Maryann's Appaloosa

by Karen L. Phelps

  “Whatever it takes,” said Rick, determinedly.

  “You should see Treasure. She’s….she’s…” I stumbled for words. “Well she’s like royalty.”

  “Your ranch isn’t far from ours through the back way,” said Russ. “Why don’t you ride her over Saturday? I’ve been meaning to show Maryann some of the trails up the mountain. We can make an afternoon of it. Have a picnic lunch.”

  “That’s a great idea.” I turned to Rick. “Can you bring Treasure over?”

  “Sure,” he said. His smile went all the way through to my toes and I felt light headed with excitement.

  “Wonderful,” I said — and it was.

  “That okay with you, Bess?” asked Russ.

  She nodded.

  “See you Saturday then,” he told Rick. “Around eleven?”

  “Sounds good,” said Rick. He turned to Aunt Bess. “I can’t wait for you to see Treasure.”

  “Me either,” she admitted.

  I reached for Rick’s hand. “Come on. I’ll walk you back to your truck.”

  Russ and my aunt remained at the fence talking. I couldn’t hear what they said.

  Rick got in his truck and rolled down the window.

  “I like your horse,” he said. “And I like you.” Before I could say anything he kissed me.

  I didn’t have time to worry about whether Aunt Bess saw the kiss or not.

  “See you in school,” he said and pulled out. The truck left a cloud of dust behind as he made his way up the dirt drive to the main road.

  I took a deep breath. The warm air smelled of summer and held the promise of tomorrow.

  “Hope you’re good at planning picnics,” whispered Russ in my ear.

  I turned around and hugged him. “Thank you,” I mumbled into his chest. “Thank you!”

  I looked up at him. “Do you think she’ll ever change her mind about Rick?”

  “He’s a good kid,” said Russ. “Sooner or later your aunt is gonna realize that.”

  He saw the uncertainty on my face.

  “Bess will come around,” he reassured me.

  “I hope so.”

  “She will if I have anything to say about it.” His eyes sparkled. “Maybe Rick’s mare will tip the balance.”

  Chapter 24

  Saturday, June 10, 1961:

  When Rick rode up on Treasure, Aunt Bess couldn’t take her eyes off the animal.

  The mare was black with a white diamond on her forehead. Her eyes shone soft and intelligent. Despite a classic chunky quarter horse rump, there was an elegance about her. He dismounted and the horse stood calmly, like a queen holding court.

  As soon as his feet were out of the stirrups, my aunt moved forward running her hand over the mare’s neck. Then she continued feeling along the shoulder and down her front legs. Stepping back, my aunt slowly walked around the horse.

  “What did you say her breeding was?” she asked without taking her eyes off the mare.

  He recited her pedigree as if it were his own family’s genealogy.

  “What do you think of her?” I asked excitedly.

  Finally my aunt stepped back tearing her eyes away from the mare. She turned to Rick.

  “Whatever you paid for her, she’s worth five times the price.”

  Rick smiled, stroking the neck of his mare.

  “I like her,” he said, simply. “Had a couple of offers to buy her. All of them double or triple what we paid for her. Wasn’t even tempted.” He looked my aunt in the eye. “Some things just aren’t for sale.”

  She nodded. “You should show her. Haven’t seen a quarter horse mare this good in years.”

  “Don’t have the time or money for it. Maybe her foals will make a name for her in the show ring someday.”

  They discussed her training.

  Russ watched the exchange and smiled.

  “Told you,” he whispered in my ear.

  He turned to my aunt and said in a louder voice, “We better get a move on, Bess. I’d like to make it to the meadow by lunch time.”

  She pulled herself away from Treasure. A short time later we were on the trail with our lunch packed in the saddlebags.

  Aunt Bess rode her palomino, Gold Dust, I followed on Freeman, Rick came behind me on Treasure and Russ brought up the rear on his big bay, Willow.

  The sun felt good in the cool morning air. Although it was June, mornings were still brisk. I wore a jacket knowing I’d take if off by the time we reached our destination. As we climbed higher up the mountain, the wind picked up and the air was even colder at the higher elevation.

  “This is the main trail,” Russ explained to me. “Are you familiar with any of them?” he asked Rick.

  “Some.”

  “The main trail is well worn and easy to follow,” said Russ. “It’s the smaller ones branching off where it gets confusing.”

  Freeman felt frisky starting out and I had to pull him back a couple of times when he tried to get by Gold Dust. Eventually he settled down as we climbed higher and his breathing increased with the exertion working at higher altitude.

  An hour later we reached the high meadow and dismounted. My legs were wobbly. Rick was right there to steady me.

  “What a view,” he said.

  I turned around and saw the ranch spread out way below us.

  “I didn’t realize how high we climbed.”

  My aunt spread a blanket on the grass and I helped unload our lunch from the saddlebags.

  Rick and Russ hobbled the horses. Hobbles are leather straps that allowed the horses to graze and move around; not run off. They also loosened the girths to make them more comfortable.

  The ride up had given everyone more of an appetite than normal and I was glad we made extra sandwiches. It felt good sitting in the sun. Aunt Bess continued to watch Treasure.

  “I think Bess is in love,” said Russ in a low voice.

  “She can’t take her eyes off Treasure,” I agreed.

  “Is there another sandwich?” asked Rick.

  “I think there’s more in the other saddlebag.” Russ stood up and walked over to his horse. He removed the saddlebag and had just turned to come back when the crack of a rifle split the air.

  A bullet whizzed past his head. The horses squealed at the unexpected sound, dancing in their hobbles after shying violently.

  “Get down,” shouted Russ. Another shot sounded and I heard Russ groan.

  I threw myself down in the grass between Rick and Aunt Bess. I couldn’t see Russ.

  “Better watch your back, Stokes,” shouted someone from the woods. “Cause I’ll be right behind you.”

  “Grady? Is that you?” called Russ.

  Silence.

  What was Grady Gibbons doing here? I shivered at the memory of the crazy look in his eyes.

  Rick crawled over to me. “Are you all right?”

  “It’s Grady Gibbons,” I whispered.

  “The guy who whipped you?” asked Rick.

  “Yeah.”

  He came closer and put his arm around me.

  “Russ? Are you okay?” Aunt Bess sounded panicked and that scared me more than the gunshot.

  “Stay down,” he answered.

  In a little while we heard a horse galloping away and then we all got up.

  “Everyone okay?” asked my aunt.

  Rick and I nodded. Russ got to his feet and came toward us.

  “Oh my God, you’ve been hit,” I exclaimed.

  Blood dripped down his left arm.

  “Where’s the first aid kit?” asked my aunt.

  “Stop fussin’,” said Russ.

  I searched the remaining saddlebags and handed her the kit.

  “Take off your shirt so I can see how bad he hit you.”

  “I’m not taking off my shirt.”

  “Fine, then bleed all over your damn saddle.” Aunt Bess glared at him.

  I shook the blanket, folded it and repacked the saddlebags. Thankfully, we’d eaten most of the lun
ch so there wasn’t as much to pack.”

  “Rick, can you take off the hobbles?”

  “Sure,” said Rick, He undid them and stowed them in the saddlebags before tightening the cinches on all the saddles.

  “Sit still,” Aunt Bess told Russ. “I don’t want you moving around until I see how bad you’re hit.”

  “I’m fine. Just a flesh wound,” said Russ, annoyed. It took effort for him to talk. I didn’t believe he was fine any more than my aunt did. His jaw clenched in pain.

  “We need to get back to the ranch,” said Russ. “We’re like ducks in a shooting gallery up here.”

  “We’re going as soon as I bind up your arm.” She wrapped the bandage around the wound over his shirt. Red bloomed through the dressing almost before she fastened it. “Oh Lord,” she muttered.

  Ten minutes later we mounted and were ready to ride. Aunt Bess gave us the order.

  “You lead the way, Russ. I’ll follow you. Maryann, you go next and Rick, you take up the rear.”

  Russ just nodded, another indication of his pain. Ordinarily he brought up the rear to keep an eye on everyone. Now the order was reversed and he didn’t even object.

  We went down the mountain quicker than going up. The footing was difficult in places with loose rocks and we were forced to go slow. Less than an hour later, we arrived back at the ranch.

  “Tony, we need you,” shouted Bess as we rode up.

  Tony ran out of the barn toward us. “What happened?” he asked taking hold of Willow’s bridle and looking up at Russ.

  “Russ got shot,” said Bess. “Help me get him in the house.”

  By now Russ was crouched over the saddle and looked like he was about to topple right out of it. Tony and Rick helped him down. Russ collapsed against them. They each put an arm around him to keep the wounded cowboy on his feet.

  “Let’s take him inside,” said my Aunt. She turned to Rick, “I’ll help Tony.”

  “Okay, Maryann and I will take care of the horses.”

  By the time we got the horses unsaddled, brushed and put away, the Sheriff had arrived. The ambulance pulled in right behind him.

  Chapter 25

  Later That Day:

  “I’m not riding in any damned ambulance like some invalid,” said Russ his voice getting louder.

  One arm of his shirt was off and Aunt Bess was cleaning the wound while he sat in a chair in the dining room.

  The Sheriff took a look at his arm.

  “You need to get to the hospital with that, Russ. A gun shot’s nothing to fool around with.”

  “See,” said my aunt.

  “I’ve had worse,” muttered Russ. “Not the first time I’ve been shot. Probably won’t be the last.”

  “Hold still. I can’t doctor your arm if you keep moving around.”

  “It’s just a flesh wound, Bess. Stop fussing. The bullet went through the fleshy part of my arm and out the other side. Dang, it still hurts like a son-of-a-gun.”

  He looked up. “Let me tell you what happened, Sheriff, before I faint or something.” Russ winked at Aunt Bess.

  “Do you know who shot you?”

  “Grady Gibbons.”

  “Do you know where Gibbons is now?” the Sheriff asked taking notes on a small pad he pulled from his pocket.

  “Haven’t seen him since I fired him,” said Russ. “I’ll make some phone calls. See if anyone knows where he is.”

  “Now hold on a minute. If anyone does any checkin’ or callin’, it’ll be me. This is an official police investigation. You stay out of it. Do you understand?”

  Russ’s eyes closed in thought. “Sure, Sheriff. Whatever you say.”

  “What did you fire him for?” he asked.

  There was an uncomfortable silence.

  “Because he took a whip to my niece, what’s why,” Aunt Bess declared.

  “He did what?”

  “The man was beating his horse,” explained Russ. “Maryann tried to stop him. Fool lost his temper and turned his whip on her. Luckily, I got there in time to stop him. He only caught her on the cheek. I fired him on the spot.”

  The Sheriff turned to look at me. Aunt Bess followed his gaze.

  “Thank the Lord it didn’t leave a scar,” she said.

  I blushed and Rick stepped closer, taking my hand.

  “After I fired him, Grady threatened me. Said I’d regret it.” Russ laughed. “Of course I didn’t think anything about it. Hell, that was over a month ago. Hadn’t seen or heard from him since.”

  “Well he’s been around,” said the Sheriff and flipped through his note pad. “Got drunk at Millie’s place last week and spent the night in jail. Would have kept him longer if I’d known what he’d done to your niece, Mrs. Stokes.”

  He turned back to Russ. “Why didn’t you report the incident?”

  “Not the first time a cowboy lost his temper and did something stupid. Figured he’d leave town. Didn’t know he was sticking around.”

  “How do you know it was Grady who shot you? Did you see him?”

  “No, the shooter told me to watch my back. Called me by name and I recognized his voice.” He looked up at the lawman. “This wasn’t no hunting accident, Sheriff.”

  “Definitely not,” he agreed. Then he turned to the rest of us. “Do any of you have anything to add?”

  “Only that he meant to kill Mr. Stokes,” said Rick. “A couple of inches the other way and it would have hit his heart.”

  Aunt Bess gasped. I put my arm around her.

  “It’s okay,” I whispered in her ear. “He didn’t kill him.” She hung onto my arm so tight it hurt. I felt sick to my stomach at the thought of losing Russ. I couldn’t imagine how she felt now that she was engaged to him.

  “I’m sorry, Mrs. Perkins,” apologized Rick. “It’s true.”

  “I need to sit down,” said my aunt and took the chair next to Russ.

  “Bess, it’s going to be all right. It’s just a little flesh wound. Takes more than that to kill an old goat like me.”

  “Don’t you joke around about this,” Aunt Bess told him, her eyes blazing. “I’ve lost one husband. We haven’t even made it down the aisle yet. Oh Lord, what’s gonna happen next?”

  He took her hand. “Look at me,” he demanded. Once he had her attention his voice softened. “I’m gonna be all right, Bess. No one got shot, except me. I love you. I’d take a bullet for you any day.”

  “Don’t talk that way, Russ. It’s nothing to about joke about.”

  “I’m not jokin’, Bess. I meant every word.”

  And that’s when my aunt surprised all of us by bursting into tears.

  “Oh Bess.” Despite his wound, Russ pulled her into his arms.

  “It’s just been an upsetting day,” mumbled my aunt. She pulled away and began wiping her eyes. “It’s enough to make any woman cry.” She sniffed.

  “I’ll locate Grady Gibbons,” said the Sheriff. “Best keep your eyes open and your doors locked. Don’t take any foolish chances.”

  “We’ll keep a look out,” vowed Russ.

  “Get to the hospital,” the Sheriff ordered before he walked out the door.

  It took her about ten minutes more to finish cleaning the wound and get a different shirt on him. While she worked on his wound, Tony came in and they discussed precautions to take around the ranch.

  I stayed home while Rick drove Russ and Bess to the hospital in the ranch truck..

  They went out to the truck. Rick turned to me.

  “See you later, Maryann.” He kissed my check. “Lock the door once we’re gone.”

  I waved from the door as they pulled away. They were gone a couple of hours when the phone rang.

  “Hello.” I expected to hear Aunt Bess or Rick with a report on Russ.

  “Tell Russ he won’t be so lucky the next time.”

  “Who is this?” I demanded, my heart pounding.

  “You know damn well, girl. Don’t you remember my whip?” He laughed and the li
ne went dead.

  Shaking, I sat down and hugged my chest. Then I called the Sheriff’s office to report the incident.

  After that I went into Aunt Bess’s office, retrieved the key from her desk, opened the gun cabinet and took out a shot gun. Pulling out the drawer beneath. I took out two shells and loaded it.

  Handling a gun was one of the first lessons Aunt Bess taught me. Now I was glad she had insisted on it.

  Checking that the back door was locked, I put the gun on the counter top then sat down at the table to wait.

  I must have fallen asleep because I woke to banging on the door. By now it was dusk. I picked up the shot gun and went to the door.

  “Maryann? Are you okay?” The tension in my shoulders eased at the sound of Rick’s voice. Relieved I let him in.

  His eyes widened when he saw the gun.

  “What happened?” he demanded.

  I shuddered. He took the gun from me, put the safety on and carefully placed it back on the counter. Then he put his arms around me.

  “Come on, let’s go sit down. Is there any coffee? I could sure use a cup.”

  He released me to lock the door behind him.

  “I’ll start another pot,” I said glad to have something to concentrate on. After the pot was started, I sat down next to him.

  “Now tell me what happened.”

  I told him about Grady’s call. “Where’s Aunt Bess?” I asked.

  “They’re keeping Russ overnight. She’s sitting on a chair by his bed. Nurses couldn’t get her to move. I’ll pick them up tomorrow when they release Russ. Your aunt said she’d call.”

  There was another knock and I heard someone calling my name.

  I looked at Rick. “Who?” “It’s Lisa’s mom. Your aunt called her from the hospital and asked her to come over.” He grinned. “Probably to chaperone.”

  Rick opened the door.

  “Maryann, are you all right?” Lisa’s mother came in and hugged me. “Bess asked me to stay over tonight.”

  “I thought I’d come along, too.” Lisa came in right behind her.

  “I’m glad you’re both here. It’s been quite a day.”

  “You don’t know the half of it,” said Rick softly.

  Chapter 26