Hunter James Dolin

by Bret Lee Hart

  Both men tipped their glasses back, one after the other. The sun had been up for an hour now, making sipping time over. The captain poured the glasses nearly full this time.

  "What do you know of the half-breed?"

  "I know what I heard," replied the captain. "I know the Army had a price on his head before the war drew the soldiers out of Florida. They wanted him for killin' fifty men and burnin' down Myakka City. I also know he'd been missin' for a year 'til someone gunned down Scooter Johnson's hired guns at his saloon. Scooter was one of your men – seen him lately?"

  Richard tipped back his glass and smacked his lips. "Two of my boys found some pieces of him in a gator pit just outside the city."

  "Shit," was all the captain could say before lighting his pipe.

  "Don't fret. I won't underestimate him this time. I've got better men, and I got The Miss Lilly and her Gatlin guns."

  "You always were arrogant, Richard," replied the captain, blowing out smoke that began to fill the small room. "Someday it's gonna' catch up with yah. I always said that. I just hope it's not this time, while I'm around."

  Richard Montgomery stood, adjusting his gunbelt. "You just worry 'bout my boat, and I'll worry 'bout the half-breed. I think under the circumstances you and your crew should stay on the ship."

  "I agree."

  "If you need anything, you send one of your boys to the house and I'll take care of it."

  "Oh, I will take you up on that, don't you worry."

  Richard nodded and left the steamer. He didn't trust this man completely, but he would have to rely on him for now. The half-breed gunslinger was coming for him and he needed as many guns as his money would buy.

  Lilith had washed up from her morning wifely duties, and she was now dressed and watching out the front window of the master bedroom. Looking out upon the lake through the oak trees, she could see the dock and the ramp of the steamship. Richard walked down the gangplank, and stood on the dock, lighting a cigar. Lilith did not like her husband; she knew he was just plain bad, one of those men born rotten to the core.

  She would continue to play along, waiting for her opportunity to escape. She knew he would hunt her down and kill her before letting her go. Richard Montgomery would have to die for her to be free. On more than one occasion, she had hovered over him with a knife as he lay passed out from too much whiskey. But she could not go through with it, she was simply too afraid of him and his power.

  Lilith watched Montgomery talking to two of his men on the head of the dock. She knew something was going on, she had heard rumors of a half-Indian who had killed many men, and this was why everyone was on alert. She did not know why this half-breed wanted Richard dead – she did not care – she only hoped he was good enough to get through this small army. But she couldn't see how it was possible for one man. Lilith decided, in that very moment, that she would help this Indian any way she could, if the opportunity ever presented itself.

  A Lilith jumped, startled, as a knock came at the door. "Mrs. Montgomery?"

  "Yes, who's there?"

  "Mr. Montgomery would like you downstairs for vittles."

  "Be right down." She gathered herself quickly and left the room for the staircase and the first floor kitchen.

  Richard and Lilith dined together in the eating area off the kitchen. There were many wood tables and chairs in the dining area. They were seated at a larger table in the corner, reserved for Richard Montgomery. He always ate amongst his men – back against the wall – watching as they walked in and out from the kitchen, full plates coming out, empty plates going in.

  The men glanced carefully at Lilith, trying to get a look without Montgomery noticing them. They could not help themselves, for Lilith was the most beautiful woman most of them had ever seen. Florida was no-man's-land and she was a highfalutin' northern city girl. Not to mention, the closest whorehouse was three days ride and the boys had been stuck here for two weeks now, protecting the home front.

  There were all sorts of men here, who thought very different about women. Some thought of saving Lilith's life and receiving from her a hero's reward. There were other men here, the worst ones, who daydreamed of finding her alone and raping her violently. Then, there were others who minded their own business – only looking to do their job and draw their pay. These were usually the seasoned old timers and the most dangerous.

  Montgomery fed his men well, regardless of type. He had acquired a professional cook who lived in a small room just off the dining area and the kitchen was open twenty-four hours.

  Chinn Yang had been down this road before – he had worked for a man named Frank Lugar who owned a ranch outside Myakka City. Chinn was one of the few who survived the wrath of the half-breed gunslinger, only because the half-breed did not run across him. Chinn knew how to make himself scarce. He was fluent in the English language, but he never spoke it, that's why he was still alive. Chinn Yang had been a slave ever since he was a young boy, brought to this country from China to lay track for the railroad. These were the same trains being successfully used by the Union against the Confederacy in a war which was far from civil.

  Chinn Yang was making his way from the kitchen to the dining room with a tray of bread and butter for Montgomery. He had made it to the corner table when the Chinese cook was pushed aside by a very large bearded man with a single, worn handled revolver hanging from his hip. He was middle-aged, weathered, and rugged.

  He stood across the table from Montgomery, towering over the seated Richard, giving him the advantage. "I'll have a word with you, Montgomery."

  Richard looked up from his plate and continued to cut a generous piece of steak; he jabbed it with a large knife and put it in his mouth after dipping it into the runny yolk of his egg. He continued to eat very calmly, as the egg dripped from his mustache. "You reek of liquor, sir. Are you sure you want to interrupt my mornin' meal?" asked Richard Montgomery.

  "My name is Willy Macoy, and I'm callin' you out."

  Montgomery stopped eating; he set his utensils down and glared at this man before him as he wiped his mouth with a piece of linen while leaning comfortably against the back of his chair. A long pause followed as their eyes locked, several men slowly moved in behind Montgomery resting their hands on the butts of their guns.

  "You work for me, Mister?" asked Montgomery.

  "About a week now, just to git close to yah. Now are we goin' outside, or right here's fine by me?" The man's voice broke a little as he spoke, he had thought about this moment day and night for two years, and now it had finally arrived.

  "What's your problem with me?" asked Richard in his best innocent voice. "I'm only a business man these days."

  "You killed my family and stole their gold claim back in the Dakotas, just past two years ago today. I'm here for a gentleman's Justice."

  "I assure you, you've got the wrong man, but I can see there is no talkin' you out of it." Richard pointed his hand toward the door. "After you, we shall take this outside."

  The man turned on his heel and took three steps toward the door.

  Montgomery stood up, pulled his revolver, and shot the man in the back of the head. As the bullet exited his left eye socket, the man seemed to stand at attention for a moment before timbering like a falling tree, hitting the ground with a thud on the floorboards, his face breaking his fall. A puddle of warm blood quickly formed around his head.

  Montgomery holstered his gun, the smoke from his firearm rising slowly up to the ceiling. "Anybody else got a problem with me?" Montgomery shouted.

  There was no reply from anyone as Richard scanned the room; most went back to their breakfast. Chinn Yang served the bread and left the room for the safety of his kitchen as several of Richard's men went over to remove the body.

  "Leave him," barked Richard, as he sat down and continued eating the rare steak in front of him. He glanced often at the dead man, as the blood soaked into the cracks of the wood floor.

  Lilith was glued to her seat during this whole ep
isode, she now stood and scrambled from the room in disgust.

  "Where the hell you goin'?" shouted Richard as he chewed on the red meat.

  "Want me to git her back here, Mr. Montgomery?" asked Bodie from the doorway, as Lilith scooted past him as he entered.

  "No, let her go. You know how women are; their soft emotions can't handle what men must do."

  Bodie walked over to the dead man on the floor, He kneeled down and grabbed a handful of hair, turning the head toward him.

  "Did you hire this man, Bodie?" asked Richard.

  "Well, he ain't got much of a face left, but I recognize him and you know I do most of the hiring 'round here."

  Bodie stood and pointed to two of the men. "Git this body out a here. Throw it under the house – them gators might as well start gittin' use to human meat." As he said this, he looked in Montgomery's direction. "I have a feelin' they'll be gittin' more bodies in the near future."

  Richard said nothing, he just went on back to his food, but the half-breed gunslinger did enter his mind for the first time that day.

  * * * * *

  Lilith walked halfway down the dock trying to get as far away from the dining room as possible. Two men with rifles followed her, but kept their distance as they had been previously ordered.

  She stopped and stared out onto the lake, leaning on the handrail in thought. Richard was mistaken, the blood and killing did not bother her at all, she'd seen it her whole life, and the only thing that bothered her was that Montgomery was still alive. That man was brave coming here but he never stood a chance. Richard Montgomery was an evil sort and didn't fight fair.

  Her only hope was the half-breed, but where was he? And who was he? The odds were obviously against him, Richard's men were waiting at the ready. If the Indian man came and all hell broke loose, she decided that's when she would make her escape. Lilith had no idea where she would go, but any place was better than here. Even though she was pampered and well-fed, she still did not have her freedom.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Hunter, Jebediah, and Walt traveled south, a mile inland from the big lake's shore, keeping to the thicket. They moved along cautiously through the swamp and stopped frequently while Hunter used the spyglass searching for signs of Montgomery's home. The terrain changed from woods to swamp and back again; only once did they have to maneuver into hiding by ducking down into the palm meadows as a five-man band of Red Legs rode up their flank.

  The Red Legs were moving fast and passed by them without discovery. Hunter and his small, but mature, army followed in their tracks at a slower pace, which took them closer to the shoreline. Hunter suddenly came to an abrupt stop. Purposely, there were two horse lengths between Jebediah and Hunter, and two between Jebediah and Walt. These men and their animals had traveled long distances and they worked together well.

  They all waited in silence as Hunter pulled his scope from his saddlebag and, putting it to his eye, he scanned the countryside from center to the left, then slowly back to center, then to the right where he stayed, moving little. It was obvious to all there was something interesting in his sights.

  Hunter put away the spyglass and began checking his guns. Jebediah looked back to Walt making eye contact. Without a word, the two men brought their horses alongside Hunter, placing him in the center.

  "When you check them guns, trouble usually seems to follow," said Jebediah.

  "Shit," groaned Walt.

  The gunslinger said nothing; He sheathed his Colts then pulled the sawed-off from his side-holster and broke it, checking the shells for moisture. Satisfied he was locked and loaded, he put the shotgun away and took out the spyglass, handing it to Jebediah. "Take a look."

  Jeb put the scope to his left eye, but not liking that one, he moved it to the right one.

  "You know which eye to close on that thing?" Walt joked with a snicker.

  "Quiet, you old coot," replied Jebediah, pointing it in the direction of the smoke that could be seen over the trees. "Looks more like a fortress than a house."

  "Follow the walkout to the lake – at the end of the dock," said Hunter.

  "Son-of-a-bitch," cursed Jebediah. "Them are Gatlin' guns on that steamer. I don't know – we might be bitin' off more than we can chew."

  "Let me see that thing," demanded Walt.

  Jebediah handed the glass to Hunter, who then handed it to Walt, who then looked in the same direction. "I shore don't like it much boys," warned Walt. "There's a small Army down yonder, and them Gatlin's can do a lot of damage. I seen 'em in the Indian wars, cutting' down whole war parties like nothin'."

  "Changin' your minds, boys?" asked Hunter.

  "Well, I didn't ride all this way for nothin'. What do you say, Walt?" asked Jebediah.

  Walt was still looking through the scope when his jaw fell open dramatically before he answered, "I don't think we're goin' in there anytime soon, not without a plan any ways,"

  Hunter took the glass from Walt and began scanning.

  "Second floor balcony, center of the house," directed Walt.

  The gunslinger found what Walt was talking about and he could not believe his eyes. There, on the second floor landing, stood Lilith – no, not his Lilith – but the woman could have been her twin. Hunter could not believe it; Montgomery went out and found a girl the spittin' image of her. Feelings flooded back on Hunter. He handed the spyglass to Jebediah, who was wondering what the devil they were talking about. He did a double take through the glass,

  "I only saw her once," said Jeb. "A long time back, but it sure looks like her." Jebediah closed the scope, turning his attention to the gunslinger. "Could it be?"

  "No," replied Hunter. "I saw her die. I'll bet this woman is not there of her own free will, just like Lilith. I got to save her."

  "I think I need a drink," said Walt.

  "It will be dark soon," said Hunter, ignoring Walt's comment. "We'll fall back in the swamp and set up a safe camp. Most of Montgomery's men are Yankee Red Legs and they won't look for us back in there. Let's move."

  They headed deep in the swamp 'til they found a hammock cluttered with trees, a good mile and a half away from Montgomery's house. Hunter and the old men went to work clearing out a spot in the center of the small island. Hunter built a wall from the cut branches, weaving them together with the efficiency of a Lower Creek Indian woman. This wall would shield the light of their fire from being seen in the night for the cooking.

  Jebediah and Walt devoured bear steaks, washing it down with the Okeechobee whiskey. Hunter ate little meat and passed on the moonshine, for his night was just beginning. He'd been thinking hard on his next move since he saw that woman on the balcony.

  "I'm goin' in alone, boys," explained the half-breed as he pulled his bow and arrows from the Appaloosa's saddle.

  "You want us to sit here and do nothin'?" asked Walt, clear bewilderment in his voice.

  "I want you two to git some rest, stay somewhat sober, and be ready in case I got men riding my ass when we git back here."

  "We?" asked Jebediah, knowing damn well and good what the gunslinger was up to.

  Hunter ignored the question as he stripped Zeke of his saddle, down to the horse's bare back. He removed his shirt and his boots; he then laced up a pair of knee-high moccasins he removed from one of his saddlebags. Hanging the bow over one shoulder and the quiver of arrows over the other, he jumped up on his horse. Hunter carried only one revolver, which he tucked in his front belt next to the thirteen-inch Bowie knife.

  "God speed, son," said Jebediah.

  "Watch your ass," said Walt.

  The half-breed gunslinger rode off into the darkness, heading for Montgomery's lakefront fortress. For a split second the thought crossed Hunter's mind: Would he see these two old coots ever again?

  For Walt and Jebediah this same thought did not just cross their minds, but would linger there until his return. The old men found themselves checking their guns, a habit of the gunslinger's that would give them something to do w
hile they waited. Walt and Jebediah thought to pack up the camp and prepare their horses for a quick retreat. They would then sleep for a short time, rebuilding their energy; old men needed their rest, or something Walt liked to call his 'purty sleep'.

  Hunter and Zeke moved swiftly and quietly through the swamp and forest. As he went over the plan in his head, he concluded it was simple, but sound. His success would depend on how his adversaries would react. He did not think they would suspect he would come in and kidnap the woman; not even Montgomery could predict that.

  Some might think Hunter was a romantic, but this could not be farther from the truth – revenge was what he sought. Hurting Montgomery was his main objective; but the fact this woman could be Lilith's twin most likely drove him to this decision. The gunslinger pushed these thoughts from his mind as he came upon the edge of the woods at the clearing.

  He dismounted and tied Zeke's reins loosely to a scrub oak. The half-breed was barely a shadow moving along the tree line toward the lake. As he went, he glanced at the rear balcony where he had seen the woman earlier in the day, but he saw nothing. Now the middle of the night, there were no lights on in that part of the house – if she was not asleep in her room, the plan would fail.

  Hunter was still looking about when he spotted two guards on the roof of the house and a third guard on the second floor balcony, walking the perimeter. The man slowly walked around the building with a rifle in his mitts and a cigar dangling from his mouth. Hunter squatted in the brush, counting the seconds it took the man to circle the building. Just over a minute and a half from the woman's door, around the house, and back to the door again.

  The gunman stopped; he opened one side of the double doors and peered in for a short time. Seeming satisfied, he closed it and began his walk around the balcony in the opposite direction from where he came.

  Hunter left his position and headed to the front of the house toward the lake. There were two guards spread out on the hundred-foot walkout to the dock, and two more that he could see on the steam ship.