Then John said, “Also please send a telegram to Juan at my ranch, tell him I’m OK and that I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Mike said his good-byes, thanks, and rode off to Dallas with Indian Bob’s body still tied to John’s horse. He intended to turn Bob’s body to the Texas Rangers in Dallas so John could collect the reward.
The next morning Clayton and Bambi Bigelow arrived in a two-seat buggy. As they were introduced to John, Bambi said, “You look completely different than the way Lola described.”
“Sorry,” John said, “But I’ve been through some tough times the last couple of months, and I’m not the naïve college boy I was a few months ago,” John tried to explain.
Then Clayton joined in the conversation, “Chief Ward told us about your recent adventures, and we are here to extend you an invitation to recuperate at our house in Dallas.”
“That is very friendly of you, and I accept, but only for a week or so until I get a little stronger,” John answered.
Bambi seemed cool to the idea, but showed it only through her body language and attitude.
John went into the house, said good-bye to Jeff and Alice, and then rolled up his two rifles in the clothes Alice had laundered for him. Alone in his bedroom for a minute, he took a $20 gold coin from his money belt and left it on the dresser. John lay down on the rear seat of the buggy as Clayton drove to their home.
John was not surprised to see the mansion the buggy pulled up in front of, as Lola had bragged about her parents’ riches. He thought, This house isn’t any larger than the one I lived in when I was young.
He was still feeling weak as Bambi directed him to his room. As soon as he was alone, he kicked off his boots, took off his gun belt and stretched out on the bed. He quickly fell asleep. He hadn’t realized how long he had slept so was surprised when Clayton woke him up telling him it was time for dinner. Before dinner was served, Clayton took him into his office and poured each of them a glass of bourbon.
He diluted it with water and explained the local people called it bourbon and branch, short for bourbon and branch water.
As they enjoyed their drinks, Clayton showed John his elaborate telegraph system, explaining how it was tied to his partner’s office, Lola’s apartment, Bambi’s stock yards in Fort Worth, and the local telegraph office. He could send a wire anywhere. He then told John he had sent several telegrams for Mike. Then they hurriedly gulped down their drinks when Bambi reported dinner was on the table.
John thoroughly enjoyed his roast beef, candied yams, succotash, and dinner rolls. He also had a cup of the best coffee he had ever tasted.
While they ate Clayton entertained everyone with stories of his early days in the oil business. Bambi said very little but John did notice her giving him a scornful look from time to time.
After dinner was finished the two men went to the office for a smoke and a glass of bourbon. Bambi remained behind to help Mrs. Evans, the cook, clean the table. After they were settled into two easy chairs, Clayton asked him, “What are your plans for the future?”
John answered him, “I don’t really know, sir. I have been too busy catching the killers of my parents, and the thief who stole the family fortune. I do know that there is a lot of money to be made in bounty hunting, though.”
“Yeah, but will you live long enough to spend it?” Clayton offered.
“Yeah, I learned that the hard way,” John answered.
“Do you need money that badly?” Clayton asked him.
“No, not really sir. There is still a sizeable estate my parents left. And I do own a 500-acre ranch west of Galveston. I do have my sister to support though. She is still in a constant-care hospital in Houston. She has never recovered from the gang rape and beating the thugs did to her,” John explained.
“Yes, Mike told me about that. I’m sorry your family was subjected to that,” Clayton said.
“Anyone ever drill for oil in your ranch?” Clayton asked.
“Not that I know of, but I don’t think any of the neighbor’s ranches have any oil wells on them,” John answered.
“Well, it’s something to think about for the future,” Clayton suggested and they let the matter rest.
After his second glass of brandy, John felt very sleepy, excused himself, and went to bed. He fell asleep right away.
With his belly full of good food and relaxed by two bourbons and a glass of brandy, he slept well. Sometime during the night or early morning he was awakened by sounds of an argument. He stayed awake long enough to overhear Lola and Bambi shouting at each other. He heard Bambi use the words, “Common gunfighter,” and “Saddle tramp.” He heard Lola answer and say, “OK, then I’ll just take him and leave.”
If Clayton was involved in this discussion, he said nothing. John did not own a watch and could see nothing but darkness outside, so he went back to sleep. John woke up as soon as he saw a glimpse of daylight. He got up and dressed, just in time. Lola was knocking on his door. He opened the door and told him, “Oh, John, you poor thing. You look a mess. Does that wound hurt?”
As she led him downstairs, Clayton was waiting for them. Bambi was nowhere in sight.
Lola spoke first, “Daddy, we’re leaving now. I’ll take John to my place until he is well enough to go home. John, go gather up your things. You can rest on the back seat of my buggy and I’ll drive.”
“Now, Lola, don’t go doing something you will be sorry for later,” Clayton interrupted.
John, still half asleep, and totally confused, gathered his things and came back down stairs. He said to Clayton, “Sir, I’m sorry I caused this argument. Thank you for your hospitality. I am feeling much better.”
Clayton answered, “You are more than welcome, son. We enjoyed having you. I’m sorry you had to witness a family squabble.”
There was still no sign of Bambi as John and Lola left in the buggy, with John’s horse tied behind the buggy.
After they left there was another argument. This one was between Bambi and Clayton, and was heard only by the cook and the housekeeper.
Clayton spoke first, “Bambi, I am ashamed of the way you treated our guest and of how you spoke to Lola.”
Bambi answered, “I don’t care what you say. I don’t want her to marry the first gold digger that comes along, and especially that boy. He is nothing but a saddle tramp and is not good enough for Lola.”
Chapter 9
Recuperating In Austin
“You sound exactly like your daddy when he thought I wasn’t good enough for you,” Clayton answered. “I’m just glad little Sully wasn’t here to see how you acted.”
“I will not put up with having my daughter marry a dirt-poor bum,” Bambi answered.
Then Clayton interjected, “You really don’t have your facts straight. That boy is rich, maybe richer than us. He owns a 500-acre cattle ranch, and he and his sister inherited their parents’ estate. His father was a very wealthy defense attorney in Houston. He only dresses as he does because he is tracking down the monsters who murdered his parents and turned his sister into a vegetable.”
Bambi, still angry, responded, “I don’t care how rich he is, I just don’t like that little bastard.”
Seeing further argument was futile, Clayton retreated to his office and sent a telegraph to Lola. He apologized for her mother’s attitude toward John and asked her to apologize to John for him. John and Lola finally arrived in Austin. John was still very tired. He realized he needed more rest before trying to return home. He was glad he had Lola to look after him for a few days. As she helped him into her apartment he asked her to go the next morning and ask Professor Moriarity to visit him. Lola told him, “You look really tired. I’ll fix us a bourbon, then scramble us some eggs and make some biscuits. Does that sound good?”
“That sounds more than good. That sounds like a feast to me,” John replied. After they fi
nished their bourbon and ate, Lola said, “I know you are too tired to make love, and I’m still too mad at my mother, so we will have to wait for another day. OK?”
“Fine with me,” John replied.
The next morning John was rested and Lola had cooled off from her fight, so they started kissing, then touching each other, and soon they were making love. Lola was being very careful about touching his sore cheek, but his other body parts were fair game, and she kissed, touched, and caressed them freely. It had been a long time since he had been this aroused and Lola was enjoying his passion.
This morning had been so enjoyable for both of them they had to summon all of their will power to get out of bed. Lola got up first and made coffee. John followed shortly and they enjoyed their coffee with leftover biscuits with apple butter. Then she kissed John goodbye and left for the university to fetch Professor Moriarity.
She returned before John could finish his fourth cup of coffee. She was accompanied not only by Moriarity, but also a man she introduced as Dr. Paul Hogan, Chief of Surgery at University Hospital.
Lola explained, “Professor Moriarity thought Dr. Hogan should take a look at your wound.”
After examining the wound, Dr. Hogan asked, “Who put the stitches in your face?”
John told him, “Some country doctor near Dallas. Why, is anything wrong with them?”
“Oh no, he did an excellent job, but I’m afraid you have an infection in the wound. What kind of knife did the cutter use?”
“A surgical scalpel,” John answered.
“Well, I’m going to take the stitches out and put some medicine in the wound. Can you stand a little pain?”
“I think so, Doctor. Go ahead,” John told him.
John winced a few times causing Lola to rush to him and hold his hand. Soon all the stitches were removed and Dr. Hogan added a green salve to the open wound.
“What is that stuff?” John asked.
“It’s a salve made from tree moss. The Indians have been using it for years. It will take away the infection. I’ll leave the jar with you so Lola can apply some more for a few more mornings,” the doctor answered.
“Will I have a scar?” John asked.
“I’m afraid you will have a hell of a scar, but don’t worry about that. Girls like scars. They think it makes a man look interesting,” Dr. Hogan said, as he winked at Lola.
“Thank you, Dr. Hogan,” John told him.
Then Moriarity asked, “John, what is it you want to see me about?”
“I’m happy to tell you I found Samuels and recovered most of the bearer bonds, so if you can I would like you to look at them, calculate their worth, and give me a bill for your services. I hate owing money,” John said.
“If you give me a week, I can be gone for a few days,” the professor replied.
“How about Lola? Can she be off for a few days too?” John wondered.
“Sure can. She is so far ahead of the rest of the class, she could miss a week and not fall far behind.”
John spent the next week resting; being waited on by Lola, and making love almost every night. Lola went to class every day so she could take the following week off. John checked his face in the mirror every morning and saw the wound was almost healed. The doctor had been right about the scar. He had a scar six inches long just along his right cheek at the jaw bone. He hoped his appearance would not be objectionable to Lola.
Before they left John had Lola use her telegraph to send a wire to Juan at the ranch telling him they would arrive Saturday afternoon.
Chapter 10
Safe at the Ranch
The three of them left in Lola’s buggy, Lola seated in the middle with John on one side and Moriarity on the other. John kept his Winchester and Sharps at his feet. No matter how hard the local sheriff’s departments and Texas Rangers patrolled, a lot of robbers still preyed on stage coaches and private buggies.
As they pulled into the ranch Juan greeted them, along with Lisa and Maria. Lisa ran to the buggy saying, “John, what happened to your face?”
“Let’s go to the house and I’ll tell you all about it, after I have a drink,” John answered her.
Lola turned to John and said, “Oh John, this place is so beautiful. Does it all belong to you?”
“Yeah, me and my sister,” John answered.
Then Maria interrupted, “John, speaking of Sarah, Lisa and I were in Houston last week and we went to St. Agnes to check on her. I’m afraid there has been no change at all but Sister Ruth asked about you.”
“I only wish I could make Sarah understand I killed the last of the bastards that put her in that state,” John said.
Lola asked, “Who is Sister Ruth?”
“She is a nun, and the prettiest nun I have ever seen,” John answered noting a slight tone of jealousy in her question.
The next week passed quickly. John rested, enjoying the attention he required from Lola, Lisa, and Maria. Moriarity spent his time examining the recovered bearer bonds and calculating a bill to present to John.
By the end of the week his wound had healed enough that Lola removed the bandages. She silently gasped to herself as she noticed the scar which now dominated his facial features. The scar was six inches long and ran directly along his right cheek bone. She hoped it would be less noticeable when it was completely healed.
On Saturday morning, John was sorry to say good-bye to Lola and Moriarity as they both had to return to school. He sat and watched them until they were completely out of sight. He secretly wished he was going with them to spend more time with Lola. Lisa had been watching him and said to him, “You miss her already, don’t you?”
John nodded yes.
Lisa continued, “Well John, she is a nice girl, so sweet, and she is in love with you.”
“I hope so, because I think I love her too,” John answered.
Chapter 11
Back Home in Houston
The following day John saddled his horse, packed up the rest of his father’s suits from the ranch house, and headed for Houston. Upon arrival he first went to St. Agnes Hospital to see Sarah. Sister Ruth met him walking down the corridor, hugged him, then looked at his scar as she asked him, “How did you get hurt?”
“Well, Sister, a murderous Indian tried to slit my throat, but God protected me,” John answered.
“Why, John, did you just say God protected you? You told me you were an agnostic.”
“I was, but something has been looking after me lately, and it has to be God,” John told her.
“I knew you would see the light sooner or later, and thank God you have. God bless and keep you,” Sister Ruth said.
Then Sister Ruth escorted him to Sarah’s room. John thought to himself, How thin and frail she is.
Then he pulled up a chair to Sarah’s bed, sat, and said to her, all the while knowing she could not hear a word of what he was saying:
“Hello, sweet sister Sarah. I just wanted you to know I have taken care of the four monsters that did this to you and our parents. I also caught up with Samuels who robbed us, and he is in jail. I just wanted you to know.”
Then he kissed her on the forehead and left to check in with Chief Ward. Mike greeted him warmly, saying, “That is some memento on your face. Seriously, it looks a lot better than I thought it would.”
“What’s the deal with Samuels?” John wanted to know.
“He is safely in jail and has signed a confession. He will be sentenced next month and probably will spend a lot of years in Huntsville Prison,” Mike assured him.
Having made his rounds John headed to the Wedgewood, called for a bath, a glass of bourbon, and bed.
That night he slept long and hard but was awakened at dawn by someone loudly knocking on his door. He answered it to find a messenger from the Western Union.
Chapter 12
“I have an urgent telegraph for Mr. John King. Are you Mr. King?”
He grumpily answered, “Yeah, kid, I am. Hand me the telegram. He ripped open the envelope, handed the messenger a nickel, and read the wire. It was from Lola.
Urgent. Sully has been kidnapped. Need you in Dallas right away. Please take early stage today and I’ll meet you tomorrow when stage arrives. Love you. Lola.
John dressed hurriedly, threw some clothes into a carpet bag, and had the livery attendant drive him to the stage depot. There were coffee and rolls at the depot so he ate hurriedly before boarding the stage. His carpet bag was stowed on the top, but he took his Winchester inside with him.
Lola met him and rushed him to her parents’ house. Waiting there was Clayton, Bambi, and a man unknown to him.
The stranger was introduced as Pete Bowers, who ran the stockyards for Bambi.
Clayton hastened to hand a letter to John. It read:
Deer rich oil man. We got your kid. If’n you want him back it’ll cost you $10,000 in coins. No paper back money. No police. You have three days to git the coins, or we send you one of his ears or fingers. When you got the money take down the Texas flag in ur yard and we give you way to bring money.
“Where did you get this?” John asked.
“It was shoved under our front door day before yesterday,” Clayton answered.
“Got the coins?” John asked.
“Yes, I have them, and I have been waiting for you to get here before I take down the flag,” Clayton explained.
John noticed Bambi was crying loudly. “We’ll go take down the flag, and we’ll just have to wait for another letter,” John instructed him.
Lola asked him, “Are you hungry?”
“I sure as hell am. I haven’t eaten since yesterday morning,” he replied.
Hearing that, Bambi quit crying long enough to go have the cook fix John some lunch.
As he ate, Lola said, “Thank you for coming. We didn’t know who else to turn to.”
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