by Ginger Ring
“Rose left a couple hours ago with the sheriff. He said her family was waiting for her over in Plank.”
He felt the blood rush from his head and it must have shown on his face.
“I’m sorry Seth. She wanted to stay and talk to you before she left but the sheriff wouldn’t wait.”
Mr. Brink walked over to the front door. “That man is always in a hurry.” He shook his head. “I remember that poor girl that was murdered. She forgot some of the material she ordered here. I just happened to mention it when Anderson was here. Before I knew it, he grabbed it out of my hand and said he’d deliver it. It was probably a good thing in the long run as he was the one that found that poor dear’s body.”
After hearing this, Seth broke out in a sweat. His eyes met Butler’s and he could tell they were both thinking the same thing.
“The young woman from the wagon train, did they ever stop in here for supplies.”
This time Mrs. Brink’s spoke up. “They sure did. I remember her. Bought a pretty red plaid blanket.”
“Was the sheriff here when they were?”
Mr. Brink seemed to catch on as his eyes got big and he stood a little straighter. “Come to think of it no but after they left, he came over asking some questions. I figured he was just looking out for the town and seeing what their business was here.”
“How long ago did Rose and the sheriff leave.”
“A couple hours ago, I guess. I would think he’d be on his way back by now. With those clouds rolling in, he may have stayed there though.”
“Thanks. Let’s go.” He ushered Butler out.
“Are you going after them?” Mr. Brink followed them out the door.
“Yes.” It was on the edge of his tongue to say more but before he declared the sheriff a killer, he needed to know more. His first priority was finding Rose.
“Do you think he might be rustling those cows too?” Ted spoke in a low voice.
“I’m starting to wonder that as well.” He spotted Phil watering his horse in a nearby tank.
“Hey Phil.” They walked over to talk to him.
“Yeah.”
“If you were to see some of the cattle that were lost, do you think you would recognize them?”
“Of course I would. I know all the brands in the area even the ones they took.”
Seth scratched the beard that was starting to grow too long on his chin. Since Rose had come into his life he hadn’t had a chance to think about anything else, let alone take time for a shave.
“We think we might have a lead on who took the cattle and who may have murdered those women. Would you be willing to ride with us?” he explained his suspicions about Anderson and Rose.
Sure, he could confront the guilty man on his own but it would be his word against the lawman. He needed all the witnesses he could get. Despite giving up alcohol for the last twenty-four hours, Ted Butler hadn’t always been the most respected man in town.
“Hell yeah. Let me get a fresh horse and round up a couple of the other hands in town.”
It took ten minutes but they were finally on the trail out of town. This would have been the way they left but Phil’s ride in had kicked up a lot of the tracks on the road. Even with the rain last night, the wind dried the soil fast.
They’d been gone for hours. Each man had to cover their noses and mouths against the increasing wind. Seth kept an eye on the right side of the road and Phil, who he’d found out had also been a scout in the army, watched the left.
It was late in the afternoon when, Seth called out. “Wait.” He held up his hand and dismounted. The tracks of two shod horses turned off the road and headed into the hilly country.
“Do you think it is them?” Phil joined him and studied the ground.
“I hope she is safely in Plank but I have my doubts. We’ve no choice but to follow these and find out.”
Phil stood up, pulled his dust filled bandana away from his mouth. “We better hurry. This storm is moving fast. The rain gets in those gulleys and it’ll flood in a hurry.”
Seth mounted Kadoka. If Rose was still with Anderson and he’d taken her into the stony hills, they needed to hurry and find them fast.
12
Inside she was shaking but outside she tried to remain calm. As soon as she noticed the hair on the blanket, Rose knew it was true. The sheriff, if he really was one, had killed those girls and stolen the cattle. What other crimes had the man done? When he went outside again to see to their horses and the cattle contraband, she snuck out the door. Taking the saddle blankets, her clothing, and anything else she could find, Rose stuffed them under the plaid blanket on the cot to make it appear she was lying there sleeping. It wouldn’t fool anyone for long but if it would help her gain even a of couple of minutes that might make a huge difference.
The cabin was tucked in a gulley but high enough above ground to not worry about flooding. With Anderson nowhere in view, she ran behind the dwelling and headed for the rock formations that made up the Badlands. It didn’t matter what the place was called now, she knew it was the area that was in her time a national park. If only she would have studied a map of the area before arriving here.
A harsh wind whipped at her skirt. She gripped the hem to keep it under control and kept going. The storm was the least of her worries when she was the target of a serial killer. Why he was doing it, she didn’t know. Maybe he just enjoyed killing, maybe one of the girls knew he was stealing cattle and threatened to tell. Who knew what caused bad people to do bad things? All she knew was that she hadn’t been sent back in time to die. At least she was going to do everything possible to make that not happen.
“Rose?” The sound of her name echoed off the hills.
Her foot slipped on a rock when she heard her name called a second time. He knew she was gone. Forcing her inside voice to remain quiet, she eyed the steep cliff in front of her with dread. There was no way out of the path she had taken. Rose would be trapped if she stayed and the only way out was up. Tying her long skirt in a knot at the side, she looked for the safest path up.
Along one side of the small valley was a crooked but easier way than climbing straight up. It was also partially hidden which was good.
“Rose? Where are you?” The roar of the wind had calmed but she was still close enough to hear Anderson call. A loud crack of thunder stirred her to get moving. She had to hurry. If it started to rain the rocks would be slippery. The sky had taken on a grayish green color. That wasn’t a good sign either.
As she climbed, Rose took hold of anything that was available. Roots, rocks, it didn’t matter. Soon her fingernails were broken and full of dirt. The hem of her skirt had snagged a few times and her sleeves were ripped in spots. Her moccasin boots dug into the soil wherever they could.
The top of one butte neared but what would be on the other side? Probably just more empty prairie and stony hills. Never a couch potato, Rose had considered herself in pretty good shape, until now. Whether it was the stress of fleeing for her life or scaling straight up, she was exhausted in no time. Sweat soaked her back, and she gasped for breath. The air was heavy with the impending storm. Putting one hand in front of the other, she pulled her way to the top.
Rose collapsed on her back and closed her eyes. It was time to calm her erratic heart and regain her strength. She opened her lids and gazed at the ominous sky above. The sky was dirty gray and the wind had calmed. Slowly the life streamed back into her body. Taking one last deep breath before rising, she opened her eyes and frowned at the fine hair on her forearms that was standing straight up. Sitting up, she swept the hair out of her eyes and it stayed there. Her hair stood on end. Even in the hot dress, she felt a chill. The air was electric. She had to find shelter fast.
Out of nowhere someone’s hand covered her mouth. She struggled. Rose kicked as hard as she could sending rocks and dirt in all directions. Rose was pulled to standing and a strong arm locked around her waist. The badge on his chest was the first thing she saw.
Seth fought the urge to run Kadoka. The horse was already tired and it would be foolish to run head first into something that very well could be a trap. He shook his head. This seemed like a foolish thing to do. He was racing after a girl from the future and one that was with a sheriff who may or may not be a murderer. Not to mention the fact he was with the town drunk, a cowhand, and a couple other fellas he didn’t know. They must make an odd looking group.
“I don’t like the look of that.” Phil nodded to the sky.
Seth glanced up. He’d been too concerned about his woman. Yes, even though she’d turned him away, he’d claimed her as his. They would work things out. He would explain again why he did what he did. Thunder rumbled through the valley like a herd of buffalo. Come to think of it, he didn’t like the sky up above either.
It’d quickly gone from looking like it might rain to a dangerous situation. The wind had stopped and his horse was dripping wet. He started to look over his shoulder. It seemed like they were surrounded by danger both from the storm coming behind them and the desperado they feared was up ahead. Seth took a moment to pray to both the white and red people’s gods. Lightning struck nearby and their horses jumped. His ears rang with the loud clap of thunder that accompanied the bright flash of light.
They calmed their mounts and stopped to check their surroundings. At any moment someone could shoot at them from above. The hills were filled with strongholds and Seth and the men riding with him would be easy targets from above.
“Let’s keep close and hurry. We might need to find shelter before long.” Phil and Butler agreed. A cow bellowed in the distance and they all froze. A few seconds later, more cows could be heard. Seth dismounted and held a finger to his lips. Handing the reins to Phil, he quickly sneaked along the wall of the canyon they were in and left the men behind. He inched up to the corner and poked his head around.
His fears had been answered. Anderson had the rustled herd in a coral. Even from a distance Seth could see the different breeds and brands of the cattle. Rose had to be there somewhere. His fingers itched to take his gun and shoot the man dead on the spot. The concern for the woman in his life was the only thing that stopped him. What if Anderson had hidden Rose somewhere? He’d never find her if he killed the man first? The fact that the man was a sheriff also stopped him. If he just happened to fall upon the stolen cattle and was an innocent man, that wouldn’t fare well neither.
Scratching his beard, he trotted back to the men.
“What ‘ya see?” Butler stuffed some tobacco in his cheek, replacing one drug with another. He may have sworn off the bottle but the man looked like he could use a drink. Even Butler’s horse was jumpy with his rider visibly shaking and sweating bullets.
“Are you all right?” Seth tossed out as he patted his horse. Kadoka was as agitated as they all were.
Butler tugged at his collar. “Yeah. What’s next?” It was good to know the man was determined to do some good. “Is it that bastard Anderson?” In his hurry to find Rose, he’d forgotten about the other man’s loss. He would miss Alice too. No one deserved what she got, well except for the one that killed her.
“I saw his horse but no sign of Rose or him. I think we need to split up.”
Seth pulled his rifle from the saddle holster. “Either of you good with one of these?”
With Butler dealing with the shakes, the obvious choice was Phil. “I am.” The cowhand took the gun and dismounted. They discussed their plan of attack. Hurrying off, Phil climbed the left side of the canyon to get a good place for spotting the sheriff, if he was indeed the one they were after. Who knew the lawman might have the outlaws surrounded and need their help.
If Seth were a gambling man, he’d bet his horse that wasn’t true. He’d had a bad feeling about the guy from the first moment they’d met. So what if he was part Indian, he had just as much of a right to run for sheriff as Anderson did. Hell, he might even have won. He’d been a coward to let himself be discouraged from entering the race. If what he thought was true, the town of Harvest just might need a new peacekeeper soon. With Rose by his side, he could do anything.
Seth studied Butler as he wiped the water from his forehead. He was sweating more than before. “What do you want me to do?”
“Take a drink of water before you fall off your horse.” He passed him his canteen and the man took a big swig. “I want you to ride in.”
“Ride right in big as day?” His bloodshot eyes got bigger.
“Yes, he won’t be expecting you. If he sees me, he’ll start shooting.” Seth pointed in the direction he was going to be. “I’m going to circle around and see if I can find Rose. Wait ten minutes and then go in.” That left the remaining men to stand their ground in case the guilty tried to escape their way. Seth hated to tie up Kadoka in the approaching storm in case something happened but if they needed to leave in a hurry, it was vital that his mount be where he expected. With a final twist of the reins, his stallion was secure and Seth hurried to get into place.
It took longer than he thought to find the right spot. Fortunately Butler couldn’t tell time so he hadn’t shown up yet. It briefly crossed his mind that the guy had fled back to town and the bottle. He relaxed when he saw Ted walking his horse slowly in the valley. So far the sheriff was nowhere in sight.
“Rose?” Seth jumped when he heard Anderson holler her name. Peeking around the rock he was hiding behind, he saw the man exit the cabin and yell for her again. She must have fled or was hiding. That was a good sign. A bright flash blinded him and thunder vibrated through the canyon again. The storm on the other hand, wasn’t. The thought of Rose out in this weather without shelter was worrisome to say the least.
“Hey, sheriff. You got a drink for a weary traveler?” Butler yelled as he strolled into sight.
Seth watched as Anderson cautiously came to the front of the cabin. His hand rested on his pistol.
“What the hell are you doing out here Butler?”
“How the hell should I know?” He slurred his words. Whether it was the large wad of tobacco he’d stuffed in his cheek or his need for alcohol Seth wasn’t sure.
“Well you’re here for something, that’s for dang sure.”
Butler took both feet out of the stirrups and jumped from his horse. He fell flat on his back.
“Damn fool drunk.” Anderson shouted before slapping his hat against his leg and marching over to the man on the ground. “I don’t have time for this. Get on your horse and get back to town.” By the time the sheriff had reached Butler’s horse, the man had gotten himself upright and was pointing a rifle at the sheriff’s belly.
“What the hell Butler? Have you lost your goddamned mind? Put that gun down before you shoot someone.”
Butler stepped in front of his horse, his gun held tightly in both hands. “I am gonna shoot someone and that someone is you.”
13
“I ain’t got no quarrel with you. Go on back to town.” Anderson moved to get something out of his pocket and Butler shot at the other man’s feet. Dirt and dust flew all over the sheriff’s trousers. “What the hell? I was just going to give you some money for some whiskey.”
“I’m done with drinking.”
Anderson’s laughter echoed in the valley. “Is that why your hands are shaking so badly? Come on, give me the gun before you hurt yourself.” He inched closer and Butler backed up.
Seth watched from above not sure what to do. If he yelled from above, Anderson might grab for the gun and have Butler for a hostage. This wasn’t how he had things planned. If Anderson had Rose tied up somewhere else and he was killed, they might never find her. Never had he felt so hopeless and unsure what to do.
He drew his gun and aimed it at the sheriff’s legs. If the man lunged for Butler at least he might be able to take him down and not kill the man. It was almost impossible to do at this distance but things had gotten out of control in a hurry.
“I am going to hurt someone and that someone is you.” Butler re
peated and spit a wad of tobacco at the other man’s boots.
At that the sheriff raised his hands in surrender. “Now what did I do? Haven’t I always been good to you? Let you sleep it off in the jail when you had too much of the wild turkey?”
“I saw you leave the whorehouse.” Ted taunted.
Seth’s heart dropped when he heard where this was going. When the wind dropped he could hear everything as clear as a bell and this didn’t sound good. Butler was going to kill the one he knew murdered the woman he loved. He sure didn’t blame him, he’d do the same damn thing but he had to find Rose first. Carefully and quietly, he started to move closer to the two men.
“So what? I can go there just like any other man in town.”
“I saw you leave the back door right after Alice was killed.”
Even from the distance, Seth could see the redness in Butler’s face. The rifle in Butler’s hand trembled. If he didn’t get there soon, the gun would probably go off by accident.
“So what?”
“You killed her!” he accused.
“She turned me down.” Anderson placed his hands on his hips. “Can you imagine that? Said there was someone else that she cared about and was going to give up whoring.”
Butler’s mouth dropped. “You killed those other girls too!” he shouted.
“And what if I did. Do you think anyone’s going to believe you? The town drunk over the town’s elected sheriff?”
Seth hurried. The sheriff wasn’t admitting guilt because he thought he was going to die. The guy was going to take the man holding the rifle down.
“And you rustled these here cattle.” Butler pointed the rifle toward the herd.
“Yeah, they don’t pay me shit you know. A man’s got to eat. What’s this got to do with you anyway? You’ve never cared for anyone but yourself. Stupid ass drunk. You’re not fit to lick my boots. Put the gun away and I’ll forget this ever happened.”
“I’ll tell you why. The one Alice was waiting for was me. She saw me as more than a drunk and I saw her for more than a whore. I loved her and you killed her. You bastard.” He pointed the gun at the guilty man’s chest.