into my leg and as I watched a bright red blood stain started to seep through my denims.

I fell back again and after a moment pulled myself up and reaching down my leg, tried to force the springs of the trap open. Hell I hated these devises and we never used them on the Sherman ranch, but I knew full well that many of the traps had springs of up to 100 lbs force and I also knew that from the angle I was at, I would be unable to put enough leverage on the spring to release it.

Once again I fell back before rallying and sitting forwards tried to get a grip on the spring and open it up, but all I managed to do was to pull it back a few inches and then it sprang back again causing me to cry out in pain and finally pass out.

When I came around a while later I had the feeling I was being watched and sitting up again looked around me and called out, but there was no reply.

Then I suddenly saw something move over in the bushes just to the right of me and I reached for my rifle, “Might as well bag yer Mr Turkey seein’ as how I’m sittin’ here,” I whispered.

I peered at the bush where I had seen the movement and after a few minutes saw a grey and white wolf emerge. The animal stared steadily at me and then moved slowly closer, his tongue lolling out of his mouth making him look like he was grinning in welcome.

I suddenly remembered a warning about a renegade, possibly rabid, wolf.

I raised the rifle and got the animal in my sights my finger ready to squeeze the trigger…but something didn’t feel right.

I lowered the gun again and watched the wolf, which was now sitting down, regarding me with large intelligent brown eyes.

His head was small for a wolf and the pricked ears were longer than the usual triangle shaped ears of a wolf. Then the animal stood and advanced slowly dropping down onto its belly and crawling forwards in a position of submission, its tail beating on the floor. Then the last rays of sunlight reflected on something near the animal’s neck, something silver and shiny, a medallion. The animal was wearing a collar!

“Well I’ll be…” I said excitedly, ”you’re nothing more than a lost puppy dog, here boy come on’” I called.

The dog’s tail thumped on the ground and then he ran forwards jumping and gambling around me barking joyously. After a few minutes he came right up to me and sank down beside me panting, his tongue lolling out.

I reached out a hand and tentatively stroked the dog’s head and my gentle caress was rewarded by a lick. Then I pulled myself up and peered at the disc attached to the worn collar the dog was wearing and just visible scratched on the disc were the letters, B L U E.

“Blue,” I said delightedly, ”you’re called Blue.”

At his name the dog jumped up and capered about barking and rolling over and over.

I sank back ,”To think I nearly shot ya; sorry Blue. Guess you’re Ma was a dog and your Pa a wolf,” I said softly, “but you’re sure more dog than wolf and I figure someone has had you from a puppy, wonder where they are now boy, you look like you could use a square meal that’s for sure.”

As the sun went down it became colder and I started to shiver, the pain I was experiencing from the trap wound making me feel drained and sick.

The dog seemed to sense my ill ease and came and lay down beside me, his head and one paw laying across my chest.

“Hope you’re thinkin’ of stayin’ around boy,” I whispered, “‘cos I figure you’re the only thing standing between me stayin’ alive or freezing to death tonight.”

And stay he did, keeping me warm throughout the night and saving my life I figured….. And we’d been kinda inseparable ever since that bitter night over a year ago now.

Finally someone wandered by and helped git me out of the trap and then I rode into town and caught up with a good buddy of mine Red Smith, Sheriff of Rawlins and he filled me in on Blue’s history.

Seems he belonged to an old rancher who had died a couple of months since and was the product of the rancher’s sheep dog, who got out one night and went off romancin’ with a lonesome wolf, the result being Blue and his sister. Unfortunately his Ma died at his birth so Blue and little Rosa had been bottle fed by the rancher and then he sold on Rosa but kept Blue, until the old timer died and the critter had been on the drift for a couple of months until he finally hooked up with me.

I looked down at him now as he ran along beside Traveller and thought, not for the first time, how darned lucky I was to have him. Gee he’d turned out to be the best darned working dog we’d ever had on the ranch, herding anything from steers to broncs and even wayward chucks.

He wore a leather collar I’d made for him myself, along with his original name disc he’d worn when I’d first seen him, and that was real important, because he sure looked like a wolf. That had led to more than one near shootin’ and I figured that was what Slim was talkin’ about when he asked iffen it was a good idea to take him along, but as things turned out it was a real good idea…..

I arrived at the ranch early on the Tuesday morning as Mason had asked and as I rode in a couple of wranglers tipped out of the bunkhouse and then Mason himself appeared from the main house as I slipped down from the saddle and tethered Traveller to the corral fence.

“So you made it then.” he said scowling at me….then he saw Blue, standing to heel just behind me and cussed. “Goddamn it Harper you’ve brought a dang wolf in here are you crazy?”

He went for his gun, but I was way faster and I levelled it at him and said quietly, ”There ain’t no cause to go fussin’ Mason he’s a wolf cross sure. But crossed with a darned good sheep dog and you’ll find none better at herdin’ and he’s all dog up here where it counts,” I said tapping my head.

He looked kinda shocked at me drawing on him that way, but holstered his gun fast enough and I did the same.

“Umm, well he’s your responsibility Harper, you keep an eye on him and any stock as get’s eaten I figure it’ll be down to your friend here….now git to it, works waiting for you.”

I nodded, ”Sure, as soon as I’ve put my horse up.”

“I said now Harper… maybe you don’t get it, but you’re not a partner in this outfit, just the hired help and when I say jump, you say how high sir.”

I turned and threw him the Harper glare.

“Sure ‘sir’,” I said sarcastically, ”I’ll jump, just as soon as I’ve put my horse up. He’s had a long hard ride and he needs a rubdown and food and water and when I’ve tended to him I’ll start work,” and with that I turned and walked my horse towards the barn.

“Harper!“

I paused and then continued walking ………and he said nothing more.

So I figured I’d won the battle, if not the war and that was to be my life for the next four months.

Hell, I didn’t want it this way. Sure no part of me wanted to be there. But if I had to be….which I did, well surely we could just settle down and he could let me do my work and leave me in peace

I was just finishing up with Trav when I heard the barn door open behind me and turning I saw Hank Brown standing behind me.

I knew Hank some, met up with him at a horse fair or two and he was a reasonable guy. In fact I felt kinda sorry for him, because although he was ramrod of the Mason place, it was obvious the boss didn’t hold much store by him.

Sure he’d been a real good horse breaker in his time, one of the best and a good ramrod too I figured. But now…well he was old before his time, he walked real bad and had pains in all his joints as many old horse breakers do…and I figured his days were over….and reckoned Mason was thinkin’ the same.

He stood there looking at me for a full minute and then shook his head.

“So have you got a death wish then Harper? Crossing Mason that way…Hell drawing on him and you’ve only been here five minutes!”

I just shrugged, ”I guess I didn’t want him shootin’ the best darned dog I’ve ever owned, or leaving my faithful old horse here hungry. So yeah if he’s gotten a problem with that I reckon it’s tough, but death wish…nope I figure I can handle Mason.”

Then patting my horse on his rump and telling Blue to sit and stay in the stall, I turned to look at the older man.

Gee he couldn’t have been more that forty but he looked twenty years older, his face grey with fatigue or possibly pain and his shoulders slumped, a look of utter defeat about him.

“So where is everyone then?” I asked as we started walking back to the corral.

“Huh?“

“Mason’s ranch hands I’ve only seen you and a boy, so are the others all out?”

“Oh, yeah I see…. No he’s gotten another spread, the flying K, keeps all his cattle there, just uses this old place for the bronc bustin’ and he lives here…but most of the time he’s over at the K, rest of the men bunk down there, never see them.”

I nodded.

“So I thought you were ramrodding his spread, how come you’re out here and who’s the kid? I asked nodding towards the rather vacant looking youth who was staring off into space, leaning on the corral fence and chewing a straw.

He shrugged.

“Got a new man over at the K and I ain’t been too well lately, guess he keeps me on to look out for Sadie when he ain’t around.”

My eyebrows rose at that bit of news, ”Oh yeah, the lovely Sadie,” I said grinning at him, “so she needs lookin’ out for does she?”

He rolled his eyes and shook his head before casting me a weary look, ”She sure does and if you know what’s good for you Jess you’ll give her a real wide berth.”

“From what I hear it’s her as does all the runnin’,” I said with a wry smile, “and don’t go frettin’ on my account Hank, I ain’t interested, got me a girl back in Laramie and I ain’t the cheatin’ kind.”

“Uh…that’s what they all say until she gets her claws in,” he muttered.

Mason was still standing by the corral when I wandered over, eyeing a dangerous lookin’ black stallion galloping around and looking intent on stomping on anyone foolish enough to get in his way.

He turned as me and Hank walked over and ignoring me said, “Right git off now Brown, fence out on the east pastures down…..and don’t come back until you’ve done the job you hear?“

He looked kinda embarrassed, but just touched his hat and with a quiet,” Yes sir,” took off.

“OK so Harper, you’ll start with this fellah and don’t hang around, remember were on a real tight schedule.”

I nodded and went over and leaned on the fence and started talking to the horse to try and calm him some and after a few minutes I saw him visibly relax and look over at me, his ears flicking at the strange sound of a human voice.

“So they been worked any?” I asked.

He shook his head, “Nope, now stop hanging around Harper and get to it and I don’t want any of your crazy Indian Horse whispering rubbish here, just get the job done understand?”

I sighed deeply.

“Look here Mason, you hired me because we both know I’m a damn good horse breaker, so why don’t you just get off and do your work and leave me to do mine huh?”

His face turned puce and he looked like he might well hit me.

“You sure are skating on thin ice Harper,” he growled before turning and striding off towards his horse.

I smiled to myself, round two, to me.

Then I remembered something, “Hey Mason so who’s ridin’ shot gun on me?”

He just shrugged”The boy can listen out for you, he’ll come and help you out if you get in trouble,” and with that he mounted and galloped out of the yard.

I turned and looked into the face of the pale skinny youth and my spirits dropped. The empty looking eyes and slack mouth, yup it was as I thought….something sure wasn’t right.

I gave him an encouraging smile, ”So you got a name then boy?

He giggled feebly and just shrugged.

I sighed again, ”So can you speak?”

His eyes dropped and then he looked up at me properly for the first time and shook his head.

I felt real sorry for the kid sure I did, but hell he was goin’ to be about as useful as a three wheeled wagon. I turned back towards the stallion prancing about the corral and not for the first time figured I’d made the biggest darn mistake of my life taking the job on.

After a while the kid ambled off someplace and so I went and fetched Blue out of the barn.

OK boy, you watch my back and iffen that ol’ critter looks like he’s gonna stomp on me you up an’ see him off …..

Blue put his head on one side and gave a little bark and I figured he’d gotten more between his ears than the kid had and anyway he was all I had right then.

Chapter 3

I took me some time to gentle the big fellah and finally got up, sooner than I would have liked, but then like the man said I was on a real tight schedule and I had everything to gain ….and one hell of a lot to lose, iffen I didn’t complete the deal on time. So I got stuck in and worked my butt off for the rest of the day.

It must have been gettin’ on for supper time and I was feeling real beat not havin’ taken a break all day, when I finally decided enough was enough.

I’d come off numerous times, but didn’t need Blue to come under the fence to git the critter to back off, as I was back on my feet in a flash, not feelin’ like bein’ trampled on, on day one. I cussed the mustang and Mason in equal proportion as I figured the boss had chosen the most ornery critter of the bunch for my first ride on purpose. I guess you were right Hank, I thought to myself. It sure wasn’t a good idea to cross Mason as he’d get his own back sooner or later. I felt real low as I leaned on the corral fence watching the big black fellah stomping around shakin’ his mane and uttering the odd whinny of disapproval in my direction.

I was kinda missin’ old Slim and his fussin’ me to take a break and Daisy cookin’ up a storm on a regular basis too and wondered what a man did for food around here.

I continued leaning on the fence, suddenly feeling bone weary, and I put my head down on my arm, when I felt it….A gentle hand on my shoulder and I spun around and found myself looking into the concerned light blue eyes of an incredibly beautiful woman.

She had long golden hair and an hourglass figure clothed in a skin tight, low cut, scarlet dress leaving nothing to the imagination.

My eyes seemed to have a will of their own and drifted south down to her deep cleavage, before I managed to drag them back up to her face.

“Ma’am,” I said politely touching my hat.

“Well howdy stranger,” she purred, “so you must be the new wrangler?”

“Yes Ma’am Jess Harper.”

“So Jess Harper, you seen enough then?” she asked throwing me a sexy smile and a knowing look.

I felt myself flush up some and then apologized.

“I didn’t expect to find a lady dressed that way out in the middle of nowhere,” I said feeling kinda embarrassed.

“Um…. we are, aren’t we, in the middle of nowhere, that is,” she said sidling a mite closer, ”and all alone too.”

I backed off and made to excuse myself, but she grabbed hold of my sleeve and pulled me back towards her….just as Mason rode into the yard. ……..and exactly as she had planned all along I figured later.

“Harper, what in tarnation are you doing?” spat Mason as he swung his bulky frame down from the saddle and marched towards me looking furious.

“Now don’t go getting mad honey,” Sadie Mason said as she let go of me and went and wrapped an arm around his broad girth, “I was just going to ask Jess here in for a spot of supper with us, it being his first day and all,” she said throwing me another sexy smile.

“He’ll eat in the bunkhouse with the other hired hands,” he growled, ”Hell Sadie how many times do I have to tell you? You bring paid help in the house, they start taking liberties, now go get my supper……and for goodness sake cover up girl!” he yelled after her.

Then he turned furious eyes on me, ”And you, stay the hell away from my wife if you know what’s good for you Harper,” he spat and then turned to follow her inside.

I hardly thought it would improve his mood any if I told him it was her who had come on to me, and so just nodding I made my way over to the bunkhouse to look for some supper.

As I entered it took me a minute for my eyes to get accustomed to the dim light and then when they did I really wished I hadn’t made the effort. The place was covered in dust and smelt pretty rank and then I saw half a dozen cots all with moldy looking blankets covering straw mattresses and I figured I’d be better off bunking down with Traveller.

Then on the furthest bunk I saw the kid staring at me as he paused from eating cold beans straight from the can with a rusty looking fork.

“Don’t mind me,” I said sarcastically, ”you just go ahead with your dinner.”

He stared unblinking for another minute before tucking in again, with obvious enjoyment.

I shook my head and wandered over to the stove that was glowing dimly in the corner, and pulled open a wall cupboard …….which was chock full of cans of beans.

“Um….looks like its beans an’ beans, for supper then,” I said with a grim laugh, but the kid just carried on munching.

I sighed deeply and went about fixing my meal.

After supper, such as it was, I sat on in front of the cook stove thinking about home. How young Mike would be pestering for a game of checkers and then as how Daisy would be bending my ear with tittle tattle from her woman’s group and how it drove me crazy…And how dang much I longed to hear about it all now.

Then I thought about how me and Slim would be sittin’ out on the porch, maybe sipping a glass of Red Eye before turning in and dicussin’ the day’s events….and hell I have to admit it, I sure was missing home. Never thought I’d say it….heck never thought I’d feel it…but yup I longed to see the old place again. Then I finally took a deep breath, ”Pull yer self together Harper,” I whispered, got a job to be done and sooner it’s done, sooner you’ll be home.

It was way past sundown and I was just thinkin’ on turning in when the door flew open and Hank barged in looking real worn out.

He almost fell into the chair next to me and after removing a flask from his vest pocket and taking a deep draft finally said, ”So Harper settled in OK?”

I shrugged, ”I guess so….. so where have you been, supper…such as it was, was over nigh on three hours ago.”

He took another draft of his grog and then offered it to me, but I just shook my head figuring his need was greater.

“Not hungry,” he finally managed, “had some jerky on the trail.”

“You’ve been out a while,” I said softly, ”get the job done then?”

He nodded.

“Oh yeah, like the man said, he says jump you say how high, he ain’t kiddin’ Jess…you do as he says iffen you want your money at the end of the day.”

I personally thought I wanted my money, with a tad of respect left too…but said nothing.

After a while I figured I’d change the subject.

“So what’s the story with the kid then?”

“What…oh Lenny you mean?”

“Um, is he kinda simple…or is he just havin’ a bad day?”

Hank glanced over to where the kid, Lenny was now spark out on his bunk.

“Yup I guess you could say he’s kind of simple…..although it weren’t always that way, poor kid. See he saw a murder, his pa killed his Ma….I guess it kind of turned his brain……never spoken, never been right since…He can’t read or write no more…. figure he don’t understand too much, but he’s OK with his routine, feeding the chickens, chopping logs, the kinda stuff as he did when he was a youngster he’s fine with.”

“So seein’ as how Mason hardly has the milk of human kindness flowin’ through his body, why does he keep the boy on?” I asked.

However before he could answer the bunkhouse door flew open and Mason stood there looking furious.

“So you get that fence sorted out then Hank?” he yelled.

“Yes sir, good as new.”

“Um…… well you stay around the place tomorrow, look out for my Sadie. Then she’s having a break with kin in town for a while and I’ll be away on business until next Monday,” he said throwing me a hard look, before turning and leaving as fast as he’d arrived.

“Well I figure that’ll be a relief to one an’ all,” I said cheerfully.

“So you’ve met the lovely Mrs Mason, then?” said Hank, raising an eyebrow; a twinkle in his eyes.

“Oh yes,” I said with feeling, “I sure have.”

The following morning I was up at first light and after a breakfast of gut rot coffee, not being able to face more beans, I set to work and carried on until dusk and that’s the way the week panned out. I fell into bed exhausted at the end of the day, hurtin’ somethin’ fierce from all the cuts and bruises after numerous falls, but by the end of the week I’d exceeded my quota and was feelin’ pretty darned pleased with myself.

So come Saturday afternoon I figured I deserved some down time and decided to ride the few miles into town and look up my old friend Sheriff Red Smith, in Rawlins and sink a beer or three with him.

I told Hank of my plan at noon.

“So you wanna ride in with me, git a few beers down us and a decent goddamn meal that don’t contain beans?“

He just shook his head, ”Nah, the boss don’t like us goin’ into town.”

“Well to hell with that!” I said forcefully.

He just shrugged, “You go if you want to Jess, but he won’t like it.”

“Hell Hank he don’t own us body and soul,” I cried , but he just wandered off to chop wood for the cook stove and so shrugging I went and saddled up Traveller and whistling Blue up I rode out a little later.

It sure was good to be back in civilization again and I called in on Red as soon as I arrived.

He leapt up from where he’d been sitting, feet up on desk chewing a pencil and studying wanted posters, his face wreathed in smiles when he saw me.

“Where in hell did you spring from you old son of a gun, heck it sure is good to see you Jess.”

“Good to see you too Smitty, figure I’m in need of a good friend right now.”

“Oh…how so, you ain’t in trouble are you Jess?”

“Nuthin’ like that,” I laughed, ”just got me a job over at the Mason place for the summer and he ain’t the easiest… you know?”

“Uh… he sure is an awkward old cuss…but then when you see what he’s got to put up with that wife of his Sadie….well….”

“Don’t I know it,” I responded ”she sure looks like a handful.”

“So what are you doing at Mason’s spread, Mustang breaking?”

“Uh…. you’ve got it, see we really need the money,” I said ruefully.

“I’d heard things weren’t so good for you, bumped into Slim a while back and I could see he was worried….but that’s just the way he is so I paid no heed to it.”

“Yeah well, I reckon he’s gotten cause this time and I’ve gotta stick it out with Mason or things back home could go real sour.”

“What you could lose the place?”

I just nodded and he threw me a concerned glance.

“You look like a man as could use a beer or three, how about it buddy?”

I grinned back, ”I figure you can read my mind, let’s go!”

As we walked down the street he noticed Blue walking to heal behind me and bent down to pat him.

“See you’ve still got this old fellah then.”

I nodded ,”Best darned herdin’ dog we’ve ever had,” and then I went on to tell him how he’d been watching my back while I was breaking’ the mustangs and how he’d come under the fence once or twice to see me out of trouble when one of the critters turned real nasty.

“Uh, you ain’t got much help out there so as I hear,” he said, ”he’s moved all his wranglers over to the other spread save for old Hank and that Lenny and he ain’t worth as much as a bent nickel poor kid.”

“Even Mason’s away on business and sent his wife to kin in town,” I said, ”It’s like a blame ghost town back at the ranch……Hank’s always off ridin’ fence and Lenny…well I guess I don’t rightly know what he gets up to, but he sure ain’t company.”

“Oh yes, I saw that Sadie was in town,” he said with a grim smile in my direction, ”supposed to be stayin’ with Mason’s sister, but she’s gone off visiting a sick relative, so the Lord alone knows what Sadie will get up to.”

“Yeah, well as long as she leaves me the hell alone I don’t give a hang,” I said as we entered the saloon…….

It must have been a couple of hours later and we were both outside three or four beers and were just thinkin’ on maybe goin’ back to Red’s place for his long suffering wife to feed us when I heard it…..

A scream of drunken female laughter , quickly followed by a dirty laugh from two or three men and on turning I saw her at the end of the bar, duded up like a real tart and leaning into this no hoper who was laughing down at her and running a way too familiar hand down her back.

I cussed lightly under my breath and made to move towards her, but Red put out a restraining hand to my chest.

“Hey buddy, this ain’t your problem.”

I looked at Red and then flicked a glance over to Sadie……”Yeah; maybe you’re right,” I said. Then the worst happened and she saw me and disentangling herself from the rough lookin’ dudes, headed unsteadily my way.

I swore again softly and turning to Red said, ”I figure it is now.”

“Well howdy cowboy, so my husband let you off the leash did he?” she slurred, swaying slightly and throwing me an amorous look…..

“Well that’s, just wonderful,” she continued.

I sighed deeply, ”I shouldn’t go getting yerself too excited Ma’am,” I said, ”I figure maybe me and the Sheriff here should see you home, we’re just leaving.”

She looked from me to Red and back and said, ”Well that doesn’t sound like too much fun.”

Then leaning against Red she said, ”So didn’t you ever hear as to how two was company and three a crowd Sheriff?”

“Can’t say as how I have, no Ma’am,” he replied with a deadpan expression, “so we’ll see you home OK?”

She just shrugged and then staggered forwards virtually into my arms.

“Oops, I think maybe I could use a little lie down,” she giggled, holding onto my shirt for support.

I looked over at Red and rolled my eyes and we took an elbow each and escorted her from the building.

The following morning after a real good supper and breakfast at Red’s place I was feelin’ much better until I remembered the events of the night before.

“Hell Red what’ll I do iffen she goes and tells Mason it was me as saw her home last night?”

He thought on it for a while and then said, ”I doubt it buddy after all she ain’t going to wanna broadcast as to how she was drunk in the saloon to her old man is she?”

“Yeah, well I sure hope not because I can’t afford to mess this job up Red, an’ I sure ain’t gonna get hung for something I ain’t even done.”

“So you’d be OK with it iffen you had done something,” he said with an evil grin, “after all you can’t deny it Jess she sure is a looker.”

“That’s as maybe Smitty,” I said looking pained, ”but have you forgotten I’m with Millie now…real serious and I don’t cheat on my woman…you know that.”

“Sure, sure don’t fret Jess, she won’t say anything, trust me.”

I just nodded; but still felt none too happy.

“I’d better be off, got me a whole bunch of ornery critters waiting’ on me,” I said taking a last swig of my coffee.

“So where’s your beautiful wife then? I need to thank her for feeding me up so darned well,” I said with a wink.

“In the kitchen, she said to pop in before you go, she’s made you up a huge gunny sack of freshly cooked supplies….says it’s criminal making a man work on nuthin’ but beans!”

********

It was about a week later when I crossed paths with Sadie again.

Mason had ridden into town, Hank was still out mendin’ fences and as to the whereabouts of the kid Lenny, well the Lord alone knew. He tended to just take off, days at a time sometimes, and then come wanderin’ back in ….and the strange thing was that the boss just took it.

Anyways I figured it was none of my business and this particular evenin’ I was just heatin’ up some stew fer supper when I heard a noise behind me and turning saw Sadie leaning on the bunkhouse door.

I just stood there and threw her a questioning look.

“Can I help yer Ma’am?” I asked after a minute.

She sashayed towards me, swinging her hips, again in a real tight revealing dress and came right up close, putting a gentle hand on my chest.

“I don’t know cowboy, can you?” she asked with a real forward look, kinda peering up at me from below her eyelashes.

I sighed deeply…”Please Mrs Mason, don’t do this.”

“Do what cowboy, I just want to get acquainted and I guess we would have done already if it wasn’t for that stuffed shirt of a Sheriff spoiling things the other night.”

“Red Smith happens to be a real good friend of mine,” I replied, ”and I figure he was just lookin’ out for me.”

“How so…what’s so bad about getting a little close then Jess….I really wouldn’t mind you know.”

“Yeah, but I figure you’re husband would though,” I said grimly.

“So what does that matter, he’s an old fool….and a girl like me needs a bit of action…know what I mean Jess?”

When I didn’t reply she moved even closer.

“Sure you do don’t ya honey, I can tell from the look in those deep blue eyes of yours, you’ve been around a bit…know what yer doing…. huh?”

I backed off feeling real mad now.

“Look Ma’am, I ain’t about to start messin’ with you on two accounts.”

She looked kinda shocked at that…”Oh…so what would they be?” she finally managed.

“One I need this job real…..real bad, I’ve got folk dependin’ on me to come through with the cash to keep our place goin’.“

She just nodded at that, seein’ the sense in it I guess.

“And…. so what’s the other reason?”

I paused and then turned to look at her properly, “And I’ve got me a real special girl back home…..and I never cheat on my woman.”

She moved back a pace at that, her expression kinda hurt. Almost like I’d slapped her…but she recovered real quick.

“Well isn’t she the lucky one then….so you’re one of the good guys are you Jess?”

I gave her a grim smile at that notion, “Not so as you’d notice….but I guess I do my best.”

She nodded looking real thoughtful and then turned and walked back to the door.

But then she stopped and turned around.

“You know where I am if you change your mind Jess….you’re here without your girl for a real long time…can get kinda lonesome for a man…..”

“I’ll manage,” I muttered.

“Uh…we’ll see, the offer is open anytime you change your mind,” she said then with a little laugh wandered off and I breathed a huge sigh of relief as I watched her go and then chuckled to myself.

“Hell Harper you really are domesticated,” I said shaking my head sadly, before returning to my supper.

Chapter 4

So the days turned into weeks; the weeks into months, and I spent every doggone day on the back of some ornery critter or another. Or else layin’ in the dust of the corral, the more time went on the more battered and wore out I became.

At first I’d gone into town most Saturdays to buy provisions and visit with Red and his lovely wife, but after a while even that got too much of an effort and come Saturday afternoon more often than not I just threw myself on my stinkin’ mattress in the filthy old bunkhouse and fell into an exhausted sleep. Hell that was no way to live I reflected, but it weren’t fer ever and I figured I’d survive it OK……

That was until the last month and I was feelin’ real low, all the hard work and miserly rations gettin’ to me.

Just that morning I’d hitched my belt in another notch and figured my belly would be meetin’ my back bone someday real soon.

The weather had been scorching, but even that didn’t seem to slow down the mustangs any, in fact seemed to make ‘em even more willful.

I was up on a particularly mean spirited animal that was doing his level best to throw me and then trample me into the dirt and I was feelin’ equally bad tempered and pretty near the edge. See I’d been tipped off so many times that I was just about hurtin’ all over, fact is it would have been a darn site easier to tell where I weren’t hurtin’…so I guess maybe that’s why I lost concentration…….just for a moment but it was long enough.

One minute I was holding on for dear life as he bucked and spun and the next I was sailing through the air only to land with a sickening thud in the dirt, yet again.

This time though I was completely winded and had an agonizing pain in my knee where I’d fallen badly. I rolled over and was just about to try and make my way under the fence when the big fellah turned, bearing down on me at speed….and then he was there, his hooves suspended above me as he reared, almost bellowing with rage and everything seemed to be happening real slow as I watched in horror as one hoof came down catching a glancing blow to my right leg, the pain as bad as I’d ever known.

Then suddenly there was a snarling barking bundle of angry grey fur beside me as Blue went for the stallion, snapping and barking fit to wake the dead….and thank the Lord the mustang backed off some, looking kinda confused at this pint sized critter takin’ him on.

Blue kept on barking and growling, then a minute later Hank came running over from the barn and half dragged, half carried me out of harm’s way.

I lay there in the dirt holding my leg and feeling the blood seep through my denims as I cussed long and loud and then I squinted up and was able to make out Hank, Lenny and Sadie all peering down at me looking real shocked.

Sadie was the first to recover.

“Don’t just stand there you numskulls get him into the bunkhouse and I’ll fetch the bandages.”

I guess I must have passed out because when I came to she was sitting on the edge of the bed cleaning out the wound real well with spirit and I glanced down and could just make out the wound a deep slash almost to the bone on my lower leg and my knee swollen and painful and cursed inwardly. How was I gonna complete the contract in time now, for God’s sake?

Even the fact that I was laid there stripped down to my undershorts with a strange woman tending me didn’t seem to really matter, so bad was I feelin’ about everything.

I’d let them down, Slim and the others were relyin’ on me and goddamn it I’d let ‘em down.

I closed my eyes again and sighed deeply……

Then someone was hollerin’ and I snapped my eyes open again to see Silas Mason enter and grabbing hold of his wife’s arm he yanked her away from me.

“How many times do I have to tell you, steer clear of the hired help!” he boomed.

“But he’s hurt honey, real bad…he needs the doc.”

Mason glared down at me and then a slow smile spread across his dark ugly face, ”Oh well that’s a real shame Harper, looks like you’ve rescinded on the deal.”

“Ain’t September first yet,” I muttered.

“Uh…stubborn bastard aren’t you Harper?”

Then he turned to his wife and dragging her up pulled her away.

“You, get in the house now!”

“But Silas, he needs nursing…..”

“Rubbish, here Hank you deal with him,” and with that he marched his wife out.

Much later I lay on my bunk feeling utter despair.

Blue had slunk in, knowing he wasn’t allowed in the bunkhouse, but the others had turned a blind eye.

Now he lay on the cot beside me, one paw and his head on my chest and he occasionally licked my hand and gave a little whimper almost as though he knew how bad I was feelin’ and I stroked his head.

“It’s OK boy,” I said softly, ”I ain’t done for yet…. I’ll just rest up some and then git back to it…..Mason ain’t gonna win….”and I finally drifted off to sleep.

As it turned out it was a couple of days later before I got my sorry butt outer bed again.

By the following morning a fever struck and I figured maybe Sadie hadn’t cleaned out the wound too well….anyways I was tossin’ and turnin’ all day long and it was the following evening before I finally managed to stagger up and get me a drink….and a plate of goddamn beans.

Lenny had taken off on one of his unscheduled disappearances again and Hank had been ordered to work over at the Flying K for a few days and I reckoned this was all part of Mason’s strategy leaving me to rot on my own and hopefully get real sick so I wouldn’t meet the deadline.

So just to prove him wrong, the following day I dragged myself up and after re bandaging the wound and checking on my knee, which was still real swollen, I finally limped off across the yard to the corral.

By the time I’d crossed the yard I broke out in a cold sweat and I was shakin’, but Hell I wasn’t gonna let Mason get the better of me…not when the end was finally in sight.

I took a deep breath and cut a young Palomino mare out of the few remaining mustangs thinking she’d be a reasonably easy ride that I could manage in my weakened state. I’d been gentling her fer a while, feeding her sugar and letting her get used to the sound of my voice and it paid off just the way I knew it would. I’d already done some work on her and I figured I’d get her sorted and then get working on the final horse, the big buckskin that had thrown me so bad.

Even so it was real hard mounting up and even harder staying there, but I figure I was just so damn scared of falling off and damaging myself further I stayed the course, but by the end of the morning when I dismounted the green broke critter I could barely walk.

I leaned on the corral fence getting my breath back and then turned to the buckskin, talking softly to him and offering yet more sugar.

I guess I was so engrossed that I didn’t notice Mason stalking up behind me until he spoke.

“So you’ve dragged yourself out of bed at last then Harper,” he growled.

I just threw him a deadpan look, not botherin’ to reply, which seemed to anger him even more.

“Well what are you waiting for man, enough of this sweet talking rubbish, what that critter needs is a taste of the whip, knock him into shape,” and with that he crashed his whip down on the corral fence, glaring at the animal.

The horse jumped back showing the whites of his eyes and took off across the corral at speed, whinnying with fear and shock.

I turned furious eyes on Mason.

“Gee thanks you’ve just set me back a good day with yer stupid ways!” I yelled.

His hand tightened on the whip and for a moment I thought he might turn it on me too, but I really didn’t care anymore. I was feelin’ madder than a wet hen, and iffen my livelihood and that of my buddies didn’t depend on this deal, I’d have turned tail and walked right there and then.

As it was I just shook my head and turned back to where the mustang was now pawing the ground and looking ready to explode with anger.

“How dare you speak to me that way,” he yelled turning puce, his hand suddenly hovering above his gun.

I guess that was the last straw, I turned towards him and backed off some, my hand flexing over my gun……my eyes black with fury……

He glared at me for a good minute and then I reckon he remembered the first day. When he’d gone to draw, on seeing Blue, and I’d got him covered before his hand had even slapped leather… and he suddenly thought better of taking me on. Backed off and turned away.

“Do it your own darned way then,” he muttered as he wandered off back to the house.

Those last days were as hard as any I could remember as I fought the pain in my leg to keep going, knowing that if this last beast wasn’t broken then the deal would be off.

It was August thirty first when I finally slipped down from the back of the big buckskin, knowing he was all done frettin’ and fussin’ and although hardly as gentle as a lamb he was green broke and ready to school on.

I loosed him in the corral and watched as he galloped off and then rolled to get rid of the feeling of the saddle. Then I was aware of Mason behind me, a fleeting look of grudging admiration in his eyes before it was replaced with his normal arrogant stare.

He gave a slow hand clap and then turned to where Lenny and Hank were watchin’ before turning back to me.

“Well looks like you did it Harper…… I’ll ride into town to the bank tomorrow for your money and then I want you off my property before sundown….got it?”

I gave myself the luxury of grinning across at him, knowing how much he’d hoped I would fail.

“Sure,” I drawled, “it’ll be a pleasure Mason, I really don’t wanna over stay my welcome,” I said sarcastically.

I saw Hank hide a smile, but Mason just sniffed and strode off to the house.

Then Hank moseyed over.

“Well done Jess……but you sure don’t look too good, think you’ll make it back to Laramie?”

I rubbed my knee that was still real painful and threw Hank a rueful look.

“I guess not, figure I’ll stay in town a while, until this dang knee heals up anyways.”

He slapped my back at that piece of news.

“Good plan….come on then son, got me some grog in the bunkhouse and you look like you could use a drop.”

He sure had the real McCoy, some fine Scottish whiskey.

“Where on earth did yer get this?” I exclaimed after I’d taken a drink, my eyes opening wide in surprise.

He tapped his nose and grinned at me, ”I’ve got my contacts, an old friend in town, brought a batch over when he came from the ‘auld country’, as he calls it and occasionally lets me have the odd bottle, he’s a good man old Willie, that’s for sure.”

I grinned and raised the glass he’d just refilled.

“Here’s to old Willie,” I said as I threw it back, beginning to feel better already.

The following morning we slept in and finally awoke with bleary eyes and thick heads.

“I reckon that stuff is a mite too good,” I groaned, ”kinda hard to say no to another glass.”

“Ain’t you got that right,” Hank agreed holding his head.

“At least the boss has vamoosed off to town for my money so he won’t be able to start yellin’ at yer”, I said, making for the coffee pot.

Hank finally set about the day’s chores and I started packing up my stuff, but when noon came and went and it got to late afternoon I began to feel kinda troubled.

When Hank landed back he suggested I go ask Mrs Mason when her husband was due back.

“After all he can’t throw you off for messin’ with his wife because you’re leaving anyway,” he said with a cheerful grin.

I made my way warily over to the big ranch house and knocked, but when there was no answer after several minutes I tried the door and it swung open revealing a huge silent sitting room.

I called out and finally went in, but after a minute or two I could tell the place was deserted, then a moment later Hank joined me.

“No sign then?”

“Nope,” I said angrily, ”garldarn it Hank the bastards run out on me.”

He looked kinda shocked by that.

“No he wouldn’t. Heck Jess I know he’s a real hard man, but he wouldn’t go back on a deal.”

I shrugged, ”So where is he then?”

I turned to go, but a moment later Hank, who had wondered off into Mason’s study just off the main room, called for me to come back.

I mooched over and then stood stock still at the door as I looked into the room.

It was a mess, tables and chairs turned over, ink splattered across the carpet and then Hank stood up from where he’d been looking at another stain on the light coloured rug.

He held his hand up and I saw the blood at once.

“Here on the rug,” he said tipping his head towards it, ”a pool of blood Jess…. I don’t know what’s been going on here, but it doesn’t look good…seems someone’s been hurt….”

I sucked in a deep breath and then marched out of the house.

I retraced my steps and went across to the barn only to see the Mason’s rig and his mount were missing. I swore lightly, where in hell had they gone, and more importantly, where in hell was my money!

Sure I felt sorry iffen someone had been hurt…..but right then all I wanted was my wages and to get home.

A minute later Hank joined me.

“So what are you going to do?”

“Ride into town, tell the Sheriff I guess….could have been a robbery iffen he’d returned real late with my money maybe? We were out of it on that grog of yours.”

“Um…..or there could have been a fight…..between the two of them maybe?”

“Huh?“

“Oh yeah, he’s done it before. He’s knocked her about some when he’s caught her messin’ around with the hired help. Maybe he just hit her too hard and has taken her to the doc’s place?”

“Either way I won’t find out standin’ here jawin’,” I replied as I went off to saddle Traveller.

Then I turned back, ”So where’s Lenny, he might know something?”

“Nah, he took off again yesterday and anyways he’s hardly likely to tell us is he…way he is.”

“Uh, I guess not.”

Dusk was falling as I rode into town and I went straight to Red’s office, hoping he hadn’t packed up for the night. However he was still at his desk and he stood up, lookin’ real shocked when I barged in.

It was a couple of months since I’d seen him and I figure he noticed the change in me.

I’d dropped about twenty pounds, got a variety of old cuts and bruises to my face and I walked with a severe limp, my knee and leg wound still bothering me.

“Jeez, tell me what in hell happened to you buddy?” He asked in a shocked voice.

“Never mind about that,” I said quickly, “have you seen Silas Mason?”

He shook his head.

“Nope, been out looking for him all afternoon with a posse, we only landed back a short while ago.”

“Why, what’s he done?”

“Killed his wife……well darned near, doc doesn’t think she’ll make it.”

I lurched backwards suddenly feeling sick to my stomach.

“Here sit down Jess,” he said gently, guiding me to the seat in front of his desk and a moment later he passed me a coffee, laced with redeye.

“Here drink this you’ve gone white as a sheet.”

“Why,” I finally said…”what happened?”

“Seems he attacked her, real bad, early this morning and then realizing what he’d done brought her to the doc’s place.”

“Doc Martin carried her into his back office, told Mason to wait….anyway it seems she came around after a few minutes and was able to tell the doc what had happened…..and then she passed out, been in a coma ever since…like I say , doc doesn’t hold out much hope.”

“And Mason, where’s he?”

“Doc went and told him the same, next thing he knew he’d high tailed it off out of town………gone to earth somewhere… but I’ll get him….starting again at first light.”

“OK I’ll come with you.”

“Jess, buddy you really don’t look up to it, so what happened?”

“Um….oh I just had a bad fall, got trampled on some…hurt that dang knee of mine as got shot up a few years back…it’ll be OK…won’t stop me helpin’ you out anyways.”

“I dunno Jess……”

“Hell Smitty, you’re worse than Daisy for frettin’….so what was it all about, why did he do it?” I asked.

He shook his head, ”You won’t like this Jess, but apparently it was over you.”

“Me!” I gasped, ”Hell I ain’t been messin’ with her! I gave her a real wide berth, told her I’d got me a good woman in Laramie…..”

“Well you know Sadie, she doesn’t take no for an answer. It seems that when Mason said he was riding into town for your wages as you’d finished the job she went mad and told him to keep you on…..”

“No….!”

“Yup, and so he got kind of suspicious and it all came out, how she really thought you’d make a better ramrod than old Hank….what an asset you’d be to the place….Well Mason’s no fool he saw straight through it. Then when he landed home with the cash that night she eventually admitted that she just wanted you around and that’s when he went crazy and hit her…….”

“I guess Hank and me were sleepin’ off his whiskey,” I said quietly ”never heard a thing.”

I felt just terrible and looking over at my friend I whispered, ”I did nuthin’ Red, nuthin’….she’d no call to feel that way.”

He nodded, ”I believe you…women eh…who can figure them?”

Then I just sat there lost in thought. Had I encouraged her some way? She’d taken to coming out and leaning on the corral fence watching me work some afternoons, but either Lenny or Hank were always there too.

Sure we’d had a laugh or two, exchanged some banter, but I figured we’d cleared the air after I’d told her about me and Millie and thought we were just ….well kinda friends I suppose.

There had been one occasion when I’d taken a fall and caught my face on the fence, cutting it bad and she came runnin’ over fussin’ as only women folk can do, wanting me to go in the house with her to clean up…… But I’d refused …..

Then she’d got up close and touched my cheek looking deep into my eyes, ”It’s alright, really,” she’d said, ”I just want to tend to that cut.”

“I’m fine ma’am,” I’d replied real snappy before marching off to the bunkhouse to clean up.

Afterwards I felt kinda bad about it and when she came over with some lemonade I’d accepted it gratefully and we’d had a laugh or two and fell into an easy relaxed relationship…..or so I thought….and now this?

I stood up suddenly, swaying a little and realizing how doggone beat I was, before ramming my hat down hard and making for the door.

“Where are you going?” asked Red looking concerned.

“To see her of course I answered, “I figure it’s the least I can do iffen this is all down to me.”

“Jess….buddy you can’t think this way, you know Sadie and her reputation, none of this is your fault.”

I just shrugged and turned away, still feeling real bad.

The doc showed me into her room and it was dimly lit by a lamp on the nightstand and it took me a few minutes to be able to make out her slender form, her face as white as the sheet covering her.

“Don’t stay long.” the doc said before turning and leaving us alone.

After a minute I sat down gently on the edge of the bed and took her hand, watching the slow rise and fall of her chest….Hell she really looked like she didn’t have long and I felt my heart pounding as I took a deep breath trying to steady myself.

“I’m so…so sorry,” I whispered. “Sadie I never…. I never meant for any of this to happen……”

I must have sat with her for over an hour and then the doc came in….

Doc Martin was a good man and I knew him quite well as he’d patched me up a few times when I’d come to grief riding posse with Red. Now he ambled over and looked down at her.

“Sorry Jess, I’m going to have to throw you out, I need to examine the patient….”

I looked up at him then.

“There really is no hope, Doc?”

He shook his head.

“I’m sorry, but she hasn’t responded for over twelve hours I think she has brain damage Jess.”

I just shook my head sadly.

“Sadie I’m gonna go now,” I said softly, “but I’ll call back……OK?“

Then something amazing happened…she squeezed my hand, just real gentle but I felt it and the doc saw it too.

“Well blow me,” he said softly, pulling out his stethoscope and checking her chest, ”I think she may just have a chance now Jess…. I think she may just wake up.”

Chapter 5

Red and I called by the doc’s office on our way out of town with the posse, the next day, and he was much more hopeful.

“She’s sleeping naturally now and I’ve every hope that she will awake and recover fully. It’s still early days of course, but things are looking much better.”

“So it looks like Mason won’t be on a murder charge then,” Red said grimly as we rode out.

“Hell Smitty, you’re still gonna lock him up ain’t you, he can’t get away with that kinda behavior!”

He just shook his head sadly, ”Oh sure I’ll lock him up initially, but if things go as they have before she won’t press charges.”

I looked astounded at that news.

“Crazy woman,” I muttered before kneeing Traveller off to a brisk trot and went to catch up with the rest of the posse.

It was nearly sundown when we had to admit defeat.

We’d searched all the local countryside and tried one or two places he’d holed up before in similar circumstances. According to Smitty, he’d been a bit too handy with his fists where his wife was concerned, but nuthin’ and so we finally headed back to town

As I dismounted I swayed slightly, grabbing onto the saddle horn for support and on glancing over to Red saw him biting back, ‘I told you so’.

The wave of dizziness and nausea passed after a moment and I put my horse up for the night, wondering what now.

Red wandered over and grinned at me.

“You sure look like a man in need of a bit of spoiling and I know just the person to do it.”

Mrs. Smith, Red’s old Ma owned a small boarding house just a few doors down from the Sheriff’s office and as soon as we knocked on the door she threw it open beaming a welcome.

“Howdy son…”

Then she saw me and gave a little cry of delight.

“Why Jess Harper I heard you were in town….so why haven’t you been to visit!” she laughed dragging me inside.

Me and Ma Smith went way back. The first time I’d met her was a good few years back when I’d brought Daisy over to Rawlins seeking her long lost brother and the two had become firm friends, writing regularly and visiting when they could.

Now she cast me a critical look.

“Why goodness me you’re just skin and bone boy…. Red said that Mason had been working you real hard…but goodness Jess anyone would think Lincoln hadn’t freed the slaves…. You look just terrible.”

She leaned forwards to peer at the fading bruises to my face and noticed the pronounced limp as I wandered into the parlor with her and she was soon on the case.

“You need to be taken in hand young man, goodness whatever would dear Daisy say if she could see the state of you.”

Truth to tell right then I’d have killed for a long soak in a hot tub, supper and a comfortable bed…..

“Now what you need is a visit to the hot tub, one of my good stews and then off to bed…..first floor front I think,” she said thoughtfully, ”got me a new feather mattress in that one.”

“Ma’am,” I said softly, ”if ever old Red here gets tired of you, there’s always a home for you in Laramie….so did anyone ever tell you you’re a wonderful woman?”

“Get away with you young man,” she chuckled batting my arm playfully, before she made her way off to start my supper, smiling happily to herself.

It was much later when we were sitting in front of her fire, me outside the best stew I’d ever tasted and sipping a coffee before turning in that she said gently, ”You’re looking troubled son.”

I sighed and nodded.

“The thing is Ma this job was our last hope, things aren’t too good back at the ranch and relay. We’ve got debts to pay and iffen I don’t come up with the cash…..well….” and I stopped the thought bringing a lump to my throat.

“That bad eh,” she said softly….”so you really need to find that Silas Mason and get your money.”

I nodded, ”Yes that I do Ma’am…..but it ain’t lookin’ too likely right now I’m afraid.”

She put her old grey head on one side and then cast me a questioning look.

“So if it were you on the run, where would you go Jess?”

I started at that.

“Hey Ma, I don’t go on the run no more, you know that,” I said, well aware that she knew all about my past.

She chuckled.

“Sure I know that,” she said quickly, ”but what I’m saying is that you have to try and think what you’d do….and maybe that low life Mason would do the same.”

I shook my head.

“Dunno, head fer Texas and the border probably……..or….“

“Go on,” she said her old eyes suddenly alive with excitement, ”or?”

“Or maybe I’d go where nobody would think to look for me, back to the ranch. He’s gotten Hank well under his thumb, he wouldn’t dare betray him….knows he’d lose his job and as fer Lenny….well he ain’t gonna say anything is he?”

Ma Smith shook her head sadly, “Darn shame, that poor boy….seeing that tragedy, we all hoped, prayed that he’d get over it….but no he’s not said a word since that terrible day.”

“So tell me why did Silas Mason take him in, kinda out of character ain’t it, helpin’ waifs and strays, don’t seem to be his way?”

She looked real surprised by that.

“Oh, didn’t you know, he is Silas’s nephew…it was Silas Mason’s brother that killed his wife…..and young Lenny saw it all.”

I looked astounded,” So wife beatin’ kinda runs in the family then?”

“Maybe, although folk do say that Sadie provokes him…always running after other men…but even so she didn’t deserve that,” she said softly.

“No she didn’t,” I agreed and shortly afterwards I turned in, vowing to check out the Mason place at first light the following day.

Chapter 5

I tethered Traveller outside on the road to the ranch and then walked in, keeping real low until I reached the yard.

There was no sign of life from the house although I could see some smoke coming from the cook stove chimney over on the bunkhouse and figured Hank and Lenny were brewing up the first coffee of the day.

I sprinted across the yard until I reached the porch and then drawing my gun I crept along until I was by the window and cautiously peered in.

I was just able to make out Mason’s recumbent form, slumped in his chair by the fire, an empty bottle on the floor beside him and grey ashes in the grate and I figured he’d been there all night.

I suddenly felt white hot fury racing through my body and holstering my gun I kicked the door open and burst in, hauling a semi conscious Mason to his feet, before virtually throwing him across the room where he fell heavily, terrified eyes staring up at me.

“Come on you bastard wife beater, let’s see how you manage fighting a man!”

“Harper…..what, what are you doing here?” he stuttered.

“I work for you…or had you forgotten…..Forgotten about the little matter of four month’s pay too, have you?” I asked belligerently striding across the room and looming over him.

“N…..no…. I’ve got your money Harper, over there in my jacket by the door.”

I just nodded…..

“I’m here for Sadie too…..I figure you should pay for what you’ve done…”I said grabbing his shirt front and hauling him up again.

“I…I don’t know what you mean.”

“Sure you do,” I yelled gettin’ real mad now, remembering how she’d looked in the hospital bed, her beautiful face black and blue, barely breathing and that’s when I snapped and threw the first punch, sending him sprawling across the room again.

“Come on you bastard, fight me!” I growled advancing on him….

He dragged himself up and threw a punch that caught me on the chin, but I rolled with it and we exchanged blows for a couple of minutes, but it took no time before he was sprawled on the floor begging for mercy.

It took all my strength of will to stand back, but I knew if I didn’t I’d be lookin’ at a murder charge, so I walked away from him and took a deep breath, before turning back.

“So don’t you wanna know how your wife is then?”

He glanced up at me, his expression transformed into one of hope….. “You mean she’s still alive?”

I nodded, “Yup, she’s still alive ….no thanks to you.”

“What do you mean I didn’t hurt her…she had a fall, down the stairs…..”

Then we heard a sound behind us and turning saw Lenny framed in the doorway, Hank behind him.

The youngster slowly walked into the room, staring at Mason, who I now knew to be his uncle.

Then the strangest thing happened…..

Lenny opened his mouth and in an odd rasping drawl he said….”No, you’re lying uncle….you hurt her… I saw it…..”

Then he turned to me nodding his head vigorously….”I did, I did…….I saw it all Mister Jess……”

I turned and patted his shoulder gently.

“It’s OK boy, I believe you.”

Mason taking advantage of my attention being on the boy went for his gun, but I was too fast for him and had him covered before he even drew his colt.

“Don’t even think about it,” I spat and marching over I took his gun and stuck it in my belt, before turning back to Lenny.

“It’s OK Lenny, I’m taking him in, I guess the Sheriff will be real interested in hearing what really happened.”

Then Mason was suddenly aware of his ramrod standing staring at him….

“Hank……for God’s sake what are you doing man….get rid of Harper …and pronto,” Mason cried angrily.

But he just stood there looking stubborn …

“No not this time Mr Mason, I’m afraid you’re on your own…. I really can’t excuse what you’ve done.”

“Excuse…excuse? It’s not your place to judge me…or had you forgotten I’m your boss!”

“Not anymore you ain’t, I quit,” he yelled and marched out of the room without a backwards glance.

After he’d gone I wasted no time in getting Mason mounted up, tied to his saddle horn and had checked his coat for my money.

“What in hell are you playin’ at I swore as I counted it out…there’s less than half what you owe me here!”

“Oh didn’t I say,” he said casually, ”half now the rest when you deliver them to the army.”

“What!” I gasped, now cussin’ freely.

“That was never part of the deal, that’s one hell of a ride, I can’t do it alone……” and anyway I thought privately I just didn’t have the stamina I was totally worn out. I hardly had the energy to sit a horse, my knee still hurtin’ something fierce. Much less ride the long distance to the army base west of Rawlins with a herd of green broke lively mustangs in tow.

I cussed some more and then finally set off for town.

Red wasted no time in chucking Mason into one of the cells in spite of his loud protests that he was innocent.

“I hold a lot of sway in this town Sheriff, you’ll live to rue the day you crossed me,” he swore.

“Yeah, yeah,” muttered Red… “you try tellin’ that to the good folk of Rawlins… Hell Mason it was only a day since we thought you’d be up on a murder charge…. You’re just dang lucky that you’re wife will make a full recovery…..if you’re interested that is…?”

“Of course I am…and I’ve explained to Harper here, it was an accident she had a fall….and….. “

““Save it Mason!,” I yelled feelin’ real mad now, not only with what he’d done to Sadie, but the way he’d hoodwinked me over the deal too.

Then I turned to Red and pushed Lenny gently forwards….

“Got me a witness here saw it all and willing to testify…”

“Testify huh?” asked Red with a raised eyebrow.

“Y….yes sir,” replied Lenny in his strange deep voice ,”I saw it all…. My Uncle Silas hitting and hitting my aunt….it were awful, real awful….then he turned on me and I ran off…..” he said, his head drooping in embarrassment….”I figured he’d kill me too,” he finished.

“It’s OK boy,” we understand I said softly ”don’t go frettin’, how’s about we take a trip to the doc’s place visit your aunt huh?”

I took him over and left him there while I booked into Ma Smith’s place again and cleaned up some, and then I joined Red back at the office where he was reading the riot act to his young deputy……

“And try and stay awake for a while Jack, I’m going out for a bite to eat with Jess here, so you just mind the prisoner…understand?”

“Yes sir….. Sheriff, I will….I’ll watch him real close…”

“Uh,” said Red before taking his leave with me.

“Darned boy, I just can’t get the staff and that’s the truth Jess….Gee I sure wish you’d take me up on that offer of Deputy.”

I just grinned at him. Heck Red had been offering me that job for nigh on three years now and I always turned it down.

“Hell Smitty, what would my girl say iffen I upped and moved to Rawlins?“

“Well marry the girl,” he said testily…”it ain’t that bad being married you know Jess.”

I looked profoundly shocked at that idea….sure we’d got an understanding but…..

“Well you know Red you can’t rush these things….a man has to plan somethin’ like that, kinda work up to it real slow and easy.”

He roared with laughter and slapped me on the back as we entered the saloon.

“Guess I’ll just have to knock some sense into that no good boy back there,” he chuckled…”always sleepin’ on the job he is…..tries to keep down two jobs and it just can’t be done….too wore out to do either properly.”

Then we settled down with a couple of beers and the chat turned to the problem with the mustangs and the shortfall in my pay.

“Could always take the kid Lenny with you suggested Red, he’s not a bad wrangler so I hear and he’d be an extra pair of hands.”

I just nodded, hell I really didn’t wanna do that trip, but then I had to get the money and soon too. I was already overdue at the ranch. I’d sent a wire home earlier that day, saying I was running late and not to worry….but I knew they would…..

It was later that day when I visited Sadie alone and was delighted to see her sitting up and taking notice again.

That was when the whole story came out. She told me how she had insisted they take young Lenny in after he had witnessed the murder of his ma, by his pa, at just twelve years of age. How it had affected his brain so badly that he all but lost his mind, being unable to speak and reverting to acting several years younger. She also said that when she and Mason argued, as they so often did, the boy just took off and disappeared for a day or two, but always found his way back home.

Mason had finally agreed to take the boy on the payroll. Now at sixteen he was able to be of some help around the place, although Mason refused to take him in the house and said he was to be treated as a hired hand….not his nephew. He had hated his brother with a passion and had rejoiced when he had hung for murder after killing his wife and there was no affection for his poor nephew either.

“So what changed,” I asked, ”how come he’s talkin’ again?”

“I don’t really know for sure, but the doc seems to think that witnessing the fight between me and Silas brought everything back to him…but this time he was able to cope as he’s older and somehow that got his brain working properly again and he could speak. It’s early days and he’ll still struggle over some words, but he should make a full recovery.”

“Well that’s real fine,” I said, ”it can’t have been easy for him all these years seeing you and Mason fighting like his Ma and Pa?”

“You’re right, but I figure young Lenny had nowhere else to go, kinda like me,” she said casting me a sad look. ”I Just wish I’d never got involved with the Mason family…. But I did and now …..well, I’ll just have to make the best of it while he’s locked up.”

“I’m real sorry for all yer trouble ma’am and that you feel that way, but he’s in jail now can’t hurt yer no more.” I said softly.

She looked across at me from where she was sitting up in bed, demurely covered with a bed jacket and smiled sadly.

“I guess you’re like the others and think I brought this on myself?”

I just shrugged, ”It’s none of my business and I never judge folk. I guess you never really know what goes on behind closed doors and anyway you sure didn’t deserve this,” I said honestly, looking at her tired bruised face.

“Well that’s good to hear,” she said softly…”You see what it is Jess, things aren’t always as they seem. I know everyone thinks I’m a terrible flirt…chasing men….going down the saloon and all……”

I just shrugged feeling kinda embarrassed.

“Well that’s true,” she whispered, “but there was a reason.”

“Oh?“

“Yes, you see Silas is a terrible womanizer, just like his brother was.”

I reckon I looked kinda skeptical at that, he was in his forties, balding, had a paunch; he was hardly God’s gift to women.

“Oh I can see you don’t believe me,” she said sadly, “but you go to the Rawlins saloon and talk to Miss Ruby…She’ll tell you she sees my Silas regular and that isn’t all, he’s got another woman in Cheyenne too…..That’s why he’s always going over there on his supposed business…. Heck Jess all my fooling around was to try and make him jealous, get him back, can’t you see that?”

I shook my head looking real surprised.

“But you’re a beautiful woman, why would he want to do that?” I asked in amazement.

She just shrugged, ”I don’t know, it boosted his ego I suppose, made him feel special, why do men do things like that?”

I’d never fooled around that way so I really didn’t know; hell one woman at a time had always been enough for me….

“No, you really don’t know do you,” she said with a sad look, “you’ve got your girl and you’re happy with that aren’t you Jess?”

“I guess so,” I nodded, suddenly feeling a rush of desire for Millie. Hell it had been so dang long since I’d seen her, held her close…..

She sighed deeply, “So what will happen to him?”

“Well iffen you’re prepared to press charges a good long prison sentence I guess,” I said…. “Although you won’t press charges…… will you Sadie?”

She looked profoundly sad, and then took a deep breath…..

“Yes…yes I will this time, because I’m scared Jess…real scared that he might kill me next time…it has to end here.”

“Good girl,” I said softly.

Well at least that was one problem sorted I thought as I wandered back to Red’s office….but there was now just the little problem of getting the rest of my money and I figured there was no other way than to take the dang beasts myself, with or without Lenny’s help.

We set off at first light the following day. Lenny was really up for it, thank goodness. As for Red he said I should just go whilst I could still mount a horse. As the way I was goin’ I wouldn’t be up to that too long up the trail….and as the day wore on I kinda figured that he might have a point.

We’d tail tied the mustangs and with me leadin’ and Lenny chivying’ them up from the rear we made real good time and reached the army base at Fort Steele by sundown and that’s when I got me a real nice surprise.

When Major Rowland realized that I’d been solely responsible fer breakin’ all the critters he gave me an extra bonus.

“You’ve worked incredibly hard to get them to this standard in such a short time Harper, well done. But don’t tell me you’ve left Laramie; we rely on your expertise to supply horses to our garrison at Cheyenne.”

“No sir, just a one of, I won’t be working’ for Mason again.”

“Um…. I had heard he was a real difficult man…..anyway take this for yourself Harper, I’ve already wired Mason with his percentage, the rest is all yours.”

“Well thank you kindly Major a pleasure doin’ business with you,” I said touching my hat, in a little salute.

“Likewise,” he said smiling, ”and I’ll be in touch regarding the mounts we need in Cheyenne.”

“Yes sir!”

But not too darned soon I prayed; let me recover from this lot first.

I gave Lenny his share of the money and we decided to ride down to the river together and then part company there, with me heading east back to Laramie and Lenny returning to his aunt in Rawlins.

We camped the night on the banks of the fast flowing river and over coffee, after supper, I broached the subject of him giving evidence against his uncle.

“Will you be OK,” I asked, ”I’d ride back in with you but I really ain’t too good right now Lenny. This darned leg never healed right and it’s kinda hard for me ridin’”

“Yup, I can tell,”he said in his strange scratchy voice, ”But I’ll be just fine Mister Jess…. The Sheriff said he’d look out fer me….and I guess I’ve gotta get me used to bein’ resp…res… responsible,” he finally managed throwing me a triumphant grin. ”Responsible for looking after the ranch for my auntie, she said she wanted me in charge…me and Hank that is iffen he’ll come back.”

“I figure he will,” I said, ”once Mason is banged up in jail I reckon he’ll be persuaded to come back and err….. help you manage the place,” I finished tactfully.

We were up at first light and made our way across the river before reining in near a rocky outcrop to say our farewells.

I reached out and shook his hand, “You take care now you hear boy and look after that aunt of yours real good huh?”

“Oh sure I will Mister Jess and thank you for everything, sticking up for me and all. You were real nice to me even before I remembered how to talk….that means a lot.”

I grinned at the young man and was just about to say adios when a hail of bullets suddenly peppered the rocks behind us……

I threw myself out of the saddle taking Lenny with me and then shoved him hard behind the safety of the nearest rock, but not before another shower of bullets rained down on us, one catching me in the upper arm and I rolled and lay doggo, knowing I’d never make the rock cover.

“Keep down,” I hissed; knowing the youngster wasn’t packing an iron.

After a few minutes there was some movement from the rocks, several yards away, where the shots had come from and then a man stealthily crept forwards keeping well down, his colt in his hand as he looked over at where I still lay in the dirt.

As he inched his way forwards I knew it would only be a matter of time before he put another slug in me just to be sure I was dead and I had no time to consider the wisdom of my move, I just had to make it.

I was suddenly up on one knee, my colt in hand and emptying the chamber into the advancing aggressor.

He clutched his chest and keeled over yelling in agony…blood seeping between his fingers as he clasped in chest, eyes open wide in shock, before he fell face down in the dirt.

Lenny and I ran over and I stooped down, gently turning my attacker over and found myself looking down into the face of…..Silas Mason…..

“What the Hell,” I whispered.

At that his eyes flickered and opened…..

“Surprise eh’ Harper,” he grunted, ”I said I’d got influence didn’t I…… was out of that jail yesterday, no problem with that idiot deputy……and my friends to help me…..for a price that is….”

I just shook my head knowing he had only minutes to live as I watched his life blood form a larger and larger patch on his shirt front.

“See Harper, just like I always said, every man has his price……”

“Except me,” I said quietly.

He peered up at me, “Yeah,” he finally managed, ”I guess you’re right……except you….”

“Had…..had to do it,” he whispered, his face now grey and sweating, ”had to kill the boy, stop him testifying…you see that Harper?”

I said nothing, just looked down as he turned even paler…….

Then he clutched his chest and his eyes opened wide in terror and he finally gasped his last breath…..

I felt a white hot searing pain in my upper arm, as the gunshot wound finally registered and I sank back holding the arm tightly as everything seemed to be spinning and turning dark, the pain of the shooting finally taking its toll.

“Mister Jess….. Mister Jess wake up,” Lenny hollered and after a moment, I opened my eyes and peered into the youngster’s panic stricken face.

“I thought you’d gone an’ up an’ died like my uncle,” he cried as I took a deep breath and tried to sit up.

“I’m OK boy, don’t you go frettin’”….I whispered.

He helped me sit up and gave me a drink from my canteen. Then seeing him turning kinda green around the gills as he saw the bleeding wound to my arm I sent him off for some more water from the river and I tended to the arm myself.

It was a clean wound, the bullet having passed straight through and once it was tightly bound with my bandanna I figured it would stop bleeding. Then Blue ran up from where he’d been hiding once the shooting started and licked me half to death and I slowly began to feel slightly more human.

By the time Lenny returned I was up and about again and ready to roll.

He helped me lug the dead weight, which was now Mason, up onto his mount and we tied him down and started to make our way slowly back towards town.

It was only half an hour or so later that we saw a dust haze a mile or so away and I cussed darkly under my breath.

“Who in tarnation is that?” I muttered, thinking maybe it was one of Mason’s hired lackeys come to back him up.

Then as the rider came closer I breathed a huge sigh of relief as I recognized Red Smith’s big old Buckskin loping along and then I saw his face and he waved cheerfully at us.

He reined in his mount and threw the corpse a quizzical glance.

“I see Mason caught up with you then?”

I nodded, ”Could say so yeah Sheriff,” I agreed with an ironic smile.

“He tried to kill me Sheriff,” Lenny piped up….. ”I didn’t even have a gun and Mister Jess here he kinda threw me behind some rocks to keep me safe and that’s when Uncle Silas shot him……”

“He did, did he?” asked Red noting the bloody bandanna gracing my arm.

“Yup, but then Mister Jess upped and shot him dead and I figure it was real brave of him…Heck he’s real fast with a gun you know Sheriff!” he finished proudly.

“Is he indeed?” asked Red now openly grinning at me.

“So what happened,” I asked, ignoring Red’s joshing me, “Mason caught you napping did he then Red?”

“Um…. err no,” he said looking embarrassed, “that dang fool Deputy of mine.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, seems someone at the cafe over the road sent a mug of cocoa over to him. Well young Jack didn’t question it…. And it was dang well drugged courtesy of one Ma Jones, a waitress at the cafe. See she was one of Mason’s other women,” he drawled.

“So it’s true then?” I asked in surprise.

“Oh yeah, known for his womanizing was old Mason,” Red said casting the body a disbelieving glance, “just can’t see it myself.”

“Me neither….so this woman sprung him then?”

“Yup, waited until young Jack was spark out and got the keys and let Mason out…. Trouble was she went and told a friend…..but it turns out she weren’t too good a friend as she hightailed it over to me in the saloon and told me everything. Well it was too dang dark to follow him, so I set out at first light ….and here I am,” he grinned.

“Well that’s real good Red,” I said happily, ”because I was thinkin’ on headin’ home before Mason turned up, so Iffen I swear a statement now can I get off?”

He shook his head looking serious.

“Nope, you can’t buddy.”

“Huh, well why the hell not,” I exploded, ”the boy’s a witness, it was self defense Red!”

“Hey simmer down Jess…. It’s not that, heck you know I trust you…it’s this he said pointing to my arm….”

“Huh?“

“Jess, you’re practically skin and bone after that old bastard worked the butt off of you, plus you can barely ride with that knee injury and now you’re bleeding all over the shop…Now what kind of a friend would I be, sending you off in that state…. Beside my old Ma would never speak to me again!”

In the end we sorta compromised. We made camp and Red tended the wound and cooked us up a real good meal and he finally sent me off on my way, me promising I’d ride real slow and careful, taking my time to rest along the way.

Dusk was just falling as I rode into the yard three days later and boy was I glad to see the old place again.

It had been a tough journey …real tough and the only thing that spurred me on was the thought as to how worried they’d all be getting about me. It was days since I sent the wire saying I’d been delayed and I knew with old Hardrock’s imagination he’d have gotten me up to my neck in trouble and would be settin’ out to rescue me any day now.

I reined Traveller in by the hitching rail and Blue gave forth with a volley of barks fit to waken the dead and a moment later the door opened and young Mike tumbled out, closely followed by Slim and Daisy.

Then they stopped in their tracks as they stared in consternation at me….. Well I knew I’d dropped a few pounds, the wound to my arm had opened up again and my sleeve was kinda bloody, but hell I didn’t look that bad did I?

Then they seemed to be shifting and sliding away from me and everything started going black….

The last thing I heard was Daisy crying…”Quick Slim catch him…..” as I fell gracefully from the saddle in a dead faint.

When I came round I was tucked into my own bed, Mike and Blue sitting at the bottom of it, both with huge anxious eyes turned on me and Daisy fussin’ around with a cool cloth wiping my sweatin’ face.

As soon as my eyes opened Blue gave a little whimper and Mike jumped down and came and hugged me…..

“Jess, Jess are you OK you look real poorly……!”

Then Blue joined him licking my face and making a big fuss.

“Mike really do take that dog outside this is a sick room not a bear garden,” Daisy admonished. (I saw the boy looking downcast and took pity on him.

“Hey Tiger, can you do me a favour and brush down ol’ Blue there, I guess his coat’s full of trail dirt, he could use a cleanup.”

The boy grinned at me, ”Sure I will Jess,” he said proudly, taking the dog’s collar and hauling him off the bed.

“In the barn dear,” said Daisy more kindly, ”I don’t want the sitting room full of dog hairs…..”

Once he’d gone I looked around.

“Where’s Slim?”

“Tending to Traveller dear,” he’ll be in shortly.

She had gently removed my filthy, bloody shirt and was now washing some of the grime off of my chest prior to tending the wound in my arm and as I watched her I saw her old grey eyes fill with unshed tears.

“Daisy, what is it?” I whispered.

She blinked and turned away for a moment, before turning a brave smile on me.

“What’s wrong?” I asked again.

She shook her head, “I just hate to see you this way,” she said softly. ”That Mister Mason should never have worked you this hard, so many cuts and bruises and goodness you look like you haven’t had a square meal since the day you left home.”

I gave her my lopsided grin at that speech.

“Well that’s probably because I ain’t,” I said, ”save fer the days Red’s wife and Ma fed me,” and then I went on to explain about the beans fiasco.

“I guess these last couple of months I was just too dang beat to ride into town to visit or pick up supplies.”

She shook her head sadly, ”Well we’ll soon fatten you up again young man, now let’s get this arm cleaned up and then you must have a nap before supper.”

Supper came and went and still Slim hadn’t been in to see me and it was getting on for midnight before he finally snuck in, boots in hand as he crept over to his bed and started undressing quietly.

I’d been lying awake for an hour or so, the pain in my arm having woken me and now I leaned over and adjusted the night light so the room was bathed in a soft glow and I could see my pard properly.

He sat down on the edge of his bed looking kinda sheepish.

“Sorry, did I awaken you Jess?”

I shook my head, ”Nope couldn’t sleep.”

He nodded, but said nothing, just glanced at my naked torso and then looked away quick, his face real troubled.

I sighed, ”I thought you’d have been in to see me…. “

“Uh…. oh sorry pard, I had some paper work to finish off,” he said avoiding my eyes.

I gestured to my wallet on the nightstand.

“Got me all the money and then some….. check it out,” I said gesturing with my head towards the cash.

He picked up the wallet and slowly counted out the notes, before giving a low whistle…”Well done Jess, this is amazing, way above what we expected.”

I grinned at him.

“That Major from the Fort gave me a hefty bonus. I figure we can pay off all the debts, fill up that ol’ thirsty bank account and still keep a little back for a treat or two. Thought I’d buy you that leather pocket book you’ve been hankering after,” I said with a grin.

To my surprise he looked real upset.

“Nope, no thanks…. I can’t take your money,” and he got up quickly and finished getting ready for bed, before hopping in and lying back ignoring me.

Well, I’d just about had enough now….

“Hell Slim, what’s the matter…are you mad at me? I know I was longer than we expected, but I sent you a wire…and I’d have told you all about it iffen you’d have spared five minutes to talk to me since I got back…..”

He turned and faced me then, looking me in the eye properly for the first time that evening…

“Hell Jess I’m not mad at you…. I’m mad at me….can’t you see? I feel so dang guilty I can hardly bear to look at you…..”

Then he cast a glance back down to where my ribs were sticking out and to the neatly bandaged wound on my arm….

“I hate to see you this way and it’s all my fault, I should never have asked you to go over there…It was way too much work for any one man….. I’m just so sorry,” he finished looking as distressed as I’d seen him in a long while.

I gave a deep sigh of relief.

“Is that all? Hell Slim you hardy had a Colt.45 to my head. It was my dang decision and sure I knew how hard it would be, but it just had to be done, so quit yer frettin’……. So you wanna hear the full story then?”

He finally grinned at me.

“Sure I do pard….just a minute though.”

He got up and left the room briefly before returning with a bottle of Red Eye and two glasses.

“For medicinal purposes only,” he said smiling down at me…. then he sobered.

“That arm paining you Jess?”

“Some,” I confessed and accepted the glass before knocking it back and Slim did the same. Then he refilled our glasses and settled back…..

“So let’s hear all about this adventure then,” he said softly, ”and don’t miss anything out Jess…especially any bits regarding the lovely Miss Sadie!”

“Aw Slim…….”

Epilogue

It was a few months later that Daisy received a letter from Ma Smith.

We were sitting enjoying a coffee, having just seen Mike off to school on the early Stage and old Mose had delivered the letter addressed to Daisy. But as usual she sat down and shared all the news from Rawlins with me and Slim.

“She says she hopes you’ve recovered from working for that terrible Mister Mason,” she said, ”and have you put some weight back on.”

Slim grinned across at me.

“Way he’s been eating he won’t fit into his pants soon.”

“That ain’t so….”

“Now Slim dear there’s nothing wrong with a healthy appetite,” Daisy scolded.

“Go on then Daisy, so what else does she say?” I asked.

“Umm….. Red and family are all well…….he hopes to see you before Thanksgiving…..”

“Err….just some personal stuff…….women’s talk,” she said vaguely.

“Oh here we are…’ do tell Jess that young Lenny has recovered his speech and all his faculties and has decided to go back to school to catch up on the years he’s lost.’”

“Well that’s great,” I said, ”he was a good kid and had a real troubled life… he sure deserves a better deal now.”

“It must have been terrible him seeing his father murder his mother….and then it must have seemed like history was repeating itself when that awful Mason attacked his wife,” said Daisy looking saddened.

“I guess so, but in a way it was good because the doc reckoned that it was that shock that sorta flipped his mind back into workin’ proper again,” I said.

“So what about the lovely Sadie, she must be pretty stuck what with her being a widow now,” said Slim, “and the boy back in school.”

“Well goodness me,” declared Daisy, looking up from her letter, her eyes sparkling…..

“Kate Smith says that Hank went back to work for Mrs Mason and now they’re engaged…. And they’re getting married in the fall…. would you believe it?”

“Well, I figure she reckoned old Hotshot here was spoken for so she went with the next best offer,” said Slim now grinning from ear to ear…”kind of a shame though…..”

“Oh, how so,” I asked throwing him a hard look, just knowing I’d regret asking.

“Well if she’s got Hank back living there I guess he’ll be taking care of the mustang breaking……so looks like you’re out of a job Jess, won’t be able to go back next summer….and I know how much you enjoyed it,” he said his eyes twinkling and trying hard to contain his mirth.

“Why you….!” I yelled as he made a dive for the door with me in hot pursuit……this time it was gonna be the water trough for him….and no it wasn’t even Saturday either…….!

The End

Thank you for reading!