The Gospel According to Colt

by W. R. Benton

  “Oh, so what's going on?”

  “About two hours ago your wife was kidnapped from her room. Your son was not taken and is fine, but one of our maids was killed trying to help your wife.”

  “Killed oh, my God! Where is Billy right now?”

  “I had a different room assigned to him, the one right next to yours, and I have two ladies with him. Your son is safe.”

  “Has the law been informed?”

  “Oh, yes sir, and they are still in your room. Mister Stoner, I'm very sorry this happened at all, but I feel especially bad because it happened in my hotel. If me or any member of my staff can help you, just let us know.” The manager stood, shook hands and then added, “We'll find your wife, sir.”

  “I need to get to the room and see what the coppers can tell me.”

  “Yes, of course, but remember, we're here to help you.” Rossenberg said and then watched Lew almost run up the stairs.

  The police knew very little. All they could tell him was three men had taken Susan from her room, left the child, and killed a maid in cold blood on the way out. Susan had a bag over her head and had been placed in a black carriage. She was now gone.

  “Do you have any idea how many black carriages there are in Kansas City?” the deputy asked Lew.

  “I have no idea, but many, I'd think. I think I know who did this, but I have no idea what name he is using now. Pull up a chair, gentlemen, and I'll tell you a tale of the gospel according to Colt.”

  Almost an hour later, the deputy looked at his assistant and said, “This Dutch feller we have a wanted poster on. Now you've killed some of them and it sounds like in every case you gave the man an even break, except for the one you killed with the knife in the doctor's office. Well, all of them were wanted, dead or alive, so I'm not sure, but I don't think we have a case against you. As a matter of fact, we may owe you some reward money.”

  “Money I don't need. Look, find my wife and as of right now, I'm offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the men who took her. No questions asked by you or me, understand? They provide the information and I'll pay them, it's that simple.”

  “That's a lot of money, sir. I'm sure someone will squeal loudly once the word gets out. I'll stop by the printers on the way back to the station and have some wanted posters printed advertising the reward. I suspect you'll hear something fast, too. I'll have the printer bring the posters here and you can pay the man. I mean if this is okay with you.”

  “Money talks, deputy. Have the man print and post them around town. Tell him to come by the room and I'll pay him in cash. But, by God, he'd better hurry, because I have a man to kill.”

  “Mr. Stoner, don't take the law into your own hands, or you're no better than him. Besides, I'd hate to have to arrest you, even if he is a wanted man. I'd have to lock you up while we conduct a full investigation of the killing.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “No, really, it's a city law.”

  “When you come to arrest me, son, you'd better bring more men than I have bullets, because you'll never take me in for killing this animal. He not only raped my wife and killed her, but did the same to my three little daughters. This bastard destroyed my family once; he'll not do it again, I guarantee you.”

  Chapter 21

  DUTCH had hired a small army to guard the rented farm house he was living in, but most stayed drunk or in town. He kept Susan in the barn, locked in a tack room that he'd modified with bars and a heavy-duty oak door that a Missouri mule couldn't kick open. She'd play hell getting out by herself, but with a little help she could escape. The problem was, she had no help.

  Today Dutch had Duke out for some target practice behind the house. They'd shot up a few cans and bottles, but the young man would never master a quick draw. Nonetheless, as a shot, he was hard to beat. To the older man, it just seemed natural to be able to draw a pistol, aim, and get off a shot in no time. The young man, however, had trouble getting the big gun out of the holster to start with, and when it cleared leather, it might be pointing in any direction.

  “Let's take a look around.” Dutch said as he asked, “Do you like this place?”

  “Yeah, it's nice and big too, huh?”

  “Comes with a hundred acres if I wanted to buy it, but I'm not sure yet.” They began walking.

  “I'd get it for sure and raise some cows, then maybe some horses too. I don't know, but you could do a lot with this place.”

  “Maybe. I'm seriously thinking about moving up around Montana or Wyoming and homestead me a place, but I'd need some good men with me.”

  “Oh and why is that? The men, I mean.”

  “Injuns and bad men is why.” They were standing in front of the barn now.

  “I think ya could do anything, if ya really wanted to do it, Butch.”

  “Maybe.”

  “How many horses in the barn?” Duke asked, looking at the building.

  “Just two of mine and some that belong to the men I hired. Why don't you wait right here, because I have to pee and I'll be right back. It won't take me five minutes to run to the outhouse and back.”

  “Okay.” Duke said and as soon as Dutch was out of sight, he walked into the barn and looked at the horses. He loved them, but couldn't afford one yet or even to stable one would cost more than he had at the moment.

  It was then he heard someone crying and he began to look around. Finally, he looked in the barred window of the tack room and saw Susan. The woman was dirty, her hair was ratted, and she looked half insane to him. She saw him, moved quickly to the window, and said, “Help me please! Dutch has taken me hostage and wants to kill my husband. Please, tell the law!”

  Scared of the half-dressed crazy woman, Duke ran from the barn just as Butch came to a stop in the barnyard.

  “What were you doing by the barn?” Dutch asked.

  “I heard a voice or something. I figured it was one of your hands talking to a friend or something. I looked in, but didn't see anyone.”

  “Ain't nothing in it, it's just a barn. Could be a couple of the men brushing their horses and talking.” Dutch said.

  “Yep, that's what I thought too. So, what's next? Can we shoot some more?”

  “Not today.” Dutch said, but thought, I wonder if he saw Susan in the barn. I don't think he did, because he was pretty much where I left him and he said he didn't go in. As far as I know, he's never lied to me before.

  Smiling, Duke asked, “Well, what then?”

  “Let's get you back to the restaurant, so you can learn more of the business books from Peabody. Son, I've not said anything, but if something should ever happen to me, I've left all I own to you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “If I die or get killed, then everything I own is yours. See, I've never had a son or family, so I started thinking of you as part of my family.”

  “Well, I hope nothin' ever happens to you and you live to be a hundred.”

  Dutch laughed and said, “Come on, let’s get in the buggy and I'll take you back to town before it gets too late.”

  On the ride back to town, Duke wondered about the woman he'd seen. She'd looked terrible; dirty, scared, and desperate for help. Why would Butch have a woman chained in his barn? He was a nice man and had done so much for him already. Should I ask him about her? he thought and then decided no. At times, Butch displayed a really bad temper and something warned Duke if he asked about the woman, he'd explode. He rode in silence, but he was doing some very hard thinking.

  “Why so quiet, son?” Dutch asked.

  “Tired, I guess. I was glad to be able to quit the newspaper business, but this restaurant job is even tougher. Peabody is a hard worker and expects me to learn quickly. I try, but it's not easy remembering all those things he tells me. I know business has improved, because he said last night we've not had an empty table since you took over and lowered prices.”

  “We've made three times as much money this month as last and the newspaper has
given us some good write-ups too, which helps. This restaurant is going to be a big money maker for me.”

  “Good, you deserve it, because it was too classy before and the workers were all stuck up.”

  “It's all about providing good food to normal folks, not just to the rich. There are more folks who aren't rich than there are wealthy. It only makes sense to me to cater to the biggest crowd, and that's exactly what Peabody is doing.”

  “Peabody runs the place like he owns it and saves every dime he can. He only buys the best in vegetables and fruit. I watched him turn away a whole wagon load of beef yesterday, because he said it had too much fat and needed trimming. The steak he showed me looked good, but he said a steak should never have more than a quarter inch of fat around the edges and less if possible. He was paying by the pound, so he made the man trim the meat before he'd buy it.”

  “He did though, right?”

  “Oh, he bought it, after he showed the man how to trim his meat. He said he wasn't paying for a wagon of meat then having to throw half of it away because it needed trimmed. You got ya a good manager with him.”

  “Here's the restaurant, so you run in and get to work. If you get really tired, just tell Peabody I said you could go home early. Okay?”

  “Yep, I reckon. Thanks for the plinkin' time today. I love to shoot.”

  “Glad you liked it, now scat!”

  Duke jumped from the carriage laughing and ran toward the door. He stood and waved as Butch rode away. He then argued with his conscience over the woman and finally entered the building, figuring it was none of his business. He figured if Butch had the woman locked up, there had to be good reason for it or she'd be free.

  Peabody was glad to see him, made him sit down at a table, and fed him a steak. Once done, he pulled some books from the kitchen and went over how many pounds of this and that he'd ordered this day for the coming week. It all got scrambled in Duke's head; Potatoes, cabbages, carrots, lettuce, beef, pork and other dry goods too. But when Peabody started talking about five hundred pounds of beans, three hundred of pork and so on, he was really confused, because he couldn't imagine that much stuff.

  Finally, Duke turned to Peabody and asked, “If you saw a woman in a locked room, with chains on her, what would you do?”

  “I'd free her, and doesn't matter why she's locked up either. It ain't right to keep a soul against their will, but especially no woman.” Peabody spoke excellent English, when he wanted to do the job, but away from customers he was more inclined to use slang.

  “I seen one locked up at Butch's place.”

  “Oh, that's not good at all. Did you set her free?”

  “No, I wasn't sure what was going on with her. She looked like a crazy woman or something.”

  “You need to tell the sheriff or somebody. Ain't no reason for a woman to be locked up like that, unless she's out to hurt somebody, or ain't right in the head. Even then, Butch shouldn't be the one doing the locking up.”

  Moving uncomfortably, Duke asked, “Do you really think I need to the tell the law? Butch mighten go to jail and there goes our jobs.”

  “Duke, you listen to me, boy, there ain't no job more important than a man's values. Women, kids, and animals are to be treated kindly and protected. Besides, I was looking for a job when I found this one. No, you need to report this and if Butch gets pissed, well, then he ain't the man I thought he was.”

  “When?”

  His eyes narrowed and Peabody asked, “Iffen you was that woman, when would you want to be released? Do it now, boy.”

  “Yes, sir.” Duke said and ran from the restaurant.

  Lew walked into the sheriff's office, closed the door and said, “Deputy Smith said you wanted to see me right now, Sheriff.”

  Sheriff Slocum met Lew's eyes and said, “I think we know where Susan is and we're fixin' to hit the place in about an hour. Now, you're invited to ride along, but I want you to follow our orders, okay? We have a certain way we have to do this, or it'll not hold up in court. I've Deputy Smith over at the courthouse now, getting a search warrant, so we can do this legally. It seems a feller called Butch has her chained in his barn. Now, the witness who saw her is just a kid, but he identified the man from a wanted poster. The man who has her is named Hillman Davis and he's a normal sized man, lean, with black hair and green eyes. While in his early forties, he looks twenty years older, due to livin' a hard life and drinkin' too much. He's a long list of crime and done some long prison sentences. He's a life-long jailbird.”

  “I know Davis, and have spent some time with the man on the trail. He discovered who I was and ran off one night with one of his men. I never dreamed at the time he'd take Susan someday, or I'd have blown him to hell when I had the chance. He's one of the men, about the last one, I think, of a group that escaped from the Jefferson City Federal prison some time back.”

  “All but three of the escapees have been accounted for and we think Samuel Brewer was murdered by Davis. We suspect they did some robberies that have been blamed on the James Gang, because we have inside information that tells us the Gang was in Illinois at the time. I doubt we can prove who really did the jobs, but Davis now has a three thousand dollar bounty on his head.”

  “That's a lot of reward money, but ain't many that know what the man looks like. To answer your questions, hell yes, I want to go get my wife, and I'll play by your rules.”

  “Now, we have to take this kid with us, so if it comes to shootin', and it likely will, keep that boy safe. He's the only person that knows where Mrs. Stoner is kept. He mentioned a place north and west of town, but hell, that could be almost anyplace.”

  “When do we leave?”

  “In, uh, exactly 45 minutes.” Slocum said as he pulled out his pocket watch and opened it. “So, run and get your guns, any gear you might need, and make arrangements for someone to watch your son.”

  “The hotel has a nanny for Billy and I'm wearing my guns. I will go and get my Sharps and shotgun, if it's okay with you.” Lew said, feeling excited about finally rescuing Susan.

  “Be here on time or I'll leave without you.”

  All the way to the place Duke felt like he was letting Butch down, but Peabody was right, no woman or child should ever be mistreated. While he really cared about the rich man he'd squealed on, maybe he'd do his time and come out of prison a different man. He'd only seen the soft side of Davis and had no idea he was really a cold-blooded murderer, who'd kill in a heartbeat, and not lose a minute of sleep over it either.

  “Down at the end of this lane,” Duke said, “is the barn. This road ends in the barnyard and off the right is a white house. The woman is kept in an empty tack room in the barn, but chained, so I don't know how you'll get her free. She was almost crazy with fear when I saw her.”

  “You stay close to Mr. Stoner. Now, he served in the war, so he knows how to stay alive when bullets start to fly. You do exactly what he says, okay?” Slocum asked.

  “You ain't gonna hurt Butch, are you?”

  “Son, it all depends on him. If he makes a fight of it, we'll have to protect ourselves, so let's hope he just gives up.” the sheriff said and then made eye contact with Lew. They both knew Dutch had nothing to lose and all to gain by resisting arrest. The law brought four men, so counting Lew and Duke, six were going for the man.

  “Do you have a gun, son?” Lew asked as he rode beside the young man.

  “Uh, yes, sir. I'm wearing a Colt .45 in a single holster. I'm a good shot, but I ain't fast on the draw or nothin'.”

  “If push comes to shove this morning, use that gun.”

  “I will.” Duke said as he thought, Lawdy, I don't think I can shoot Butch. He's been better than my father was to me and he's special in my eyes. Oh, lord, what a mess. Don't think I can do this, and hope he don't get hurt.

  “Tom, you and Frank enter the house through the back, while George and I will try to serve the papers at the front door.” Slocum said. The deputies all nodded, but no one said a word.


  There came the loud sound of a rifle shot and Deputy Tom Smith fell, with the top half of his head missing and he was dead before he left his saddle. Everyone but Duke fell to the road and moved into the ditches lining the roadway.

  “Get off that horse, ya damned fool!” Sheriff Slocum yelled at the boy.

  Duke dismounted and walked to the edge of the road and squatted down behind some brush.

  “What now?” Frank asked.

  “You and George try to move in behind the house. Now, watch your asses, because whoever is holding that gun can shoot.”

  “Let's go, George.” Frank said and then, as he broke into a run, there came the loud boom of a Sharps and down he went, his legs knocked out from under him. He started screaming as he held what remained of his left arm, which was grossly mangled at the elbow, with blood spurting high in the air with each beat of his heart. George ran to him and pulled him behind a huge fallen log.

  He removed Frank's belt, used it as a tourniquet, and then yelled to the Sheriff, “He's lost a lot of blood and it didn't take 'em long either.”

  “Tighten him up and get ready to move. All three of us need to move when I take out the man with that big Sharps. I see 'em clearly.” Slocum said.

  Tightening the belt as tightly as he could, George yelled, “Ready.”

  “I see a man on the left, looks like he has an old muzzle loader.” Lew said.

  “Take 'em out right after I kill the man with the Sharps. Ready, —now!” the sheriff said, fired, and down went the man holding the big buffalo gun, and he was seen kicking on the front porch. Lew fired and Dutch was suddenly shy another city tough he'd hired to guard him.

  Men ran from the farm house, right out the front door, with two running to the barn, while the rest moved into the trees to make their way back to town. Dutch was cursing the no accounts that had deserted him and promised the other man in the barn a pile of money, if they could just get away from the law. Damn, me , thought Dutch, only two of us!