The Valerons--Retribution!

by Terrell L Bowers

  The Valerons — Retribution!

  Not all criminals wear masks and carry guns. Some hide behind respectability and seldom wield a weapon. The Valerons seek justice for an attack and theft, but they find no smoking gun, no gunmen, not a single piece of evidence against the perpetrators. They realize they are dealing with clever and careful criminals.

  As Jared and Shane’s investigation alone can’t expose the guilty party, Wendy Valeron is employed to explore an alternative means. While trying not to risk her life, there is always great danger when attempting to expose an organized criminal enterprise. With fear of exposure, the nervous culprits summon help and react violently. How many lives on both sides will the Valerons’ retribution claim?

  By the same author

  Dead Man's Canyon

  Garrett's Trail to Justice

  High Bounty at Wayward

  Hard Trail to Breadneck Pass

  Valeron's Range

  The Valeron Code

  Valeron's Justice

  The Valerons – No Boundaries!

  The Valerons — Retribution!

  Terrell L. Bowers

  ROBERT HALE

  © Terrell L. Bowers 2018

  First published in Great Britain 2018

  ISBN 978-0-7198-2759-4

  The Crowood Press

  The Stable Block

  Crowood Lane

  Ramsbury

  Marlborough

  Wiltshire SN8 2HR

  www.bhwesterns.com

  Robert Hale is an imprint of The Crowood Press

  The right of Terrell L. Bowers to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him

  in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

  All rights reserved. This e-book is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

  Chapter One

  ‘Gonna be a purty fair herd for market,’ Dodge told the first-year cowpuncher.

  Lonnie Brinkerhoff had hired on a few weeks after Dodge and Reb took over the Barrett ranch. The two old-timers from the Valeron ranch had been running things for several months and Dodge had overseen the gathering of about a hundred head of steers for the fall roundup. Sitting atop the hill that overlooked the box canyon, the two men surveyed the herd, as the cattle grazed the rich grass of the protected ravine. A couple more days to fatten them up and they would drive the beef to market. The young man had worked hard and learned a lot since hiring on.

  ‘I’m sure thankful you two fellows hired me,’ Lonnie said. ‘No one would give me a job riding the range until you took a chance on me.’

  ‘You’ve a good head on your shoulders,’ Dodge paid a rare compliment. ‘Put a winter season under your belt and you’ll be as good as anyone on the ranch.’

  ‘I’m still surprised I got the job,’ Lonnie said. ‘Max told me you let go two experienced cowhands . . . yet you put me on the payroll with nary a day’s experience around cattle.’

  ‘Rex and Dekay worked for and with the crooked pair who tried to steal Miss Barrett’s ranch. Me and Reb didn’t figure to allow no shenanigans on our watch.’ He paused to spit a stream of tobacco. As usual, he didn’t have to wipe his lips; he was too much a pro at spitting. ‘Them two squatted on their haunches while the ranch owner was poisoned and an innocent lady was being locked up in one of them there asylums for lunatics. Then they aided Robby, the worth-nothing stepson, in stealing cattle from the herd and selling them on the side. The other cowpunchers were ignorant or ignored that the boy and his mother were more crooked than a snake’s back. Reb and me didn’t want no one working for us who would go along with an underhanded ranch grab like that.’

  ‘You two worked for the Valerons for what – twenty years?’

  ‘More like fifteen,’ Dodge clarified. ‘The two of us went to war and stayed in uniform until it was over. Tell you straight, boy, you don’t bond with kin any more than me and Reb did during that time. We sweated blood together, shared water and blankets when it was dry or freezing. Ain’t nothing either of us don’t know about the other – I’m speaking of what matters, not family history. You grow to a point where you think alike. We could sit for hours and never say a word; face an upcoming attack and share our fears without worry of the other thinking poorly for the weakness; then celebrate being alive without so much as showing a smile. Nope, two pards don’t come no closer than me and Reb.’

  ‘And you both started work for the Valerons when they were first getting started,’ Lonnie surmised.

  ‘Yep. We happened along at just the right time. Never regretted hiring on with the three brothers, not for one single day. They took us in like we was kin, and we had the good fortune to watch their family grow and prosper. Reb and me feel like their kids are our nephews and nieces, every last one of them.’

  ‘They obviously trust you like family, giving you this place to run.’

  ‘Won’t never lose a dollar of that lady’s money, not with Reb doing the books. My pard is as honest as the day is long.’

  Lonnie turned in the saddle. ‘Say, Dodge, who are—’

  But several rifles opened up on the two of them. Lonnie spilled from his saddle as Dodge was stunned by a sudden jolt to his chest. He folded over the saddle, but reacted instinctively, digging his heels into his favorite horse. The animal responded gallantly, darting away from the gunfire, racing out of harm’s way.

  Bullets whistled past Dodge’s head. The horse stumbled – then righted herself and kept on running. Dodge was quickly out of range, hanging on with one hand, while pressing his other against the chest wound. He wasn’t sure how bad he was hit, but it took all of his strength to remain in the saddle. With little guidance the mare sped towards the ranch house. Even as it came into view in the distance, he was growing faint.

  Damn those rustlers! he thought. They for sure kilt young Lonnie. Damn their hides! Patriarch of the Valeron families, Locke Valeron sat at the head of the table, with his wife, Wanetta at his right-hand side. The only other Valerons still living at home were two of their kids – Jared and Wendy. Nephew Cliff Mason and his adopted daughter, Nessy, had moved in with the family and also joined them at the supper table.

  Wendy had been working with her cousin, Martin for the past several months. He had taught her the ins and outs of bookkeeping and accounting for the ranch, as well as the family-owned stores in the town of Valeron. Martin managed the books concerning those businesses, along with the mining, the logging and the produce farms. It kept him very busy, so educating her as an accountant would be a great help.

  ‘Martin tells me you have learned most of the principles of accounting and bookkeeping, Wendy,’ Locke praised her efforts, partway through the meal. ‘Always knew you had a good head on your shoulders.’

  ‘Better not count on shifting any responsibility to her yet,’ Jared warned. ‘She’s been attracting more admirers than the only mare in a herd of stallions. One day soon, she’s liable to run off with one of them smooth-talking suitors.’

  ‘It’s to be expected,’ Cliff tossed in his opinion. ‘After all, she’s ’bout as cute as a baby bunny, she’s single and she’s a Valeron. If she wasn’t my cousin, I’d be hot on her heels.’

  Wendy snickered. ‘If you weren’t related to us, you would be as unwelcome as a stray coyote – and we shoot them
on sight!’

  Everyone laughed, including Cliff.

  ‘Besides, Darcy still has more wooers than I do,’ Wendy added, speaking of their twenty-year-old cousin. ‘And Tish’ – Darcy’s sister – ‘will be seventeen pretty soon – and she will garner a fair number of courting-minded gents too.’

  ‘I’m only pointing out the facts,’ Jared said. ‘Reese and Scarlet have joined Brett and Nash as married folks. Wendy and me are all the only unattached loners left in our household.’

  ‘I suspect you’ll stay an unattached loner too, Jer,’ Wendy teased. ‘You won’t find a girl while you’re gallivanting all over the country following the footsteps of Wyatt.’

  ‘Cousin Wyatt hires out his gun,’ Jared declared. ‘I’m not of a mind to try and tame a wild town or stop a range war.’

  ‘You manage to get involved in a lot of action all the same.’

  Cliff smirked. ‘Jared doesn’t court girls, he courts trouble. Some people have to look for trouble, but not Jared – trouble always knows where to find him.’

  ‘Daddy,’ Nessy spoke up to Cliff. ‘You told me Uncle Jared was a hero.’

  ‘Uh, yeah, darlin’,’ he backtracked, frowning at the little girl’s honesty. ‘I was just having some fun with him.’

  ‘He’s lots of fun,’ Nessy agreed enthusiastically. ‘Like when he showed me how to shoot his gun.’

  Wanetta about choked on a sip of water. When she scowled at Locke, his expression darkened and the appropriate amount of scolding entered his voice.

  ‘Jared! You know better than to let a child shoot your gun!’

  ‘It wasn’t loaded,’ Jared was instantly defensive. ‘Nessy just wanted to see how it worked.’

  ‘It is our intention that Nessy grow up to be a proper young lady!’ Wanetta declared.

  ‘A young lady ought to know how to defend herself – like Wendy,’ Jared contended, seeking his sister’s support as an ally. ‘There’s still Indian trouble and bandits or rustlers to deal with.’

  ‘She’s only eight years old, and not many troublemakers come right into the yard these days,’ Jared’s mother contended.

  Locke lifted a hand, ready to end the exchange of opinions, but they were suddenly interrupted by Shane entering the room. It was unusual to have anyone – family or not – walk in during mealtime without first knocking. The look on his face was enough that Locke didn’t mention his nephew’s lack of courtesy. It was obvious something had happened.

  Shane carried a piece of paper in his hand, which he marched over and presented to Locke.

  ‘This here message arrived in town a short while ago,’ he clarified. ‘Skip’ – the town’s telegrapher – ‘knew you’d want to see it right away. I intercepted his town runner as I was coming in from the south pasture.’

  Locke studied the page and a grave look of concern entered his aged features. He looked at the family seated at the table and gave them the news.

  ‘This telegram is from Reb and was sent from Denver,’ he explained. ‘Rustlers hit the Barrett ranch. They killed a young cowpuncher working for them and also shot Dodge. Dodge’s horse got him to the house before it dropped over dead. It had been shot as well, but it still got him home.’

  ‘Dodge always had a knack with horses,’ Shane spoke up solemnly. ‘Taught me everything I know about them.’ He shook his head. ‘Damn . . . uh,’ he remembered there were women and a child present. ‘I mean, dirty, lowdown scum – shooting Dodge and killing an innocent horse.’

  ‘And a young cowhand,’ Wendy reminded him.

  Locke continued: ‘Says here, the rustlers stole about fifty head of steers that had been gathered for market. Reb took Dodge to the hospital in Denver. The doctors don’t know if they can save him.’

  ‘The cattle thieves can’t expect to get away with stealing those steers,’ Jared said. ‘The double B brand is nearly impossible to alter with a running iron. Where they gonna sell that many head of stolen beeves?’

  ‘Our immediate concern should be the ranch,’ Cliff pointed out. ‘Nash’s wife’ – co-owner of the Barrett ranch – ‘is his nurse, and about to become a mother. She can’t pack up and return to her spread. Add to that, Reb and Dodge are as close as brothers. You can bet Reb won’t leave Dodge’s side until he is up and around – providing he survives.’

  ‘I’ll gather my gear and head out at first light,’ Jared volunteered.

  ‘Count me in,’ Shane offered. ‘The Indian wranglers can handle the horses.’

  ‘I’d like to go along,’ Cliff joined in. ‘Tish can watch Nessy while I’m gone.’

  ‘What about me?’ Wendy also piped up. ‘Dodge and Reb are as much my uncles as Temple and Udal. I want to help too!’

  Locke raised a hand and everyone ceased their chatter. With furrowed brow, he stared hard at the center of the dining table, sorting the options in his head. No one at the table even took a bite – including Nessy. She understood this was all very serious.

  After a few seconds of studying on the problems and issues facing the family, Locke lifted his flinty eyes and surveyed those at the table. He also flicked a quick glance at Shane, who had remained standing alongside his chair.

  ‘This is what we’ll do,’ he outlined. ‘I will make the trip to Denver and, until we know if Dodge is going to pull through, assume the job of ramrod at Trina’s ranch. Wendy will come along and help with the records, payroll and any other book-work. Jared, you and Shane will try and get a line on the rustlers. Once you locate the vermin, we’ll get enough help to deal with them.’

  ‘Locke, dear,’ Wanetta said quietly. ‘Sketcher is our assistant foreman; he could likely manage the Barrett ranch. That’s such a long way, and you are not exactly a spring chicken.’

  ‘Not to worry, Kitten,’ he used his pet name for her. ‘I might not be a spring chicken, but this old rooster still has enough wind to crow a little. I’ll be fine.’

  ‘As you didn’t invite me to tag along,’ Cliff complained. ‘Isn’t there anything I can do?’

  Nearly everyone at the table replied in unison – ‘Take care of Nessy!’

  After the stage to Cheyenne, the family took the train to Denver. Arriving in the thriving city, they next boarded another stage for the ride to a trading-post way-station, a mile or so away from the Barrett ranch. One of the people from the ranch was to meet them there with transportation. Everyone was tired of the many hours of travel, when the dusty and bumpy stage suddenly came to a stop.

  ‘Hey, Buck!’ a voice called out.

  ‘What’re you doing, July?’ Buck shouted from atop the stage. ‘Get the hell out of the road!’

  ‘Just need a minute of your time,’ came the reply. ‘You know we don’t mean no one any harm.’

  ‘OK, but be quick about it! I got a schedule to keep.’

  A face suddenly appeared outside the open window of the coach. It was a young man – unshaven, but he had washed his face recently. As for his clothes, they were dirty, wrinkled, and appeared to have been slept in for a week or more. In his hand was an odd-looking small piece of black pipe. At first glance, it might have passed for a gun.

  ‘Pardon the interruption of your trip, folks,’ the man apologized. ‘Would you be so kind as to allow me a look inside the coach?’

  ‘What’s the meaning of this, young man?’ Locke demanded to know, having been sitting by the window on the side of his approach. ‘You’re no road agent, not with that pitiful fake handgun!’

  ‘Oh, no sir,’ he replied contritely, tossing the thing away. ‘My friend and I are looking for a shady character who cheated us out of our mine and stole everything we owned.’

  ‘Members of my family are the only ones inside this coach,’ Locke told him. ‘If you intend a hold-up, I’ll let my son deal with you.’

  The young man removed his hat, wholly respectful. ‘No, sir!’ he stated emphatically. ‘Like I said, we was just trying to catch that sidewinder before he escaped with all our belongings and our money. We were hoping
he was on the stage.’

  Jared moved up next to his father and looked out the stage window. He gave the joker a once-over and glanced at the second man, who was a few feet away.

  ‘The tree branch your partner is holding doesn’t look much like a rifle barrel,’ he said. ‘What if Buck had started shooting?’

  The fellow ducked his head, obviously ashamed of their behavior. ‘What can I tell you, mister? We was desperate. No money, no food, no clothes – no nothing! We walked all day and all night to reach the stage trail. Like I said, we hoped that back-stabbing sidewinder was aboard.’ He sighed in defeat. ‘But I reckon he took the train and headed south or east. T L and me probably won’t never find him.’

  ‘Daddy?’ Wendy spoke up to Locke, peering intensely at the man. ‘Didn’t you say we would have to hire a couple of men for the ranch?’

  Her father stared at her as if she were daft. Plus, he knew when she called him ‘Daddy’ it usually meant trouble! He threw up a quick defense, fearful of what the girl had in mind. ‘This fellow stopped the stage with a pretended gun! I don’t hire men who . . .’

  ‘Who do what?’ Wendy countered before he could finish. ‘You heard him. They were left with nothing. The man stole everything they owned.’

  ‘Wendy’s right, Pa,’ Jared chipped in, a mischievous flicker dancing in his eyes. ‘Without Dodge and the young cowboy who was killed, the ranch is two men short. Me and Shane sure won’t have time for helping with the cattle.’

  Locke frowned at being targeted by both of his children. Instead of debating the issue, he turned to the man outside the coach window.

  ‘How about it, sonny?’ he asked gruffly. ‘Do you know which end of a cow the tail belongs on?’

  ‘Yes, sir,’ he answered quickly. ‘I used to milk cows to earn my keep – been swatted a good many times by a cow’s tail.’