Dark Journey Home

by Cherie Shaw

  CHAPTER 7

  Coyote Springs, Texas

  The panoramic view from the outskirts of the western foothills town of Coyote Springs was breathtaking. A verdant colorful valley crowded with prairie grasses, yellow and red wildflowers, shady mesquite trees and bushes, scrub and spreading oak, and plentiful berry bushes, linked from the west the backdrop of the pine covered mountains to the picturesque town just ahead and to the south, with its false fronted buildings, some clapboard construction, other adobe block. A weary team of horses anxiously pulled the creaking stagecoach the last half mile, then past a dozen majestic Ponderosa pine trees lining each side of the wide main street, along with potted geraniums setting off to the sides of each business entrance. A white trellis with climbing honeysuckle vines shaded the board walkway of a small cozy homestead situated on the edge of town, enhanced by a surrounding, and freshly painted white picket fence. Blossoms filled the air with a sweet flowery fragrance.

  After struggling across a ten foot wide log bridge, which spanned the rapidly running creek, the stage slowed, then amid clouds of swirling dust, came to a screeching halt in front of a whitewashed two-story building that had several weatherworn signs lining a wood plank front walkway. One sign had large black lettering informing one and all that this was indeed a café, stage stop, and hotel combined. Another sign read Western Union and U.S. Post Office with arrows pointing to another entrance to the right, then yet another sign with large red lettering in front of a colorful rose bush which bespoke of a livery stable to the left and two blocks down. In small lettering the livery stable sign also read, “HEALTHY HORSES FOR SALE, RENT OR BORROW. OLD NAGS CHEAPER!” The last sign at the far end of a walkway said, “IF YOU PASSED BOOTHILL, YOU HAVE ALREADY LEFT US!”

  Snickering, as she noted the signs, Olivia said to her friend, “You were right Maria; this is a lovely and colorful town. Just look at the wildflowers growing everywhere. The young pines and shady oak trees are magnificent. I believe I love this place already.”

  “Si, Señorita, it is indeed a paradise to behold. I think you will enjoy your visit here. Maybe after we get settled into our hotel rooms, we could stroll around, take in some of the shops while the day is still young.” Maria smiled while smoothing down the front of her full gathered skirt, as everyone prepared to leave the confines of the hot stage interior.

  Lord Beckford was the first to dismount, then after looping the reins of his black stallion over the nearest hitching rail, he strode to the door of the stagecoach to assist the women. Swinging the door wide, he reached inside towards Olivia’s outstretched hand, but the aggressive brassy redhead, Lulu, pushed ahead of Olivia, and snatching her carpetbag with her left hand, grabbed ahold of Claude’s hand with her right.

  “Oh my,” she flustered, and batted her eyelashes, “you are such a true gentleman to rush to my assistance like this.” She gave a harsh throaty giggle, then put all of her heavy weight on Claude’s hand, and though he was a strong man, even at his age, he was caught off guard, and struggled not to ‘drop’ the coarse woman. He didn’t answer her, just nodded, then after assisting her to alight, proceeded to disengage his hand from Lulu, but the forward female held on tight, pulling Lord Claude after her towards the boardwalk in front of the stage depot.

  Claude realized in a moment that the woman didn’t intend to let him go, and he also wondered what she thought she could accomplish by this brazen act of hers. He wanted to assist his niece and Maria from the stage, but he was a patient man, and without creating a scene for the entertainment of the locals, that was not to be accomplished.

  Logan and Ricardo had been assisting Joe Carlson, the driver of the stage, to unload the trunks from the top, catching them as Joe tossed them down. The ‘riding shotgun’ guard, ‘Wolf’, had climbed down from his perch, and without a backward glance, sauntered across the road to the nearest saloon, pushed the batwing doors in, then disappeared inside the establishment, probably not to be seen again, until the stage was ready to pull out, whenever that would be.

  Seeing that he was needed, Ricardo immediately stepped over and helped Maria down, lifting her tenderly into his waiting embrace.

  As Olivia attempted to leave the stagecoach, she was grasped around her slim waist by two strong hands, and then lifted carefully to the ground. She reflexively put her small hands on Logan’s shoulders to brace herself, as he swung her down to the ground. She was amazed at how light she felt in his grasp as he easily lifted her. Olivia whispered a quiet ‘Thank you”, as he then reached inside the stage to retrieve her carpetbag.

  Logan nodded and smiled that devilish grin at her, as she looked up at him, then embarrassed, she turned away, after lifting that haughty little chin of hers in the air. Logan grinned and shook his head, then proceeded to gather some of the bags that had been left on the ground.

  Claude had finally managed to pull his hand away from Lulu, but only after she had wrangled a promise that he meet her for supper later on that evening in the hotel dining room. He figured he would take Olivia, Maria and Ricardo with for protection from the aggressive, bothersome and scheming female. First after checking into their rooms, he needed to contact Claybourne Phillips, the attorney who was managing his ranch, the ‘Triple B’. The two cowboys who had been riding the stage, had walked on down the road towards the livery stable, but he had heard them mention working for the owner of the ‘Triple B’. Interesting. Claude pondered on that bit of information, also the fact that they were returning from driving a small herd of longhorns to the railroad. He hadn’t seen that information either on any of the recent monthly reports from the attorney, Phillips.

  One of the cowboys, Bart McCain he’d said his name was, a friendly informative person, had informed Claude and Logan that the rest of the trail hands were returning with the remuda of horses and the chuckwagon along with other gear back down the trail and would be about another week in returning. Though he was to hurry back to the ranch to let the owner know that the drive had been successful and Bart had to deliver a bank draft to the boss for the sale of the longhorn cattle.

  As Claude walked away from the aggressive female, Lulu, he thought heavily about the situation at his ranch. Something didn’t set right. Just what were these people up to?

  “Logan?” he called to his trusted friend and guide.

  Logan walked to the boardwalk in front of the hotel, stepped up to where Claude stood then answered, “Yes, sir?” He noted Claude’s intent expression. “What’s on your mind, Claude?” He said as he set down the two trunks and other bags he’d been carrying.

  Olivia and Maria had already entered the hotel lobby, followed by Ricardo.

  Lulu, with one quick wistful glance over her shoulder at Claude, had then crossed the dirt road, and headed towards the mercantile. No one had really asked why she had traveled to ‘Coyote springs’, or where she had come from either.

  Claude spoke quietly to Logan, after first glancing around to see that no one was near who could overhear what he was saying. “It seems,” he began, as Logan listened intently, “I may have run into a literal ‘hornet’s nest’ here with this ranch of mine.”

  Logan raised an eyebrow in question as Claude continued. “You know, young man, that I have not kept my business affairs running smoothly all these years by being a stupid man. My instinct, which by the way has never once failed me, tells me that all is not what it appears at the ‘Triple B’.”

  Logan nodded in agreement, his expression grim, though calm, as he spoke, “I figured you’d come around to telling me your thoughts on this situation here. Exactly the same conclusion as I have come to, after meeting the two hands from your ranch. As most hands are loyal to the brand, they are merely doing their job, possibly innocent pawns in some kind of a scam.”

  “Exactly. You know, Logan, the funny part of this whole affair is that I am a very wealthy man, so I don’t really need the income from this Texas property. I’ve just been sitting on it, and reinvesting the small proceeds from it. Howev
er,” Claude paused here, then took a deep breath and grinned, “It’s only one small holding of mine, left to me by a distant relative some ten years ago, who had no close heirs. I haven’t really paid all that much attention to it.” Claude paused again, then continued with a shake of his graying head, “I have always been a fair businessman, and as a result, have demanded fairness in return. When my instinct tells me something is not right, I always listen. I’ve built up a worldwide industry that had been in my family for generations, but my instinct has assisted me in slowly, over the years, increasing that industry a thousand-fold to what it was when I took it over as a young man forty years ago. I don’t need the income from this ranch, but I’ll bloody well be damned if I’ll sit by and watch some shifty characters take away what will some day be a part, no matter how small, of my niece and nephew’s inheritance.”

  Logan nodded thoughtfully in agreement. “Exactly.” He said. “I will assist you in any way I can sir, and be assured that you can count on Ricardo as well.” He thought for a minute, then, “Wait a minute Claude. I have an idea.” Logan scanned the area around them, then quietly said, “If it’s alright with you, Lord Beckford, just possibly Ricardo and I could mosey on down to the Triple B and see if they are hiring on any new hands. No one around here knows for sure if we are all traveling together, or if we just met on the way here. Ricardo and I were riding horses next to the stage anyway, so I doubt if any of the passengers realized we were together. When we find out any information as to the situation at the Triple B, we can report to you some way or other. At least then you will be forewarned, and we can take whatever actions are necessary.”

  Claude pondered the idea for a moment, “By Jove Logan, that just may work. Let me think on the subject overnight. I’ll talk to Olivia and see her reaction is to all this and you speak to Ricardo. We’ll come to a decision in the morning. Meanwhile I have to get the ladies checked into their hotel rooms so they can do some shopping before supper.”

  Logan nodded, tipped his hat, then, picking up the trunks and other baggage that had been left; he headed for the hotel entrance, following after Lord Beckford.

  Lulu stood inside the mercantile staring out the window toward the walkway where Claude and Logan had been standing, deep in discussion. She wondered at the intensity of their hushed conversation, and hoped that Claude would show up in the dining room for supper. Her situation was dire. She didn’t want to work in her sister’s store for the rest of her life, but that was the reason for this journey. She had promised Clara, her widowed sister, as there was nothing else for her back east. Lulu’s fourth husband had run off and left her some six months ago, leaving a stack of bills for which she could avoid no longer. She’d filed for divorce on grounds of desertion, then had left Philadelphia immediately afterwards. She needed a rich husband. And fast. Lulu hoped the rancher she’d met on the stagecoach was well-to-do. He appeared to be.

  Lulu felt herself too classy to waste her years working for a living anyway. Maybe that rancher who had been on the stagecoach would weaken. He had a heavy British accent. She pondered briefly on that, but it was of no great importance. Lulu gave a deep sigh, then walked back to the counter, donned a white muslin apron and began dusting off merchandise. Her sister, Clara, who owned the mercantile, had been ill, and the place was a mess. Lulu wasn’t afraid of hard work. She just didn’t like it. Working for a living was degrading to a lady of her looks and intelligence. Well, she’d never had a problem enticing male attention before now. Surely she wasn’t losing her touch in that direction. During supper she would work extra hard putting on the charm for the rancher. He would most certainly be enamored then. Wouldn’t he?

  <><><>

  Olivia stared at her uncle Claude in disbelief, as they stood inside her hotel room. “Are you certain you have read this situation right?” She spoke in a shocked voice. “After all this traveling, we may not even be able to see your ranch?”

  “I didn’t say that, Ollie. It is my property, and we certainly will be able to see the place, even stay there. It’s just a small matter of ownership that needs to be cleared up. I’m not sure it would be such a good idea to take you ladies to the property as quickly as planned. I need to see this attorney first, the one who oversees the property for me, then again….” Claude paused here, “Maybe not before I find out what the situation is there.” We need to think this over. Maybe I’ll just wait on seeing that attorney. Who knows just how deeply he is involved in the workings of the whole situation.

  “Logan and Ricardo will be riding out to the ranch in the morning, only to be seeking jobs on a ranch. Even if they don’t get hired, it doesn’t matter, they will go there to look things over anyway, then report back to me later on in the day. They’re both very experienced cowhands, so if the ranch is shorthanded, they may be able to hire out for a few days and get a truer picture of the place and its workings. Though I won’t know what should be done until I hear back from them.”

  Olivia nodded, “I trust your judgment, Uncle. It’s just a disappointment, that’s all. I’ve lived at the well-organized Beckford Manor estate for so many years; I guess I always expect things to go according to plans, though from what I heard of Mr. Wakefield’s experiences for eight years of his life, things were certainly not according to his plans. I should have expected the unexpected on this trip to America.”

  Claude smiled fondly at his niece, “After all these months, Logan is still ‘Mr. Wakefield’ to you, Ollie? Can’t you refer to him as ‘Logan’ now?”

  “Of course, Uncle. It’s just that I’m not used to the man; he’s a virtual stranger to me.” Olivia stated emphatically, trying to cover for her nervous reaction to the mention of Logan’s name.

  Shaking his head, Claude hid a knowing grin, then quickly reversed the subject to the previous topic of discussion, “We will wait here in town until I can figure out what to do about the ranch. Though from now on, and from all appearances to the town’s folks in general, we are only visiting the area, then will be traveling on to another town, to visit friends and relatives.

  “I didn’t want to worry you, Ollie. I figured you should know just what we are possibly up against.”

  Claude gave Olivia a quick hug, then said, “You get some rest, and then you and Maria should do whatever shopping you need to do, just be careful who you talk to, and don’t give out any information about why we are here in Coyote Springs, or where we are going from here. I believe we should keep a very low profile for the time being.

  “Right now,” Claude continued, “I need to send a wire to your brother, Garth in New York, to let him know that we arrived here alright. Hopefully we’ll receive an answer from him as soon as he gets my wire. The lad is so unpredictable. With a little luck he will have remained at the townhouse and not left the country yet.”

  “I’m still surprised at his marriage, Uncle Claude, though I will admit he chose well. I like Bridgett a lot, and she just may be the sort of settling influence that Garth needs. Her character runs deep, much more than she would lead us to believe.”

  “You are right about her, Ollie, as I’ve had the same feeling about the lady. She portrays herself just the way she wants the world to see her, though that’s not really the type of person she is. I’m sure Garth saw beneath the surface as well.” Claude chuckled. “Those two go well together, seeming to compliment each other. There will certainly never be a dull moment in that marriage.” He walked toward the doorway, turned the knob, then looked back at Olivia. “I’ll be back here at seven to take you and Maria to supper. Ricardo knows to have Maria meet you here before then, although he and Logan will not be dining with us. They will be busy making themselves known around town tonight as two cowboys looking for work. I don’t want them to be seen in our company, in case someone should detect as to why I am here, and who I am.”

  Olivia agreed with her uncle. He then left the room and descended the stairway to the hotel lobby. As he headed for the outside exit, the desk clerk called to him, �
�One moment, sir.”

  “Yes, what is it?” Claude turned and strode back to the desk.

  “I remembered a telegram that came in a couple weeks ago, addressed to Claude Beckford, that is you, isn’t it sir?” At his nod, the clerk handed him the missive, and added, “I was instructed to hold on to it until you arrived and checked in, then I almost forgot to give it to you when you registered.”

  Claude thanked the young fellow, then took the cable and moved over to sit on a leather chair which stood on the far side of the lobby. He hoped it was from his nephew Garth, and was not disappointed as he opened the envelope. Garth’s telegram was long and detailed. The lad believed in spending money at the western union offices. His messages were very rare indeed, but when he did send one, he certainly made up for lost time. The missives were always lengthy to say the least.

  As he read the long and detailed contents of the telegram, Claude mumbled to himself, “Interesting……very interesting.” He thought. “Logan needs to read this one too.” Claude headed back up the stairway, then after scanning the hallway, he lightly tapped on Logan’s hotel room door, which was the first door to the right at the top of the stairs. Logan opened the door, then stepped back to admit Claude.