“I’m glad to see you home again, Smoky. We miss you at services when you’re gone,” the Reverend said, once the introductions were completed. “The same goes for you, Jim. And it’s a pleasure to meet the rest of you. I’m glad you stopped by. Y’all look like you could use some rest. We have plenty of sandwiches, lemonade, and lots of hot coffee. Help yourselves.”
“Much obliged, Reverend,” Captain Storm answered. “You heard him, men. Chow down.”
Not having eaten since before sunrise, the men made quick work of the ham or roast beef sandwiches, which were accompanied by deviled eggs and pickles.
“Reverend, are you certain you should be serving these deviled eggs?” Jim asked, laughing.
“Jim, we don’t call those deviled eggs,” Reverend Patterson replied, also laughing. “Those are angel eggs.”
“Well, whatever you call ’em, they’re mighty tasty,” Eddie said.
“I can tell you like ’em, Eddie,” J.R. answered. “You’ve eaten half a dozen already.”
“We’ve also got peach cobbler for dessert,” Elizabeth said.
“Peach cobbler? Now you’re talkin’!” Chuck exclaimed. “Let me at it.”
“Reverend, if you’d like, once we’re finished eating, we can help you out here,” Captain Storm said. “We won’t be doing much until Charlie and Ty reach town.”
“That isn’t necessary, although we do appreciate the offer, Captain,” the Reverend answered. “We have more than enough help. And I’m certain you have plenty of your own work to do, despite what you claim.”
“We can keep ourselves occupied, that’s for certain,” Storm said. “But right now, I’d like to occupy myself with some of that cobbler. And I know Jim will have some.”
“I sure will,” Jim said. He picked up a plate from the table, then quickly put it down, when the hoof beats of two horses sounded. Hoof beats that suddenly, and rapidly, increased in tempo.
“The cobbler can wait. That’s gotta be Charlie and Ty.”
He started down Main Street on the run. Sure enough, Charlie and Ty were sliding their horses to a stop in front of the lot where Jarratt’s store had stood. Shock was apparent on their faces.
“Charlie! Charlie! Ty! Over here,” Jim called.
“Pa!” Charlie shouted back. He turned Splash and loped him over to Jim. “What happened here? Looks like almost the entire town burned down. Where’s Mary Jane? Where’s her folks?”
“Mary Jane’s at Doc Watson’s,” Jim answered. “She’s been waitin’ for you to get back. Charlie, wait!” he yelled, to no avail, as Charlie ripped his horse around and galloped for Watson’s office.
“Ty, give me a ride, quick,” Jim ordered. He jumped up onto Bandit’s rump and settled in place. Ty needed no urging to take off after Charlie. Bandit’s quarter horse and mustang blood meant he was extremely quick in a short sprint. They overtook Charlie just as he reached the doctor’s office. Jim slid off Bandit’s rump, and when Charlie dismounted grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around.
“Charlie, hold on a minute. You have to listen to me before you go in there. It was the Ghost Riders who did this. I won’t go into details now, but they just about destroyed San Leanna, as you can see. Mike and Bethea are dead. Mary Jane was badly hurt. Doc Watson says she should recover from most of her injuries, but it will take time.”
“What do you mean, most of her injuries, Pa? And why are you here? Why aren’t you after that bunch?”
“To answer your first question, Charlie, right now, she’s blind. The doc doesn’t know if she’ll regain her sight or not.”
“Blind?” Charlie echoed.
“Blind,” Jim confirmed “But it might not be permanent. Just pray it isn’t. As far as your second question me, Smoky, and J.R. just got into town yesterday. We were over in Junction when we got the news the Ghost Riders had struck San Leanna. We got here as fast as we could, after findin’ out what happened. I’ve been talkin’ to folks, tryin’ to get more information. So have Smoky and J.R. Mary Jane was able to give me the names of two of those men, and a pretty good description of one. However, we have no idea which way they headed, except toward Austin. They could be almost anywhere. But we’ll find ’em, you have my promise on that. Right now, you need to be with your wife, and let me worry about the Ghost Riders.”
“Jim’s right,” Ty said. “I’d wager Mary Jane will be just fine. You’d better go on in, Charlie.”
“Yeah. Yeah.” Charlie took the stairs two at a time and burst into Watson’s office. Jim and Ty followed, more slowly. Jim stopped Ty on the front porch.
“Ty, I didn’t get the chance to tell you, but your family is fine. So are Josie and her family,” Jim told him. “I just left them, down at the Methodist Church. They’re working on a temporary shelter for the folks who have lost their places. Julia and Cindy are also there.”
“Thanks, Jim. I appreciate you’re lettin’ me know,” Ty answered. “I’ll head over there right now. Tell Charlie I’ll see him later.”
“I will,” Jim said. “Like I told Charlie, we have found out a little about this Ghost Rider outfit. I think we’ll talk everythin’ over tonight, back at my place. If you have enough time after visitin’ with your folks and Josie, ride on over. When we go after this bunch, I want you ridin’ with us.”
“You know you won’t be able to keep Charlie out of this fight either, Jim,” Ty said. “Not after what they did to Mary Jane and her parents, and our friends.”
“I know that,” Jim said. “I’m kinda hopin’ he won’t want to go with us, but would rather stay here with Mary Jane.”
“There’s not a chance of that,” Ty said. “And I’ll be at your place tonight. Count on it.”
“Thanks, Ty. I’ll see you then.”
“See you tonight, Jim.”
● ● ●
“Charlie,” Doctor Watson said, as soon as the young Ranger came through the door. “Hello, and am I certainly happy to see you.”
“Howdy, Doc,” Charlie said. “Where’s Mary Jane? Is she awake? How is she? Can I see her?”
“She’s right out back,” Watson answered. “Yes, she’s awake, and has been asking for you. That’s why I’m so glad you’re here. Seeing you home safe is probably the best medicine for her right now. She’s doing quite well, considering how badly she was injured, and the shock from the loss of her parents. And of course you can see her. I do need to caution you, however. Her injuries are quite extensive. Her face is considerably bruised and scraped. There are also some slight burns, as well as several broken bones. She also has fairly extensive internal injuries. And she’s blind, at least temporarily, so her eyes are bandaged to protect them.”
“My pa told me all that,” Charlie answered. “None of it matters. I just want to see my wife.”
“Certainly,” Watson said. “I’ll take you to her, right now.”
He led Charlie into Mary Jane’s room. Charlie had to keep his emotions in check at the sight of her. Her face was swollen and bruised, her eyes covered. Her right arm was splinted, and in a sling. Under the blankets covering her, both of her legs were splinted, and her fractured ribs were swathed in more bandages.
“Mary Jane, you have a visitor,” he said.
“Who is it, Doctor?”
“I’m not certain you know him. He says his name’s Charlie. He’s a Texas Ranger, and he claims he’s married to you.”
“Charlie! Charlie’s here?”
“I sure am, Mary Jane,” Charlie answered. He rushed over to the bed, slid an arm under her shoulders, and hugged her carefully, not wanting to hurt her further. “Everythin’ll be all right now. You’ll see. I promise you that.”
“Oh, Charlie. How I’ve missed you. I never thought I’d see you again.” She ran her hands over his face, then down his neck, pausing over the still-healing scab Obadiah Haskell’s chains had left.
“You need a shave,” she said. “And what happened to your neck? You didn’t get shot, did you?”
“I was plannin’ on takin’ a bath and shavin’ tonight,” Charlie answered. “Seems now like that’ll have to wait. As far as my neck, I didn’t duck fast enough when Splash ran under a low-hangin’ live oak branch,” he fibbed. “It ain’t nothin’ to worry about. And you ain’t gonna believe this, but Ty’s grown himself a full beard. I don’t know how Josie’s gonna like that.”
“She probably won’t,” Mary Jane said, then broke down, weeping.
“It’s all right. Cry as much as you want,” Charlie said. He held her, silently, until she was once more able to speak.
“Charlie, what happened… it was so awful. Those horrible men killed my father, then my mother. She was trying to protect me, and they killed her for it. I really don’t remember anything after that, until I woke up here. I must look awful.”
“You look perfectly beautiful to me, just as you always have, Mary Jane. Black and blue always did look good on you,” Charlie tried to reassure her, with a soft laugh. “And don’t worry about me leaving. I’ll stay here with you as long as you need me.”
“Do you mean that, Charlie?”
“I sure do.”
“I’m so happy to hear that,” Mary Jane said. “But I have something to say to you. Don’t say a word until I’m finished.”
“All right.”
“You just said two words,” she chided. “Charlie, I can’t tell you how happy and relieved I am to have you home. However, when we decided to marry, I promised you I would never interfere with your job as a Ranger. I know how important it is to you. And right now, it’s also important to me. I understand, more than I ever did before, how essential the Rangers are to this state. I want you to help find the men who did this. They’ve killed my parents, and many of our friends. They have to be stopped, Charlie. You have to help find them. You must.”
“Are you certain, Mary Jane?”
“As certain as I ever have been about anything. I don’t want to see anyone else hurt by those men. I especially don’t want to see another woman confronted by the man who… who… tried to force himself on me. No woman should have to go through what I did.”
She started sobbing again.
“Wait a minute, Mary Jane. One of those hombres tried to have his way with you?” Charlie exclaimed.
“Yes. Yes, one of them did. I gave Jim a description of him and his partner. That’s why he shot my mother, because she tried to stop him.”
“Mary Jane, I’ll track down that man if it’s the last thing I do on this Earth,” Charlie promised. “And when I find him, I’ll make certain he can never harm another woman, ever again.”
“That’s what I needed to hear you say. Just promise me you’ll be careful.”
“I’ll be as careful as I can,” Charlie said. “And I’m not going to leave right away. I’ll stay here with you tonight. I need some rest. So does Splash. I want to talk with pa and the other Rangers, to find out exactly what they know. I need every bit of information I can get to find that man.”
“Charlie, Mary Jane, I hate to interrupt, but you do need to rest now, Mary Jane,” Watson said. “Charlie, you can spend as much time as you want with your wife. Stay the night if you wish. But right now, I need to give her some medication, so she’ll rest more comfortably.”
“That’s all right, Doc,” Charlie said. “Mary Jane, if it’s okay with you, I’ll go talk to pa now. I’m gonna try’n clean up some, too, and mebbe get a bite to eat. I haven’t had anythin’ since breakfast, and that wasn’t much. I’ll come back quick as I can.”
“That’s fine, Charlie. I am feeling tired again, and will probably still be sleeping when you return. Go on ahead, take as much time as you need, and don’t fret about me. Just knowing you’re here will help me to rest.”
“I’ll always worry about you, Mary Jane. I love you too much not to. You just get some rest, and listen to Doctor Watson, so you’ll get well as quickly as possible.”
“I will, Charlie.”
“Thanks for everything, Doc,” Charlie said. “I’ll leave you with your patient now. Take good care of her.”
“I’ll do exactly that,” Watson said. “I’ll see you later.”
Charlie kissed Mary Jane, his eyes moist. He turned and left. When he reached the living room, he found Jim still waiting for him. Julia was also there. She stood up, gave Charlie a kiss, and hugged him.
“Charlie, I’m so happy you’re home,” she said. “I hope you’ll stay. Mary Jane needs you by her side. Was she awake? Were you able to speak with her?”
“I’m happy to see you too, Ma,” Charlie said. “Yes, she was. We had a nice talk. As far as me stayin’, we’ll talk about that in a minute.”
He turned to Jim, his fists clenched and eyes blazing.
“Pa, why didn’t you tell me one of those men tried to rape Mary Jane?” he asked, his voice low with anger.
“First, because it was more important for you to see her first,” Jim answered. “Second, you didn’t give me the chance. It wasn’t somethin’ you needed to know right off. I was gonna tell you after you saw her, as soon as we had the chance to sit down. There’s a lot you need to know.”
“There sure is,” Charlie said. “But you only need to know one thing, Pa. I’m goin’ after the men who did this. Whether it’s with you, or on my own, I’m goin’ after ’em. And when I find ’em, they’ll wish the Devil himself had caught up with ’em first.”
“Charlie, I wouldn’t try’n stop you, even if I could,” Jim said. “All I ask is that you wait for me to try and get some more information as to who those men might be, and where they might turn up next. Then you can ride with us. Ty too, if he’s willin’, and he says he is. I’ll clear it with Captain Storm.”
“Charlie, are you certain?” Julia asked. “What about Mary Jane?”
“That’s what she and I talked about, Ma. I told her I’d stay here with her, if she wanted. She made it plain she’d rather I go after those men. She wants to make certain they don’t do to anyone else what they did to her, and this town.”
“However, even if she didn’t, you wouldn’t have stayed,” Julia said, with a sigh. “You’re just like your father that way. And I guess that’s part of what makes me love you both so much… and hate you just as much, sometimes.”
“That’s right, Ma, I wouldn’t have stayed. And thank you for understanding.”
“Charlie,” Jim said. “I’m sure you’re plannin’ on spendin’ the night with Mary Jane. However, if you want, come out to the ranch tonight. Me, Cap’n Storm, and the rest of the men are gonna go over everythin’ we’ve learned about these Ghost Riders. Much of which, I might add, Mary Jane gave us. Ty’ll be there. When we ride out, he’s comin’ with us.”
“Sure, Pa. I’ll be there. What time?”
“We’re gonna have supper, which I’m certain you’d like to have,” Jim said.
“I sure would. I haven’t tasted Ma’s cookin’ since me’n Mary Jane returned from Galveston.”
“Good. Figure around seven o’clock.”
“I’ll see you around seven. Until then, I’m just gonna stay with Mary Jane. I’ll stop by Mike and Bethea’s graves and pay my respects, on the way home.”
● ● ●
Julia absolutely refused to allow any discussion of the Ghost Riders, or any of the crimes they had committed, at supper that night. She insisted the men needed the time just to relax, enjoy themselves, and clear their heads. It was only after the buttermilk pie was served, the table cleared, and the men in the living room, while she cleaned up the kitchen, that any mention of the Ghost Riders was allowed. Once everyone had cups of coffee, those who smoked had lit their cigarettes, and everyone was comfortably seated before the topic was brought up.
“All right men, now that we’ve all got bellyfuls of Mrs. Blawcyzk’s fine cookin’, it’s time we got back to the business at hand,” Captain Storm said. “This bunch folks have taken to callin’ the Ghost Riders.”
“That name sure seems to fit the ou
tfit,” J.R. said. “They always strike on a cloudy or stormy night, they dress to look like ghosts, even their horses are all light colored, to look like ghost mounts. That preys on superstitious folks, and if enough of those get scared soon more’n more people start thinkin’ they’re up against a bunch of real spooks… except they ain’t.”
“That’s right,” Storm said. “Now, since Jim’s in charge of trackin’ down that bunch, I’m gonna let him take over. Jim…”
“Thanks, Cap’n,” Jim said. “Unfortunately, we still don’t have a lot to go on, although we did pick up a bit more information, mostly from Mary Jane, Charlie’s wife. First, until they attacked here in San Leanna, the outfit had committed most of their depredations over in west Texas. Thanks to Smoky, we have a pretty good idea why they hit here. We think three of their members were here in town, some weeks back. They happened to try’n rob the same restaurant where me’n Smoke were havin’ supper. The three of ’em died in the attempt. Once the rest of the outfit found out what happened to their pardners, they came for revenge. Once that was done, they hightailed it on outta this territory. We figure they’re probably already back in west Texas somewhere, and will hit some small settlement over that way. The only problem is, we have no idea where.”
“And that’s a whole lot of territory to cover,” Ty said.
“You’re right about that,” Jim agreed. “Now, we know these hombres have no consciences whatsoever. They kill without compunction, take everything what they can and destroy most of what they can’t. Even worse, so far they’ve been operating with impunity. When we do finally catch up with ’em, keep that in mind. These aren’t the kind of men who’ll surrender. They’ll fight until they’re dead… or we are.”
“I don’t plan on takin’ any prisoners anyway,” Charlie said.
The Ghost Riders Page 20