Trego, p.23
Trego, page 23
Us four, we found another spot to bath. The four of us were somewhat shy. We all agreed to try and get shut of them the first chance we got. By the sound of it, they were having quite the time.
We had just got our clothes back on, when we heard some wagons coming. Turns out it was some folks, four wagons of them, heading toward Elkhorn. They had left the Bozeman Trail two days back. The mine was going pretty good there. These folks had one wagon full of whiskey and such. They said they were going to start a saloon.
Well, that was all those girls needed to hear. It twern’t no time at all till a bargain was struck. Some of the wives of those pilgrims weren’t that happy. Now that youngster from Louisiana was right in the middle of the bargaining. Turns out he had a talent for it.
Anyway, they turned their wagon around and fell in with that bunch.
Now I always heard that a fool and his money would waste no time in parting ways. Only thing was, for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out who the fool was….
We still had time to get to Carl’s place before dark, if we would shake a shank. And that’s just what we did. Most of the horses stayed with us, at least those horses had some sense. The only horses that went with them was the team that was pulling their wagon and the horse Sam was riding. And they weren’t all that happy about it. Most horses are a pretty good judge of character.
Wow! What a difference time makes. Well, just not time, but someone that is willing to work. You wouldn’t of known that this was the same place. Carl heard us coming, he was standing in the doorway with his Winchester. He gave a big smile and stood his gun up side of the door and came running.
“Well, well, I see you made it all in one piece.” He said. Then looking at the girls, with their tied down guns and pants. He added, “well, we’ve got triplets here have we, they look the spitting image of you Brie, what are they your sisters?”
“Well, I guess you could say that, we sort of adopted them, or they us. And yes, they can use those guns strapped to their hips.” Brie said, as we were all unhitching the team and unsaddling our horses.
I went to introduce everybody, but shoot, when we came through here the first time everything was happening so fast, that I didn’t even know the wife and kids names. I looked at them. They were in a lot better shape now, mentally and physically than before. The bruise’s had all faded and everyone was smiling.
The little girl spoke up, “I’m Lucy, I’m six years old.” Turning she looked at her brother, “This is Dennis, my brother, he’s twelve. And this is my Sister, she’s thirteen, her name is Darlene, she’s not well, she started bleeding yesterday.”
The mother gave a gasp and said, “Lucy, that’s enough. Darlene is not sick, she just became a woman, is all.” Darlene looked like she wanted to crawl under a log or something. The mother put her arm around Darlene’s shoulders. “My name is Elizabeth. Of course we all have a new last name now, Carl and I got married. A circuit riding preacher came through here and we got hitched.”
As we were leading the team to the barn yard, I asked Carl, “Did you see them pilgrims come through here, four wagon’s and load of whiskey?”
“Yep, sure did, I bought a few bottles of Rye off of them, you want a drink?”
“Nope, sure don’t. I tied one on, up Helena way. That’s enough to last me many a year. It makes my trigger finger itch. Brie was some put out. And I’m afraid of her.”
“Sure you are.”
“Well not afraid in the usual sense, but afraid of making her sad, you see I love her. As I suspect you do Elizabeth.”
“Yep, you’re right. She’s had a hard life, her husband was a real pervert. She told me he used to pimp her out. In fact that’s why I keep my rifle so handy. She told me that she’s expecting some friends of his, she thought they would have been here before now. “
“Is that a fact? When did she expect them?” I said.
“Well, the way she talked, it was right about the time we showed up.” Carl said, as he spit tobacco juice at a wasp. Evidently he had went back to chewing.
“I wouldn’t worry about them, I think they took a little trip on the river. In fact I think we seen them taking a midnight swim. Only thing was, they didn’t look like they could swim very good. I really don’t think she has to worry about them anymore.” I said.
“Oh, is that a fact?”
“Yep, sure is.” I said. Then to sort of change the subject, I filled him in on every thing we had been doing for the last month.
“So you say those twins of yours are quite the gunslinger’s, Huh?”
“Well, put it this way, the only ones that are better are Brie and I. But they are also good hands with cattle. When they shake out a loop, it hit’s what they aim at. And they take their dally’s like a man. No tying hard and fast for them.” I said.
We stayed there with the Albert family for two more days. Dennis and Darlene didn’t want us to go. Janie and Melinda were showing them how to handle guns. Elizabeth wasn’t too happy about it, but she understood everyone had to know how to defend themselves and the family.
Brie had slipped Elizabeth a couple of thousand dollars. Told her to hide it and only use it in an emergency. Every woman should have a backup. Be it gun or money.
Both were for a protection.
Everyone’s eyes were a little misty, darned if I didn’t think both Jake and Wolf’s were too. They liked Lucy. Our next stop would be to see how Caitie and Brona were doing on the Big Hole.
It took us two days of leisurely moseying to get there. We stopped at every good swimming hole. We didn’t have any confrontations. Outside of a Rattlesnake or two. They kept our shooting eyes keen. I showed the girls how to use the tag end of their lariats to kill Rattlesnakes also, you could pop their heads right off without ever getting out of your saddle. I guess you can surmise that I hated Rattlesnakes.
We pulled into Twin Bridges around four in the afternoon, we had only been gone a month and in that time they had thrown up a clapboard Hotel. The women wanted to try it. Since it was so new it probably didn’t have bedbugs. I didn’t feel like sleeping indoors, the weather was hot and dry, I decided to sleep with the wagon and the animals.
There was a large cottonwood by the river, I pulled the wagon under its spreading branch’s and picketed the horses on a long line so they could graze and still reach water.
I told Jake and Wolf to stay with the wagon and not wander off. I went to have supper with my family.
Everyone in town knew who we were, most of them gave us a wide berth. I didn’t expect any trouble out of the townsfolk, as long as some Cowboys didn’t come to town to tie one on. The same lawman came over and had after dinner coffee with us. I sort of liked him, we both didn’t want any trouble. Being fellow lawmen and all.
Of course Brie and the girls drew the most attention. Mine included…Where we were eating was a combination Café and Saloon. We lingered longer than we should of, cause the Saloon side was getting nosier.
“Girls,” I said, “I think the three of you should probably go up to bed.”
Janie said, “But its not even dark yet, its only 9 o’clock.”
Brie looked at me and nodded, “Tre’ is right, why don’t we call it a night?”
We got up, I tossed a twenty dollars gold piece on the table, it was enough for the meal and a hefty tip. The only thing was that the entrance to the saloon and the café was combined. The women were a few steps ahead of me, when the Marshal stopped me to say something.
“I wanted to tell you that a new outfit moved in up river, close to the Bledso place. Weren’t those two women, Caitie and Brona friends of yours?” Brie heard what he said and turned around and came back, Janie and Melinda stopped beside the door to wait for us.
“Yeah Marshal, they are, daughters you might say.” Brie said.
“Well this new outfit came in and started pushing people around, they have been causing trouble here in town also. The Bledsoe’s are losing stock, Hank thinks this new outfit has been the ones rustling them.”
There came a clattering from the street. The sound of horses sliding to a stop. The door banged open and three roughnecks stomped in. They came to an abrupt stop when they seen Janie and Melinda. I looked at the Marshal, he nodded.
“Well, well, what do we have here, new blood in town.” One of them said. “Come on you little whores, we’ll buy you a drink before we screw you.”
I started for them, but of course I was too late. He reached for Janie, Janie had pulled her stiletto out of her sleeve, he lost two fingers before you could blink an eye. One of the others had reached for Melinda, she planted her foot deep into his crotch. He bent over, her knee caught him in the face, blood squirted everywhere. The other one was holding his hand trying to staunch the flow of blood. The third guy stepped back and went for his gun, big mistake, Janie threw the stiletto true, he was dead when he hit the floor.
I looked at the Marshal, “You seen it, they were just defending themselves.” I said.
“Yes, I know that, but hell the one with the fingers laying on the floor is the old Man’s son. Those other two are just hired gun hands.”
“What’s their names?” I asked.
“The Old man’s name is Rath Kirkland, the boy over there is called Frankie. I don’t know the names of the other two. Damn, I had better get the two live ones over to the Doctor.” He said and helped them out the door.
“Brie Honey, did you rent rooms yet?”
“No, should I?”
“Yes, but you’re not going to sleep there, make the beds up like you are sleeping in them. You know like we have done before. Rent two rooms, like I will be with you all.
Then after dark we’ll slip out and go to our wagon. We’ll slip out of town under the cover of darkness. I don’t want a big shoot out in town, innocent people could get hurt.”
We waited for the moon to go behind a cloud before we forded the Big Hole River. By dawn we should be at the Bledso Ranch. No one seen us leave, that I know of anyway.
The sun was breaking over the Tobacco Root Mountains when we reached the ranch house. Hank and Nate had heard us coming, they met us with their rifles under their arms.
“You boys are up early.” I said.
“It was our watch.” Hank said. As they looked our outfit over. “Who’s the girls?”
“This is Janie and Melinda, they sort of adopted us, or maybe it was vice-versa.” Brie said. “And just what do you mean, your watch?”
“We’ve been having a little trouble with a new outfit that moved in here. They drygulched Billy, just winged him.” Nate said.
“Would the name of that outfit be ‘Kirkland?” I said.
“Yeah, how did you know?” Hank said.
“Well, Rath’s son, Frankie lost a couple of fingers, he tried to touch Janie’s breast, she cut them off.” I said.
“What about the old man, where was he?” Nate asked.
“Didn’t see him, but Frankie had a couple of gun hands with him, Janie killed one, Melinda did some serious damage to the other’s gonads, plus messed up his face.”
“The hell you say! Damn that’s good.” Hank said.
“Hank you stop that cussing, you know I won’t have it.” Alice called from the ranch house door. She let the screen door bang as she walked toward us. She came up and gave Brie a big hug, then planted a kiss on me. I think she was glad to see us.
“Where’s Caitie and Brona?” I asked.
“They’re sleeping, they stood the midnight watch.” Alice said. Of course the banging of the screen door woke the girls up. They came dragging their feet, till they seen us. Then they were all over us.
“How long has this been going on?” I asked.
“Two weeks, it started with us losing stock, then random shots our way. They shot at the house once. Then Billy got winged just yesterday. We sure are glad you guys showed up.” Alice said. As we walked toward the kitchen door, she turned and said, “Nate, Hank, you boys unhook their team and unsaddle those horse’s, put them in the barn and feed them, we don’t want anyone to see that they are here.”
It didn’t take Alice and the girls long to get breakfast ready. It didn’t surprise me any that they didn’t have any hands. Since they weren’t paying fighting wages. Turns out, that Brona and Hank, had married up, Caitie and Nate were planning on it, till this trouble cropped up. Billy, he was only fifteen. The more I thought about his being drygulched, was getting my dander up.
As we were forking breakfast down, I asked Hank, “Just how many hired guns do they have?”
“Don’t know for sure, maybe six, but you said Janie killed one.”
“Yeah, the other one will be riding side saddle for awhile.” Melinda said. Alice looked at them. “So, you girls look just like Brie, I suppose you can use them guns slung to those pretty hips?”
“Yes, Mam, we can,” Melinda said. “We’re almost as fast as Brie, but have some work to do on it.”
Caitie said, “Nate and I are due to get hitched, so don’t be looking at him.”
Janine and Melinda both smiled. “Don’t worry Caitie, we’re not looking for a man, just yet anyway. And besides, we don’t graze on someone else’s pasture.”
Caitie gave a sigh of relief. She looked at Nate, “Wipe that silly look off of your face Nate, them girls would eat you for breakfast.” She said. I sort of smiled to myself, Nate old boy, your goose is sure cooked, I thought. Glancing at Brie, she gave me a wink.
There was a scratch on the screen door, Jake and Wolf were just letting me know that they were hungry also. Alice got up and took two platefuls of food to them. When Alice sat back down I asked, “So how’s Billy this morning?”
“He’s doing fine, he should be up and around in a few days. It just makes me so mad, I almost lost my youngest boy to some back shooting scum.” Alice said, as sparks flew in her eyes.
“Any idea who shot him? I mean besides the Kirkland bunch?”
“Not for sure, but they left their running iron beside a fire and we found one of our cows with its brand half worked over.” Nate said.
“What brand were they trying to change it to?” I asked.
“Well, it looked like it was Kirkland’s Quarter Circle Lazy K. But you can see for yourself, we have her in the corral.” Hank said.
“Sure, I’ll have a look after we finish breakfast.” Even though I could use a little sleep, after traveling all night to get here. But I was sure I wouldn’t be getting any. As soon as we were done eating all of us trooped out to the corral.
I got my rope off of my saddle that was slung over the top corral rail. The cow was a little spooky, but I threw a hoolihan and snagged her easy. (a hoolihan is a overhand throw that sort of drifts down over their head from above.)
She started to run around in a circle, I let her make a couple of rounds, then I flipped a figure eight in the rope that caught her front legs and down she went. Thankfully she lit on her off side so I could get a good look at her brand. Both Nate and Hank ran in and sat on her head and neck.
I poked around on it a little, it was still pretty raw. But they were right, it looked like they were trying to make it over to Kirkland’s brand. I took the rope off, then they let her up, she was pissed, she took a swipe at me, I dodged easily.
On the way back to the house, I asked, “So did Billy see anyone close enough to make an identification?
“He said it was one of their hired guns, he sure wasn’t a cowboy. You seen what a mess he made of that brand.” Hank said.
“Just where is their place?”
“You can’t call it a place, they’ve thrown up a log cabin and a few tar paper shack’s for the help, they haven’t been here that long. When they first moved in, we tried to tell them they were on our range, but hell, we were outgunned and we knew you were coming back this way. So we thought since you’re a Marshal, we’d just let the law handle it.” Hank said.
“Well that’s showing some common sense. Besides we own half interest in this spread. And since you all are doing most of the stock work, it only makes sense that I do some of the clean up work.”
“Brie honey, why don’t you girls get some sleep, while I go over and talk to that bunch.” I said. I knew I was wasting my breath.
“Like hell I will. Janie and Melinda will stay here, since they all know them by sight, but they didn’t even know we were there, those girls kept their attention.”
“Yeah, I figured as much. We’ll make sure our badges are in plain sight. We’ll try and do this by the book.” I looked at Nate, “Nate, why don’t you saddle a couple of horses for us, ours are a little tired and I want fresh horses for this. Just how do we get to their place?”
“It’s about five miles northwest of here. Right at the base of those foothills over there.” He said, pointing at the horizon. You can’t miss them.”
We went back to the kitchen. Brie had Caitie make us up some jerky and fill our canteens. I went in and talked to Billy. He gave me enough of a description of them. Before this is all over, I bet they wished they would of killed Billy instead of just winging him.
Janie and Melinda was talking to Brie, “But we want to go with you, you can’t handle all of them by yourselves.” Janie said.
“Sure we can,” I said, “you girls get some sleep, we’ll need you to stand watch tonight.” I said, then I went to our wagon and got extra firepower. Including my bow and arrows.
As we swung in the saddle, Jake and Wolf came running up. “No, you guys stay, you stay with Melinda and Janie, they’ll need your help.” I told them. I didn’t want some stray shot hitting them. If they shot as bad as they ran a running iron, hard telling where their bullets would end up.
Brie spurred up beside me, “Honey, it just doesn’t make much sense,” she said, “I mean they would have to be certifiable to move in on a established ranch like that. It just doesn’t make any sense.”
