Bohanin nodded and accepted Lance’s aid as he made his way toward his gelding.
“I suppose I need to talk to the sheriff about this,” Reese Blanchart said. “The hell of it is, Bochart drew first.”
“Anyone know the whereabouts of Espironsa?” Tibbs asked.
“He was with Mrs. Bochart when last I saw,” Mack Stout said. “He’s never very far from her side.”
Bohanin stared at Tibbs. “Did I tell her where Millie was?” he asked.
Tibbs nodded. “Sure did. You told her the town and the doctor’s name.”
“Someone’s got to ride for Hasty. If she sent Espironsa after Millie, someone’s got to warn them,” Bohanin said.
Tibbs sighed and shook his head. “Looks like my job. I just don’t know if I can make it in time. That Mex has at least a twelve hour lead on me.”
“You’ve got to try, Joe,” Dawdrey said as he helped Bohanin into the saddle. “You’re the only one with a chance.”
Tibbs wheeled his horse toward the north. “I’ll see you at your place, Dawdrey. I’ll do the best I can. I just don’t think I can make it in time.”
“Try, Joe. Do your best,” Bohanin shouted as Tibbs rode away.
Dawdrey Lance mounted and slowly led Bohanin towards his ranch.
The Bochart crew watched as they made their way to the top of the rise. Finally, Reese Blanchart motioned for Diego.
“You best make tracks for the house, Diego. Someone needs to tell Mrs. Bochart about this. It’ll go down better coming from you.”
“What’ll we do?” Mack Stout asked.
“Brand calves, I guess. I’ll take Bochart back to the house and tell what happened. You fellers might as well go on with the work. Whatever the hell went on between those men, is for the law to decide. It didn’t sound to me like Bochart was ignorant of the deal. I got the impression he deserved what he got. It was a fair fight.”
Mack Stout started back toward the branding fire. “We sure as hell ain’t gonna have to put up with Bochart’s ragging on us anymore today.”
Blanchart smiled. “Yeah, I guess you’re right about that. Hell, this may not be too bad an outfit for a while,” he said grimly.
II
Doctor Ball lowered his newspaper as he heard the knock. Mrs. Ball placed her knitting in her lap and glanced toward the door.
“I wonder who that might be?” Ball asked rising from his chair.
“Someone’s probably had an accident,” Mrs. Ball said.
Sergio Espironsa filled the doorway, his hat in his hands.
“What can I do for you?” Ball asked.
“I am here to check on the progress of the senorita,” Espironsa answered.
“Come in,” Ball said. “Who sent you? That Bohanin feller?”
Espironsa nodded as he entered the room. “Si. I am to check on her and see that she is well.”
“Where’s Captain Bohanin?” Ball asked.
“He is coming in a few days. He sent me to make sure that she is in good health.”
“I don’t know what to say. I wish he had come instead of someone else.”
“Is something not well?” Espironsa asked.
“She’s gone,” Ball said, “I tried to convince her that it was way too early for her to leave. But she wouldn’t listen. She took off in the buggy yesterday, against all my advice.”
“I do not believe you, senor,”
“I don’t care if you believe me or not. She’s gone and that’s all there is to it.”
Espironsa started for the doorway leading to the bedrooms.
“I will see for myself.”
“You will not. That is my home and you’ve no right to go in there,” Ball shouted.
Espironsa snatched the front of Ball’s shirt and jerked him forward, drawing his knife with the same movement. Espironsa slammed Ball against the wall placing the knife against his throat.
“I will see this thing for myself, senor.” Espironsa increased the pressure of the knife blade against the doctor’s jugular.
“You bastard. My wife’s in there. You lay a hand on her and I swear I’ll kill you.”
“I have no interest in your woman, senor. But I will see for myself about the other one. Either I go, or you die and I go.”
Ball slowly nodded, his body shaking with anger.
Espironsa slowly released his grip and withdrew his knife. “If you move one inch, I will kill you and your woman.”
“Go, you bastard. Check for yourself.”
Espironsa opened the door.
Mrs. Ball thumbed back the hammers on her husband’s shotgun. “You get out of here or I swear, I’ll kill you,” she said.
Espironsa blinked in recognition of the two hollow tubes of the shotgun staring toward him.
“I said for you to get out of my house,” the woman said as she slightly raised the bores of the shotgun. She was trembling with fear but her face was etched with determination.
Espironsa slid his knife into his sheath. “Careful, senora. I will go as you say.”
“Then get,” Mrs. Ball ordered.
Espironsa cautiously backed toward the door, keeping his eyes on the shotgun and the woman. Mrs. Ball followed, tears streaming down her face. When Espironsa reached the door, he reached back and opened it without taking his eyes off her. He nodded grimly and disappeared into the darkness, closing the door behind him.
Mrs. Ball did not move. Doc Ball took the gun from her.
“I think he is gone, Rachel,” he said.
The woman shook her head. “Someone’s got to check.”
Ball stepped toward the door. “Step back to the bedroom. I want you clear of the door when I open it.”
Rachel Ball backed toward the door. “Be careful, Andy. He’s probably waiting there in the dark.”
Doc Ball nodded as he opened the door. He waited for a second before stepping into the darkness.
Rachel Ball waited for any sound of what was happening.
Ball stepped back into the office. “He’s gone. There’s no sign of him.”
“Are you certain?” she asked.
Ball closed the door and locked it. “I’m sure.”
A moment later she broke into tears. Ball held her in his arms. She shook as she wept. For years afterward, he would tell the story of the night when his wife had marched the Mexican from their home at the point of a gun. He would tell his children and grandchildren of his wife’s bravery. It would become the favorite story of his practice in frontier Colorado.
Chapter XV
It was pleasant on the porch of Dawdrey Lance’s cabin during those chilly Colorado evenings and if it wasn’t for his concern for Millie and the dull pain in his thigh, he would have found the experience quite pleasant. Bohanin didn’t like the idea of sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch but he accepted it as the only way to be able to get from his bed. Bochart’s slug in his thigh had not been a particularly serious wound but it was painful. Dawdrey’s place was in a fine location. The little canyon protected the buildings in both summer and winter. Dawdrey’s cabin was one-room but he had taken care to construct the building solidly from nearby pines flourishing along the crest and sides of the canyon walls. A small mail-order cook stove kept the cabin warm in the evening and didn’t heat up the interior during the day. The plank floor was a luxury. The small horse barn, a simple privy, and corral were the only other buildings on the place and as well built as the house.
It was four days since Bohanin’s shoot out with Logan Bochart. Bohanin had endured a tough first two nights after the wounds but was recovering quickly. Dawdrey stitched the wound with horse tail hairs and a spare needle from his cupboard. He had seen many an army surgeon do worse. Dawdrey’s mood concerned Bohanin. He seemed quietly self-absorbed and reclusive. It was as though he carried a heavy burden of guilt and couldn’t shake it off.
Bohanin was preparing to go into the cabin for the evening when he heard Joe Tibbs riding into the yard. Bohanin’s Winchester was leaning again
st the wall of the cabin just behind the rocking chair and when he heard the rider, he placed the rifle across his lap. Tibbs appeared exhausted as he drew up his mount and stepped from the saddle.
“How you feeling?” Tibbs asked as he slowly stepped on the porch.
“I’m doing fine.”
Tibbs sat on the edge of the porch and took off his hat.
“What did you find out?” Bohanin asked.
Tibbs shook his head and gazed at the horse barn. “You ain’t gonna like it. It ain’t what either one of us would have expected.”
Bohanin leaned forward in the rocker.
Dawdrey Lance stepped from the cabin to hear what Tibbs had to say.
“Go on,” Bohanin said.
“She ain’t there.”
“What do you mean she ain’t there?” Dawdrey asked.
“She left. Almost six days ago. As soon as she could manage it, she got her money, went to the livery and left town with your buggy and mare.”
“What the blazes,” Bohanin cursed.
Tibbs handed Bohanin an envelope for his shirt pocket. “Read this. It’s a letter from Doc Ball.”
“Let’s step into the cabin where I can get some light and my spectacles,” Bohanin said.
Dawdrey and Tibbs followed.
Bohanin fished his reading glasses from his traps and went to the small, homemade table in the center of the cabin. He opened the letter, took out three fifty dollar bills, and began reading aloud.
“Dear Captain Bohanin,
I am sending this letter to you through Joe so that I may fully explain the events of the last several days. I am aware of several items of concern that I felt could only be best shared with you through correspondence. I have been informed of your wounds and I want to extend to you my best regards and wishes for your rapid and full recovery. If you will remember, during our conversation concerning the condition of Mildred Toland, you asked about the status of her pregnancy. This greatly disturbed me because at the time of my preliminary examination of the woman, I saw no evidence of the condition. I determined to examine the woman more fully. On the day that you left, I gave the woman a thorough and complete examination. During my examination, I asked the woman what caused her to believe that she was with child. She responded with surprise to my question and assured me that she was, in fact, not pregnant, and wondered how I had come to such a conclusion. When I told her that you had questioned me concerning the pregnancy, she seemed surprised. I can assure you that from my examination I can firmly state that this woman never has been pregnant and is not now in such a condition. However, she seemed greatly agitated because of my examination. The following morning, she surprised me with the statement that she was leaving. Against my urgings that she should remain under my care, she paid her bill in full and left $150 with me to reimburse you for the horse and buggy. Enclosed please find that amount. She left in the afternoon of the following day, refusing to say where she was bound or how far she intended to go. As she is an adult and being under no suspicion of any crime, I could only urge her not to go and abide by her decision. A large Mexican cowboy arrived the following evening. He stated that you had sent him to see about the Miss Toland’s condition. When I informed him that she had left my care, he became indignant, drew a knife, assaulted me, and attempted to force an entry into my bedchambers. It was only at the point of a loaded shotgun by my wife that we were able to force this man’s withdrawal. Of course, I in no way believe that you sent this man. I am rather of the opinion that the very forces that assaulted you and the woman on the trail sent this desperado. This belief has caused great concern for my wife and myself about your safety and that of the woman. It is with regret that I share this information with you. It is my belief that the woman has not been candid with you and may in fact be hiding a dark secret. Whatever the case, I send you expressions of my fear for your welfare and news of this sad situation. Please accept our concern. Your obedient servant, Andrew S. Ball.”
Bohanin paused several times while reading the letter. His hands were trembling as he completed the letter and examined the money enclosed in the envelope. Bohanin silently stared into the lamp light in silent disappointment.
“You suppose that fellow was Espironsa?” Dawdrey asked.
Bohanin nodded.
“You gonna be all right about this?” Joe Tibbs asked.
“I don’t see that I have much choice.”
“Why would she lie to you like that, Captain?” Dawdrey asked.
“Not just to me. She lied to Bochart as well. Bilked him out of three thousand bucks. Damn near got all of us killed. Caused his death and a hell of a stink. Her lies did all of that and more.”
“I know this won’t help much but we haven’t solved the question of what happened to Tim,” Joe Tibbs said.
“I think we have, Joe,” Bohanin said. “We haven’t been taken in by just one woman. We’ve managed to let two of them make fools of us.”
“Augustina,” Dawdrey said.
Bohanin nodded. “Only one person could have sent Espironsa to Doc Ball’s. She was the one who ordered those men to kill Millie and me. She fanagled us into shooting her husband. And I’ll bet she ordered the death of your young friend, Joe.”
“Got any whiskey?” Joe asked.
Dawdrey drew an unopened bottle of Bourbon from the cupboard.
“Don’t bother getting any glasses. I don’t want to go to the trouble of refilling one all the time,” Tibbs said before taking a swig. He passed it to Bohanin.
Bohanin gulped down a healthy portion. Dawdrey followed suit.
“I’ve had women take me for most everything they could. A whore once lifted my stake while I slept. I had an ole gal lie to me about being a widow and her husband turned out to be six foot three and mean as a snake. But, I’ve never been so horn-swagled in my life,” Joe Tibbs said as he took his second helping from the bottle.
“I just can’t believe Augustina would do such a thing,” Dawdrey said.
Bohanin smiled and nodded. “You don’t want to believe. I got a good idea what she said to you back at the house. You don’t want to believe just as I wanted to believe Millie. Face it, son. She’s made fools of us. Both of them have.”
“What now?” Tibbs asked before taking a third helping of the Bourbon.
“Going to the law won’t do much good,” Bohanin said. “She is the law in these parts and we’d just end up looking like fools. Hell, before it was over, we’d probably end up in jail for killing poor old Logan Bochart.”
“Its a damn good thing he drew first,” Tibbs said.
“Shit, yes,” Bohanin said. “Otherwise, we’d be decorating a tree somewhere.”
“The way I see it, we got three choices. One, we ride out of here and head for greener pastures,” Tibbs said.
“At which case, Augustina gets away Scott free,” Bohanin said.
Or, we go to the law and spill our guts,” Tibbs said.
“And Augustina makes us look like idiots and probably files charges on us,” Bohanin said.
“Or we ride back to the ranch, find Espironsa and smoke his ass,” Tibbs went on.
“Or take him alive to make a confession to the law,” Dawdrey said.
“At which point, she denies everything and walks Scott free,” Bohanin said. “Who’d believe the word of a Mexican over the largest landholder in southern Colorado?”
“That is, if you could take Espironsa alive. I kinda doubt that happening,” Tibbs said.
There was a pause as the men passed the bottle among them.
“Well, what the hell do we do?” Tibbs asked.
Bohanin limped toward the window of the cabin. He stared into the darkness and thought for a moment of the brief interchange that he had with Millie back on the trail. He felt like an old fool who had been drawn into a dream by a woman who had absolutely no feelings for him. He was sick to his stomach of the whole affair. He wanted to get on his horse and ride out. To hell with all of them.
&
nbsp; “I say we ride to the Bochart ranch and settle this thing once and for all,” Bohanin said.
“And do what? Shoot a crippled woman? Or do we just work her over a bit?” Dawdrey asked.
“It’s that or let her go on. Who’d be next, Dawdrey? How many other folks would be murdered by her before someone finally brought her to justice?”
“I just don’t like the idea of going after a crippled woman,” Dawdrey said.
“Crippled, and ruthless. Ruthless enough to do most anything. Hell. I guess we either hit the trail or we finish this thing. But I want you to think about one thing. She knows that we have probably figured out the whole affair. Ask yourself one question. Knowing what you know and knowing Augustina, do you honestly believe that any of us will ever be safe?” Bohanin asked as he glared at Dawdrey.
Dawdrey stared into the lamplight . Bohanin waited for several moments before making his final point.
“Think about this. If it had been Ransom Tabor who had done all of this, even if he were a crippled old man, what would you do?”
Dawdrey studied the lamp for several moments before shaking his head.
“But she isn’t Ransom Tabor. She’s a woman. No matter what you say to justify it, this problem boils down to one thing. I won’t be a party to an assault upon a woman. Especially not this woman. And I don’t believe you’re capable of it either.”
Bohanin turned toward Tibbs.
“I don’t see how we would be much better than Starbuck if we took on the woman,” Tibbs said.
Bohanin nodded. “I know. No matter how I try to justify it, I just can’t make this drink go down.”
“What the hell do we do?” Tibbs asked.
Bohanin looked toward Lance for a suggestion.
“We go to the law. We tell our story as we know it and we turn her in. We go to a federal marshal if we have to. We let the law handle it and take our chances,” Dawdrey said.
“Where is the nearest marshal?” Bohanin asked.
“Fort Garland.” Dawdrey said.
“Sounds good. It’ll be on my way.”
Dawdrey stood silent. He noticed they were watching him and reluctantly spoke.
“I want to talk to Augustina.”
Bohanin's Last Days Page 10