The Reluctant Bounty Hunter

by S G Read

  That night they lay awake talking quietly, the examiners had not gone, they were there marking the papers, to see who had passed and who had failed. It was a stressful time for some, although Becky and Sarah were not overly worried. Neither Becky’s parents nor Duncan would worried should they fail, as they had already seen the change in the girl’s demeanor. They now walked and talked like young ladies and that is all they wanted. A piece of paper made very little difference to them but it would help the girls gain meaningful employment, should they want it. Most of them were happy enough to find a man who was rich enough to allow them to live as they wanted to live and not have to work at all. Others would probably end up in the family business where they would have to go along with their parents ideas, until the parents retired or died. Most then would be able to start to bring the concern out of the past and up to date in its operation. Some parents would listen and allow change but most would think they knew best. Sarah and Becky were glad they were out of that rut, they could choose their own future. Whether it was to marry a rich man or become the squaw of some young brave, they had that choice.

  Morning came and they were forced to eat breakfast like ladies, remembering all the etiquette they had been taught to impress the examiners. They did not know it but this was also part of the examination and counted toward their certificate.

  It was two more days before the examiners left. They had printed certificates with them and all they had to do was to sign them and put in the names of the girls who had passed. As soon as they had gone the certificates were locked in the safe and Ms. Brody was tight lipped about the results. She had been interviewed by the examiners, to hear her recommendations concerning each girl. She had had a hand in teaching each girl and had also seen them under duress, especially when the train was derailed and the Indians were attacking. Not many girls would survive that and still go on to be ladies. She did hold back some insights, especially of Sarah’s willingness to black an eye or even shoot someone as without her Ms. Brody Knew that she would be dead. She had informed the examiners that the girls had been taught to shoot a rifle as rifle shooting was an up and coming past time, not for the real reason, so that they might stay alive. Ms. Brody wondered if the examiners might not make it home, time would tell.

  After the exams the girls were allowed free time as long as the continued to act like young ladies and not resort to earlier habits. They read books, practiced their sewing or did outside pursuits like shooting or wrestling, the latter in the barn out of sight. Surprisingly Sarah and Becky did them all, not leaving anything out or wantonly making sure that one took precedence. Ms. Brody consented for her to send a telegram to Bluegrass as her letter to Duncan remained unanswered. This was mainly because it was in town waiting for him to collect it as the person who rode out could not find any Pawnee to give it to and had returned with it.

  ‘Come On!’ Becky complained when Sarah was still dressing before walking into town.

  ‘The town will still be there in five more minutes!’ Sarah retorted, tucking her pistol in her bag.

  ‘It is just that we have been cooped up in this place for so long I can’t… oops… cannot wait until we get out through the gate.’ Becky replied.

  She stood there waiting, trying not to look and sound impatient until Sarah was ready and then they walked to the parlor for inspection.

  ‘Very nice girls.’ Ms. Brody declared. ‘Now do try not to shoot anyone if you can help it and a wolf whistle is not a reason to shoot a man!’

  ‘Yes Ms. Brody.’ The two girls chorused and curtseyed politely before turning and leaving the room.

  They wanted to run but walked ladylike with a parasol over their shoulders to keep the sun off as any lady would, in the heat of the day until they arrived at the telegraph office.

  ‘I want to send a telegram please.’ Sarah announced, after they had walked in and closed the door behind them.

  ‘Where to young lady?’ The man behind the window asked.

  ‘Bluegrass, to the marshal there.’ Sarah replied.

  ‘Quite a few marshals in Bluegrass miss, do you have a name?’ The man asked.

  ‘Marshall Zeke, I do not know his full name but he is in charge of all the other marshals.’ Sarah answered.

  ‘That’ll do, at least they will know who it is for.’ The man replied. ‘That will cost three dollars please.’

  Sarah paid him and dictated the message. The man behind the window read it back to Sarah and then sent it.

  ‘It’s on its way missy.’

  ‘Thank you so much.’ Sarah gushed, trying to play the part perfectly and the two walked out again but they did not go straight to the school.

  They walked away from the school at first using the swaggering walk they had had drummed into them and headed for the station. There was not much going on there, so they did a round trip, stopping at the store to spend a little more money before walking back up to the school. Heads had turned where they walked but those who might have whistled at them had been on the wrong end of Sarah’s anger and kept quiet.

  ‘You shouldn’t have been so rough on those two who whistled last time!’ Becky admonished. ‘At least you knew they were paying attention when they did!’

  ‘So sorry, that was the old me, the immature me. The new me will welcome such whistles with only the disapproving look.’ Sarah answered.

  ‘It is a bit late now, is it not? They are all ruddy scared of you.’ Becky retorted, slipping from the expected refined speech.

  Sarah looked at her as if she was looking over her imaginary spectacles at the slip in standards.

  ‘Really dear thing, kindly keep your language acceptable.’ She replied.

  ‘So sorry, a slip of the tongue.’ Becky answered. ‘In fact I would not mind a slip of the tongue from him.’ She added, nodding toward the young man in question.

  They both laughed, causing him to look at them but he did not say anything and they merely smiled at him as they walked by. Back at the school they were questioned in depth by the other girls, as their escapades in the past had been worth hearing about.

  ‘Is that it?’ Priscilla asked. ‘What not one whistle or suggestive comment?’

  ‘Not one,’ Becky answered, ‘but then I was with Sarah.’

  ‘I suppose it is understandable then.’ Priscilla agreed. ‘After she blacked the two boy’s eyes and ended up on detention for it.’

  Sarah sat on her bed not speaking. She knew it was all her own fault and a throw back from walking the streets of Martinsburg, trying to get away from Jonas and Marion, to stop from doing all their work for no pay. When the boys there said or did anything, they rued the day and Sarah was told off for getting her dirty old clothes even dirtier. She smiled at the thought.

  ‘What have you got to smile about?’ Priscilla asked.

  ‘I was just remembering what it used to be like in Martinsburg before my mother was killed by Indians and, now that I have sent off his invitation, my guardian will be coming for the ceremony.’ Sarah answered.

  ‘My father is coming and he wants to meet you Sarah to thank you for saving me.’ Priscilla declared.

  ‘He already gave me a thousand dollars, what else is he going to do?’ Sarah complained.

  ‘I have no idea Sarah, he just wrote that he wanted to speak to you in his last letter.’

  ‘Well I will be here and he will be able to meet my guardian Duncan, everyone has heard of him where we live.’ Sarah said dismissing the idea as one she was unlikely to get out of.

  The telegraph operator ran to the marshal’s office and, not one to knock and wait, opened the door and hurried inside.

  ‘Telegram for you Zeke.’ He declared, holding it out for Zeke to take.

  ‘Well what does it say Hiram, you just wrote it so you’ll know?’ Zeke answered, not attempting to take the telegram.

  ‘What you want me to read it? I aint supposed to do that Zeke, it’s supposed to be private.’ Hiram answered.

  ‘But as you
just wrote it you will know, so tell me.’ Zeke insisted.

  ‘Well if you insist.’ Hiram declared. ‘It is a message for Duncan Lee. Young Sarah is finishing her time at school and they are having a ceremony, with certificates and all that. Young Sarah wants him to go and see her get her certificate and then bring her back with him.’

  He laid the telegram on the desk.

  ‘Not a good time to be over in that area with all the Indian fighting though.’ Hiram added.

  ‘Thank you Hiram, I will make sure Duncan gets the message.’ Zeke retorted, looking up from his paperwork and then looked back down.

  ‘I was only saying… I weren’t meaning that Duncan Can’t look after her, I was just saying…

  ‘Bye Hiram.’ Zeke replied meaningfully and looked up again.

  Hiram turned and walked out.

  Zeke picked up the telegram and read it himself then stood up, pushing the chair he was sitting in, back as he did so. This was a chance to get out of the office and he was going to take it. He walked to the courthouse where his second in command was working.

  ‘Got an urgent telegram for Dunc so I will run in over to Carter so that he can see it is delivered.’ He announced.

  ‘Not just using it to get out on your horse for a while are you Zeke?’ The second marshal asked.

  ‘Would I do that Clancy?’ Zeke asked in reply.

  ‘You would. I could deliver it.’ Clancy answered.

  ‘Too dangerous, with the Indians in out and out warfare against anyone who they get hold of.’ Zeke replied.

  ‘Yeah and you know the Pawnee will protect someone with a badge on when you are on their lands.’ Clancy snorted. ‘You enjoy your little ride, I’ll keep the town going while you are gone as it is quite quiet at the moment.’

  ‘Quiet, it’s like a graveyard.’ Zeke retorted and walked out.

  He walked as far as a house three streets away and knocked the door politely.

  ‘Who is it?’ A voice asked from within.

  ‘Only Zeke Mrs. Fullerton. Is Rachel available?’

  ‘Always for you Zeke so when are you going to make an honest woman of her?’ Mrs. Fullerton answered.

  ‘When she says yes Mrs. Fullerton, I do keep asking.’ Zeke replied.

  ‘She always was a headstrong girl.’ Mrs. Fullerton declared, then raised her voice. ‘Zeke is here to see you Rachel.’

  ‘Coming Ma.’ Rachel called back but it was still a few minutes before she walked into the parlor.

  ‘I just came to let you know I was going out of town for a while to deliver a note to Duncan Lee.’ Zeke announced before Rachel could speak.

  ‘What with all those Indians about Zeke! Couldn’t you send someone else?’ Rachel asked.

  ‘Just doing my job Rachel, after all I have no one to worry about as I am a bachelor.’ Zeke answered. ‘I might be gone a week.’

  ‘Well don’t blame me if you get yourself scalped!’ Rachel retorted and retreated from the room.

  ‘By Mrs. Fullerton.’ Zeke said to the old woman who had not stirred from the chair she was in and had not stopped what she was doing.

  ‘By Zeke, try again when you come back.’ The old woman answered.

  ‘I will Mrs. Fullerton.

  Zeke walked back to the stable and saddled his horse.

  ‘At least you seem pleased to see me.’ Zeke declared as he stroked the horse’s neck.

  ‘You will come back safe won’t you?’ Rachel asked from the doorway.

  ‘I don’t intend to get myself killed, why would it matter?’ Zeke asked but carried on saddling the horse.

  ‘Of course it would! I do want you to be the father of my children and not that scheming Thaddeus Fuller.’ Rachel retorted without any delay.

  ‘So how come every time I ask you to marry me you turn me down?’

  ‘Well I can’t leave mother in her condition can I?’ Rachel exclaimed.

  ‘Her condition is old age Rachel and there is no cure. She will just get older and older then die, hopefully peacefully. Besides I like your mother and I am quite willing to let your mother live with us when we are married!’ Zeke replied.

  ‘You might be but I am not!’ Rachel declared.

  ‘So you want to wait until she is dead then?’ Zeke asked.

  ‘No that is horrible! I just need to know she is looked after and then we can marry.’

  ‘I am quite willing to add on to my place and make a place for your mother but I am not willing to wait until you arrange something, because you won’t.’ Zeke answered.

  He mounted his horse and rode out. Rachel opened her mouth to answer but he was gone and would not hear. She walked back up the street to the house she shared with her mother and slammed the door when she walked in.

  ‘Want to talk about it?’ Her mother asked.

  ‘No I don’t.’ Rachel answered and went to her room.

  Zeke rode out of town, following a route he knew well. Every now and then he stopped and read the sign which was all around and then rode on, he did not want to run into a band of Sioux. There were less of them about now but they were still just as mean as they had always been.

  Where the sign made him think there might be trouble ahead he took a different route, it would take longer but at least he would still have hair to keep the sun off of his head when he was not wearing his hat. At times he rode into rocky outcrops and waited until the Indians had passed by but they were only in ones and twos. Finally he looked over the prairie at the Carter ranch. After looking for some time, to see if anyone was nearby he started over the prairie toward the farmhouse. As soon as he started three Sioux Indians gave chase and he gave his horse its head. The whooping behind him spurred him on as his horse covered the ground between him and the ranch. Suddenly one man stood up and all three Indian were blasted from their horse. Zeke slowed and looked back to where the men stood.

  ‘Nice to see you Slim.’ He said when he saw it was Slim standing there.

  ‘They’ve been playing cat and mouse with me for half a day.’ Slim answered. ‘Thanks for drawing them out into the open.’

  ‘Obliged to you for saving my hair Slim, so I am glad I helped.’ Zeke answered. ‘Got a telegram for Dunc, can you see he gets it?’

  ‘I sure will Zeke, after I have buried those coyotes. I like their friends to have to dig them up just to see who I shot.’

  ‘I’ll give you a hand Slim as you are saving me half a day’s ride.’ Zeke answered and road back to the fallen Indians, drawing his pistol as he rode. He looked down at each one before he dismounted. ‘Still a good shot with that canon of yours then?’

  ‘I try.’ Slim answered and mounted his horse. He rode over to the dead Indians.

  They started to dig a hole to bury the Indians in, they did not deserve their own grave. They had their rifles close by and their pistols with them, as they worked but did not see anyone else while they worked. When the hole was big enough and deep enough the Indians were unceremoniously rolled in to it and the grave was refilled as quickly as they could.

  ‘Got that there telegram then Zeke?’ Slim asked as he wiped his shovel on the grass to clean it.

  Zeke took of his hat and fished the telegram out.

  ‘A mite sweaty but still readable.’ He announced as he gave it to Slim.

  ‘Best take the east trail back Zeke, there are less Sioux that way.’ Slim warned. ‘You might run into a few Pawnee but they have had all the fight knocked out of them.’

  ‘Thanks Slim. Give Dunc my best and ask him when we are going to see him.’

  ‘Will do Zeke, safe journey home.’ Slim answered and watched Zeke ride away.

  Slim stayed where he was watching until Zeke made the edge of the prairie then he mounted his horse and rode away, choosing to go straight to Duncan’s valley rather than going to the ranch first. He was a careful man and chose to go in a circle rather than straight to the trail he wanted, to make it difficult for anyone watching him to know which trail he was going to take. He al
so went down one trail and waited before returning to see if anyone was following. When he saw no one, he took the trail he wanted and started moving slow and easy to be ready if anyone jumped him. He continued at the same speed, only going faster if the terrain required it until the light started to fail. He chose a place to camp and stopped in the same rock formation that he had Star that Shines had decided to escape through when faced with three Sioux braves. In there a fire would not be seen and possibly not smelled. He wanted hot coffee and hot food tonight even if he had to fight for it!

  He sat there after he had eaten, savoring the coffee with his back against a large out crop of rock which had the very useful overhang. He did not light a cigar, as they were his preference, because it would lead his enemy straight to him. Before it was completely dark he moved the fire to the other side of the space and set up his bed beside it but slept behind his saddle on a second bedroll, far enough away to react if anyone tried to kill him were in his bed by the fire. No one came and it was waste of time but it had saved his life before and he was sure it would again one day. In the morning he covered the fire with soil to make the clearing look as if no one had been in there and moved on. It would not fool the Indians for long but if they just rode through they might miss the place where he had lit his fire. Once out of the rocks he picked up speed, here it was open so he could move faster and did. Later after covering several miles he slipped into a place he could watch from and watched both where he had come from and where he was headed, just in case.

  He was about to move on when a lone Indian appeared, following his tracks. He drew his rifle and waited as the brave approached but soon returned his rifle to its scabbard when he recognized the young brave. He watched the brave ride by then rode out beside him.

  ‘Going my way Prairie Fox?’ He asked when the young brave jumped. ‘If I were a Sioux your hair would be on my tepee tonight.’

  ‘Were you a Sioux you would be dead Mr. Slim.’ Prairie Fox retorted. ‘I knew you were in there.’

  ‘And where are you off to?’ Slim asked, not contesting the answer.

  ‘I was following you as you seem to be able to find my enemy the Sioux who killed Willow Grass.’ Prairie Fox answered. ‘And I want to kill Sioux.’