by C. J. Petit
“How did you get two ranches?”
“Your parents gave me the Star A when they left. Joe Miles had shot and killed his daughter by mistake the day before I shot him, making Libby the owner of the Slash M. I was her husband for eight minutes. Tomorrow, I’ve got to start consolidating the whole mess.”
“He killed Mary?”
“After the failed attempt to burn us out, he went home. I guess Mary and some hand named Bill Cook thought they’d be gone longer. Joe caught them busy in her room and shot at Bill, and Mary caught the slug in the neck before it hit Bill. Killed them both.”
Sara sat back. “So much death.”
“Too much.” he said as he stood. “I’m sorry to have bothered you, Sara. I’ll leave now.”
“No, please don’t, Gus. Sit down and we’ll talk. Let’s talk about other things. What are your plans?”
“I’m not really sure. I’ll get the two ranches combined. That cursed Slash M name will be gone. I don’t know what I’ll call it, though. Most of the common brands are gone.”
“You could always use a combined brand, couldn’t you? There should be plenty of those available.”
“I was thinking along those lines.”
“You know what I’d do if I were you, Gus? I’d sell every animal on both of those ranches and start with a fresh herd of those modified Herefords that they’re all talking about.”
Gus looked at Sara. “That’s not a bad idea. I have no idea how many head are on the Slash M, so it would take a while to ship that many, but it’s not bad at all.”
Sara smiled. “And one more thing, Gus. Get yourself a dog. You can’t bring your horse into the house.”
Gus looked at her. “Two in a row, Sara. Thank you. I’m going to be lonely for a long time now. A dog would help.”
“You don’t think you’ll find another wife?”
“No. I’ll go to go my grave a lonely old man.”
“That’s a waste, Gus. You’re the best man I’ve ever met. The women will be lining up once they know you have a large ranch.”
“I know that, and I don’t care. I’ll know what they want, and I don’t know women well enough to figure out which ones to trust. I’ll just do my work and be satisfied with that.”
“Gus, don’t spend your life empty like that. You’ll never be happy. You need to love someone.”
“What about you, Sara? Have you ever loved someone?”
“No. It bothers me, to be honest. In this line of business, that’s not likely to happen, is it?”
“No. Do you ever take a break, Sara? You know, just get out and take a ride? I’ve always found it relaxing and a good way to clear my mind.”
She tilted her head. “No, I never do. I should get out. Whenever I take a day off, I usually just wander around. Of course, I’m like poison to the local gentry.”
“Ah, Sara, the women are all just jealous, and the men are angry because they married such prudes for wives.”
She laughed. “Now that sounds like the Gus I remember. You really are good to be around, Gus. Don’t let this whole mess change you. Be yourself. You’re a very easy man to love, Gus. Remember that.”
“Then I’ll definitely be getting a dog.”
She laughed again.
“Well, Sara, I’ve taken up too much of your time. I really do appreciate being able to talk to you. You’ve helped a lot.”
“Whenever you want to stop by and talk, Gus, please don’t hesitate. I’ll be here.”
“Thank you, Sara.”
Gus and Sara both stood, and Gus leaned over and kissed her softly. “You’re a lot more like Rachel than you believe, Sara.”
He turned and left. Sara felt something else. She didn’t feel as alone as she had before. She had someone to talk to as well.
Gus stepped up on Belle and trotted out of Chadwick with a more settled mind and soul. He’d look for a dog when he got back. But tomorrow he’d begin consolidating.
Chapter 10
He made himself a breakfast of eggs again. He didn’t even have any bacon in the house. He’d have to do something about that. Maybe move to the big house and eat with the boys.
He mounted Belle and rode into Kinnick. First, he went to the only attorney in town, Clarence Blanchard, Esq. He walked into the office and asked his clerk if he could see Blanchard about the Miles estate. That took almost an hour. Blanchard was the executor for the estate of Joe Miles, and his will had left everything to Mary. With her death, and that of his wife, Libby, everything would go to Gus. The lawyer had the clerk draw up a legal document, and he signed it and had the clerk notarize it. He gave it to Gus and said he’d be happy to continue to provide legal work for the new owner of the Slash M. Gus assured him that there would be some forthcoming, including making out his will.
He left the office. He was still wearing his jacket and vest. He was also wearing his Colt. He vowed never to be without a firearm again. He walked into the bank and met with the senior clerk. After combining all the accounts, Gus had a balance of $24,433.71. The clerk, like the attorney, offered whatever help the new owner of the Slash M needed. Gus was beginning to understand the power of money. It made him sick. He had been nothing but a fly to be swatted away a month ago, and now everyone wanted to be his buddy.
He was going to go to the land office, but realized he hadn’t come up with a name for the ranch yet. But he did have a new idea.
He rode west of town and headed to Powers farm. He stepped down at the worn-out farmhouse and walked up to the door and knocked.
Ethyl opened the door and smiled at him.
“Good morning, Mr. Matthews. My mama is in the kitchen. Follow me.”
Gus was really happy that Ethyl seemed to have bounced back from Lou’s abuse. He walked into the kitchen, where a very tired-looking Emma was scrubbing a pot.
“Good morning, Emma. How are you?”
She smiled at Gus. “I’m all right. What brings you here?”
“Have a seat, Emma. Ethyl, you too.”
They both sat at the table.
“I have an unusual situation that I need help with. Emma, do you like it here?”
“It’s okay. The house needs a lot of work, but we manage.”
“How much is the farm worth, do you think?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe twenty-five hundred dollars.”
“Did you ever think of selling?”
“I wouldn’t have anything to do if I did.”
“Emma, a lot has happened over the past week or so.”
“I heard about the shootings at the railroad depot.”
“That was one of them. The other involved some difficult circumstances that I’d rather not talk about. But the result is that I now own two adjoining ranches. I’ll be combining them in the future, but I’ll still have two houses. What I’m proposing to you is that you come and live in one of the houses with Ethyl. The same one that has those chickens I bought from you, by the way. I’ll pay you forty dollars per month to keep the house clean and take care of those chickens. You can sell your farm and put the money in the bank for your own use. Does Ethyl go to school?”
“No. I have no way to get her there.”
“How long has she missed school?”
“Three years.”
“You seem pretty smart, Ethyl. Would you like to go back to school?”
“They’ll make fun of me for what happened.”
“No, Ethyl, they won’t dare. You tell anyone who tries to say anything that the man who shot that evil man between the eyes will come looking for them. In fact, if you want, I’ll come with you that first day back, and they can see you with me. I’ll put on my mean face, and you tell them who I am and that I’m your friend. They’ll be nice to you.”
Ethyl giggled. “Okay.”
“You’d have a buggy at your disposal to take Ethyl to school, Emma. So, what do you think?”
“Gus, why are you helping us?”
“I have that house that will be emp
ty soon. I don’t want to abandon it. Do you ride?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll leave a horse and saddle for you as well. What about you, Ethyl?”
“I never have before.”
“Then we’ll stop by the livery on the way out to the house tomorrow and you pick out one you like, all right?”
Emma was overwhelmed. Things like this didn’t happen to people like her.
Ethyl was smiling like her face would split in two. “I’d have my own horse?”
“But you’d have to take care of it. I’ll show you how, okay?”
Ethyl nodded, the grin still on her face.
“So, Emma, is that all acceptable to you?”
“Gus, this is all so sudden. It seems too good to be true.”
“It’s just a good solution to a problem I had.”
“So, this will happen tomorrow?”
“If it’s a deal, then I’ll swing by with a wagon tomorrow morning around nine o’clock. You have everything packed that you want, and we’ll move you to your new home. Okay?”
“I still can’t believe it. But yes, we have a deal. Thank you so much, Gus.” She stood and took two steps and hugged Gus.
“You rest easy, Emma. I’ll see you and Ethyl tomorrow.”
Emma brushed back some tears. “We’ll see you in the morning, then.”
“Nine o’clock. Don’t go running off.”
She laughed. Gus smiled at her and Ethyl and left the house. That problem solved, he rode back through the town. He stopped at the livery.
He stepped down from Belle and sought out Abe Greene. He found him in the back corral. He had his six horses.
“Morning, Abe.”
“Howdy, Gus. What can I do for you?”
“Come to look at your horses again. Got any good ones?”
“They’re all good, Gus. I get the pick of the herd.”
“They do look good. That small mare over there. What’s her story?”
“She won’t get much bigger, I’m afraid. She sure is pretty though, ain’t she?”
“She is that. I’ll take her. That sorrel isn’t as dark or as handsome as that dark-chestnut gelding, but he seems to have nice lines.”
“He’s the youngest of the bunch. Very well tempered and has a smooth gait. I like him a lot.”
“Okay. I’ll take him as well. How about saddles?”
“I’m outta saddles. You’ll have to buy new over at Jensen’s.”
“I’ll do that. If I go over there, I’ll swing by and bring them over. How much for the two horses?”
“The mare will only set you back thirty dollars and the gelding is thirty-five dollars.”
“Make it sixty dollars for the pair and you’ve got a deal.”
They shook on it, and Gus said he’d be by tomorrow morning to pick them up.
He crossed the street to Jensen’s leather shop and walked in.
“Morning, Gus,” offered the proprietor, whom Gus had only met in passing. Gus imagined he was well known suddenly.
“Morning. Need two complete sets of tack. Let’s see what you have for saddles.”
Jensen showed him his row of saddles. He did good work. Gus picked out two and then added all the other gear, including blankets. Gus paid a lot more for the saddles than he did for the horses. It took them two trips for both men to get the gear to Abe’s livery.
“You want those horses saddled when you get here, Gus?” Abe asked.
“Nope. It’ll be fun to watch this one, Abe. It’ll make your day.”
Abe smiled. “Can’t wait, then.”
Gus was getting ready to leave when he stopped and turned to Abe. “Say, Abe, do you know where I can buy a dog?”
“Dogs? Old Jake McDonald had quite a bunch out at his farm, straight south of town. Head toward the Red River about three miles. He’ll be on the right. Doesn’t have a sign, though. But you can hear those hounds yappin’.”
“Thanks, Abe. I think I’ll head that way.”
Gus followed the same road he had found coming into Kinnick, which seemed like ages ago but was just about a month ago. Amazing, the changes that can happen in such a short time.
He traveled for twenty minutes and found Abe to be right. He heard the yapping and barking of dogs and turned down the entrance to the farm. He stepped down and walked up to the door and knocked. There was a short time before the door opened, and then Gus met old Jake McDonald. He was maybe ten years older than Gus.
“Morning. I was just talking to Abe Greene about getting a dog, and he said you were the man to talk to.”
Jake’s face changed to mister friendly.
“Come on in, then.”
Gus followed Jake into his house. He was surprised that it didn’t smell of hounds at all.
“I keep all the dogs in back. I have a couple of litters of pups that you might like. I’m kinda fond of dogs.”
“I can see that.”
They stepped out the back of the house, and Gus saw two long, low buildings. He opened a chicken-wire door and waited for Gus to enter. There were several different types, mostly game dogs like coonhounds. Gus wasn’t taken by any of them. Jake kept walking. He reached the end of the row.
“Now, these hounds are my new favorites. Got me two females and a male a year ago. Used to find rabbits. Called Basset Hounds. Lookit them ears.”
Gus looked in at the tumbling mass of puppies. There were two mothers and the obviously proud papa. Or he was just pleased to have his own small harem.
But the puppies were just about the cutest things he’d ever seen. The long floppy ears hung down to the ground as they waddled around, sometimes stepping on their own ears and falling on their faces.
“You’re right, Jake. Those are the cutest puppies I’ve ever seen.”
“Right friendly critters, too. Not too big on the smarts, though. But they really like being around folks.”
“Can I get a pair of them?”
“You want a boy and a girl?”
“That would be good.”
“All right. You find the two you want.”
Gus found it hard to pick; they were all so loveable. He spied one that was looking at him with, well, puppy eyes. He picked her up, and then looked for a male. He found one that was a nice combination of black, brown, and white.
“Good choices. Bring ’em along, and we’ll get them ready to travel.”
Gus held the two squirming puppies. They were both squirming to get at his face and lick him to death.
They went into the house, and Jake found two woven bags. He put one puppy in each bag and tied them together.
“How much do I owe you Jake?”
“Ten dollars.”
Gus handed him the money, and they walked out front to Belle. The puppies were just lying quietly as Gus put them across the saddle.
“Are they sleeping?” Gus asked.
“I found they sleep a lot. That’s good, though.”
Gus shook Jake’s hand, and he and Belle headed back to the Star A.
He returned at lunchtime and put the puppies in the barn with the two geldings that he used for pulling the wagon. The puppies bounced around excitedly, tripping often on their ears. Gus would have to figure out how to house them later.
He went inside and had his lunch.
He had left Belle saddled and rode across to the big house. He could see that Hank already had the boys out working. Good man. He rode up to Hank and motioned him over.
“Howdy, Gus. All done up there?”
“Yep. Ernie was hanged at eight o’clock. Didn’t seem enough, though.”
“No, it sure wasn’t.”
“Hank, what is the size of the herd?”
“Twelve hundred or thereabouts.”
“Come on into the house. We need to talk about something.”
Gus ran the numbers in his mind. Fourteen hundred head of cattle would fetch over $30,000. They’d start with a smaller herd of about six hundred Herefords. That number wou
ld double in two years, but with over $50,000 in the bank, they’d ride out two years without selling easily.