Ride Away

by Smith, Cotton

  Looking up, he saw Atlee standing in the doorway.

  “What do you say, Elizabeth,” Atlee said.

  “Oh, thank you . . . Deed. Thank you very much.” She opened the sack and pulled out the doll and her mouth opened wide. “Oh . . . oh, it’s beautiful. I love it. Thank you. Thank you.” She rushed over to Deed and hugged him. “I’m going to name her Jessica. Jessica Forsyth.”

  Dancing past her mother, Elizabeth disappeared inside the house, singing a made-up song about Jessica Forsyth.

  “Well, good day, Mr. Corrigan,” she said. “Is something wrong? We’ve been hoping you’d come. Every day, I think.” She chuckled. “Won’t you come in? Olivia just made some cookies and the coffee’s hot.”

  “No thanks, I need to get going. The boys are waiting on me.” He took off his hat and stood. “We’ve got bad problems at the ranch. Agon Bordner and his men are trying to take control of every ranch around. Only two left.” He grimaced. “I can’t have Benjamin and Elizabeth there right now. It isn’t safe. I just can’t. I-I’m sorry.”

  “So am I, but I understand, Deed. I really do,” Atlee said. “Please come in for some coffee. You were very nice to come all this way, even if it was bad news.” She studied his face. “You’ve had trouble already, haven’t you? What happened to your ear?”

  Deed put his hand to his bandaged ear and told her in several sentences about the posse’s ambush and his escape, and the attacks on the Lazy S. He didn’t mention the fight in town, but did say the county law was now in the hands of a Bordner man.

  “Oh that’s awful! You’re lucky to be alive, Deed.”

  “I am a lucky man, Mrs. Forsyth.”

  She frowned. “Atlee, remember? Or have your forgotten all about me?”

  “There’s no way I could forget you . . . Atlee.” He looked into her eyes for a moment, then away. “Oh, I brought a horse for Benjamin. It’s one of our older mounts. Real gentle. Thought it might help . . . some. If that’s all right.”

  “That’s very generous of you, Deed.”

  He cocked his head. “Oh I almost forgot. I brought something for . . . you and Mrs. Beinrigt, too.”

  He walked to the doorway and handed her the two sacks.

  “I thought you’d like the pink one. The green one is for Mrs. Beinrigt.”

  Biting her lower lip, Atlee opened the top sack and withdrew the silk scarf. “Oh, it’s beautiful, Deed. So beautiful. How very thoughtful of you.” She folded it and tied it around her neck.

  “Glad you like it.”

  Billy Lee Montez and Hermann Beinrigt came out of the barn just as he walked toward Atlee. They barely noticed Benjamin riding the bay around the yard.

  “Señor Deed, you are back!” Billy Lee said.

  “Willkommen,” Hermann added, in welcome.

  Deed wanted to talk with Atlee, that’s all he had thought about riding over, but she told him that they could talk later, not to worry about her children, and went inside. He walked over to the two men and they began telling him about the station and how smoothly it was running. Deed thought they were trying hard to convince him; he glanced over his shoulder. The doorway was empty. He felt something sink inside.

  He turned back to force himself to listen to them as they explained changes they had made in handling the horses, reshoeing, and feeding. Hermann had introduced a checking system when a team of tired horses came in. Deed nodded, but didn’t really hear them. Part of him wished he hadn’t returned. It was silly to think of Atlee.

  Inside the station, Olivia finally spoke up about Deed. She and Atlee had become good friends. “You must nicht let Deed Corrigan get avay, Atlee. Your husband vas ein gut man, but he ist nicht here. Deed ist. You haff mourned long enough,” Olivia said, folding her arms. “Deed Corrigan ist gut man. He vants you . . . und you vant him. Lasst him go nicht, Atlee.”

  Outside, Deed was distracted by a sharp call, “Hey, Corrigan!”

  He spun around. It was James Hannah. He was cleaning his glasses. Excusing himself, Deed walked over to the bespectacled gunman. Hermann and Billy Lee returned to the barn, still talking to each other about what more they wanted to do.

  “Good to see you, James,” Deed said, holding out his hand.

  Hannah returned his glasses to his nose and shook Deed’s hand enthusiastically.

  “What brings you here?” Deed asked.

  “You.”

  “Me?” Deed was wary. Blue told him that he might be working for Agon Bordner.

  Hannah cocked his head. “Bordner wants you killed. Paid me five hundred dollars to do it.”

  Deed shifted his legs to balance himself. If this was going to turn into a gunfight, he must be ready. He glanced down at his gunbelt, then at Hannah “That’s a lot of money.”

  Hannah watched Deed setting himself. “Yeah, it is. But you be easy now. You aren’t going to need that gun with me. I thought you boys might be wanting another gun. This Bordner wants the whole region. All of it. But if you don’t want my help, I’ll ride on with my bride.”

  He laughed. “I just couldn’t see letting that much money go to waste. So I told him that I would take his money.” He shook his head. “I didn’t say that I’d do anything for it, just that I’d take it. I guess he was too excited to really listen to what I was saying.

  “It’s going to pay for a nice honeymoon for my bride and a new start in Wichita. I’ve got relatives there. So, I thought Mrs. Hannah and I could go to town. What’s the name, Wilkon, yeah, that’s it,” Hannah said flicking away imaginary dust from his vest. “Then I’d be real close if you needed me. We are friends, remember. Oh, and you remember Rebecca Tuttle, don’t you?”

  Deed frowned. “Yes, she was going to El Paso to marry some farmer.”

  “Uh, the farmer didn’t ever show up and—”

  “Well, congratulations, James.”

  Deed chuckled and Hannah joined in.

  Deed told him what had happened at the Lazy S, with the posse, and in town and that Bordner’s man was now county sheriff as well as town marshal. Hannah chuckled again when he heard about Deed downing Sear Georgian.

  “Damn it, man. No wonder Bordner wants someone to kill you. None of his men are good enough.”

  “Are you?”

  Hannah licked his lips. “Come on, Deed. I’m not interested in that kind of talk. As I said, if you don’t want me, we’ll catch the next stage to Kansas.”

  “I’d like your help,” Deed said. “A whole lot. Bordner’s got twenty guns and a lot of ego.”

  Hannah pushed on his glasses. “I’ll tell Rebecca that we’re headed for Wilkon. Mrs. Forsyth said there was a buckboard we could borrow.”

  “Thank you. I’m glad you’re here, James.”

  They shook hands again and Hannah went into the stage station. As Deed watched him, Atlee came to the doorway.

  “Deed, would you mind going with me around back for a minute. I need some . . . help.” Her face was creased with a frown. “Olivia likes her scarf. Green is her favorite color.”

  “That’s great. Of course, glad to help.”

  She stepped off the porch and walked to the corner of the station. “Benjamin and Elizabeth will be fine. They were disappointed, but they’ll be fine. I told them there would be other roundups when the danger was gone. Your gifts were very thoughtful . . . and very appreciated.”

  He followed her around to the back of the station, wondering what she wanted. Maybe it was a load of supplies, but he couldn’t remember them ever being placed there before. She stopped at the back of the station and waited.

  Pushing back his hat from his forehead, Deed stepped closer, still unsure of what she wanted. He didn’t see anything that needed moving.

  “It would have been fun having your kids at the ranch. And Benjamin would’ve been a good addition,” he said awkwardly. “I’m so sorry about all this.”

  “You’ve been so wonderful. Don’t know what we, I, would have done without you Deed.”

  Deed scuff
ed his right boot in the ground and watched the dirt turn up around it. “Wasn’t much. You’d have been fine without me. You’re quite a woman . . . Atlee.” He looked up and she was staring into his face, only two feet away.

  Reaching out, Atlee touched his arm and held it, then moved closer. “May I ask you something? Promise you won’t laugh.”

  “Of course. You can tell me anything or ask me anything. I probably won’t know the answer though.” He forced a chuckle.

  “I really think I can ask you anything, Deed,” she whispered. “It’s part of what makes you so special. To me.”

  Deed tried to think of something to say, but couldn’t.

  She took a half step closer to him, her hand remaining on his arm. Deed could smell the deliciousness of her. A little like violets, he thought, mixed with the fresh smell of soap. And woman. It was intoxicating.

  “Will you wait for me?” she asked, looking into his eyes.

  Deed swallowed. “I, uh, I don’t understand.”

  Tears began to roll down her cheeks and he touched her face to remove them without thinking about it.

  “I was married to a good man. We had plans together. And Caleb was taken from me.”

  “I-I know that. I am very sorry but—”

  She touched two fingers to his lips to shush him and left them there. “I am in m-mourning . . . and must be,” she stammered. “But you came along and turned everything upside down. I know my life should be with you . . . now. I know that.” She blinked. “I’m in mourning and need to be. W-Will you wait for me, s-so I can become your wife, if you’ll have me?”

  Gently, he removed her fingers from his mouth and held her hand. “Atlee, nothing would make me happier than to have you beside me as my wife. I will wait forever if—”

  She pushed against him and her mouth found his. They held each other and kissed, and kissed.

  “I love you,” she whispered.

  “I’ve loved you since I first saw you.”

  Nothing else mattered.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  Riding back to the ranch was a blur for Deed. All he could think of was Atlee’s declaration of love for him. Her kisses were imprinted on his mind like fire. Hannah and Rebecca sat beside him on the buckboard seat while his horse was hitched behind. Rebecca did most of the talking. She seemed determined to comment on everything they passed.

  Their destination had changed somewhat. Rebecca would stay in town at the Wilkon Hotel while Hannah went to the ranch to help guard it. Deed had shared the concern about Bordner’s men attacking when they were gone and Hannah decided that he should stay there. Deed told him that his older brother Holt was with them and that he was going to stay at the ranch as well. Bina and her children were going to be with the roundup; it was safer they thought.

  Rebecca didn’t like being separated from her new husband, but gradually understood the seriousness of the situation. After letting her off at the hotel and getting her settled in the best room available, Deed and Hannah headed for the ranch. The town itself was quiet, something expected at roundup time. Hannah told her not to use his name and, if asked, to say her husband was coming in on the next stagecoach.

  Clearing the last ridge, Deed pulled up so Hannah could see the entire ranch yard and get an idea of where Bordner’s men might attack. He had already told the gunman that he didn’t think Bordner knew about his brother returning, and that Holt was going by Sam Holton. Hannah asked a few questions, mostly about available rifles and ammunition. Clucking to the horses, Deed headed for the ranch. As they pulled up, Holt stepped from the house, cradling a Winchester in his arms.

  “Well, well, I do believe it’s James Hannah,” he said cheerfully. “Good to have you with us.”

  “And to you . . . Sam Holton,” Hannah said.

  Deed said, “James has agreed to stay at the ranch and give you a hand while we’re working the roundup.”

  “Sounds good to me. Got some fresh coffee on,” Holt declared as they shook hands. “Bina . . . that’s Blue’s wife . . . she left us some good food. We sure won’t starve.”

  “How about guns?”

  They walked inside and Holt showed him their collected weapons and the boxes of cartridges.

  “Got two barrels of water in the kitchen, too,” Holt said. “All the comforts of home.”

  “Sounds good to me,” Hannah said. “When do you expect them?”

  “I’m guessing they’ll wait a day or two. Keep an eye on who’s working the roundup,” Deed said and poured coffee for the three of them.

  “You don’t think they’ll get suspicious when they see Blue’s wife and children at the roundup?”

  Deed nodded. “We hope they don’t. Bina’s going to be dressed like a man. And the kids are going to stay inside the chuck wagon during the day. They won’t like it, but they’ll do it.”

  After drinking his coffee, Deed saddled and rode out on the paint horse, Warrior, heading out to the roundup camp. Hannah settled into reading Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s Tales of a Wayside Inn and Holt strolled around the ranch. They would take turns guarding when night came. The ranch dogs trailed Deed to the far edge of the ranch yard before turning back. The thought nettled him about leaving the ranch, but he pushed it away, confident that Holt and Hannah could do serious damage to any attackers. In fact, both men seemed to be looking forward to it.

  At the roundup camp, he rode up to a wild symphony of sound of bawling calves and yelling men, mixed with heavy dust, wood smoke, and the smell of burning cowhide. Most of the valley was covered by grazing cattle gathered during the day. Herefords made up most of the herd, but there were longhorns mixed with them.

  Short-term fences of brush and logs kept the gathered animals from straying. From dawn to dark, riders worked to bring in the cattle, separating them into one herd of cows with calves and a separate herd of steers and older cows. An occasional bull was in this group as well. Come spring this bunch would be moved to market in Kansas.

  A sturdy pole corral had been built to hold calves while the youngsters were branded. Their mothers were allowed to stand around the corral as long as they weren’t unruly. New calves were branded to match their mothers; unbranded strays were divided as to ownership. A long rope tied between two cottonwoods held the horses not being ridden at the moment.

  Two Sanchez riders were overseeing a smaller herd of unbranded strays. They wouldn’t allow these cattle to drift back to the main herd. Any cattle carrying brands other than the Lazy S or LC were eased out of the herd and made to return to their home ranges. As Deed rode up, four riders cleared the woods; each had a roped cow and a calf trailing behind them. He didn’t recognize any of the men.

  Blue rode toward his brother and waved with his lone hand, still holding the reins. It was his first time serving as the roundup wagon boss and he wanted everything to go well. He directed the combined team of LC and Lazy S riders so there would be no gaps in the ground covered. He had hired six men from town to help with the roundup and they were proving to be good hands. Deed eased the paint toward his brother. In spite of the turbulent time, the roundup was well organized and underway as planned. A lot of that was due to Blue’s leadership.

  Riding between them, Willy brought a terrified calf toward the branding fire. He was working as one of the cutting riders, or ketch hands. Their job was to separate unbranded calves from their mothers.

  Willy yelled, “Got a Lazy S comin’ in.”

  Blue looked at Deed and grinned.

  Off to the side, Taol and two men were charged with removing scrotums from the young calves. Each removed bloody sack was tossed into a large pot, usually accompanied by a Mexican cheer. A supper of fried “mountain oysters” would be a traditional celebration when the roundup was over. Another group was also checking beeves that had been separated from the others for disease, sores, or open wounds. Any cow with thin flanks, or a swollen jaw, or a drooping head, was given special treatment. Likely the animal had been bitten by a rattlesnake.
At their feet were medicine bottles, cutting tools, and large cans of ointment.

  Sweating heavily, Harmon Payne coordinated the branding while other sweaty men worked diligently and fast over a hot fire. Behind them both, Cliente, the Lazy S foreman, was keeping tally in a leather-bound book. A thin cigar extended from his mouth.

  Blue told Deed that Silka, Little Jake, and some vaqueros were working the heavy thickets for cows and their calves entrenched in the thick growth encircling the ravines. All riders had stayed on the combined land of the two ranches. Unspoken was the need at some point to cross into Bar 3 land. There were too many strays to ignore, especially Lazy S cattle.

  Deed asked where Blue wanted him. Blue suggested he stick around and help with the gathered calves. It was too late to ride out to the heavy brush. Deed had the feeling that Blue was favoring him and told him that his wounds had healed, except for the top of his ear. Blue dismissed his suggestion as the reason and said he was welcome to ride out if he wanted to do so, but they were almost overrun with the calves gathered so far.

  The remainder of the afternoon went fast. Several cowboys went to the creek to soak their feet; others began talking horse and boots. A boghole had been discovered to the north and that brought stories of other bogholes and quicksand. Later that night, as they gathered around the campfire and ate, Deed sat quietly with Silka. Blue was eating with Bina and their children, happy to be free of the chuck wagon.

  “I’m going to ride back, Silka. If Bordner’s men hit the ranch, it’ll probably be with a lot of men,” Deed declared.

  Silka shook his head. “It is long ride there and back. Maybe for nothing. They may not come or it may be only a few. They will think only a woman stays.”

  “It’s our ranch,” Deed said. “I heard Cliente talking about sending men back to their ranch tonight. And he’s got four vaqueros already standing guard on their roof.”

  “Tell Blue. I ride with you,” Silka said and laid down his plate.

  Blue understood and wanted to go with them, but knew he couldn’t. His primary responsibility right now was to the roundup. After saddling his buckskin and Silka’s favorite bay, they rode out. It was already dark, but they knew the trail well. Holt and Hannah were glad for the interruption; there had been no signs of trouble and both were bored. Holt insisted Deed and Silka sleep and would be awakened if necessary.