by Lou Bradshaw
“You just climb down from that critter, and come in to say howdy to grampa and some coffee.”
She didn’t have to say it again because like Elizabeth’s oven, there was always something good coming out of hers too. And I wasn’t disappointed in the least bit when she set that plate of doughnuts in front of me. After the third one I said, “Miss Patty, if you ever grow up, you’re gonna make some cowboy a mighty happy man.”
She gave me a stern evil look, pushed her chair back, stood up, twirled around a couple of times and said, “Grow up! What do you call this?” My ears was flaming again, and she was laughing again.
About that time, her grandpa came in and saved me. “What’s all that ha ha ha ruckus in here?” he asked. “Howdy, Ben, you lookin’ for that brother of yours, he’s probably just getting revved up about now in some Taos saloon.”
Patty burst in with, “Grampa, Ben Blue just insulted me. He made a remark that I wasn’t grown up. Shoot him.”
“Okay, Pitty Patty, I’ll get my gun, just as soon as I knock down a couple of these doughnuts and some coffee.”
I was ready to jump all over that “Pitty Patty” knick name, but she froze me with a glare. She seemed to know what I was thinking. Instead, I turned to Sam and said, “You know, Mr. Stellers, I had no idea it was payday. It just didn’t cross my mind. I just had some news for him and wanted to share it with him.” Then I just sort of busted out with it, “Bought me a spread today!”
All of a sudden there was a flurry of questions coming from both Sam and Patty. I told them (her) that I wasn’t going to say anything until someone fills my cup.
We sat there eating doughnuts and drinking coffee for sometime while I explained the who, what, and where. Mr. Stellers knew the area and was pretty impressed with my choice. He said he was sure that there was plenty of water up there and if a fella had him a good range bull he could pretty well keep the critters off his cattle. And with that gap being where it was, it was almost like having one giant corral, and the cattle wouldn’t be likely to roam out of that valley anyway. He said when I was ready to start putting stock on it to let him know and he’d see what he could do.
Patty sat there through most of the range and cow talk with a question in her eyes, and finally she just came right out and said, “Ben, how did you ever accumulate that much money? Why Andy never has as much as 4 bits two days after payday. Are you two half brothers because you don’t look a thing alike and you have different last names?”
Sam was shocked at the question and scolded, “Patricia! That’s no kinda questions for proper young lady to ask.”
She lifted her chin, turned her saucy eyes to him, and said, “Maybe not, but it’s the kind of question that a half grown girl kid might ask, and that’s what Ben thinks I am.”
Well, what could Sam and I do but laugh. I told him that it was okay and I didn’t mind, but I would appreciate it if we kinda kept it between us. And not let on to Andy that they knew anything about it because I was hoping that he had put it all behind him. I went on to tell our story from the day that Aunt Alice found me sitting in our cabin all alone. I told them about that day when our lives came apart at the seams, and how we vowed to stick together. I told them about tracking two of them, and losing the trail in San Antone. I was very careful not to mention the name “Hickory Jack”, and I gave no details of the capture or the killings. I only said that they happened.
I also told them that a good part of that money was from reward payoffs. Then I said, “I’ve saved most of my wages ever since we’d been in this part of the country. Seems like I just don’t have many needs. I don’t care much for liquor, and Lord knows I don’t spend anything on barbers or new clothes or new… ”
I looked over and Patty was dabbing at her eyes, which near broke my heart. And like a fool I said, “Oh, Miss Patty, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“I’m not crying.” She mumbled, and then blurted out. “And furthermore, don’t call me Miss Patty! We’ve known each other long enough that you don’t have to call me Miss anything.”
I started to say something, but she cancelled me out with, “And don’t you dare call me Pitty Patty, you big redheaded boob, or I’ll scalp you like the heathen, you are.
Her grandpa saved me again and asked, “Ben, you been carrying that kind of money around in your pockets like that? Boy, that’s something I need to talk to you about.”
I was blushing red again, which made Patty all mighty happy. I said, “I drew it out of the bank a couple of months ago. I guess that wasn’t very smart was it? But I wanted to be ready when the opportunity came, and besides it wasn’t in my pocket, it was in my saddle bags.” Sam rolled his eyes, and Patty got up to go attend to something.
When she was out of ear shot Sam leaned over and in a whisper kind of voice said, “She kinda likes you, you know. But you take heed before you get any ideas; I got a much longer shotgun than that little thing of yours.”
I told him that he must be mistaken cause girls and women don’t have much to do with me. When they look at me, all they can see is a big redheaded boob. But you don’t need to worry on my account, sir. I’d never do anything to cause problems for Miss….for Patty. And I have great respect for the size of your shotgun.”
Patty came back about that time with a small bundle and said, “I didn’t want you to starve on that long six mile trip into town, so I packed some take along doughnuts. But that don’t mean you have to go, I just didn’t want to forget.”
I told her that I really did need to get on down the road to Taos; otherwise Andy wouldn’t have any idea what I was telling him or who I was.
Chapter 25
It was almost dark when I found the saloon Andy was celebrating in. He ordered me a beer and I drug him away from the bar and off to a table. It was like pullin’ double wagons, with me dragging him and him dragging a naughty lady named Clara or Sarah. I told Clara/Sarah that I was about to sober Andy up, so she should probably go find a better prospect. He hated to see her leave, but he got over it.
We settled down to a family meeting, and he could see that I was excited. “Okay, boy.” He said, “What’s got you all pumped up like a cow that’s past her milkin time.”
There wasn’t any way to work my way into it so I just outed with it, ‘Andy, I bought me a ranch today… or at least the makings of one.”
He just sat there slack jawed. He blinked a couple of times, and then he shook his head like he was trying to shed water from his hair. “You what!” he almost shouted. The next time he blinked, I could tell by the look in his eyes, he was indeed sober. I almost went over and called Clara/Sarah back because he was sober enough to enjoy it a whole lot more by then.
I told him all about it and where it was located and who I bought it from. I said. “The buildings ain’t much, but that’s no matter, I won’t be movin in for some time yet. I also told him that I stopped by the S-S, or commonly called the Esses, looking for him not knowing it was payday, and Mr. Stellers seemed to think it was a pretty good find.
“Well, he’d know a good buy when he saw one. I’m surprised he didn’t beat you to it.”
We talked about the ranch and the prospects for a bit. He said he knew the Clements boys, and that they really seemed to try at those farms, but just couldn’t get it to work. He also said that they weren’t real high on the smartness scale.
After discussing everything and all the possibilities, I had nothing left to tell him, but ask him if he wanted to go in partners with me… 50 – 50.
“Ben, that’s a mighty tempting offer, and if I had any money, I’d sure consider it. Right now, I just don’t know what I want to do. I’ve still got some unfinished business to attend to.” We both knew what he was talking about. And he went on, “If a sniff of a trail comes to light, I’ll be on the track the next day, so I don’t really want to settle down with property now.”
I told him that we both had unfinished business to attend to, and if a hint of a trail shows up I’d ride w
ith him… no matter what. And I meant it.
My next proposal was of a little more business like nature. I told him that I’d like to close our bank accounts back in Missouri and open new ones here in Taos. I also told him that I was going to need some start up money to start moving some cattle onto the ranch.
He looked at me like he didn’t know what the hell I was talking about, and then he confirmed it with, “Ben, I don’t know what the hell you’re talkin about.”
It was just as I had thought. He had forgotten all about that money. So I commenced to get his rememberer working again. I told him about the reward money we had banked from this one or that one. I also reminded him that we had banked all that money that old man… Mr. Thompson had paid us for the two farms. “Andy,” I said, all tolled we got near to four thousand dollars each just sittin in that little Missouri bank. And Mr. Thompson has been making investments for us buyin hogs and cattle. Now, he may not made us any money, but I’d bet my saddle that he ain’t lost us any.”
Andy’s eyes were glassing over, and I got a feeling that I had lost him to drink after all. Then he blinked again and shook his head to clear the fog and said, “Damn! Ben, you mean to tell me that we’re rich? Why didn’t you say something before this? Damn!”
“Well, for one thing, I never thought you’d be so addle headed as to forget that you had money in the bank. And for another thing, there was no reason until now. And maybe it’s a good thing, I didn’t tell you.”
He just sat there shaking his head and mumbling to himself for about a half a minute, while I waited. When he finally looked up, I said, “Well, Mr. Rockerfeller, what do you think?”
Then after some thought he said, “Why don’t you put mine in two different banks? Since I won’t be able to count on you to keep watch dogging my money for me I think you should send a couple of hundred to the Taos bank and the rest to a bank in Santa Fe. I’d have to be mighty thirsty to ride a hundred and sixty miles round trip just to get some drinking money.” That was one of Andy’s grown up ideas, and I was happy to do it.
The next morning, I was in the Taos bank bright and early, opening up two new accounts, one for Andy and one for me. I had to put ten dollars into each account to get em started… that’s was ten dollars I’d never see again, but I didn’t care. I told the bank boss that we were expecting some funds to be coming from a bank in Missouri, and that I had just bought some property up just below the mountains, and would be wanting to open a line of credit in the future. He said he’d be pleased to have my business. We shook hands and I left.
My next task was to write a letter to Elizabeth letting her know what was going on. We had stayed in touch through the years with a letter every three or four months. I knew that she’d be happy for me, and she’d be even happier knowing that Andy was finally getting a little more responsible. I think she worried more about Andy. He was kind of her special project.
I got Andy’s other bank account opened in Santa Fe, but this time I had to put twenty dollars, which I’d never see again, to get it started. I spoke to Senor Gomez about staying on the Taos run whenever possible. That way I could spend some time at the ranch and get a little work started while I was accumulating some critters. He asked if I would be leaving the freight company.
I told him that it would be a while because I was a long way away from making that piece of property into a working ranch. I had no idea how right I was.
A few days later, Senor Gomez gave me a folded card with a message from Don Carlos. It simply asked me to come visit him at my earliest convenience. I had been sharing letters from Father Paul with him and the Dona, so it wasn’t unusual to hear from him. She really was the classiest woman I had ever met. I could easily see where Father Paul came by his gentle nature.
When I arrived at the gate and was shown right in. A stable boy took my horse and I was shown in to the Don’s library. I was as fascinated by the books on the shelves, as I had been on my first visit. There were volumes written in languages that I couldn’t even imagine. I’m sure most were in Spanish, but I wouldn’t count out French, Latin, and Greek. Most were bound with richly tooled leather. I felt a little humbled with my rudimentary one room school house education. It shamed me now to think how eager I was to get away from it at the time. If it was the last thing I ever did I wanted to have my own books on my own shelves, books that I had read, understood, and learned from.
While I was standing there lost in my own daydreams, Don Carlos came in and said, “They are beautiful, aren’t they?” But the true beauty is between the covers” then he extended his hand and said, It is good to see you Benito. It has been too long.” He motioned to a pair of leather chairs grouped around a small sturdy table, and presently, without any signal that I saw a sweet young serving girl appeared with a tray of cakes and another girl with coffee and the fixins. When the coffee had been poured and the sweeties had withdrawn. The Don said, “I asked you out for two reasons. One to offer my congratulations.”
“Sir?’ I asked.
“Oh Benito, I’m referring to your purchase of your valley. Don’t be surprised. Such news travels very quickly through the Spanish speaking community. Some of your people call it the Mexican Telegraph. You have done well learning our language, but you still have much to learn. You will learn, I have no doubt because you care to learn.”
“But, Don Carlos, I didn’t buy the whole valley. I just bought three little homesteads, and whatever graze I can manage.”
“Ah, again, Benito, you have much to learn. Those three properties were all connected, and two of them met in the middle of the pass. Whoever controls the pass controls the valley. There are other ways to get into the valley, but there is no way to bring in cattle. It is doubtful that the brothers, Clemente were even aware of their site selection.”
“You mean, sir that I….”
“Si, that is what I mean. You are now in possession of one of the largest holdings in that area.” He sat back and sipped his coffee, then he took out a pair of cigars from a hidden drawer in that little table, he handed me one, and lit the other.
It was a full minute that I sat there looking at that cigar before I truly comprehended what it was and what it was for. When I looked up, he was sitting there smiling at me.
“Benito, I do not know where your beliefs lie, but I believe that our good deeds are rewarded either in this life or the next. Hopefully in both, and I believe you have been rewarded for something you have done in your short but eventful lifetime. Perhaps it was because you came to the aid of Senora Maria Magdalena, or the loyalty and calming influence you gave your foster brother. Who knows for certain? One thing I do know for certain is that you have many challenges before you. You must meet each challenge with your feet planted firmly on the ground, standing as tall as you are, and never panic.”
“Which brings me to my second purpose for wanting to see you. A good friend and trusted family retainer has come upon some difficult times. His range is overstocked and will lose cattle if he cannot thin the herd soon. A drive is not feasible at this time. I would like to help him, and will if you cannot, but his rancho is over eighty miles from here. I would ask you to permit him to move three thousand head onto your range, and into the bargain, he would be willing to sell three or four hundred head at six dollars a head. I would be willing to cover a loan if need be.”
“That won’t be necessary, Don Carlos. I have money being sent from my bank account in Missouri. I couldn’t pay him until it arrives, if he would be willing to wait. I would like to take about three hundred head of mixed young stuff. I’m sure the range up there will handle that many and more. But I won’t be moving onto the ranch for a while yet, and there wouldn’t be anyone there to ride herd on the cattle.”
“I think, my friend can spare a few vaqueros to go up and check on them from time to time. Do not worry about that. After all, the bulk of the cattle will be his and he will want to protect his interests.”
“I will send a message to my fri
end telling him that you have agreed to his request, and that the money is being transferred. He can start moving cattle onto the range immediately. I will also ask him to cut out three hundred young steers and heifers and a good longhorn range bull. Have you chosen a brand yet?”
I hesitated a might, and then said, “I have sort of got one in mind. I’d like to use the letters M and B with the right leg of the M making the backbone of the B. It would be the MB connected. I want to honor the bond between my brother and I, even though he has declined partnership.”
“A very good choice, Benito, one that is not easily altered. I will see to it that the brand is registered in your name. On your next trip to Taos, take some time to visit with my friend. I will send along a message that you will be visiting him. I am sure that you will both profit from this neighborly business venture.”
“Unfortunately, there are few Norte Americanos who would have accepted such an arrangement. Oh, they would have accepted buying cattle at six dollars a head, but not sharing the range. There is still a good deal of mistrust and animosity between the groups.”
I told him that I took an immediate liking to the first two New Mexicans I met, one of whom was his son. But with the third one, I had to earn his respect, if not his friendship. Then I held up a big right clenched fist, and the Don laughed.
Don Carlos turned serious for a brief moment, and asked, “Have you had any further information on your quest, or has it come to an end?”
I told him that we found two possible men who could be Amos Poke, but neither has shown any reason that we should suspect them, and we can find nothing of their lives before they arrived in Taos bent on a land grab. Both have been model citizens since. I gave him the names of Pickering and Barkley. He knew of them but nothing more.
Then he told me that there was now a United States Marshal’s office in Santa Fe, and he suggested that I, as a “successful rancher” and owner of one of the largest holdings in Taos County approach the marshal and ask for some background on the two men.