Dark Journey Home

by Cherie Shaw

  “We said we’d give a day’s work for a day’s pay, when we hired on. Didn’t say how many days that would be.” Logan drawled. “Anyway, maybe we’ll be back soon.”

  They were each handed their pay, and Ricardo said, “This place does grow on a man, Señor Chester. Maybe we will come back sooner than you expect. Who knows?”

  Chester glared, then growled, “You won’t be welcome here. Holderman won’t want you on the place again.”

  “Señor Chester, for shame. We are good honest hands, though we need to return to town for a few days. Maybe less.”

  “That’s right.” Logan calmly agreed. “We will head back here. You can surely count on that fact.”

  “Guess you boys didn’t hear me well.” Chester’s temper was flaring, and though he appeared puzzled at the same time, his face turned red as he stomped back into his office.

  Logan rode out of the ranch yard, with Ricardo following a few seconds behind. They didn’t look back. If they had, they would have seen Trudy Perkins, the ‘owner’s’ daughter, watching as they rode out, then running to the stable to saddle up.

  As they rode the trail through the forest, then down into the foothills, Logan was thinking of Lord Beckford and Olivia, and knew that they would be a little worried, so he figured it was a good thing that they were going back to town. Beckford needed to know about the situation at the Triple-B ranch. They pretty much knew the layout now and there wasn’t much more to be learned. It was time to take legal action to establish ownership.

  Logan had seen enough dishonesty in his young years to last a lifetime. It was time to fight back, and he intended to do just that. He didn’t at all like the fact that someone else was actually living in the mansion on the ranch, when the only occupant should have been a housekeeper.

  The hands lived in the bunkhouse, and the foreman had his own cabin. He was only supposed to be running the ranch for Lord Beckford, in cooperation with that attorney from town. Obviously the attorney was a part of an extensive crooked scheme. Who could they trust? How many cattle drives had they made in the last ten years and pocketed the proceeds from those sales? There were a lot of questions to be answered.

  As they rode towards town, both deep in thought, they hadn’t noticed that they were being followed, until Trudy Perkins finally caught up with them, riding the pinto mare that they had broken to saddle only days before. For some reason, when Logan noticed that fact, it irritated him to see her riding the horse he had pictured Olivia riding.

  “Hey, cowboys, you two handsome fellas leaving without saying goodbye?” She purred as she rode up.

  “Mornin’ ma’am.” Logan answered, and Ricardo touched his sombrero, though the men kept on riding.

  “Well?” Trudy called to them. “Aren’t you going to ask me why I’m here?” She rode alongside Logan, and kept pace.

  Logan glanced over at her, then grinned, “It’s fairly obvious that you felt like going for a ride to town at the same time we’re heading that way. Why now though?”

  “I get lonesome back there.” She shrugged, and frowned. “Daddy won’t even let me talk to any of the men. He sics that hound Holderman, on me if I even look at anyone. I thought that maybe I’d just catch up, and ride into town with you boys. You surely don’t mind, now do you?” And she tossed a flirty smile Logan’s way.

  “I honestly don’t believe your daddy would like you bein’ here like this, ma’am.” Logan assured her in a kindly way.

  “Well, what the old man doesn’t know, won’t hurt none, now will it? Besides you won’t tell will you, handsome?” She smirked, then laughed lightly as she rode on ahead a ways, her long thick auburn curls flying out behind her in soft glistening waves.

  Ricardo glanced back at Logan, and rolled his eyes, then cautioned, “Don’t look now, mi amigo, but I do believe we are still being followed, though not by ones so pretty as the señorita Perkins.” He laughed loudly, as he said, “I will enjoy seeing you squirm out of this one, amigo. This is one mad looking hombre who is fast catching up with us. Possibly the señorita’s padre, no? He doesn’t appear to be so impressed with you as the señorita is.” Ricardo shook his head, his dark eyes gleaming in humor, as he jerked on the reins, pulling his two-year old pinto to the side of the trail; he then added, “For a gringo, Logan, you are mucho too good-looking for a señorita’s father to like.”

  Logan heard the approaching hoof beats getting closer, and he too, pulled to the side of the trail to await the angry horseman, followed by two very impressive and tough appearing men, both heavily armed with six-guns and rifles, along with mean expressions to match their artillery.

  The leader of the three, who was mounted on a tall and lathered white stallion, was a big burly, thick-chested man, with gray hair, a thick mustache, and sporting a determined expression. He didn’t slow down until he was even with Logan, eye to eye, then he pulled up abruptly on the reins, skidding his mount to an abrupt stop. Logan noted that this older man looked even meaner than Jinx Holderman, if at all possible. He was the devil’s twin in every way.

  As Logan looked into the older man’s black eyes, tough as Logan was, he felt a distinct chill. This tough hombre had to be Perkins, Trudy’s pa, following his daughter. Logan glanced over at Ricardo with a look to silence him, to let Logan do the talking.

  Trudy looked back just as the men halted; her expression furious. “Daddy, how could you?” She shouted at the older man, then turned her horse, as if trying to decide whether to run ahead, or turn back.

  Logan had it figured right; so this big tough looking man was Woody Perkins himself, finally. This wasn’t exactly the situation in which he had wanted to meet the ‘supposed’ owner of the Triple-B, though he just watched the exchange between father and daughter.

  “Go home, girl. Now!!” Was all the big barrel-chested man said, and he meant it too, with the authority in his tone that brooked no response, and probably wasn’t used to back talk of any kind, from any one. He glared at Logan, as he spoke to his daughter.

  Trudy sat the pinto, for a moment, frowning at her father, and then quickly decided, from past experience, that it would be fruitless to argue with her parent, the mood he was in. She only shrugged, looked over wistfully at Logan, then said, “Well, it was a nice try anyway.” She rode slowly past her father, glared at his two thugs, and with a defiant toss of her auburn head, rode reluctantly back towards the ranch.

  Woody Perkins sat in his saddle for a moment longer, studying the two hands, before he spoke again. “I don’t expect to see either of you on my ranch ever again. If I do, you will be the sorriest two men who ever lived. Is that understood?”

  “Logan grinned, and Ricardo kept his silence, as he watched his friend. Logan, sitting easily in his saddle, only shrugged, then spoke, “I’m a little slow to comprehend a threat, sir.” Then he added, “That was a threat, wasn’t it, sir?” He slurred the word ‘sir’, in a very disrespectful manner. Then, as Perkins opened his mouth to issue another warning, Logan couldn’t resist adding, “By the way, Mr. Perkins, sir, just where this ranch of yours might be anyway? I don’t remember seeing it around.”

  “What do you mean by that?” Perkins shouted, growing red in the face, a muscle twitching in his jaw. “You’ve been working on my spread for the last three days.”

  “That a fact?” Logan drawled, and as he stared directly into Perkins’ dark eyes, he kept his right hand near his hip, the impressive colt six-gun sitting easily in the holster. Something about the way Logan’s hand hovered near the holster, and the almost calm look in his eyes, made the three men take a second look at the younger man.

  They studied him, as Logan continued, in his most congenial and friendly tone, “Well, Mr. Perkins, sir, it certainly has been right nice to ‘finally’ meet up with such a friendly person as you. I look forward to seeing you again soon.”

  “Don’t count on it.” Perkins retorted, still glaring, though hesitant now.

  “Oh,” Logan began slowly, “actually…...
you can bet on that one……..Mr. Perkins...sir.” With that, Logan nodded to Ricardo, and rode away down the trail; after a moment Ricardo followed.

  Perkins expression was puzzled, thoughtful. Bitterly holding his temper, he watched as they rode down the foothills trail towards town.

  Logan knew he’d made an enemy. Well, it wasn’t the first time, and surely wouldn’t be the last. Also, Jake, his ranger friend, was still back at the ranch, working undercover. Logan had made a few friends of some of the other hands too. He would soon see just where he stood in that regard, and how much backing they’d have, if any, once the sparks began to fly.

  Later on that same evening, back in Coyote Springs, after freshening up in his hotel room, Logan was pleased to meet again Claude’s nephew, Garth, who had arrived that day on the stage. Things would definitely be looking up now that they had the extra backing. Garth’s strength of will and character, not mentioning his husky build, was impressive. Though with the tough characters living on the ranch, they needed all the extra strength they could get, if they were to take back possession of the Triple-B for Lord Beckford.

  Ranger Jake Welby, working undercover at the ranch as Butch Hogan, was to meet up with Logan later on in the night, at a certain location outside of town. Logan wanted to take Lord Beckford with to that meeting. They would make their plans then. He would see if Garth and Ricardo would ride with, too, and was certain that they would.

  The group were now having dessert and coffee, though Olivia and Maria were drinking hot tea, after enjoying a well-prepared and tasty supper of roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, creamed peas and biscuits. They were seated at a long table, in the corner of the hotel restaurant. Lord Claude presiding at the head of the table, Olivia to his right, and Logan to his left, and Garth and Bridgett sat side by side further down from Olivia; across from them were Ricardo and Maria.

  Logan was secretly enjoying his position right across from the lovely Olivia. Olivia thought that Logan had never looked so handsome, with his lightly tanned face, his muscular arms and shoulders showing through a lightweight and freshly ironed white shirt, though she would never let on to anyone her thoughts, and tried to keep her eyes averted from his impressive personage.

  She chanced a glance in his direction as she sipped from her cup of hot tea, only to note his green-eyed gaze fixed intently upon her face. She flushed and quickly tilted her pert little chin in the air, as she looked away, though the telltale rattle of her tea cup, as it hit the saucer, was a dead give-away, to those sitting at the table, causing her to flush prettily even more, and Logan grinned at her discomfort.

  Logan realized that Lord Beckford was addressing him with a question, and he quickly turned to him. “Sorry, Claude, I wasn’t listening.” He said, “Would you repeat that please?”

  Beckford hid his humor with a frown, noting Logan’s apparent interest in Olivia’s beauty, then he repeated what he had said, “Oh, I was only saying that before you begin to relate your and Ricardo’s experiences at my ranch, let me inform all of you of who else has arrived in the town of Coyote Springs.”

  He had the attention of everyone at the table now, as he continued, “None other than our old friend, Henry Adams, although it seems he has checked into the boardinghouse under the last name of Birch.”

  “No!” Olivia breathed. “You didn’t tell me that, Uncle Claude.”

  “I just found it out today, dear. I presume that after he had his release from that cargo ship of Devlin’s, he proceeded to track us all the way to Texas.” Claude countered.

  Garth fumed, “We’ll handle the lout, Uncle Claude. Have no doubt of that.”

  Logan stated, “If the town marshal, or sheriff can’t handle him, then we certainly will. Mr. Birch can look forward to leaving this town quicker than he came here. And that’s a fact, not just a statement.” He then turned to Claude, and asked seriously, “Just why is this character following you, sir?”

  Claude glanced at Olivia, who quickly answered for her uncle, “It isn’t so much my uncle that he is following, Mr. Wakefield. It seems that Mr. Birch is entranced with my uncle’s wealth, and through me, he seems intent on getting it, although we felt that he had given up on his quest years ago. Apparently he hasn’t.”

  At Logan’s questioning look, Garth continued on in the explanation. “What my sister is trying to explain, Logan, this Henry Adams was courting our Olivia at one time, until my uncle had him investigated. The man is a penniless con man. He had presented himself as a wealthy man of industry, and had wanted to be betrothed to Olivia, thus receiving a healthy endowment from Uncle Claude, once they were wed.

  “My sister is a beautiful woman, although we suspect this man isn’t so much interested in her beauty, as in her uncle’s wealth. I might add that Henry’s track record, upon investigation, is not all that good. We found his past history contained quite a few misdeeds in other countries, as well as parts of England other than London. We won’t go into the details, though I’m sure you get the point.”

  “Point well taken.” Logan mused, as he gazed across the table at Olivia, a tender expression in his eyes.

  Lord Beckford explained further, “Obviously the man is not thinking straight, or he would realize the fact that under no circumstances would Olivia be interested in him at this time, nor any other. He’s up to no good, and I seriously doubt that he is aware of the fact that I know he is here. His every movement is being observed, as I have already spoken with the town marshal, a nice enough older chap, named Dayton Rhodes, obviously an honest lawman.

  “Anyway, Marshal Rhodes, along with his two deputy marshals, have been observing the movements of Henry Birch very closely. So far, the only thing they’ve suspected him of is possibly cheating at cards in one of the saloons here in town, though they haven’t been able to catch him at it yet. The marshal assured me that Birch needs to take care in that respect though, as some of the locals take matters into their own hands when someone cheats at cards, and the local law enforcement usually looks the other way when that happens.”

  Claude cleared his throat, then turned to Logan, “Now fill me in on what you and Ricardo found out at my ranch.”

  Logan began explaining the events of the last few days, and what information they had learned. Ricardo joined in a few times to add color to the tale of course, and gave detail as to how he had worn down the big black stallion for Logan, so that he could finish taming the muscular animal. The watching cowhands had then congratulated Logan.

  Claude and Garth both chuckled upon hearing the fascinating stories of how they had tamed the mustangs. Olivia only appeared thoughtful.

  Then on to the matter of the ownership of the Triple-B, Logan also emphasized the fact that the hands were well armed, and would possibly fight for the ranch, however, he did add that once the ownership was questioned, ‘which owner would they back’? Perkins may have a problem at that point.

  Logan mentioned the brief encounter with the attorney, Clayborne Phillips, in the ranch yard, also how the man had appeared to be more than mildly upset about something.

  “Perhaps,” Logan began, “He’d have heard a rumor about an Englishman arriving in town, then put two and two together. Word does travel fast in a small town, and Coyote Springs is definitely small.”

  “I have been keeping a low profile, Logan,” Claude began, “however; I haven’t been able to stay in my room all the time. I did have to speak to the marshal about Henry Adams. It’s entirely possible that my arrival has been noticed. Maybe that’s what Clayborne is so bothered about.

  “With the information we have now, it’s at the point where we should speak to Clayborne in the morning, take him out to the ranch, and force his hand. I need to take possession of my property, as soon as possible. I’m sure you are anxious to return home to Wyoming as quickly as we get this business of the ranch settled.”

  Logan grinned, “It seems I’ve been headed the long way home for some time now, but wouldn’t have missed this side trip for the w
orld. Besides, I’ve been gone so long now, that my folks will expect me at this point when I get there, and not a minute sooner.”

  Claude nodded, “Yes, true. And I hope you know how much I appreciate you and Ricardo being here for us. It’s surely more than anyone else would have done.”

  Logan explained then how he had a pre-arranged meeting for later on outside of town with his friend the ranger, and would like for Claude and Garth to ride with. “You will surely take to Ranger Welby. He’s an honorable lawman, and a no nonsense protector of law and order once he gets started. There’s no stopping him once he gets rolling. Hell on wheels, I’d say. Others have mentioned that fact too, though I figure that’s even putting it mildly. He’s, of course, working under cover now, going by the name of Butch Hogan, and waiting until we give the word. Perkins and Holderman never saw the likes of this man. They’ll take off with their tails between their legs when Jake Welby takes charge.”

  “I’m looking forward to this meeting, Logan.” Claude agreed.