The Cossack Cowboy

by Lester S. Taube

  Tina drew out her revolver and inspected it professionally, nodding her head with satisfaction. She looked at Paul and her eyes grew tender. “I get cold chills down my spine when I think how near I was to killing you.” She holstered the gun and grasped her crutch. “Now, take me to the woods.”

  “Would you kindly tell me why? All I need are forty wolves to come charging at us and you with one injured leg.”

  “They won’t bother us - not when they realize we are both armed. But to answer you, we’re going to look for onions.”

  “Onions?”

  “Yes, wild onions. We’ve got only three cans of tomatoes left, enough bread and flour for ten days, and meat for two weeks, counting the half of the deer hanging in the tree. So, if we’re lucky, we’ll find the onions to help improve the diet.”

  And they were lucky. Paul helped Tina to the woods where she scratched away the snow from the base of tree trunks with the butt of her crutch, and then pointed to some dried stalks. Paul dug with his knife and pulled out small, bulbous roots.

  He sniffed at them. “They smell like scallions.”

  “I wish we had a cooking pot,” sighed Tina. She pocketed the onions. “Well, let’s keep looking.” They found several more before they went back to the cave.

  Supper that evening was a delight. The deer meat tasted like it had been prepared by an experienced chef.

  “What did you do?” asked Paul in wonder.

  “I rubbed the onions on the meat then buried pieces inside.”

  “Good for virility - scallions,” said Paul, thumping his chest.

  Tina reached over and scraped some of her onions onto his meat. “Not that you need it,” she said. “But we will be here a long time.”

  In another week Tina could place some weight on her leg, and even came out to meet him as he returned with the other half of the deer he had shot. It was the first time in two weeks he had been away from her for more than the half-hour or so to chop wood and he could see she had become thinner since her accident.

  “Are there any sheep nearby?” he asked her.

  She pointed to the top of the escarpment. “There are probably some there. Why?”

  “You need meat with fat in it. This deer meat is too lean.”

  She linked her arm through his. “I never felt better in my life. You’re the one who could use some flesh on your bones.”

  That night he blackened the sights of his rifle over the fire. “I’m leaving after breakfast to climb the escarpment. Don’t worry if I’m not back in a day or two.”

  “All right, Paul.” She laid aside strips of meat to cook in the morning for him to take along.

  “How do you hunt them?”

  “You’ll have to shoot from long range - they’re too wary for you to get close. And there’ll always be one on guard, so don’t attempt to climb above them or they’ll see you. If you shoot one, cross over to him very carefully - many of the crevasses up there are hidden by snow.”

  He left directly after breakfast. Tina stood outside the cave and watched him until he was out of sight, then went in and picked up the deerskins, cutting them in strips and laying them near to the fire.

  On the evening of the second day, Paul was back. She was waiting, and stumbled through the snow on her crutch to meet him as he climbed down from the escarpment. They clung to each other, then she looked closely at him and saw the deep lines of fatigue in. his face.

  She turned him about to inspect the carcass of the sheep slung across his back, then pulled him around to kiss his lips again. “You’ve done well, great hunter,” she said in the deepest voice she could summon. “I now give you new name. You Heap Big Sheep Hunter And Lover.”

  She made him rest while she cut up the meat and prepared supper. The loin was served dripping with fat, and they felt the warmth flow through their bodies as they ate until they were replete.

  Paul lay back with a contented sigh. “Come here,” he told her. “I’ve been living like a blooming hermit these past two days.”

  She came to his side. “You turn over. I will rub your back. Tonight you rest. You are the Heap Big Sheep Hunter now. Tomorrow morning you can be the Heap Big Lover.”

  Paul was certain he had to have her within the next ten seconds or burst, but her hands began to massage his back, and within those ten seconds he was fast asleep.

  Time flew by like the days were only a few hours long. The food held out well; having both deer and sheep flesh gave variety to their meals, and Paul built, under Tina’s supervision, a small oven of rocks in which Tina baked bread from their supply of flour. They stocked up a quantity of onions to spice their food, and life was relaxed and pleasant. Paul even managed to shoot another deer midway between the cave and where he had been treed by the wolves, so food was actually no problem. The only thing they lacked was coffee, which ran out in the third week, much to Paul’s satisfaction, for he had never grown to care for it. He would have given all the coffee they had for one cup of tea. But Tina missed it greatly.

  “How can you open an eye in the morning without a cup of hot coffee?” she asked time and again as they were reduced to drinking hot water.

  Paul saw signs of wolves now and then, but they stayed well out of sight. He thought they would after having twice experienced the accuracy of his shooting, but he took no unnecessary chances.

  The big excitement lasting two days was the making of snowshoes by Tina. She had cured the deerskin strips by smoking them over the fire, and selecting two supple branches, she had Paul bend them slowly while they were warmed over the coals. The snowshoes were crude by any standards, but Paul shouted with joy as he literally floated over the snow instead of sinking into it.

  “Absolutely first rate,” he told the glowing Tina.

  She made a second pair for herself, which she propped up against the wall for future use.

  On the morning that he cut the thirty-fourth notch in a branch which served as his tally for the number of days spent in the mountains, Tina said she could now walk well enough to start out.

  Paul shook his head. “One more week. There is too much danger of you slipping and injuring your leg again.”

  But to prepare for their eventual departure, they took daily walks on their snowshoes in the immediate area to strengthen her muscles.

  On the fortieth morning, they rolled their blankets, packed their food, and left the cave. A few hundred yards away, Paul sensed that Tina had stopped. He turned, She was looking back at the cave. He came and stood beside her, noticing her eyes glistening with tears. His arm went around her shoulders.

  “I have never been happier in my life, Tina,” he said softly.

  She nodded her head. “Let’s come back, Paul. It’s as if everything important in my life started there.”

  “All right, Tina. We’ll come back again.”

  He turned her gently about and started walking once more. When they came to the draw leading down from the plateau, Paul stopped and stared long and hard at the mountains.

  “We’re going over them,” he said to Tina.

  “Paw will be looking on that side,” said Tina. “I know how he thinks.”

  “Not this long after my escape. He’ll think I died or doubled back.”

  “He won’t be looking for you, he’ll be searching for traces of me. When I didn’t come back to the east side, he’ll figure I tried to get through.”

  “I don’t agree. But regardless of where he’s searching, it’s quite certain the plain to the east will be well patrolled. The wisest plan is to head for the safety of Santa Fe. Come on, my girl, there’s a mountain or two to climb.”

  They went slowly and Tina managed beautifully. When Paul decided to make camp in mid-afternoon, she said she could go on for hours more. Paul shook his head and led her to a sheltered spot between two large rocks. While he cut wood for a fire, Tina prepared their bed by packing down the snow lightly to act as a buffer against the cold, hard ground.

  When darkness fell, they
ate supper, then each took turns throughout the night to keep watch while the other slept, for there was always the possibility of wolves in the area.

  On the fourth day, they reached the crest of the last hill and began to climb down towards a valley which led to open ground in the distance,

  “Where will we go after Santa Fe?” asked Tina.

  “I’ve got enough money to reach St. Louis. You’ll probably have to do some cooking or making of snowshoes there to get us any further away.”

  “I said Paw would pay for your cattle.”

  “I haven’t the courage to find out. If you think so, we’ll write from St, Louis, but I’m certainly not going to ask him face to face.”

  They set up camp that evening near the base of the hill, and in the morning they started off early, working their way across the gullies and around the small knolls.

  They had just passed between two large outcroppings when suddenly Paul heard the click of a hammer being cocked.

  “Down!” he shouted, lunging back desperately against Tina. He knocked her to the ground and began to pull his rifle off his shoulder. Then his hand froze abruptly when he saw the leveled rifles aimed directly at him.

  Jaydee Birman and his seven sons stood there facing him! Jaydee’s eyes blazed as he lowered his rifle to gut-shoot Paul. His finger tightened on the trigger.

  “Paw!” shouted Tina, a note of terror in her voice. “No! No!”

  The old man, his face set as hard as a rock, spoke through clenched teeth. “Are you all right, Tina?”

  “Yes, Paw. But don’t hurt him. I must tell you something.”

  “Daniel! Luke!” snapped Jaydee. “Take Tina home.”

  Tina climbed to her feet. “Paul comes with me, Paw. I won’t go without him.”

  The old man jerked his head curtly to his sons. “Take her home.”

  “Paw,” said Daniel, the youngest of the boys. “Tina’s trying to say something.”

  “Close your mouth, boy, and do what you’re told.”

  “Paw,” said Tina, stepping in front of Paul. “I’m carrying your grandson inside me.”

  Paul pulled her around, ignoring the guns pointed at him. “What did you say?” he asked, incredulous.

  “I’m pregnant, Paul.”

  His jaw dropped, then a wide smile broke over his face. “Tina!” he shouted, catching her up in his arms and whirling her about.

  Her face was scarlet when he let her down. She turned in his arms towards her father. “Paw, if anything happens to Paul, I wouldn’t want to go on living.”

  The old man slowly lowered his rifle and stepped forward. Tina came to meet him, and he took her in his arms. “Thank God you’re safe, girl,” he whispered. He patted her shoulder awkwardly, then turned to his sons. “Well now,” he said, a faint smile on his lips. “Looks like we’ll have another Birman before long.”

  “Birman!” exclaimed Paul, moving closer to Tina. “That boy will be Paul Sanderson Junior, the future Fifteenth Duke of Wesfumbletonshire.” He looked at their staring eyes, then caught a strange expression on Tina’s face. “What is the matter?” he asked.

  Tina was the first to regain her voice. “That would mean marrying me.”

  “Marrying you! Of course, you ninny. What did you think 1 was going to do, with or without Paul Sanderson Junior?”

  Tina turned to her father and, putting her arms around his neck, began to weep. The old man took a self-conscious swipe at his nose. “Well now, girl,” he said. “And why shouldn’t any man in his right mind want to marry you?”

  Paul grasped Tina’s arm and pulled her about to face him, the tears streaming down her cheeks. “Tina,” be said softly. “I love you more than anyone in the world. I want you for the rest of my life.”

  “You don’t have to marry me,” she said.

  Paul smiled. “I think Paul Sanderson Junior has something to say about that.”

  “Well now,” said Jaydee, pushing back his hat and scratching his head. “I reckon we’ll have the biggest wedding this Territory has ever seen. Maybe the west.”

  Ben stepped forward and held out his left hand to Paul. “Still have a little ache in my right shoulder,” he said, grinning. “I’m plumb glad Paw waited before pulling that trigger.”

  They came up one by one to. shake his hand, Tina looking on with roses in her cheeks and tears of happiness in her eyes.

  Jaydee stepped up last and took his hand. “Can you two ride or should we make camp overnight here?”

  “Do you have any tea at home?” asked Paul.

  “Tea!” exclaimed Jaydee. He pulled at his nose, thinking. “I don’t reckon we have. But I’ll send for some right away, though.”

  “Paw,” said Daniel. “Wong, the cook - I think he drinks tea.”

  Paul brightened. “What do you say, Tina, can you ride?”

  She chuckled. “Anywhere you go, Paul, I’ll be right behind.”

  “Paw,” said Jamey, the second oldest, a note of urgency in his voice. “We got company.”

  Paul looked up and instantly stepped out of his snowshoes, slipping his rifle from off his shoulder.

  For coming down the trail was a band of men, about thirty strong, and in their lead was Stewart Upjohn.

  CHAPTER XV

  It was almost imperceptible the way the Birman boys casually shifted their positions to form an arc behind their father. Even Tina seemed to have her place as she stepped to the rear of the line. She motioned to Paul to come to her side.

  Paul was struck again by the fluid power of Upjohn as he rode that tall, red beauty of a horse towards them, his perfect balance in the saddle and his detached air as he brought it to a halt barely ten feet from the Birmans. Upjohn noticed their stance and his eyes twinkled. Reaching into his pocket, he took out one of his Cuban cigars, lit it slowly and drew deeply upon it. Right beside him was Deke Howard, the scar on his face livid with an inner fury, his black eyes shifting from one Birman to the next. Sitting their horses quietly behind them were the thirty gunfighters, evidently highly skilled according to their good clothes, fine horses, their strapped-down sixguns and the rifles held in their hands.

  “Howdy, Jaydee,” said Upjohn pleasantly. “Strange running into you like this.” His eyes flicked to Paul. “See you caught up with Sanderson. Good work. I’ll take him, now.” He motioned to one of his men to get Paul.

  “Well now,” said Jaydee, shifting the rifle held loosely in his arms towards the man starting forward. The man stopped instantly. Jaydee turned back to Upjohn. “Why don’t we talk about it for a while.”

  “Sure, Jaydee,” said Upjohn. “Always good to talk. Saves all kinds of misunderstandings.” He drew a sheet of paper out of his coat pocket. “I just happen to have a bill of sale for the Three Barbs in my pocket. Seems like you got to know Sanderson well enough to ask him to sign it. Then give him fifteen thousand dollars and we’ll be on our way.”

  Jaydee took the paper from Upjohn’s hand and called up Paul.

  “I want you to sign this.”

  Paul’s eyes narrowed. “Can I speak to you - alone?” he asked Jaydee.

  Upjohn waved his cigar at them. “Go right ahead, Jaydee. Explain to him that the land isn’t worth all this trouble.”

  Paul and the old man moved a few paces to the rear. “Upjohn has some trick in mind,” said Paul, “because if I sign the bill of sale I am doing so under duress, and he knows it won’t hold up in a court of law.”

  “He isn’t going to worry about that because you ain’t going to sign that under duress. You’re going to sign that willingly and be happy to take that fifteen thousand dollars.” He raised his hand to stop Paul from speaking. “When you marry Tina, you get five thousand head of prime cows and all the land you’ll ever need. The Three Barbs ain’t worth getting killed about.”

  Tina came over to them. “Paul,” she said. “Please do whatever Paw says.”

  Paul sighed. “It appears I have no alternative.”

  Jaydee led him up t
o Upjohn. “I want everyone here to witness that this man who owns the Three Barbs is selling his land to Stewart Upjohn willingly. Ain’t that right?”

  Paul nodded.

  Jaydee took a pencil from his pocket and handed it to Paul, who signed his name. “Who do you want to witness this?” asked Jaydee of Upjohn.

  Upjohn waved one of his men forward. The gunfighter leaned down and wrote his name underneath Paul’s signature. Jaydee handed the bill of sale to Upjohn. “You’ve got to pay him fifteen thousand dollars now,” he said.

  “I don’t have it with me,” said Upjohn. “Take Sanderson to town and pay him.”

  “Paw!” said Tina urgently. Upjohn glanced at her with an amused expression in his eyes.

  “That’ll be all right, Upjohn,” said Jaydee. “You can send the money to my ranch when you get around to it.”

  Upjohn placed the signed bill of sale in his pocket. “Sorry, Jaydee, I want Sanderson with me - until the transfer of the property takes place and all that.”

  “He’ll stay on my ranch and won’t move a foot off it,” said Jaydee, taking a step back. “But he’s staying with me.”

  Upjohn shook his head. “I don’t understand you, Jaydee, making such an issue out of an unimportant matter. Why, you’d think he was one of your own boys.”

  “He is,” said Jaydee flatly.

  Upjohn glanced again at Tina. “So,” he said slowly. He straightened in his saddle and threw his cigar away. “Jaydee, I’ve got to have him. Don’t you understand, he’s too dangerous. He’s not just another range bum - he’s a Duke. That’s a rank just below a prince. If he starts trouble, Washington will hear about it from the British Ambassador and we’ll have all kinds of people snooping about.” He leaned forward and said softly, “He’s got to have an accident.”

  “Upjohn,” said Jaydee, taking a tighter grip on his rifle. “I promise you he won’t cause any trouble. Now, I don’t want a showdown over this, but you’ve got to understand that I’m taking him to my ranch and keeping him out of your way?”