by Robert Boren
“Wow, this is something,” Anna said as Garrett drove her into Dodge City. There was a long western street with buildings on either side, looking like a movie set. He parked and got out to open Anna’s door. She took his hand and stepped out. “Wow, realistic down to the mud in the streets.”
He chuckled, holding her hand as they went to the wooden sidewalk, his boots clomping on them as they walked towards the saloon.
“What, the first place we’re going is the bar?” Anna asked, shooting him a sly grin.
“That’s where my friends will be,” he said, helping her through the door.
“Garrett, you old son of a gun,” said a skinny old man behind the bar. “This the woman I’ve been hearing about?”
“Sure is, Willard. Her name’s Anna. Anna, this is Willard.”
“Nice to meet you,” she said. “You two related?”
“He’s my cousin,” Garrett said.
“Yep, can’t you tell the resemblance?” Willard asked, laughing.
Garrett shook his head. “Willard here was the black sheep of the family.”
“You tell her,” Willard said. “Want a drink?”
“One,” Garrett said. “People staying on the wagon for the most part?”
“Yeah, pretty much,” Willard said. “Rumor has it we’re not going into Julian.”
“Those rumors are true, and I agree,” Garrett said.
“What’s we gonna hit instead?”
“New UN headquarters,” Garrett said. “That’s all I’ll say right now.”
“You want a drink, Ms. Anna?” Willard asked.
“Maybe just half a shot,” she said.
Willard poured a full shot glass and a half one, then poured one for himself. He held it up. “Here’s to new friends and old.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Garrett said.
They tossed them back.
“Where’s everybody else?” Garrett asked.
“Home, for the most part,” Willard said. “Jess and Frankie went hunting with a few other folks. Probably won’t be back until tomorrow morning.”
“Figured we’d need to do that,” Garrett said.
“How’s the game holding up around here?” Anna asked. “Tyler said it was getting a little sparse around the Williams place.
“Damn drought really knocked the game for a loop,” Willard said. “We need a few wet years, like we had back in 2016.”
Garrett chuckled. “Yeah, a lot of things were better back then.”
“Damn straight, brother, but things aren’t all bad now,” Willard said. “Now we get to shoot back. Saw this mess coming for a long time.”
“Preaching to the choir,” Garrett said. “I’m gonna go visit my sis. See you later. Pass the word around that I’m in town for a day or two.”
“Will do,” Willard said.
“This really is cool,” Anna said as they walked out of the saloon. She looked at a horse-drawn wagon coming slowly up the street. “No cars on this street?”
“We discourage driving through the middle of town, but just about everybody has some kind of motor vehicle,” Garrett said as they walked, past a hotel and the sheriff’s office and a bank. “Our pride and joy is the opera house, but we don’t have any talent to run it now. Before the war we were bringing people in and putting on shows. Drew a lot of the locals out here. Helped with expenses.”
“I remember reading about that,” she said. “Always wanted to come.”
“You should have,” Garrett said.
“My husband didn’t like that sort of thing.”
“Well I do,” Garrett said. “Sis lives up there.” He pointed to a two-story boarding house across the street. “Hey sis!” he yelled.
After a moment one of the second story windows opened, and a gray-haired woman stuck her head out.
“What are you yelling about, you old goat?”
Garrett chuckled. “She’s a little salty.”
Anna smiled. They went across the street, avoiding the mud and road apples.
By the time they got to the wooden sidewalk, the gray-haired woman was waiting for them, a big grin on her face. She rushed up and hugged Garrett. “Glad you survived that last battle. Heard bad things.”
“We lost people,” Garrett said. “This is Anna. Anna, this is Susanne, my big sister.”
“Great to meet you,” Susanne said. “Heard this old fool got himself a girlfriend.”
Anna smiled, watching Garrett get embarrassed. Both women laughed.
“All right, all right,” Garrett said.
“Come on in. Want some coffee?”
“Sounds great,” Anna said. They walked into the door ahead of Garrett.
“Hey, Garrett, you want something stronger than coffee?” asked an old bald man in the back of the parlor. He was large with an imposing demeanor.
“Don’t you dare, Elmer,” Susanne said.
Elmer laughed, rushing over to shake hands with Garrett.
“This is Anna,” Garrett said.
“Heard you took a woman from the nations,” he said, a sly grin on his face, his scraggly beard making him look goofy.
“Took a woman?” Susanne asked, shaking her head. “Sorry, Anna. Elmer engages his mouth before his brain kicks in.”
“It’s a stream of consciousness thing,” Elmer said, following the comment with a snicker. “You’re lovely, Anna. Hope you float Garrett’s boat as well as Susanne floats mine.”
“Oh, please,” Susanne said, her face turning red. “You’re just a gentleman friend. Nothing more.”
“What about last night?” Elmer asked, sending a wink to Anna, who chuckled.
“Shut up about that,” Susanne said. “It was a weak moment.”
“Been a lot of those lately,” Elmer said. “Maybe I should just move in.”
Susanne rolled her eyes. “Ignore him. I’ll go get the coffee.”
Anna followed Susanne into the kitchen. Garrett sat on one of the antique loveseats. He shot a grin at Elmer and put his booted feet up on the table in front of it.
“You’re a brave man,” Elmer said. “How’d you get hooked up with Anna? She’s cute, by the way.”
“We’re just friends, really,” Garrett said. “I like to talk with her.”
“Uh huh. I know that look she’s giving you.”
“There are some sparks,” Garrett said. “I’m not discouraging them.”
“Here they come,” Elmer whispered. Garrett pulled his feet off the table and sat up, straight and formal.
“Got your feet off my table pretty quickly,” Susanne said, walking back into the room with Anna. Susanne turned to her. “He looks housebroken, but he’s as much of a beast as Elmer is.”
Anna chuckled.
“You two gonna shack up?” Elmer asked.
“Dammit, Elmer, stop that,” Susanne said. “It’s not polite.”
“I’m just kidding. Don’t get your bustle in a bunch.”
Garrett laughed, patting the space next to him. Anna came over and sat there.
“I think your sister is lovely,” Anna said.
“She’s that, but she’s also ornery as all get out,” Garrett said. “Without her operation, we’d be toast.”
“Operation?” Anna asked.
“I run the ammo factory,” she said with pride. “Dangerous work because of the black powder, but we’ve got it down. We need some more brass, though. You got any ideas, Garrett?”
“I’ve asked my guys to save what brass they can,” Garrett said, “and we’ve been picking it up off the ground after battles. We still need a better source, though, now that the routes into Arizona are shut down.”
There was sputtering from the kitchen. Susanne got up and rushed back there, Anna joining her.
“They’re conspiring against us,” Elmer whispered, a grin on his face.
Garrett shook his head. “When are you gonna make an honest woman out of her?”
“Like Susanne would go for that. I’ve already tried. I’ll just take
what I can get at this point.”
Garrett chuckled. “Well, whatever makes you two happy.”
“You’re taking Anna to your spread?”
“Yeah, I’ll take her out there,” Garrett said. “Might bring her back here tonight, though, so she can have a room in the hotel.”
“Don’t count on that,” he whispered. “Here they come.”
The women were back, each with two coffee cups in their hands.
“Good,” Garrett said after his first sip.
“When do our men get back?” Susanne asked. “The large group.”
“They’re probably already at the Williams place,” Garrett said. “I’ll leave some of them there to help protect it.”
“Why don’t you just move everybody here?” Elmer asked.
“Might come to that,” Garrett said. “We’ve got room, that’s for sure.”
“Then why not?” Anna asked.
“Don’t want all of our eggs in one basket,” Garrett said. “Being split between the two locations makes an assault twice as hard for the enemy.”
“Yeah, but they have to go against a force that’s double the size if we’re all together,” Susanne said.
“These Islamists and UN Peacekeepers have access to advanced weapons like artillery,” Garrett said. “That can water down our numbers quick, and then we’re done.”
Anna nodded in agreement. “It helps to have your forces in more than one place. Our tribe would be gone now had we all stayed together.”
“Yep,” Garrett said. “We could get bottled up in here, too. Not something we couldn’t put down, but how many people would we lose? They could lob shells in here and blow the hell out of our little town, too. Better to have them worried about their backsides.”
“Hope you two are right,” Susanne said.
“You worried, honey?” Elmer asked, moving closer to her on the couch.
“Stop it,” she said.
Garrett’s phone rang. He answered it, his face showing a smile.
“What?” Anna asked.
“Thanks, man,” Garrett said into the phone before he ended the call. “Ed’s been found.”
“Alive?” Anna asked. “Obviously that’s a yes, with that grin.”
“Yes, he’s alive, but we almost didn’t find him in time. His hovercraft broke down in a bad spot.”
“Never trusted that damn thing,” Anna said.
“Well, this is great news,” Elmer said. “It calls for a drink.”
“You don’t drink anymore,” Susanne said.
“I know, but it still calls for it. I don’t have to answer the call.”
Anna laughed. “You two are a riot.”
“I’m a riot,” Susanne said. “He’s a stupid old coot.”
“Yeah, but you love me,” Elmer said.
Susanne rolled her eyes.
“I think we’ll get going,” Garrett said. “I want to show the homestead to Anna while it’s still plenty light.”
“Yes, I’d love that,” Anna said.
“Look at the love birds,” Elmer quipped.
“Oh, leave them alone,” Susanne said. “I think it’s sweet.”
They said their goodbyes, and Garrett walked Anna outside.
“I love them,” Anna said, “and I’m so relieved about Ed.”
“Me too. We’ll need to go get the truck. I’m a few miles outside of town.” He walked with her back to the parking spot, and they got into the truck, Garrett taking it on a back road to the far end of town, then onto a well-worn dirt road.
“They think we’re a couple,” Anna said as they drove along. “Did you tell them that?”
“No, that’s their idea, although you’re the first woman I’ve brought out to meet them.”
“I see,” Anna said. “We going to an old-west shack, or is it a modern house with a bathroom?”
“Don’t worry, we’re on septic. No outhouse.” He looked at her and chuckled. “There are plenty of horses and cattle. I’ve got hands living in a bunkhouse on the edge of the property.”
“I hope this place has a bathtub big enough for the both of us,” she said.
“Oh, really now?”
“You have a problem with that?” she asked.
“Not even a little bit.”
Anna looked around as he drove. “It’s so pretty out here.”
“Something’s wrong,” Garrett said, looking at the gate as they approached. “The gate’s open. Shouldn’t be.”
Anna looked at him, fear in her eyes. “We’ve got guns, right?”
Garrett pulled over, getting out and rushing to the truck bed, pulling back the tarp and grabbing two lever action rifles. He brought them up to the cab, then drove forward.
“These easy to shoot?” Anna asked.
“They’re just like modern Winchesters, except they kick less and let off some smoke,” he said, driving through the gate, staring around the area.
“Is that a body over there?” Anna asked, pointing.
“Dammit,” he said. “Wait here, and keep the gun in your lap, okay?” I’m leaving the keys in the truck, and the motor running. If something happens to me, high-tail it.”
Anna nodded yes as Garrett got out, grabbed one of the rifles, and trotted into the pasture.
{12}
Starvation
G arrett ran out to the body in a crouch, startled when it rolled towards him.
“Hey, boss,” the ranch hand said. “Can’t get up.” He was an old man, looking too frail for his cowboy dress.
“What happened, Tommy?” He rushed over and helped him sit up.
“Some folks showed up to steal cattle,” he said. “Cracked me over the head with a rifle butt.”
“Dammit,” Garrett said. “Think you can walk?”
“With help,” he said.
“How long ago did this happen?”
“Few hours,” Tommy said. “The other hands went on that hunting party.”
“They should’ve left somebody here with you,” Garrett said, shaking his head.
“They did. Casey’s around here someplace. We’d better find him. He might be hurt.”
“Did you see who it was? It wasn’t Islamists, was it?”
“Nope,” Tommy said. “Hungry Mexicans. I heard them talking. We would’ve gotten buzzed by the app if it was the enemy. I have one of the phones.”
Anna came out of the truck and rushed over. “So glad he’s not dead.”
“Anna, this is Tommy.”
“Pretty lady,” Tommy said. “Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise. You’ve got a pretty good bump on your noggin. Maybe I’d better look at it. I’m a nurse.”
“He might have a concussion,” Garrett said.
“He might,” Anna said. “It wasn’t the bad guys, was it?”
“Mexicans,” Garrett said. “Heard they’re starving down there. They came to steal cattle. Hell, I’d give them some if they’d ask.”
“You’re nicer than I am,” Tommy said. “We’d better find Casey.”
“Casey?” Anna asked.
“The other ranch hand that was here,” Garrett said. “Most went on that hunt.”
“Oh,” Anna said.
“Let’s get to the truck,” Garrett said, helping Tommy to his feet. He wobbled a little, but got steadier as they went.
“Where was Casey last time you saw him?” Anna asked.
“In the barn,” Tommy said. Garrett and Anna helped him into the cab of the truck, then drove down the long driveway, past the two-story house with a wrap-around porch.
“That house is beautiful,” Anna said.
“Thanks,” Garrett said. “There’s the barn.” It was an old-fashioned wood barn, painted red, a yard around it sectioned off, goats and chickens wandering in their pens. Garrett parked the truck and they all got out.
“Casey!” Garrett yelled.
“I hope he’s not hurt bad,” Tommy said. They walked into the barn. “There he is!”
&n
bsp; There was a younger man tied up, leaning against the wall on some hay. His mouth was covered with duct tape, his wrists and ankles tied together. His eyes showed relief, peeking out under his longish blonde hair.
“This is gonna hurt a little,” Garrett said, ripping the duct tape off his mouth.
“Garrett,” Casey said. “Sorry I let them get the drop on me. Where you been, Tommy?”
“They brained me out in the front pasture,” Tommy said. “You hurt?”
“Nah, they just held a gun on me,” he said as Garrett and Anna untied him. “Damn Mexicans.”
“What’d they take?” Garrett asked.
“I couldn’t see everything they did. I could hear the chickens going nuts, so I’m sure they took some of those. They took one of the milk cows too, and I heard them talking about taking some cattle. They didn’t know I speak Spanish.”
“I’m just glad it wasn’t Islamists,” Anna said.
“I was a little nervous, since Tommy had the phone,” Casey said. “You okay, old man? That’s a pretty good knot on your head.”
“I’ll be okay,” he said. “I just feel like an idiot.”
“You gonna go after them, boss?” Casey asked.
“This time, no,” Garrett said. “I’ll send a warning. I know some folks.”
“Luis?” Tommy asked. “You don’t think he did this?”
“No, but he might know who it was,” Garrett said.
“This happen often?” Anna asked.
“Nah,” Garrett said. “The Mexican Government has fallen apart. We had a similar incident a month ago.”
“Yeah, you old softy,” Casey said.
“Softy?” Anna asked.
“After we caught them, he gave them a couple of animals and sent them on their way. This is the thanks he gets.”
“Don’t be so sure it was the same folks,” Garrett said. “I told them I’d help them if their families got into trouble. This war is hurting them even worse than it’s hurting us.”
“We’re getting kinda low on food ourselves,” Casey said. “That’s why the others went hunting.”
“I know,” Garrett said. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll be fine.”
“We should put some ice on Tommy’s head,” Anna said.
“I can do that back at the bunk house,” he said. “I’ll be fine. Really.”
“I’ll watch him,” Casey said.