Six-Guns Or Surrender (Lincoln's Lawman Book 1)

by A. M. Van Dorn

  They watched the proud old man bow to the reality of the situation, and both understood the man's helplessness completely. The minute they shoved off not one, but all of his children would be facing peril. Riker waved to Luther Beckett, hoping to assure him.

  “I’ll get her there safe! Head on out and meet us in Dalton’s Creek!”

  "I love you, Papa!" Callie called out to the older man as his horse pranced back and forth. Luther returned the declaration in kind before charging off back towards the ranch house and the road beyond that would lead to the town.

  “You ready?” he asked simply.

  Shuttering, but with a smile, Callie replied, "You want the truth?" With his hand still gripping his paddle, he leaned over and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze.

  “We’re going to make it through just fine. Do you want to know how I know? Her head bobbed up and down and he leaned in and brought his mouth close to her ear.

  “What we were doing right here in this spot before was just the warm-up, Callie Beckett. A taste of things to come,” he said as he drew back with a smile and was pleased to see a sly smile on her face.

  “Definitely something worth living for. C’mon, let’s go save all those folks!” she said as she dropped the stowed the coil of rope in the bow while behind her Riker used his belt to secure a sealed canvas bag containing his weapon behind the seat in the stern of the canoe.

  The river was calm when both Riker and Callie pushed off from the shoreline. Callie had secured the forward position in the craft given that she had taken this route several times before, so she would be able to guide them as best as possible in the fading light. Besides the lengthening shadows that seemed to be everywhere now on the river it was the high water, however, that gave her the most trepidation because it was unpredictable as it was swift. This would be no leisurely trip to town as she had done with young Davey in better times. Evening birds chirped out their calls and crisscrossed over the water above them as the canoe sliced through the water, sending rippling waves in all directions that were immediately swallowed up by the surging water. Around them, the occasional river bass sent a splash as it sailed out of the water in search of a snack.

  Digging in with her paddle, she steered them to the left, and the canoe began to pick up speed as it arced into the center of the river hurtling towards what she knew was the first challenge they would come to. Bitterly, she cursed at the extra wet winter they had had this year making the spring run-off worse than it had ever been.

  Callie peered ahead spotting the large boulders she remembered from previous outings on Dalton’s Creek, but she’d never seen the water that high up on them. Still, it wasn’t all bad news as she was surprised to spot a line of green moss on the boulders that was a foot over the water level. The moss above meant the river had crested already, which was a good sign.

  The strength of the rapids began to tug the canoe forward at an ever-increasing speed forcing her and Riker to give their full attention to controlling the canoe as they navigated the river ahead. Water splashed off the rocks, and as they passed one boulder, Callie used her oar as a polearm to keep the massive rock at bay. A large wave splashed against the rocks sprayed back into the canoe drenching Riker. Callie laughed and smiled coyly, “Didn’t think you were going to get down this river dry, did you?” she called out hoping to alleviate some of the tension from the danger that was cloaking them.

  “No, ma’am. At least I can cross my next bath off the schedule,” joked Riker, equally game to try and tamp down the stress they were under. The dual threat of surviving the river and worry over the people in jeopardy in town hung over their heads like that Sword of Damocles McKenna had once told him about.

  After the series of boulders ended, the river began to narrow and twist like a snake. At the same time, the shoreline had dwindled giving way to a more densely forested area growing directly at the water's edge. Only inky blackness could be seen beyond the first row of trees that sagged over the creek on both sides, a few with exposed roots, others with trunks wickedly shaped. Callie could only imagine the toll the years of constant running water and gravity had had on the ground here.

  They had stopped paddling by this point with the speed from the previous rapids still maintaining. They used their oars simply to steer and feel out for low points in the water depth, ensuring they didn’t run aground. As they rounded another curve of the serpentine creek, Riker called out, “Two downed trees!”

  But it was too late, and Callie gasped at the sight of a pair of large pine trees that had fallen across the river. The canoe slammed into the first downed tree. Without an early enough warning, Callie fell into the drink and lost her paddle in the process. Riker lurched forward, and the canoe ricocheted off and slammed into the second tree. Instability overwhelmed their vessel, and a moment later, it capsized. Riker plunged into the churning, watery abyss still clutching his paddle.

  After surfacing, Callie latched on to one of the branches from the second tree with a death grip and held on for dear life, but she was swiftly losing her grasp. Pivoting her head, she peered downstream and was relieved to see the current had swept Riker and the canoe towards the right-hand shoreline abutted by a small glade. Unable to hold on any longer to what felt like a greased pole, she felt as if the branch was sliding through her clutched fingers. Swept out into the river, Callie began stroking with all her might trying to head towards the same glade Riker had washed up near.

  She didn’t think she was going to make it, but suddenly her spirit soared as she saw Riker fighting the current to remain motionless in water up to his waist with one of the oars outstretched towards her.

  “Grab onto this,” he bellowed as she watched the man reach as far out into the creek as he could. With a surge of energy, she paddled towards him and clamped her hands onto the end of the paddle. The man’s powerful arms began tugging her through the water, and before she knew it, she was lying on the glade next to the overturned canoe. Riker staggered up and collapsed next to her, both fighting to catch their breath.

  Finally, he rolled his head to the left and met her gaze. Damn, those hazel eyes, she thought. A woman could get lost in them.

  Then the stranger to Dalton’s Creek smiled and said, “This is a hell of a first date, Callie Beckett!” They both laughed and let the tension flow out of them, but they didn’t linger as each passing moment brought the people at Johann’s meeting closer to disaster. As Riker flipped the canoe, she made her way down the edge of the water to retrieve the other paddle she spied wedged against a rock. As she returned with the paddle to where Riker was positioning the canoe at the edge of the water, she gave Riker a rise of one of her eyebrows when she caught his eyes momentarily falling to her wet blouse that was now see through.

  “Later,” she said with a wink.

  The duo pushed off from the shore once again, and now Dalton's Creek had now opened into a wider expanse and the water calmed considerably. To her recollection, she knew there were a series of flat rocks jutting above the river having been worn smooth over the ages by the endlessly flowing water that was once considerably higher than it was even now. She believed they were high enough to be still jutting above the water despite the excess runoff, but if they were submerged, they would prove to be an obstacle. So long as were visible, they would be able to navigate through them.

  Both their ears pricked up at the sound of some sort of commotion ahead in the near darkness. Their eyes widened at the sight before them that materialized through the gloom. They saw two sets of grizzly bears each directly across from each other astride a pair of flat rocks that were indeed still above the water. Something had set them off. The canoe was on the path heading for the grizzlies, so Callie began to use her paddle to guide them away, so they would go around the bears and not between them.

  “Hold on, I want to see this,” said Riker, with a devilish grin.

  "Are you crazy?" questioned Callie but complied anyway and ceased her efforts as they shot towards the g
rizzlies.

  At first, she had thought the grizzlies were squabbling over what was for dinner, maybe a salmon or trout, but as they neared, it became more apparent. On the rock to the left, a large young male grizzly was shaking a cub in its mouth. Callie openly gasped at the sight as her eyes darted to the bears on the opposite rock.

  The other group, with an even more massive grizzly, had to be the mother as two other cubs flanked her. Standing up on two of her haunches, she roared angrily at the opposite side's grizzly who was threatening her cub as she swiped her massive paws through the empty air between the two rocks.

  How this came about, she had no idea, but it was clear the male grizzly was out to harm the little cub. Behind her, she suddenly heard Riker calling out to her to put her paddle down and grip the sides of the canoe because it was about to rock. Doing as ordered, she snuck a peek over her shoulder just in time to see Riker stand up in the boat, gripping his paddle like a club. As they shot past the male grizzly, the man gave a mighty swing, striking the grizzly on the side of the head so hard, she swore she felt the blow. The strike stunned the male grizzly, and the cub dropped out of his mouth.

  As it plunged into the water, Riker was shouting to pick up her paddle and back paddle. It didn't stop them, but it slowed their momentum long enough for the cub to be swept towards them. Riker threw down his paddle and snatched up the caterwauling animal as it went by them, and in one quick fluid moment, he deposited it on another of the flat rocks they were passing.

  The pair looked back, spotted the mother grizzly, and shouted, “You’re welcome!” As the mama bear let out a bellow and dropped down from her hind legs to dive into the water and swim towards the cub. They continued looking back long enough to see the mother take it in its mouth and begin to swim back against the current to where the other cubs awaited. The male, it seemed, was still down for the count. She was still looking back as Riker turned his attention forward and was greeted by a warm smile from her that he couldn’t help but notice.

  “What can I say? I’ve got a soft spot for the elderly and animals,” he grinned. With each passing minute, she easily found herself more and more attracted to this man.

  A short time later, Callie began to notice the river was losing its calmness when it shouldn’t be, and a low noise began to fill her ears as she furrowed her brow, and she called back to Riker.

  “We should be about there,” said Callie.

  “Then what’s that sound?”

  They both stopped to listen, the air was still, but there was a light thrashing that gained in volume. Then, both realized the unexpected roar was that of falling water. But how was that possible, she thought bewildered. This close to the town she knew the river completely lost its curves and any rapids and became a straight away as it flowed behind the streets of the community. She got her answer as the canoe arched around another copse of trees opening into a yet another challenge!

  The season's high water had broken over the bank of the river, creating a waterfall into a lower gully that ran parallel to the river. Only now it hit her that the same ravine her cattle had nearly perished in earlier more or less paralleled the river all the way to town. In some places, it drew closer to the river than others, and this was one of them!

  “Paddle!” Riker shouted over the ever-increasing din. Both grabbed their paddles and began to fiercely work against the current using all their strength, but they were still heading towards the waterfall, the sound of which was deafening. Callie’s arms burned, and she cried out in frustration at the idea of failing so close to their goal and letting Johann and their friends die as well. Then Callie looked down at the foot well and noticed the rope she had stowed in the bow earlier. An idea sparked in her head and she stopped paddling.

  “Nash! I’ve got an idea, but we’ve got to switch places! I’m not too proud to admit my arms aren’t up to it!” She shouted her idea towards the grimacing man who only had a moment to consider her plan.

  “Let’s do it!”

  The minute they dropped their oars and scrambled to switch places their efforts to stop from being drawn toward the falls evaporated and the little craft shot towards its destruction. Frantically Riker yanked out the coil of rope Callie had stowed in the bow at the outset of their trip. Using a small folding knife, he carried in his back pocket, he cut the rope in half. Using the section not tied to the canoe, he formed a crude lasso. She saw him shaking his head.

  "I've never been good at this! The folks back east think every man in the west is either a gunslinger or a cowboy!" he shouted in warning as Callie worked her sore arms to back paddle attempting once again to slow their momentum towards the cataract they were closing in on. His words proved frighteningly accurate as he tossed the rope towards a low hanging branch jutting out over the river from a tree near the edge of the newly created cascade. It missed and the sound of it splashing into the water was drowned out by the noise from the waterfall. Savagely he yanked it back towards him. Giving it a twirl, he tried again.

  For an instant, Callie didn't breathe until the rope looped over the branch he was aiming for and Riker pulled it tight. Straining mightily her new companion, pulled them towards the tree and away from the edge of the waterfall that loomed only a few feet away. Agonizingly, they pulled up under the branch and the bow struck home as it hit the earthen embankment. In a heartbeat Riker scrambled to shore, securing the canoe and motioned for her to clamber up into the bow. He lost little time helping her onto the bank. For all their travails the two companions looked worse for wear, but they were alive and that was all that mattered.

  “What now?” Callie asked.

  She watched Riker silently size up the situation. Finally, he spoke. The breadth of this waterfall is maybe ten feet across. I’ll get over to the other side, and then you can cross after I string the rope from one side to the other.”

  It was a bold idea, but like his hazel eyes, his bravery was attractive to her.

  “Okay then, Nash, let's do it!" she exclaimed, prompting him to reach for the lasso that still hung from the tree branch. Gathering it up in his hands, he quickly handed it off to her.

  “Best to let you do it this time.”

  “You sure? We might make a cowboy out of you yet," she said with an arched eyebrow as she took the rope and positioned it in her hand. In short order, she was twirling it overhead as she focused on her target across the mouth of the waterfall. On her first try, the hoop of the lasso found its mark on the stub of a broken branch on a dead tree across the ten-foot expanse of rushing water. She handed her end off to Riker, and he quickly tied it around the first tree that they had lassoed to pull themselves to safety. Riker eyed the ten feet he would have to traverse on the rope that hung low over the torrent of water.

  "Think you can do it?" she asked, the worry evident in her voice.

  “Guess we’ll find out," he said gamely, but they both knew that falling off the rope or having the tree branch break on the other side would be a one-way ticket to the Great Beyond. Riker took off his hat and flung it to the other side.

  “New hat McKenna got me for Christmas. She’d kill me if I lost it,” he winked, and with no further words, Riker took position on the rope, hanging upside down over the loudly rushing water. Callie watched, holding her breath as inch by inch Riker pulled himself across. The line bowed under his weight, and midway across, the back of his head dipped into the water, but he pulled it back up and shook it.

  "Just as damn, frigid as before!" To Callie, the cold seemed to invigorate the man, and he quickly picked up his pace to finish the traverse. Unknown to the pair, the din of the noise mercifully drowned out the creaking of the dead limb that strained near the breaking point from the burden that was being put on it. As soon as he was across, he called out to her to throw the end of the rope still tethered to the canoe across. Riker caught it in midair and after a few quick tugs, he pulled the canoe to his side as the torrent fought to carry it over the precipice. Victorious, he dragged their boat up
on to the ground and beckoned for Callie to make the same journey he had made.

  She climbed up onto the rope with her hands and legs, taking the same upside-down position. As she pulled herself towards Riker, her hair too would occasionally dip into the water that splashed up on her face. Callie focused on looking straight up at her hands moving over the rope and refused to look to her left at the murky void the diverted water was shooting into. Summoning a surge of energy, she completed the crossing. No sooner was she over dry land, but the limb picked that moment to break, dropping Callie on her back as she screamed. Instantly Riker was at her side pulling her up.

  “I’m okay! But I’ll tell you what … that was the longest ten feet of my life!” she said panting. He pulled her into his arms and for a brief moment, she thrilled at his touch. As they broke apart, they shared a lingering look before he said they needed to portage down the edge of the river and relaunch. She agreed as his tense face broke into a handsome smile.

  “No matter what this river was going to throw at us, I guess we’re destined to finish this date.”

  CHAPTER 17

  As he had been earlier, Dalton stood at the window looking up the street at the figures making their way into the community hall. He only turned away for a moment when he heard the door open and saw Crockett making his way towards him. A moment later, they stood side by side.

  “You have any trouble before with Grable down at the gun shop?”

  “None at all. He knows I hold the note on his house, so when I asked him to put the money we got off that stranger in his safe, he didn’t hesitate,” Crockett said as he clasped his hands behind his back and took in the sight of the people making their way to the meeting.

  “Being a judge is just your side profession … you are the town banker after all. Did he ask why you didn’t just put it into the bank vault?”