High Country Rescue

by Michael Skinner

  Ruiz said, “Give me ten minutes before you go in there and sound the alarm.”

  “Okay.”

  “You be careful and head up to Wyoming if you don’t feel good here.”

  “Thanks, I will and thanks for leading me back out of that country.”

  “Goodbye.”

  Jay watched Ruiz, head off toward the barn. He soon lost sight of him and then waited for what he thought was about ten minutes. He moved toward the area between the house and the bunkhouse.

  Once he got to the bunkhouse, he yelled, “Sam” then he went up the steps and opened the door and called for Sam again.

  Sam asked, “Who’s there?”

  “It’s me, Jay, I am back.”

  As Sam lit the lamp, he said, “Where’s everybody else?”

  “Jason and Frank are dead, and Ruiz brought me back here, and he was going to get his horse and leave.”

  By this time everyone in the bunkhouse was awake and listening.

  Sam said, “Jay you come with me to the house and Bobby you go and find Ruiz and tell him I want to talk to him.”

  As Bobby dressed Sam and Jay went to the house.

  Sam opened the door and went in, and as he was lighting the lamp he called, “Mark get up we got trouble!”

  Mark came out of the bedroom and said, “What’s going on?”

  “Jay just got back, and Jason is dead.”

  “Dead you say!”

  Sam asked, “Is that right, Jay?”

  Jay said, “Yes, sir, as I left I saw him lying there with his insides all over the ground.”

  Mark said, “Tell us everything that happened.”

  Jay began his story, “We topped a ridge about noon on the fourth day and spotted them on the far slope maybe seven to eight hundred yards away and slightly below us. Jason said that he, Frank and I would take positions below the ridge and shoot them. Jason moved down the ridge and took up a position near a large rock and Frank, and I took up a position to the right. Jason told us to aim our first shot, then put as much lead in the air as we could. He fired, then Frank and I fired and then we started working the Winchesters as fast as we could. Then Frank screamed and spun to the ground. He was lying on his back with a big hole in his left shoulder and blood and bone blown out of the ground. I didn’t know where the fire was coming from, but I was exposed, so I ran for the top of the ridge and cover. As I ran up the trail to the ridge, I ran past Jason lying on the ground. He must have been shot first, but with Frank and me firing as fast as we were, we hadn’t noticed. He was laying on his back. He had been knocked backwards by the bullet, and there was blood and bones on the ground behind him. When I got over the ridge, Ruiz said that someone with a buffalo gun had fired at us from the top of the far ridge. We couldn’t follow them over the ridge, so we came back here as fast as we could.”

  Mark asked, “Was Alice or the man hit?”

  “I saw the man knock the girl down and put his body between the girl and us, but I don’t know if they were hit.”

  “Where is this Ruiz fellow?”

  “He told me he was going to get his horse and ride out of here.”

  Mark turned to Sam and asked, “Where is Ruiz?”

  Sam said, “I sent Bobby to find him, Jay you go check.”

  Jay said, “Yes, sir.”

  Mark said, “We have to assume that the girl is back with her father and soon someone will be asking questions about what was going on here at this ranch.”

  Sam asked, “What should we do?”

  “Keep the men here until you hear from me.”

  “Okay.”

  Jay and Bobby entered, and Jay said, “Ruiz is gone.”

  Mark said, “Get some breakfast ready and have my horse ready in an hour. I’m going to town.”

  chapter 23

  Reunion

  When Dan awoke, Joe already had the fire going and the water heating for tea. He rose and nodded at Joe, then with his razor and soap and he went to the creek. He shaved and washed his face and returned to the fire.

  Joe handed him a cup of tea and said quietly, “I thought we would let her sleep as long as she can.”

  Dan replied quietly, “I’m sure she will be up soon.”

  Alice said, “You can quit whispering. I am awake.”

  Dan said, “We were just trying to be polite.”

  “Thanks.”

  As Alice was sitting on her bedroll tying her moccasins Dan brought her a cup of tea, and she said, “Thank you.”

  “No problem.”

  They had hardtack and jerky to go with their tea for breakfast.

  As they ate Alice said, “It’s hard to sit here eating breakfast when we could be on the trail.”

  Joe said, “We wanted to take our time getting started this morning to be able to see better.”

  Alice asked, “Are you expecting trouble?”

  Dan said, “No, but we want to be careful all the same.”

  She said, “Okay I’m ready when you are.”

  After they ate, they broke camp and packed the horses. They headed west out into an area of grassland spotted with small hills and small creeks. Joe took the lead with the pack horses followed by Alice and Dan. They slung wide around the small hills and moved west at a fast walk.

  About midmorning while crossing a small dry creek Joe turned up the creek and stopped. He quickly dismounted and signaled to Dan and Alice to stay low. They dismounted and held their horses.

  Joe quietly said, “There are a couple of riders moving south just past that small hill up ahead on the left. I don’t think they saw us, but let’s hold here for a few minutes.”

  Dan turned to Alice and said, “We don’t know if they are looking for us, but we want to be as careful as we can.”

  She said, “I am so scared.”

  Dan put his hand on her shoulder and said, “It is natural to be afraid, but Joe and I are here to keep you safe.”

  “Thank you, and I do feel safe.”

  After fifteen minutes, Joe said, “We are clear to go.”

  They all mounted and eased out of the dry creek. They moved slowly west toward the right of that small hill.

  About noon Joe stopped again while crossing another creek and let Alice and Dan come up to him.

  Joe said, “Here is some jerky ya’ll can work on as we continue on. We’ll travel mostly west until we hit the Durango road.”

  Dan said, “Lead on.”

  They traveled on until mid-afternoon when they came to the road, and Joe turned south. Within an hour, they turned on the ranch road. Alice moved up beside Joe and Dan followed her.

  As they neared the house Alice’s father ran out to meet them, and Alice couldn’t wait for the horses to get there, so she jumped off and ran to him. They were still together in a hug when Joe and Dan and the horses made it up to the house.

  The Colonel walked out on the porch and said, “I am glad to see you back home.”

  Dan said, “Glad to be back.”

  Joe said, “Glad to see you too.”

  As Dan and Joe dismounted, Alice and her father walked up.

  Alice said, “Dad, this is Dan and Joe.”

  Will said, “I can’t thank you enough for bringing my girl back to me.”

  Dan, and Joe together, “We are glad we could help.”

  The Colonel said, “Bob Robert have someone take the horses, and the rest of you come in the house.”

  The Colonel turned and walked into the house, followed by Will, Alice, Dan, and Joe. The Colonel led them into the parlor where someone was waiting to meet them.

  As they entered the Colonel said, “This is Judge Parker.”

  The Judge said hello, and they all answered.

  Then the Colonel said, “I know there is a lot to talk about, but I think we need to let our weary travelers have a chance to catch their breath, clean up and have a hot meal before we get into it.”

  The Colonel called Maria and said, “Maria, will you show Alice to the room we have
ready for her upstairs.”

  Then to them all, he said, “Dinner will be at six, and if you need me, I will be here in the parlor with the Judge and Will. Dan, can you remain here with us for a few minutes.”

  Maria said, “Alice will you follow me.”

  Alice looked back at Dan as she turned to follow Maria.

  They went upstairs, and Joe went out to check on the horses.

  After they had left the Colonel turned to Dan and said, “I do not want to go into the whole story now, but the Judge and I have a few quick questions.”

  Dan said, “Okay.”

  The Colonel asked, “Was there any conflict with your pursuers?”

  “As we were making our way up the last slope to our base camp we were fired on by three of the people following us. Joe was on the ridge above us and returned fire, killing two of the three who were shooting at us. I went back early the next morning to try to identify the bodies. One was Jason Reynolds, and the other was one of the ranch hands from his ranch.”

  “Were you or Alice injured?”

  “Only some scuffs on her that she got when I knocked her to the ground for safety.”

  The Judge asked, “How many shots did they fire?”

  “They all had repeaters and were firing as fast as they could work the actions so, I would guess at least eighteen or twenty rounds.”

  The Judge asked, “How many times did Joe shoot?”

  “Twice.”

  Will asked, “Were Alice and Jason married?”

  “Based on my conversation with Alice and what I observed at the ranch I would say no. Alice told me that after Jason forced her to write that note at the store, he knocked her out and carried her tied up in the back of a wagon to the ranch. She also said that he had threatened her, but she told him that if he touched her that she would kill herself.”

  Will said, “I can’t believe she suffered so much and I didn’t help her.”

  The Judge said, “Will, you were concerned, and you acted as soon as you could when you knew she needed help.”

  The Colonel said, “Judge don’t you think that’s all for now and we will get Alice’s and Dan’s complete story after dinner.”

  The Judge said, “Yes, I do.”

  Dan said, “I will go out and see if Joe needs any help.”

  He left, and the Judge said to Will and the Colonel, “That confirms what we thought happened to Alice.”

  The Colonel asked, “Do you see any problems with Joe shooting Jason?”

  The Judge replied, “Not based on what I have heard so far, but let’s hear the complete stories before I give you my final opinion.”

  The Colonel said, “Thank you.”

  He turned to Will and said, “Will, are you okay?”

  “I am just a little exhausted from the strain of all of this.”

  “Just take a seat here, and I am sure Alice will be down soon.”

  “Thank you for getting my daughter out of there.”

  “I am always glad to help a friend.”

  “Thanks again.”

  The Colonel and the Judge left the parlor and went out on the porch.

  Dan went out back and found all the gear on the ground out back and Joe walking with Bob Robert and the horses toward the corral. Dan wasted no time and began sorting out the gear. He made four piles, one for Joe’s gear, one for Alice’s, one for his and one for the barn or storeroom. There wasn’t much in Alice’s pile, just her bedroll, and clothes from the ranch. He moved Alice’s bedroll over to Joe’s gear since the ground cloth and blanket came from his cabin.

  Dan called for Maria, and she came out from the kitchen, Dan said, “Can you take these up to Alice.” As he handed her Alice’s clothes and shoes.

  Maria said, “Si’”

  She went back in the house, and Joe returned from the corral.

  Dan asked, “Are the horses okay?”

  “They're fine.”

  “I will take the pack frame with me unless you want it.”

  “No, you take it, I don’t plan on needing to carry that much stuff unless it’s on a horse.”

  “Thanks, I will move all of this up to my room.”

  “Do you need that freight box to pack any of it?”

  “I will, when I am ready to leave, but I don’t know when that will be right now.”

  “Are you going to stay awhile?”

  “Until everything gets settled with Alice and the Reynolds.”

  “Can I help get this up to your room?”

  “Yes, thank you.”

  It took Dan and Joe several trips to get Dan’s gear moved up to his room.

  When they finished, Joe said, “See you at dinner.”

  “Thanks for the help.”

  Joe nodded and left the room and Dan closed the door and turned to look at all the stuff in the room. He arranged all the gear and clothing that he needed to ship back in the corner, set all the clothing aside that needed washing including what he had on. Using the pitcher and bowl on the dresser, he washed as best he could and dried himself with the small towel. He then picked from the clothes he had left behind in the room and laid out what he wanted to wear. He dressed and went downstairs to the kitchen.

  Dan asked, “Maria, I have some clothes from the trail that needs to be washed where do you want me to put them?”

  Maria said, “Set them outside your room, and I will pick them up. I will do the wash tomorrow.”

  “Thank you.”

  Dan went back upstairs and saw some clothes outside the door past his and thought Alice must have asked Maria about the wash also. Dan went into his room and set his wash outside his door.

  It was about 5:30 so he decided to go downstairs and sit on the front porch until dinner. He went downstairs and out through the front door to the porch. He half expected to find someone already there, but he was alone. He took a seat in one of the chairs to the left of the door and looked east toward the mountains they had just come from. He thought about the events of the last three weeks. The trip from Texas, the trip into Jason’s ranch, the escape, the bear, Jason’s death and Alice. He was still in thought when the Colonel came out on the porch.

  The Colonel placed his hand on Dan’s shoulder and said, “Dan how are you doing?”

  “I am fine, I was just thinking about the last three weeks.”

  “I am sorry I gave such short notice.”

  “Oh no, it’s not that. I am glad you sent for me and glad I could get Alice out safely. I just was thinking about it all.”

  “I think it’s time to go in for dinner.”

  Dan got up and followed the Colonel into the house, and he saw Will waiting beside the stairs.

  He said, “Waiting for Alice” as they went into the dining room.

  The Judge and Joe were already there. Dan had just finished saying hello to them when Alice and her father came in. Alice was wearing the dress she had on when they left the ranch, but it looked like it had been ironed. She had also combed her hair. Dan said hello, and then they all took a seat at the table. The Colonel sat at the head of the table and Dan, Joe and the Judge sat on one side and Alice and her father on the other. Maria brought the food in, and the meal was had with only a little polite conversation. Dan wanted to talk to Alice but not across the table.

  After dinner, the Colonel said, “I think we should go into the parlor and let Alice, Dan, and Joe tell us what happened.”

  With that, they went to the parlor. On entering Dan noticed that the furniture had been rearranged so that the four wingback chairs along with a loveseat created a comfortable conversational circle. Alice and her father took the loveseat with Alice on the right. Then going around the circle from there was Joe, then Dan, then the Colonel and finally the Judge next to Will.

  After they were seated, the Colonel said, “Alice we will start with you. Tell us your story from the day you were taken from Miller’s store until you met Dan.”

  Alice said, “Okay.” She then recounted the story of abducti
on, watching her father come to the ranch and her inability to talk to him under threat of his life. She continued on about Jason’s drunken outburst and Rosa coming to live at the ranch and then the night that Dan came.

  The Colonel said, “Dan your turn.”

  Dan briefly described the trip into the ranch, then in more detail told of the journey out. He talked about the shortcuts, the day lost to the bear, being shot at and going back to check on the bodies.

  The Colonel said, “Alice, do you want to add anything to what Dan said?”

  “There isn’t anything I need to add to what happened, but I want you to understand how much I appreciate what all of you did to get me out of there. But especially I want you all to know how much Dan went through to get us out of there, the planning, the food caches and carrying all the gear and sometimes me. He thinks he failed me when the bear knocked him out for a day, but he was prepared so that he was able to kill the bear and save our lives. When we were shot at the first thing, he did was knock me down and place his body between me and the men shooting at us. These are things he didn’t tell in his narrative, but I wanted you to know. I am sorry if I have said too much.”

  The Colonel said, “No, not at all. We were happy that we could help you, and I appreciate you telling us about Dan’s efforts because he certainly would not have.”

  Will said, “Thank you, Dan.”

  Dan just nodded.

  The Colonel asked, “Joe what can you tell us?”

  “All I need to tell you about is the day I shot those two men. I had been watching where the trail crossed the first ridge across from our camp. I saw Dan and Alice cross at about noon. I watched their progress down the slope and occasionally checking the ridgeline. Once they reached the bottom of the valley below and started up the slope to me, I lost sight of them. I then started watching the ridgeline. A couple of hours later I saw some movement on the ridgeline, so I brought the field glasses up and saw three men coming down the slope and one man standing behind the ridgeline. When I saw the three men take up shooting positions with their rifles I put the field glass down and moved over to my rifle I had laying on the ground at the top of the slope. By the time I was in a shooting position they had already opened fire. The first to fire was the single target, on my right, so I aimed at him and shot. He went down, then I slung left, reloading as I moved to the other two and took aim at the first one I came to. He went down and before I could reload and shoot again the other man was running for the ridgeline, and I let him go. I didn’t know if Dan and Alice were alive until Dan yelled up at me.”