The Western Justice Trilogy

by Gilbert, Morris

  “My fault.”

  “No, it wasn’t. It was my fault.”

  “I shouldn’t have drawn your picture.”

  “No, I was silly.” She hesitated then said, “Maybe you should have been an artist instead of a marshal.”

  Suddenly Riordan grinned. “That’s what my mother said.”

  Riordan closed his eyes again. After a few moments, he sensed that Rosa had risen from her position. He expected to hear her footsteps as she left the room, obviously thinking he had fallen asleep. But instead, she whispered some words, which he was sure she never intended him to hear.

  “I’ll never forget what you did, Riordan. Never.”

  He did hear her leave after her declaration. He kept his eyes closed as to avoid embarrassment for both of them, and his mind kept turning her words over and over.

  Riordan was out of bed and had put on a pair of pants with the right leg split, for his leg was still swollen. He hobbled out of the bedroom and saw Frank sitting at the kitchen table. “I’m going out to the bunkhouse. I’ve had your bedroom long enough.”

  “You don’t have to do that, young feller.”

  “I’d feel better.”

  Mateo and Chenoa were both in the room. They came over, and the woman took his hand and kissed it. “You saved my daughter’s life.”

  Mateo did not speak, but his eyes spoke volumes. Finally he said, “You are a good man.”

  “Anybody would have done it.”

  As he hobbled out, Frank said, “No, they wouldn’t. Some fellows would have run like a scared rabbit when they saw that big snake.”

  Riordan went outside and crossed the yard, limping badly. He got to the bunkhouse and sat down on the bench outside. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, for he was still weak. He opened them when he heard footsteps and saw Ringo coming.

  Ringo sat down beside Riordan and said, “What happened? We heard all kinds of stories.”

  “Oh, there was a snake, and I shot it.”

  “That’s not what Rosa says. She said you pulled her out of the way and shot the snake. That it bit you instead of her. She’s told everybody on the ranch what a hero you are.”

  “I’m no hero.”

  “Well, you sound like one to me. You know… if you can shoot the head off a snake that quick, you must be a pretty good shot.”

  “Just lucky, Ringo.”

  Ringo rose and turned to leave, calling back over his shoulder as he walked away, “Well, whatever it was, you are a hero to everyone around here now.”

  After a time, Chenoa brought him some cool lemonade from the springhouse. She whispered to Riordan, sounding much like her daughter, “We will never forget what you have done for us.”

  Ten minutes later Rosa came and gave him his tablet. She sat down beside him. He could smell the violet scent she used. “I went back and got your tablet, and when I saw the body of that snake I nearly fainted. I’m scared to death of snakes.”

  “Why, you shouldn’t have bothered, Miss Ramirez.”

  “I know it’s important to you. I—I looked at all the sketches.” She shook her head and said quietly, “You’ve got a great talent. You’ve got the ranch and everybody else right here in this tablet. Some of the horses. All with a pencil. Maybe you ought to learn how to paint.”

  Despite himself, Riordan smiled. “I thought of doing that once.”

  “You should do it. Can I have the picture of me?”

  “Why, of course.”

  She picked up the tablet and found the sketch of her. “Sign it and date it.”

  Riordan laughed. “If van Gogh had signed one of his paintings and a fellow had it now, it would be worth a million dollars. Mine won’t be worth a dime.”

  “Still, I’d like you to sign it.”

  “Well, let me fill in the details.” He took the tablet and the pencil.

  She sat beside him, very close, watching as the pencil seemed to fly over the paper. It was almost like magic the way details appeared, and when he gave it to her she said, “Thank you, Riordan.”

  For a time she tried to find out a little about his past, but he had almost nothing to say.

  Finally he said, “Miss Ramirez, I know I’m not what you went for. I knew that when the judge let me come. I thought by this time they’d have Heck Thomas or some of the real marshals here, but I know I’m not what you want. Judge Parker will send you some fine lawmen as soon as he can.”

  Rosa sat silently for a few minutes. She finally lifted her head and looked him directly in the eye, her expression revealing sincerity. “I am not good at making apologies. I am ashamed at how I reacted by hitting you with my whip. I have realized that you risked your own life to save mine.” She leaned over and put her hand on his arm. “I think you’re a real marshal, Riordan. Please stay with us.”

  Riordan was startled. He looked at her and saw the hope and trust she was willing to place in him now. He smiled faintly, saying, “Well, maybe I will.”

  CHAPTER 14

  The sun was falling into the west, throwing a halo of light around the faraway mountains. Rosa had been walking around the ranch looking for nothing really, feeling confused and a bit frustrated. She went into the kitchen. There her mother was sitting at the table peeling potatoes. “Let me help you, Mama.”

  “Oh, I’m almost done. Sit down and talk to me.”

  Rosa sighed, settled down on a chair, and locked her fingers together behind her head. She arched her back as if easing tired muscles then said, “I don’t really have anything to talk about.”

  Chenoa looked up from the potato she was peeling and said, “What do you think about the marshal now, the one you referred to as only being capable of cleaning out stables and washing dishes?”

  Her mother’s words brought a quick glow to Rosa’s face. She unloosed her fingers, leaned forward, and stared out the window for a moment then turned to gaze on her mother. “I don’t know. He’s not what I thought he was.”

  “He still doesn’t seem like he’s the kind of man to be a marshal. All the marshals I’ve seen around have been older men, rough and knowledgeable of the land and its harshness. You can tell that Riordan’s had a different kind of life.”

  “Yes, he’s educated, and he’s a talented artist. I don’t know what he’s doing out here in this wild country. He needs to be in the big city somewhere making a career for himself.”

  “I’ve been watching him all the time he’s been here. He’s a very gentle man. If you talked to most men the way you talk to him, they would have turned you over their knees and spanked you.”

  “Well, I made a mistake,” Rosa muttered. “He looked so awful the first time I saw him at Judge Parker’s, and he couldn’t ride a horse. I was expecting to get one of the better marshals or maybe three or four of them, and instead I got him.”

  “Well, you made him pay for it. I don’t know why he put up with you.”

  Rosa shook her head but had no answer. She reached over, picked up a potato, and started to peel it. But she just as quickly dropped it, saying, “I’m going to go outside. I feel like doing something, but I don’t know what it is.”

  Quickly she returned outdoors, made her way to the corral, and for a while curried her mare, Beauty. She was a spirited mare, enjoying giving a good nip once in a while.

  “Don’t you bite me, Beauty,” Rosa said. “I’ll send you to the fort to be ridden by one of the marshals.” She laughed when the mare whinnied slightly and tossed her head. “You’re vain. That’s what you are. You’re full of pride because you’re such a pretty animal.”

  She curried the horse carefully until her coat was shining and then turned her out to the pasture. “I don’t know what to do with myself. I can’t go out after those outlaws alone, and according to what Judge Parker says, it may be weeks or even months before he gets any men to send.” Dissatisfied with herself, she made her way to the cook shack. She found Riordan in the kitchen cooking something. He had a huge pot on the woodstove, and she sta
red at him.

  “I didn’t know you were a cook.”

  “Well, no one else is doing it, and we’ve got to have something to eat.”

  “You should have asked me or my mother.”

  “Ah, it’s no trouble. Just got this big roast and put it in to bake for a while. When it gets tender, it’ll be ready to eat. Don’t have much to go with it though.”

  “We have some canned beans up at the house. Maybe you can use those.”

  “Oh, that would be good. We’re always hungry, all of us.”

  “I’ll get some for you later.”

  She stayed for a while, watching him work in the kitchen and thinking, If I saw another man cook, I would think he’s nothing but a bore and not really a man. Somehow I don’t think that about this man. He’s different from everybody else. Finally she got up, saying, “I’ll bring the beans down.”

  Later that afternoon Rosa looked up to see Xeno Brewton riding up. Xeno had been there before. He was a horse trader, of sorts, and often bought from and sold to her grandfather. He paid attention to her, listened to what she had to say, and seemed to be understanding of what a hard time she had had.

  “Hello, Xeno.”

  “Hello, Rosa. My, you’re looking first rate.”

  “Thank you. Come onto the porch. My father and grandfather are up there arguing about something. They always are.”

  “They are a quarrelsome pair.”

  “Could you use some cool lemonade?”

  “That I could. Thank you very much, Miss Rosa.”

  Rosa went to the springhouse and pulled out a jug. It was the only cool place during the hot summer months as it was dug back into a hill and covered over with dirt so that it was like a cave. She carefully opened the door, looking for snakes. She remembered that once she had opened the door and a big snake had nearly scared her to death as it slithered out. It turned out to be nonpoisonous, but that didn’t matter at the time. She saw no snakes now, however; so she picked up the jug and then stopped at the kitchen and took it out to where the three men were sitting. “Who’s telling the biggest lies?”

  Xeno shook his head. “It’s hard to tell between these two. Both of them exaggerate quite a bit.”

  She filled all their glasses with lemonade, poured one for herself, and then sat down. She studied her grandfather and saw that he was still looking very tired and weary. He’s not going to live much longer. The thought flashed into her mind and frightened her. She had become very fond of her grandfather and hated to think about losing him. Her eyes went to her father. Mateo was looking somewhat better. The easy living, good food, and sun had helped him quite a bit. Maybe he’ll get well. I pray God he will, she thought.

  For a while she just listened to the three men conversing. Then she suddenly straightened up as Xeno said, “There was a holdup yesterday.”

  “Where was this?” Frank asked.

  “Just north of Big Mountain. Two armed men held up two men driving a wagon. One of them put up a fight, and they shot him. They let the other one go after they took what was in the wagon.”

  “What was so valuable?”

  “They had some money, and the dead man had a valuable ring. I don’t know how the bandits knew it though.”

  “This country’s got more bandits than it has coyotes! Come to think of it, coyotes have more kindness about them than some of these bandits. Who were these men?”

  “Well, the one that the driver recognized might be part of George Pye’s bunch. It wasn’t Pye himself, but he recognized one of his men. I think his name is Vernon Epps.”

  “Epps—He’s a bad one!” Frank exclaimed.

  Xeno nodded vigorously. “They’re all bad. I wish they’d send the army and clean out all these thugs. They did it to the Indians. I don’t know why they couldn’t do it to these outlaws.”

  Rosa said nothing as she sat there listening to the men talk about the robbery and the killing. She left after a time. The one thought going through her mind was, If Epps was there, probably Pye and the rest of his gang were, too. She felt frustrated, for there was nothing she could do until Judge Parker sent a group of marshals to clean out the nest of outlaws.

  Riordan was riding Red and watched as Brewton picked out a horse and paid for it. Then Riordan went up to him as he was leaving with his new acquisition.

  “Hello, Marshal.”

  “Hello, Mr. Brewton. Did I hear right that you know something about a robbery?”

  Riordan straightened up, and his eyes glowed. “Where did it happen?” He listened as Brewton described the robbery, and when he mentioned that it could have been a member of Pye’s band, he grew more interested.

  Brewton said, “I wish you had the manpower to go after them, but one man don’t need to chase around after that bunch. See you later, Marshal.”

  “Take it easy, Mr. Brewton.” Riordan rode slowly toward the stable. He didn’t unsaddle Red, but instead he found a pair of saddlebags and went into the cook shack. He put in some bacon and several cans of beans and some day-old biscuits. Going to his bunk, he added a box of .38 shells and went back and put his Winchester in the saddle holster. He then mounted Red and rode out slowly.

  Rosa had been watching Riordan from the back porch of the house since he had talked with Xeno. As soon as he rode out, she suddenly realized, I bet he’s going after Epps and his bunch.

  She went to the house and said, “Papa, I’m going out for a ride. I may be late tonight. You and Mama go on to bed.”

  “Don’t stay out too late. The wolves might get you.”

  “No, they won’t. I will shoot them.”

  Quickly she ran out and saddled Beauty. Rosa then rode out at a swift pace, headed after Riordan. She realized she had no idea what she would say to him. She was curious, however, and wanted to know if he had any plan in his mind for capturing the gang. “Come on, Beauty. Let’s go.”

  Riordan suddenly pulled Red to a stop. His eyes were on the ground ahead, and he had a map out that showed the approximate location where the holdup had taken place. He had no idea what he would do if he saw the whole bunch. Turn tail and run probably. He grinned ruefully. He was weary of the life he was leading. It was actually more boring than when he was hauling fertilizer for Judge Parker. All he did now was ride around and wait. It went against his measure.

  Suddenly he heard the sound of a horse approaching. “Whoa, Red.” He turned around and saw Rosa riding up on her mare. He was puzzled and asked quickly, “What are you doing out here, Miss Ramirez?”

  “I wish you’d call me Rosa like everybody else does.”

  “It doesn’t sound respectable to call your boss by her first name.”

  “I’m not your boss. You know that. Judge Parker is your boss.”

  He studied her for a moment then again asked, “What are you doing out here?”

  “Where are you going?” she countered.

  “I’m just riding around, more or less, on official business.”

  “I know what you’re doing. Xeno Brewton told you about the holdup, and you’re going to see if you can find the men who did it.”

  “Well, if I could find them, I could get word back to Judge Parker. He could get up some men and bring a posse. Might catch the whole bunch.”

  “Your chances of sneaking up on a bunch of outlaws in the Territory aren’t very good. They’re all like wild animals. They have sharp instincts about lawmen. Judge Parker has already lost nearly fifty of his marshals.”

  “I know about that, and that’s why I want you to turn around and go back to the house.”

  She looked at him and said, “I won’t do it.”

  Riordan stared at her. “Miss Ramirez, I’m ordering you as an officer of the court, leave here and go back to the house!”

  Rosa smiled, and then she laughed. “What are you going to do if I refuse? Tie me to a tree and leave me here, or are you going to take me back and ask my father to punish me?”

  “You don’t really need to be going with me.
This is dangerous.”

  “It’s just as dangerous for you. I’m going to go with you. I left word at the ranch that I might be late.”

  “I may not go back tonight.”

  “Then I won’t go back either. Now let’s go. We’re talking too much.”

  Riordan threw up one hand and shook his head. “You are the most stubborn woman, Miss Ramirez, I have ever seen!” He turned, and Red obediently began walking at a fast pace.

  He glanced at Rosa, who rode beside him, and could not help but think how attractive she was. He had never pursued women greatly, except for Marlene Jenson. Rosa had clean-running physical lines. She was tall and shapely, and whatever it was that made a woman attractive, she had it as far as he was concerned. He knew she was a strong-willed woman, and the thought came to him, If she had to, she’d draw that revolver and shoot a man down and not go to pieces afterward. Indeed, he had seen that she had a temper, could swing from extremes of laughter and softness, and he realized that there was a tremendous capacity for emotion in her. All in all she was a beautiful and robust woman with a woman’s soft depth. She had an enormous certainty in her, a positive will, and he admired the vitality and imagination that she had to hold under careful restraint. He saw this hint of her will in the corners of her eyes and lips. There was fire in the woman that made her lovely and brought the rich and headlong qualities behind the cool reserve of her lips.

  “Why are you staring at me?”

  Suddenly Riordan flinched, and his cheeks grew red. “I’m sorry. I just don’t understand women very much, I guess.”

  “What’s to understand? I’m just a woman like other women.”

  “I don’t think that’s true. You’re not really like other women… at least the ones I’ve known.”

  “What do you mean by that? What’s wrong with me?”

  “Why, nothing’s wrong with you. You have qualities I admire. You have a strong will, and you have beautiful hair.”