The Streets of Vermijo

by Neil Hunter

  Larch and Bigelow were of a kind. Hard men, handy with their guns and having little regard for anyone who might stand in their way. They had killed before and Hodges knew they would have no qualms to do it again if faced with problems. Jubal Larch especially carried a mean streak a mile wide and it took little to anger him. Fast with a gun with a wicked aim, he also enjoyed physical violence, and it was a known fact he had killed a number of men with his bare hands. His partner Bigelow might have been slow to anger, but when pushed into a corner there was no better man to have at your side.

  Joining up with Hodges created a bunch that were as wild as any, and the lure of the silver only added to the threat they presented.

  The pair rode into Vermijo as cowboys looking for work, stopping off in town to rest their horses and take a meal. In order to present themselves as plain travelers they were reasonably polite, asked no untoward questions. Hodges had brought them up to date with the recent events in town, warning the pair to keep their heads down and not antagonize anyone. Hard as it was to subdue their normally brash manner Larch and Bigelow were on their best behavior and the visit to Vermijo went peacefully enough.

  ‘Town’s pretty quiet,’ Larch reported when they returned to the camp where Hodges and the others waited. ‘Ain’t come across a place that’s so damn uninterestin’.’

  ‘Don’t forget that lawdog,’ Bigelow said. ‘Sight I never saw before.’

  Larch nodded his shaggy head. ‘Damn right there.’

  ‘You going to make me wait?’ Hodges said.

  ‘Sheriff in Vermijo is a woman. A real, genuine woman. Totin’ a badge and an iron on her hip.’

  Hodges thought on that a while, then said, ‘She a handsome woman. Slim. Dark hair. Kinda interestin’ to look at?’

  ‘Sounds like you might know her, Ben.’

  Hodges stroked his stubbled jaw. ‘Think I might. Only female in Vermijo likely to take on that job.’

  Bigelow gave a law chuckle. ‘Best lookin’ lawdog I ever seen.’ He nudged his partner. ‘And she was wearing pants, too, just like a man. You recall, Jubal? Hell, pants on a woman.’

  ‘Yeah, and she looked kind of good in ’em.’

  Ruby Tucker, Hodges thought.

  Had to be her.

  Of all the females in Vermijo, she was the only one who fitted the description. Not that he had much contact with her, but from his limited knowledge she had always stood out as a strong-willed individual. Though it had been young Eve Lockhart who had physically stood up and done something about her treatment from Ace Lockhart, shooting Ace and even putting a gun on Jim … yet she didn’t have the same attitude as Ruby Tucker. So if anyone in that damned town would have the spirit to take on the job of sheriff it would be the storekeeper’s wife.

  Hodges recalled how submissive the town had become under Jim Lockhart’s rule. It paid his protection demands and did little to stand up to his unbending dominance. He knew Vermijo would take time to regain its self-respect. Appointing a female law officer kind of qualified that in Hodges’ eyes.

  ‘I ain’t about to let that worry me,’ he said. ‘We got a job to do in Vermijo and I don’t figure to let no damned woman stand in my way. She wears a star she gets treated same as any lawdog. Anyone got problems with that.’

  ‘Not me,’ Bigelow said. ‘Law is the law. Even if it’s a bitch.’

  ‘On’y thing I got my eyes on is that silver you figure is in that bank,’ Larch said.

  ‘It’s there all right. Piggot had his arrangement with Jim an’ between ’em there had to be a good amount in the bank. Now it’s just sittin’ there waitin’, for us to walk in and take it.’

  ‘Easy as that?’

  ‘Yeah, we get to Vermijo and take that bank the minute Piggot opens the door. Do it fast and get the hell away before anyone figures what’s happening. Jubal, you checked if there’s a back way in?’

  Larch nodded. ‘Sure. Looks a pretty tough door mind. What you got in mind?’

  ‘Somebody goes in through the front soon as Piggot opens up, follows him inside and puts a gun to his head. Locks the door behind him so no one can follow. Gets to the back door and unlocks it so the rest of us can get inside. After that we do what we came for.’

  ‘Hell, Ben, you make it sound easy,’ Seaburgh said.

  And for the most part that was exactly how it was.

  ~*~

  Frank Tyler eased himself from the saddle outside the Vermijo jail. He had not visited the place last time he had been in town. What he had needed to do didn’t require him to enter the place. His business had occurred out on the street, in front of the gallows. It came back to him how that day had ended. With the Lockharts finally paying for their treatment of the town and its citizens. Even recalling that time reminded Frank how close it had been. Too damned close.

  Tying his horse he took a casual look around. The town was quiet, people going about their business. Vermijo was still in a degree of shock after the defeat of the Lockharts and Frank imagined it was going to take a while for the experience to fade. He slid his rifle from the saddle-sheath and headed to the jail door. He pushed it open and walked inside. It was like a thousand frontier jails, with little in the way of frills. Just a desk and a couple of chairs, a filing cabinet and gun rack and a stove in one corner. The cell a barred area that faced the front of the office.

  The one thing he hadn’t expected to see was the slim figure of a young woman moving a broom across the floor.

  ‘That you, Eve?’ Frank asked.

  She looked up at his solid, broad figure, then smiled.

  ‘Frank? Frank Tyler! What are you doing back in Vermijo?’

  Frank touched the badge pinned to his coat.

  ‘I have to say sadly it’s business.’

  ‘You heard about the robbery and banker Piggot getting killed?’

  Frank laid his Winchester on the desk, tipping his hat back.

  ‘I got myself reinstated few weeks back. Next thing I knew I got a telegram telling me about the killing, so me and Luke made tracks here.’

  Eve raised her head. ‘Luke’s coming too?’

  Frank didn’t fail to pick up the sudden interest in her voice.

  ‘He’s my official deputy now.’ Frank smiled. ‘I thought it was time he started taking on some responsibility. And the boy seems to be taking the job seriously.’

  ‘Oh. That’s good.’

  ‘Have to say, Eve, you’re looking a heap better than the last time I saw you.’

  She smiled, running a hand through her neatly brushed hair. It was a self-conscious gesture that almost said she was making the effort to banish the dowdy image she had shown when Frank had been in Vermijo before.

  ‘A lot of things have changed in town since that day,’ she said.

  ‘Still getting over the Lockharts?’

  Eve put aside the brush and crossed to the stove. She used a thick cloth to lift off the steaming coffee pot and poured into one of the mugs hanging nearby.

  ‘Getting better all the time,’ she said.

  Frank took the offered coffee.

  ‘Where’s the sheriff?’

  ‘You heard about that I guess?’

  ‘If you mean about Ruby Tucker taking the job? I heard all right. That was one of the reasons I got sent here.’

  ‘Stood up to the whole town. Shamed them more like. I guess she forced their hand.’ Eve shook her head. ‘It was a sight to see. Ruby standing there and baiting the menfolk to take the post and when no one spoke up she took it on herself. Been doing fair job. No one complained except Lawyer Trehearne. He’s been making it known he doesn’t believe a woman should be sheriff. Ruby takes no notice of him. On’y that makes him madder.’

  ‘Eve, I need to know where she is.’

  ‘She took off after the bunch who robbed the bank and killed Sam Piggot. Said they weren’t getting away with it … that was almost a day and a half ago. Weren’t no talkin’ her out of it.’

  Frank swallowed a mouthful of
coffee, his mind working fast. If Ruby had been on the trail for so long already she could have covered some distance. Time would have thinned out the tracks left behind. Not wiped them completely, but they would have faded some. He and Luke were going to have to do some hard riding to catch up.

  ‘She won’t give up,’ Eve said. ‘That woman has more resolve than many men I know. Since the Lockharts I been working for Ruby and Hiram over to the store. They tended for me while my shoulder got better. Gave me my own room and all. When she took over the jail I stepped in to help keep the place tidy. Ain’t nothin’ I wouldn’t do for Ruby. Only I’m scared she might find she’s take on more than she can handle.’

  ‘Well, I’m here now, an’ I’ll be goin’ out after that bunch.’

  ‘And Luke?’

  ‘Him too if he ever gets here. I sent him off to see if he could pick up any information. Late comin’ back as ever.’

  It was an hour later when Luke Tyler rode in, his horse dust-grimed and moving slow under the blazing sun. Luke was in no better condition. His clothes were dust rimed and his unshaven face burned from the heat.

  He swung his weary horse over to the rail outside the jail and eased himself out of the saddle. He almost missed the slim figure wielding a broom as Eve swept away the dust that accumulated on the boardwalk.

  ‘You not going to say hello, Mr. Deputy Marshal? Too grand to remember me?’

  ‘Eve? Why, girl, you fooled me. I was looking for a kind of sad face with sorrowful eyes.’

  ‘That girl has gone, Luke, but maybe you don’t figure the change worth it.’

  Luke slapped his hat against his leg, throwing up a mist of dust.

  ‘Not worth it? Why you caught me there. You look fine, Eve. A sight worth stopping to take a second look. I been thinking about you for a while now. Thinking I wanted to get to know you better.’

  She stared at him and Luke wondered what was going through her mind. Maybe he’d overstepped the mark. Taken things for granted.

  ‘You got a good reason to think that?’ she said.

  Now he was a slight confused.

  ‘I guess so, Eve. Can’t help it seeing as how we have a connection.’

  ‘How so?’ Eve said, a gleam in her eyes, not making it easy for him.

  ‘We were both affected because of what happened here in town. Something I can’t get by. If you hadn’t stood up to the Lockharts they would’a hung me for Ace’s death. It was no easy thing you did and it pulled me out of trouble.’

  ‘You mean my shooting Ace? Luke, I did that ’cause it was the right thing to do, after what he did to both of us.’

  ‘Ain’t likely I’ll forget it, Eve.’

  ‘Nor me after Carl put a bullet in me …’

  A silent moment passed between them as they both recalled the circumstances of their past meeting. Hard times had been the cause of how they had met. A difficult time for both. But they had weathered it and had come through alive—if not a little battered and bloody.

  ‘I should have asked. Your shoulder okay?’

  Eve nodded. ‘Between the doc and Ruby’s ministrations I’m fine. I get the odd twinge but nothing that’s going to stop me.’

  Luke grinned. ‘I don’t doubt it. I can’t see much stopping you.’

  He saw the fleeting shadow that crossed her face and took a step towards her. Her thoughts were on something else.

  ‘I can’t get Ruby off my mind. Luke, she’s out there going after that bunch on her lonesome.’

  ‘We heard how she took on the sheriff’s job. Look, Eve, Frank and me will be following her. We’ll find her.’

  ‘Maybe too late already.’

  ‘We can’t think that. I wish I could just make you believe it.’

  Eve managed a gentle smile. ‘I will. Just do your job. Luke, I’m glad you came back.’ Color flooded her cheeks. ‘I’ve thought about you since you left with Frank.’ She put a hand and touched his arm. ‘Do what you have to catch those killers. The town needs you all back safely.’

  ‘We will be.’

  ‘I’ll be looking out for you, Luke Tyler, so don’t you disappoint me.’

  ‘That go for me, too?’

  They both turned to see Frank Tyler standing close, watching them.

  ‘Why of course,’ Eve said.

  ‘Frank, I talked to folk on a couple of local spreads,’ Luke said. ‘They recall a group of riders passing by at a distance on the day of the killing. Five of them. Same tale from both places. They both said the bunch was heading south. An’ one feller said he was certain sure one of those men was Ben Hodges. Recognized him from here in Vermijo when he was one of the Lockhart deputies.’

  ‘You think Ruby would have picked up on that?’ Eve asked.

  ‘One of the fellers I spoke to said she did after she spoke to them.’

  ‘Luke I got fresh horses over to the livery,’ Frank said. ‘Feller is changing saddles and tack right now. Hiram Tucker has fixed us up with supplies. Refused to take any money. He’s given us enough for a month of trackin’ if need be. Have to admit the man is fretting something fierce, but he says Ruby will make a hell of a stand if she comes across those fellers. From what he told me that lady is capable of raising hell if she has to. He’s scared near out of his pants, but so damn proud of her at the same time.’

  ‘I’d say he has a right,’ Eve said.

  ‘I’m not about to cross you on that, Eve. I just don’t want Ruby gettin’ caught out if she has to face too many guns at the wrong time. I called in at the doc’s and he showed me what those hombres did to Sam Piggot.’

  ‘Bad?’ Luke said.

  ‘As it gets, boy. These are real down low people, Luke, so if we have to brace ’em just forget rules of fair play. You understand me? This is serious, Luke. No getting up and waitin’ for a second chance. You get it right straight off or it’s an end.’

  After a moment Luke simply nodded his head. ‘I understand.’

  ‘You both take care of yourselves,’ Eve said. ‘I’d hate for any more grief to come your way.’

  ‘Let’s go pick up them horses,’ Frank said. Miss Eve, good to see you’re better than last time we were here.’ He turned away, then paused to glance at Luke. ‘Good grief, boy, just get ’er done and let’s go.’

  Luke found himself briefly out of words. It was made more uncomfortable by the way Eve looked at him, a hint of an impish smile on her lips.

  ‘I think you need to go,’ she said, the tip of one finger gently flicking the badge he wore. ‘Your grandpa will be losin’ patience with you.’

  ‘Eve, I …’

  ‘Whatever you got to say will keep. I’ll be here when you get back.’

  Luke caught her shoulders and planted a quick kiss on her cheek. He turned and hurried after Frank, leaving Eve speechless and not a little pleased with herself. He caught up with Frank as they reached the livery.

  ‘Boy, if there was ever a feller who needs to quicken his feelin’s for a gal, he has to be called Luke Tyler.’

  ~*~

  Ruby had ridden long after dark fell and until the pace she had set overtook her. She pulled rein and her equally weary horse came to a stop. Climbing down out of the saddle took an effort and her legs almost gave way. She leaned against the horse, gripping the saddle horn until a semblance of feeling returned. She was well aware she was pushing herself to the limit and if she didn’t rest …

  Her horse raised its head, making a soft sound and it started to move forward. Ruby kept her grip on the horn and let the animal find its own way and she realized it had smelled water. A couple of minutes later, pushing through the brush that grew in and around the stand of timber, she saw the glitter of water coming from a shallow stream wending its slow way across her path. Ruby let the horse drop it head to drink, moving slightly upstream herself and sinking to her knees. She leaned over and scooped up water that tasted so good she would have swapped any bottle of fancy wine for it.

  She rinsed her face and neck. Out of th
e saddle she felt the ache brought about by the long hours riding.

  ‘Ruby, admit it, you ain’t ridden so far for so long in a coon’s age.’ A slow chuckle rose in her throat. ‘Maybe I’m not as young as I like to believe.’

  Any acceptance of her frailties would make no difference. Ruby Tucker wasn’t about to entertain thoughts of quitting. The stubborn nature that had brought her this far was not about to let her down now. This was her job, not something she took lightly, and setting out after the killers of Sam Piggot would take her as far as it needed to go. She would rest until dawn then set out again and locate the tracks she had lost earlier.

  She took another drink, pushed stiffly to her feet and went to her horse. Taking the reins she tide the animal to a low branch. Unsaddled and wiped down the horse’s back.

  ‘At least you got grass,’ she said but the horse, contentedly munching didn’t even raise its head. ‘Yeah, that’s what I thought you said.’

  Ruby had a cold meal of sliced beef and the last of her bread, washing it down with more water. Truth be told she would have preferred to be back home in Vermijo, in the company of her husband Hiram. That would have to wait. She needed to concentrate on why she was here, in the middle of nowhere, with the possibility of violence dominating her thoughts.

  Ruby wasted no time on self-pity. Set down your stall and face the consequences. She had been told that many years ago by her own father, long gone. A man of few words but in general wise ones.

  She took her weapons and used a soft cloth from her saddlebags to wipe them over. That done she checked her ammunition supply. The broad-bladed knife sheathed on her left hip. Necessary things that could mean the difference between life or death. The wrong time for a gun to fail was when it was being used. Another little gem from her father, who had delivered it with serious intent.

  No point having a tool if you fail to look after it.

  Jonathan Keller had been a man of principle. It had brought him problems during his life because he refused to bend. A rule was a rule. Put there because it was needed and Jonathan followed the path. In his past he had put his hand to a number of trades and among those had been a two-year stint as a lawman in the Nations. A tough job in an equally tough environment. He had faced hostile Indians and hard-riding owlhooters. Never once backing down and on more than one occasion he had faced big odds. It was said Marshal Keller had no inclination to stepping away from trouble. Bad men had learned that lesson and had died under his gun. Keller had ended his career when he took a bullet in his left hip that left him with a permanent limp. Never giving up Keller had taken on the fulltime running of the small spread he owned with his wife and daughter at his side.