The Reluctant Bounty Hunter

by S G Read

  ‘No, not much snow lands in here, not like it does outside. I will have to move the herd inside for the winter and make sure they have food, but all summer they can wander out there to their hearts content, until I want them.’ Duncan answered.

  Zeke saw the wooden door Duncan had made.

  ‘That the other way in?’ He asked.

  ‘You don’t miss much, do you?’ Duncan answered. ‘I am having that one blocked off, so that the tunnel is the only way in.’

  ‘You find a gold mine to pay for all this work?’ Zeke asked.

  ‘Yep.’ Duncan answered but did not elaborate.

  They rode up to the Cabin and Duncan climbed of his horse in time to catch Duncan Wolf Lee, when he came running out to meet him.

  ‘Miss me did you Wolf?’ Duncan asked and carried him into the cabin. ‘We got company, Sun.’

  ‘More! Why don’t you invite the whole town out here?’ Morning Sun retorted.

  ‘Will do when the ranch is up and running. Now we can get stuff in without dragging it in, I aim to build a new cabin for us. One for Sarah for while she is here and one for guests when they are here.’ Duncan answered.

  ‘A lot of cabins Duncan Lee.’ Morning Sun replied.

  She put down the pot she was holding and Duncan put Wolf down, then they embraced, it was all they could do for now. She looked at the bandage on his head.

  ‘More scars?’ She asked.

  ‘Builds character.’ Duncan answered.

  ‘Did you see Sarah?’ She asked.

  ‘She’s in town, Fox got himself shot again, twice this time. She is looking after him.’ Duncan answered and walked to the door. ‘It’s safe to come in now boys.’

  ‘The pies all gone, Eugene is partial to it.’ Morning Sun warned.

  ‘Am I paying him just to eat my pie?’ Duncan asked incredulously.

  ‘He’s got to eat.’ Morning Sun declared.

  ‘But not necessarily my pie!’ Duncan argued.

  While the work continued on the tunnel and blocking up the cave entrance, Duncan clucked around like a mother hen. Looking here, looking there, while the men worked and generally getting in the way. Zeke and his men stayed the night then rode for Bluegrass. More wagons arrived with the things Eugene had ordered and they started making the doors that would seal the tunnel.

  The cave was turned from an entrance you could walk through to a store room. When the tunnel was up to letting traffic through and the road had been made into the valley, Duncan sent for the wagons with the wood for the cabins. With them came Sarah, Slim and Fox. Fox was put in Sarah’s bed, much to his complaint, while Duncan and Slim talked about cabins with Eugene.

  With the weather getting colder they needed building next and Eugene pulled workmen off other projects to start on them. Duncan was going to build them originally but as the men were there, with their equipment and know how, he let them build them.

  ‘We have a lot of rock left over Mr. Lee.’ The man put in charge, one Martin Main declared. ‘Why don’t we build one with it, or at least the first floor of it?’

  The thought of a building made out of the rocks they had taken from the tunnel excavation conjured a picture in his head which Duncan liked.

  ‘Why not?’ He answered.

  ‘You will have to talk to Eugene about it.’ Martin added.

  ‘I will do that at this very moment.’ Duncan answered and walked off to find Eugene.

  He found him in the cave, supervising the final filling in of holes at the top of the wall. He looked at the wall with a critical eye, before he asked him about the building made of rock and liked what he saw, no one would come though there without explosives and soon the creepers would cover the opening completely.

  ‘Martin said there is rock left over and they could use it to build a cabin.’ He announced when Eugene acknowledged him.

  ‘We could but the winter is approaching and as that is right out in the open it will have to take priority over finishing the tunnel; and it will cost extra.’ Eugene answered.

  ‘Understood. Go ahead, I will arrange for more money at the bank.’ Duncan replied.

  When the last rock was laid in the cave, the men started surveying the land prior to building the cabin made of rock. Duncan saddled his horse, loaded his prospecting equipment on it and rode out. Rather than pan for gold in the stream in the valley, he thought he would try his hand in the stream by the crossroads. He assumed it was the same stream and hoped enough gold had washed that far to make it worthwhile.

  He watched his back trail and searched in front with the scope off his rifle before settling down to pan for gold. This was the very edge of his land, so anyone seeing him take gold out of the stream would stake a claim next door, as soon as they could make it into town. He worked methodically for three hours until the noise of a horse approaching made him seek cover. Sarah rode up to the stream where his horse was drinking from.

  ‘If you have decided to stop skulking in the bushes, I have food for you Pa.’ she announced.

  ‘Can’t I have any secrets?’ Duncan asked and walked up the other side of the stream until he was opposite her.

  ‘Well you will have to cross! I am not getting my feet wet.’ Sarah declared.

  ‘What is it?’ Duncan asked.

  ‘Hot pie, the one you like.’ Sarah answered. ‘Ma thought you would need something to keep you going, as we need more money. Is it right you are have a cabin built of stone?’

  ‘It is, but I am hoping it will end up like a regular house with an upstairs and all.’ Duncan answered.

  ‘In that case I will help you pan, if you want me too?’

  ‘I welcome the help but better to keep watch than to pan as well, when I get tired we can swap.’ Duncan answered immediately.

  The prospecting equipment was hidden while they sat and ate but no one came by, then Duncan carried on panning for gold while Sarah kept watch. When he tired she panned for gold and he kept watch. There was less gold there but he found enough to make it worthwhile and they kept working until dark.

  ‘Now what is the plan?’ Sarah asked when the light was fading fast.

  ‘Make camp and make some coffee, any pie left to warm up.?’

  ‘Yes.’ Sarah answered and splashed across the stream to collect her horse.

  They made camp close to the stream on the opposite side from the trail, as anyone who was traveling would. The fire was big enough to be seen from the trail and they had enough bacon and beans should they have visitors. It was pitch black all around them when they heard the careful plod of a horse traveling on the trail when it was dark. Duncan and Sarah collected their rifles from their saddles as soon as they heard it, then sat away from the fire listening.

  ‘Ahoy the camp.’ A voice called.

  ‘IS that you again Sebastian?’ Duncan called back.

  ‘Is that you marshal Lee?’ Sebastian answered.

  ‘It is. You may approach the camp.’ Duncan answered.

  They heard the horse stop and Sebastian dismount. Then there was the splish splash of them crossing the stream, until they came into sight.

  ‘Take a seat Sebastian, we have bacon and beans.’ Duncan offered.

  ‘Grateful to you marshal and I will eat it when I have looked after Walter.’ Sebastian answered.

  ‘Who is Walter?’ Sarah found herself compelled to ask.

  ‘My horse maam.’ Sebastian answered politely.

  ‘Oh I like him.’ Sarah answered, but not loud enough for Sebastian to hear.

  Sebastian made sure his horse was cared for before he joined them and put his saddle near the fire to lean against it while he ate.

  ‘I take it there is a reason for your visit?’ Duncan asked when he had eaten.

  ‘Oh yes. Marshal Zeke sent me. Man name of Robert Prentiss arrived in town trying to find out who killed his brother. Mean looking feller. He had your letter and the man had to be allowed to read it. The feller wanted action and when Zeke told him all the action needed had
been taken now as his brother was killed while attacking folk who were fleeing from them, he got very ornery and said he didn’t think so! He sent me to tell you. I think they trailed me out of town so I kept on going through the dark to get a bit of a lead on them.’

  Duncan sat and listened impassively and waited for Sebastian to stop speaking before he answered.

  ‘Seems we are going to have visitors, which is a damned nuisance. We’ll leave for the valley at sun up and warn Eugene and his boys. No point in them ending up in the middle of all this.’ He declared.

  ‘We could lay a trap for them.’ Sarah replied.

  ‘They haven’t broken any laws yet Sarah.’ Duncan pointed out.

  ‘But when they do, they will be shooting at us!’ Sarah retorted.

  ‘Not us, me! It is me they want and me who they will meet.’ Duncan replied. ‘You two might be on hand in case there is trouble, in a safe place mind you!’

  ‘If there is trouble. The man is obviously out for revenge for you killing his brother!’ Sarah declared.

  ‘When he does I will resist to my utmost ability, as it says in the charter I signed when I became a marshal.’ Duncan answered.

  The fire died down and the camp grew dark. A light flickering somewhere in the darkness alerted Duncan to the presence of someone else in the area but he did not point it out to the others and went to sleep. At first light they saddled their horses and readied to leave but the arrival of five, heavily armed men, slowed things.

  ‘How do.’ Their leader said affably. ‘I am Robert Prentiss, do I have the pleasure of meeting Marshal Duncan Lee?’

  ‘You do.’ Duncan said from the other side of his horse.

  Sarah ducked under her horse to be on the other side of her horse but Sebastian stood clear of his defiantly.

  ‘Thank you young feller, for bringing me to the marshal so that I can discuss the way he murdered my brother.’ The Prentiss continued. ‘I have no quarrel with you son, or the young lady. You can both go on your way, my beef is with Marshal Lee.’

  ‘As he is my pa, your beef is with me as well.’ Sarah answered evenly.

  ‘So be it. And you young man?’ Prentiss asked.

  ‘I reckon I’ll be staying mister. I know of the marshal’s reputation and I would like to see him in action first hand, it will be something I can tell my kids as bedtime stories. How he killed all five of you.’ Sebastian answered. ‘You don’t mind if I stay and watch do you Mr. Prentiss.’

  Two of the men there looked fearfully at Duncan and Duncan smiled back. To help things along he moved to his right, so that he was no longer behind his horse. Being shot was one thing but left on foot out here, no thank you. It also gave him a clear line of fire with his pistol.

  ‘Just remember what I said Sebastian, this is my beef.’ He warned. ‘It comes with the territory, and I suppose the monthly check.’

  ‘Enough talk.’ Prentiss snarled and drew his pistol.

  Duncan stepped to his right and fired as he did so. The bullet from Prentiss’s pistol brushed his head on the way by but it was Prentiss who died, he fell backwards off his horse.

  ‘You four are under arrest.’ Sebastian declared, his pistol now in his hand.

  Sarah had her rifle aimed at them over her horse.

  ‘What for marshal?’ One man answered. ‘We didn’t know what he had planned, honest!’

  Zeke rode up the trail, flanked by four men.

  ‘Unfortunately for you there are several witnesses who will testify that you were recruited to help Robert Prentiss kill Marshal Duncan Lee, and you are going to jail!’ He answered, his own pistol aimed in their general direction.

  There was a moment of indecision, then they started unbuckling their gun belts to drop their weapons. Sebastian walked across the stream to collect them, he kept his pistol aimed at them, as he took their weapons. Once he had the weapons, he crossed the stream to his horse and loaded them on to his saddle. The men were manacled and readied for the trip back to Bluegrass.

  ‘Need your testimony in town Dunc.’ Zeke said, almost apologetically.

  ‘I know Zeke. Hell of a time to have to go but it is my duty. Do you need Sarah?’ Duncan asked.

  ‘No you and Seb should be enough.’ Zeke answered.

  ‘You go back to the valley and take the equipment Sarah.’ Duncan said, it was a cross between and order and a request.

  ‘Okay Pa.’ Sarah answered and started to clear up the camp, not hurrying, but also making sure she was not seen to be going slow.

  She watched them ride off, then after ten minutes unsaddled her horse. They wanted more gold and she was there, so she would get it. She was soon in the stream panning for gold but no longer in the bushes out of sight, now she was closer to where the water appeared from the ground under the trail which crossed it. She found a lump of gold like a pebble and moved closer to the outlet. There she found more such lumps. When she knelt in the water and reached into the mouth of the opening with the water gushing past her, she found even more. It seemed to be the mother load, lumps to big to be washed any further until the water was in flood again. She filled all the pokes she had left and laid them on the bank, but when she stood up a man stood there beside his horse watching her.

  ‘You clothes are all wet young lady and don’t it gladden a man’s heart.’ He looked round once more to make sure they were alone. ‘I came to investigate the shooting, thought it might be Indians but now I think I am going to take you, and then take all your gold.’

  Sarah turned and ran for her horse but he was fast. He splashed across the stream and caught her before she could reach it. She hit him as hard as she could and hurt him but his heart was set on raping her. He threw her to the ground by the stream and pinned her down.

  ‘I am going to enjoy every minute of this.’ He declared and started tearing at her clothes.

  Chapter 19

  Sarah felt as helpless now, as when she started to fancy the local boys near her school and they were scared of her but this was worse, she had no control over who she would give herself to. She thought of mentioning Marshall Duncan Lee but thought better of it, as the safest way forward for this rapist was to kill her afterwards and hide her body. Better to keep quiet and hope to stay alive and get your own back. She heard her dress tear and felt him tugging on her underclothes which did not stand up to his attempts to tear them for very long. She felt the cold air on parts she wanted to remain covered up and then she felt him touch her there. A shiver ran down her spine as he started to open his trousers to get access to a part she wanted to know nothing about. Suddenly there was a flash of brown skin and a scream like nothing Sarah had never heard before. It ended in a knife being rammed into the rapist’s back. Sarah had time to see Willow Grass’s face as he threw her off him with a bellow of both, rage and pain. He straightened and reached for his pistol but as he did so Star That Shines arrived and thrust a knife into his heart. The pistol dropped from his fingers and he sagged forward onto Sarah. The two squaws dragged the man off Sarah, so that she could tidy herself up. As she did so, she started crying and Willow Grass put her arms round her to both comfort her and hide he semi nakedness.

  It was while before Sarah stopped crying, then she stepped back to examine her dress. It was torn and her underclothes were round her ankle but the worst thing was that she was now covered in his blood! More tears flowed but Star That Shines just took her clothes, giving her the blanket from her bedroll to wrap round herself and started washing the clothes. Willow Grass nudged the fire into life and fed it with wood to dry the clothes once they were washed. Sarah looked on bemused.

  Willow Grass walked off as soon as the fire was burning brightly with Sarah sitting beside it, she came back a little later with a rabbit and a bird which she prepared for cooking. Star That Shines set the clothes near the fire to dry as soon as they were clean and then settled down to eat what Willow Grass had prepared.

  ‘Thank you for the food.’ Sarah said graciously in Pawnee when it
was passed to her, on her plate from the saddle bag. ‘And thank you for coming to my rescue but I do wonder why you are here now that the Indian village has gone.’

  ‘You can blame Willow Grass for that.’ Star That Shines answered. ‘She wanted to see where Prairie Fox was and if he was alright. She had a feeling that he was injured.’

  ‘Oh he’s that alright. That boy must learn to duck at the right time or it will be the death of him!’ Sarah declared.

  Both squaws laughed.

  ‘Is he with Morning Sun then?’ Star That Shines asked.

  ‘He is, for the second time I might add!’ Sarah answered.

  ‘I told you she would look after him Willow Grass.’ Star That Shines declared. ‘And we know Slim could find the cave whenever he wanted to.’

  ‘The cave is blocked now.’ Sarah explained. ‘You have to go onto the prairie and through a tunnel to get into the valley. Duncan owns the prairie and the valley now but he needs to pay the men and that is why I was finding gold to pay them with.’

  ‘After promising Duncan Lee you would go straight home!’ Willow Grass questioned.

  ‘I just wanted to finish what we started.’ Sarah replied disconsolately.

  Star That Shines started repairing the clothes as soon as they were dry and Sarah marveled at the repairs, from a distance they were not visible. It was going to be a far better homecoming than she had anticipated. When they were repaired she put on each item until she was fully dressed again.

  ‘Now that we have enough gold to pay the men I will show you where the tunnel is and Willow Grass can see Fox.’ Sarah declared.

  ‘I will get the horses.’ Star That Shines said and walked into the trees.

  ‘You have horses?’ Sarah asked.

  ‘Yes Mr. Carter insisted we have them for the journey.’ Willow Grass answered.

  ‘Are you sure it wasn’t Olivia?’ Sarah retorted.

  ‘It probably was.’ Willow Grass answered. ‘But he was not letting on. I see you are shortening Prairie Fox’s name like you do all other names.’

  ‘Yes, now it is Slim and Fox and they make a mean duo!’

  ‘What is a duo?’