Lone Jack Kid: The Buffalo Hunt (The Lone Jack Kid Book 3)

by Joe Corso

  Audrey smiled. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll purchase a small traveling chest and I’ll put a few items aside for Rose and her daughter to wear for their trip west. Then I’ll pack everything else she bought in the chest and store it in the back until I hear from you.”

  “Gee, Audrey, I don’t know how to thank you.”

  She wanted to say, “You can take me on a moonlight ride tonight,” but she didn’t. Instead, she said, “Don’t mention it, Mr. Longstreet. It will be my pleasure.”

  A woman could always fool a man, but she could never fool another woman. Rose could see that Audrey had more than a casual interest in Charles Longstreet and, for a moment, she felt a twinge of jealousy. That feeling was wrong and she knew it, but she couldn’t help how she felt… and that was why she left the store feeling guilty.

  Chapter 8

  Maybe it’s something that etches itself in your mind when you grow up dirt poor. Then, when you became an adult, and fate decrees that you should have wealth, that endless loop recording in your subconscious mind whispers to you to remind you that you are still poor and undeserving of the wealth that fate has bequeathed to you. Maybe that’s why you find yourself giving a portion of your money away. Could the reason be that, deep down, you still feel poor and undeserving of the bounty that God has given you? Charlie couldn’t explain why he did it; it just felt good giving a little of his money to some needy person who could use a little help.

  “Take a walk with me, Rose. I want to stop by the jewelers. I want him to make something for me.”

  The small group entered the little jewelry store and the same little man who purchased diamonds from Charlie before recognized him immediately.

  “Hi, my friend. Have you come to sell me more of your diamonds?”

  “No. I came here because I need you to make a ring for a lady for me.”

  “I see. Do you know what size ring she wears?”

  “No, I don’t, but I estimate that she has the same ring finger as this young lady here.”

  The little jeweler smiled at Rose. “Would you mind extending your fingers for me?” The jeweler placed a few ring blanks on her finger until he had the right size. “Do you have the diamond?”

  Charlie took out the little leather pouch and poured the diamonds into his palm. Rose gasped and the little jeweler stared longingly at them.

  “This one,” the jeweler said, picking out one of the diamonds. “This is a nice-sized stone, and I have the perfect setting for it.”

  He reached under the counter, pulled out a tray of settings, and set the tray on the counter. Then he picked through them, searching for the one he wanted.

  “Ah, here it is. Look at the beautiful diamond baguettes on either side of the setting. Now imagine how this ring will look with your diamond set in it.”

  “When can you have it ready?”

  “Come back at around four o’clock. I’ll have it ready for you then.”

  Charlie picked up the diamonds one at a time and placed them back in the leather pouch.

  The jeweler asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to sell me a few of them? I’ll give you top dollar.”

  Charlie shook his head. “No, the money isn’t important to me, but the diamonds are.”

  The small group walked out of the store and directly to the hotel, where Charlie booked two rooms.

  At four o’clock sharp, the door to the jewelry store opened and Charlie and Ban-Chu, accompanied by Wild Eagle, Rose, and her daughter, walked in.

  “Is the ring ready?”

  “Yes, I have it right here.”

  The jeweler reached under the counter for a little black velvet box and placed it on the counter. He took a black velvet cloth and placed it with a dramatic flourish on the counter, then opened the little box.

  Rose gasped. She had never seen anything so lovely in her life. Her husband Tom worked like an animal, but he could never afford to buy her something as lovely as this.

  “Do you mind if I try it on?” she asked Charlie.

  “No, please do. I want to see how it looks and it is, after all, your size.”

  She nodded sadly. “Yes, it is my size, isn’t it?” She slipped it on her finger and just stared at the ring. “Would you mind if I took it outside? I’d like to see how it sparkles in the sun.”

  Charlie laughed. “By all means.” He turned to the jeweler. “You did a good job on the ring. How much do I owe you?”

  He paid the man, and then he and Wild Eagle walked outside, with the wolf following.

  “How do you like the ring?”

  Rose looked at it longingly. “I’ve never seen anything as beautiful as this. The lady you made it for is a lucky woman.”

  “She sure is.”

  “I don’t think it’s proper for anyone but the person you bought the ring for to wear it. I hope you don’t mind that I kept it on my finger a little longer than I should have.”

  Charlie waved her concern away with a sweep of his hand. “That ring sure does look pretty on your dainty little finger so… why not wear it a little longer?”

  “Thank you, Mr. Longstreet, but I’ll only feel that much more depressed when I have to take it off.”

  Charlie tilted his head and looked at her. “What was it you said before? Didn’t you say that only the woman the ring was for should wear it? Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t that what you said to me back in that jewelry store?”

  “Yes—I said that.” Rose was just about to take the ring off.

  “Well then, you might as well keep it on, because you’re the gal I bought it for. I figured you needed something to cheer you up a little.”

  Rose didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She loved the ring, but she couldn’t take a gift like this from a complete stranger, especially after her husband had just been killed. It didn’t seem right. But she just hated to part with the ring.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Longstreet, but I can’t accept a gift like this when my husband’s body isn’t even cold yet.”

  She was about to take off the ring, but Charlie put his hand over hers to prevent her from doing so.

  “Please. I want you to have the ring. I’m not looking for anything from you, Rose, if that’s what you’re thinking. I just want to see you happy. You do have a beautiful smile and I thought this ring might cheer you up a little, and maybe let you forget your loss for a little while. And I want to see you smile a little more, so make me happy and accept my little gift.”

  She looked at the ring and then at Charlie. “I just don’t feel right accepting it.”

  “If you take that ring off your finger and give it back to me, you see that wagon up the street?”

  She looked at where he pointed. “Yes, I see it.”

  “Well, if you give me back the ring, that’s the direction I’m gonna throw it… and I mean it. I will throw the ring away.”

  She smiled sadly. “Well, you do know how to convince a girl, I’ll say that for you.”

  “Good. Now that that’s settled, let’s walk around and get to know El Paso.”

  While Rose and Marsha were in a store checking out the latest in cooking utensils, Charlie spoke to Wild Eagle, shaking his head. “I can’t figure women out, Wild Eagle. I have a jeweler put a little piece of glass in a ring and give it to Rose and she gets all excited and happy like, and then squeals like a stuck pig. The way she carried on, you’d a thought I gave her a million dollars.”

  Rose and Marsha were dressed and ready when Charlie knocked on their door. Rose looked beautiful. She was wearing the blue calico dress that Charlie said he liked, and little Marsha wore a matching outfit.

  “Well, Rose, I hope you don’t take offense by me saying this, but you look absolutely beautiful in that dress; and I like the way you fixed your hair. Why, tonight, you’re gonna be the prettiest lady in the place.”

  Rose’s face actually turned crimson. “There is no offense taken, Mr. Longstreet. Every woman appreciates a sincere compliment and I’m no exception
.”

  Charlie noticed she was wearing the ring he gave her. “Hey, let me take a look at the ring.”

  She held it up for him to see.

  His expression became more serious. “You do like the ring, right?”

  “Yes, I do. I really like it and, as I said before, I’ve never had anything so beautiful given to me in my life before, and I want to thank you for your thoughtful generosity.”

  Charlie’s face lit up into a broad smile. “That’s what I wanted to hear. Now let’s go and get ourselves that steak dinner Audrey told us about. Let’s see if Audrey’s downstairs.”

  Rose didn’t like the feeling that came over her when Charlie showed interest in Audrey. She knew it was wrong to feel this way so soon after the loss of her husband, but she couldn’t help herself. There was no sense denying it. She was jealous of Audrey and yet was powerless to do anything about it.

  The wolf padded alongside Charlie in full view of the people in the crowded lobby as he walked down the steps. The wolf, which everyone thought should have been left in the wild, made them nervous, and to see an Indian walking behind the white man, carrying a rifle, made them even more nervous. The fact that a well-dressed woman and child were with the white man settled their nerves. Until everyone in the lobby heard the three taps.

  Tap-tap-tap…Tap-tap-tap.

  Having read Buntline’s books, everyone knew then that the white man was more dangerous than his wolf or his Indian companion. They knew then that he was the Lone Jack Kid, and they knew from reading his book that someone was calling him out.

  Wild Eagle levered a round into his Winchester, ready to back Charlie. His eyes scanned the large room until he spotted the threat. He grabbed Charlie’s arm and leaned close.

  “In the corner on right.”

  Charlie looked where his friend indicated and spotted the man. No doubt about it. He was a gunfighter. He was dressed in black, with a low-crowned black hat and black gloves, and he wore a tied-down gun. Most of the men Charlie faced were ex-soldiers or men who thought they were fast; but this man looked confident. More than that, he didn’t appear to be nervous, which was unusual before a fight. Everyone showed nerves in the few seconds before the fight began. Not him. He just stood there smiling.

  “I’m calling you out, Kid.”

  Charlie knew there was no avoiding this fight. Wild Eagle whispered in Charlie’s ear. “If you no win fight, I kill him and take scalp.”

  Charlie patted his friend on the shoulder. “I appreciate the thought, Wild Eagle. I just hope I live long enough to see you scalp him.”

  Rose was beside herself with worry. “How can you stand there making jokes when that… that man wants to kill you?”

  Charlie took her by both her arms and looked into her eyes. “Just relax, Rose. This isn’t the first dance I’ve been to and it won’t be the last. Stand aside now or you might get hurt. Take little sister outside. This is nothing a little girl should see. Go on now and I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

  Charlie swept his arm in an arc. “If you folks would be kind enough to step out of the way and stand to the sides, I’d appreciate it.”

  The cowboy stepped to the center of the room and pulled back his hat, which was held in place by a rawhide strap around his neck. Charlie noticed that he kept his gloves on, which he figured could give him an edge in this fight.

  “Call it, Kid.”

  “Before we open the ball, what’s your name, cowboy?”

  “Yancy Howard. Ever heard of me?”

  “Can’t say that I have. Where do you hail from?”

  “I spent a few years in Kansas City, but I was in Bisbee when I heard you were here. I dropped everything and rode straight here. You and I, Kid, we have an appointment with destiny.”

  Charlie laughed, which seemed to unsettle the cowboy, whose face twitched. For a moment there, Charlie thought he was going to pull his iron, but he didn’t.

  “What’s so funny, Kid.”

  “Nothing much. Just the comment you made about us having an appointment with destiny. I’ve had a lot of appointments with destiny lately and yet I’m still here, while the others I’ve faced found their destiny looking up at a lot of dirt.”

  While they were talking, Charlie was looking for a flaw, something that could give him an edge in this fight. He kept his eyes riveted on the gunfighter’s eyes and not his hands. His eyes would tell the story. They’d tell him when to jerk his iron. Charlie waited and he waited for what seemed like minutes, but could be counted in heartbeats. The gunslinger pulled his gun, but Charlie saw it in his eyes a heartbeat earlier. Then both guns spit lead. Charlie thought he might have been a split second slower, but accurate was always preferable to faster. The cowboy’s eyes stared in disbelief as he slowly fell to the floor. Charlie unconsciously twirled his gun in a practiced move into his holster.

  “Come on; let’s get something to eat.”

  It was as he turned to head for the door that he noticed that Audrey, who had been standing behind him by the stairs, had been present the whole time. She rushed over to him and threw her arms around him. Then she caught herself.

  “I’m sorry, but I was so frightened. I never witnessed anything like this before and I thought he might have killed you.”

  “Well, he didn’t, so put it out of your mind and take us to Andy’s Steakhouse so we can have some dinner. I’m starved.”

  Dinner was everything Audrey said it would be. The steaks were delicious and the ambiance of the place perfect. In short, it was a good ending to what began as a terrible night.

  “The cowboy should be at the undertakers by now. I know that hotel has a private meeting room. If it’s not being used, perhaps we could use it. Maybe have a few drinks there.”

  “Good idea,” Audrey said. “Let’s go ask them.”

  Rose felt as though she didn’t belong with them. She was a woman in mourning, not a woman competing for the affections of a man. She told herself that she had to put Marsha to sleep, and that she didn’t dare leave the child alone in a strange hotel. She would have to remain in the room with her and that was final. Her decision was made, even though she wanted so much to remain there with Mr. Longstreet and Audrey. She was in mourning and, and—and she was in so much pain. Why did she feel this way about a man she hardly knew, when she should be grieving for the man she loved and was faithful to?

  When they entered the hotel, the dead gunman was gone and the room cleaned. Wild Eagle went straight to his room without saying a word, and that left just Charlie and Audrey, who decided they didn’t need the meeting room any longer. A table in a corner of the dining room would do just fine. Charlie, who hadn’t been with a woman for quite a while, couldn’t help noticing the full figure under the beautiful dress Audrey wore.

  “Do you want a drink, Audrey?”

  “No… Coffee would be fine.”

  Charlie waved to the waitress. “Two coffees, please.”

  The coffees were poured, and then refilled while a pleasant conversation was enjoyed.

  “Another cup, Audrey?”

  “No thank you. I’ve had enough coffee for one night. Why don’t you walk me home and join me in a glass of good wine?”

  “I wouldn’t think of letting you walk home alone. It’s too dangerous. And I’d love to join you in a glass of wine. But wouldn’t your mother object to me being there?”

  “I have my own apartment with a private entrance. It’s small but cozy.”

  In the apartment, Audrey lit candles and asked Charlie to open the bottle of wine that was submerged in ice in the sink.

  “You do that while I change into something comfortable.”

  Charlie found the opener on the counter near the sink, opened the bottle, and poured the red wine into two glasses. He placed the glasses of wine on coasters on the end table in the living room. Audrey walked into the dimly lit room looking like a vision, wearing a bathrobe. She reached down, picked up her glass, and asked Charlie what they should toast to.
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  “I don’t know. What would you like to toast to?”

  She stepped closer to him and clinked his glass. “How about toasting to us?”

  Charlie smiled, understanding the hidden nuance. “Here’s to us, then.”

  Charlie put his glass on the table and put his hands around her waist and pulled her firm body close to him. He gently lifted her chin and pressed his lips to hers. She melted in his arms and responded passionately to his kiss. She was burning with desire as she broke their embrace and gently pushed him away. She reached out and took his hand and led him into her bedroom.

  Later that night, when Charlie opened the door to his room, Wild Eagle, fast asleep on the floor, woke up, instantly alert. He trained his gun on the door as it opened.

  “It’s me, Wild Eagle. Go back to sleep.”

  The Indian snorted and lay back down, cradling his rifle just as he would his squaw. In minutes, he was fast asleep.

  Charlie had gotten so used to sleeping out in the open on the ground that he almost spread a blanket on the floor until he looked at his comfortable, inviting bed. Then he put such foolish thoughts aside.

  Chapter 9

  The two men spent a few pleasant days exploring El Paso while making preparations to leave on the next leg of their trip for Yuma. Charlie was looking forward to seeing Percy. He’d never admit it, but he missed having him as his road companion while traveling the country. Percy had a soothing, placid temperament, exuding a calm elegance that came from wisdom, and it had a tranquil effect on Charlie. Then he thought of Rose. Maybe if he left Rose and little Marsha with Percy, he could see them safely on the stage to Los Angeles. No, he thought. That wouldn’t work. This was something he would have to do himself. He’d have to take the two females with him to San Diego, where he was to meet the grand duke, then he’d have to convince the duke to accompany him to Los Angeles, where he’d make sure Rose and her daughter were safely on the train to San Francisco. Yes, that was what he’d do, and all the more reason not to delay getting on the road to Yuma as soon as possible. He promised Audrey that he’d meet her for lunch. During lunch, and before she got her hopes up, he’d tell her that in two days, he’d be leaving for Yuma.