by Tell Cotten
We set up camp and cooked some supper, and afterwards the three of us sat round the campfire.
There at first Lee and Kinrich made small talk, but finally Lee asked, “So, what’s the job this time?”
Kinrich refilled his cup with fresh coffee and leaned back.
“Well, there’s a no good Yankee feller that’s got himself a little trading post set up in town,” Kinrich explained. “He mainly deals with the trappers from the mountains. He buys their furs for next to nothing and then sells them back east for real big profits. But, I’m figuring those furs will sell just fine back in Texas.”
“They might bring more if’n we sold ’em back east too,” Lee speculated. “There ain’t much money in the South right now.”
“I know a feller in Texas that’ll buy ’em,” Kinrich replied, and added stubbornly, “and even if I could get more money, I still wouldn’t give those Yankees anything.”
“It’ll be a bit odd, robbing a trading post,” Lee said with an amused grin.
Kinrich frowned as he took a swig of coffee.
“No different than robbing a bank.”
Lee shrugged and turned to me.
“Rondo, have you been practicing anymore with that fancy Colt of yours?”
“Just about every day,” I replied.
“That’s good,” Lee said. “You need to keep yourself sharp. You never know when you’re going to have to defend yourself.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, confused.
“Nothing much; I’ve just heard some talk is all,” Lee replied.
“Oh? What kind of talk?”
Lee took his time. He pulled out a cigar and bit off the end, and after he lit up he looked back up at me.
“’Bout a month ago I was over in Santa Fe, and I ran into Ryan Palmer. It seems he’s still real sore over that clobbering you gave him, and he told me he’s dead set on killing you. I told him he’d best be forgetting the idea, but he ain’t going to. He has a mighty strong disliking for you.”
Before I could say anything Kinrich looked up sharply, and his face was thoughtful looking.
“So Ryan’s still got a burr under his saddle, eh?” Kinrich asked.
“Seems like it,” Lee replied.
“Hmm,” Kinrich said. “I might have to do something about that. I can’t have turmoil amongst my men, you know.”
“Are you going to give him another talking to?” I asked.
Kinrich shot me a dark look.
“You ain’t scared of him now, are you?” He asked sarcastically.
“No,” I replied truthfully. “I just thought you didn’t want any more trouble between us.”
“You leave it to me. I’ll think of something,” Kinrich replied smugly.
After that we rolled out our bedrolls and turned in.
I didn’t sleep very well. Kinrich was sure acting odd, and I was a bit worried as to what he was thinking.
The next morning Kinrich rode out to look the town over, and while he was gone the rest of the boys drifted in.
Palmer rode in on his dun horse around midafternoon, and he looked cocky and arrogant.
I was uneasy. But Palmer acted like I wasn’t even there, and that suited me just fine.
Along towards dark Kinrich rode back in, and he was leading two pack mules. Everybody wondered what they were for, but Lee and I figured they were for toting the furs.
That night after supper Kinrich got everybody together, and he carefully laid out the plan. He went over every detail and made sure that everybody clearly understood their part.
I reckon my job was the easiest, and I was sure glad to have it.
All I had to do was ride into town a couple of hours before the rest did and set out on the porch of the general store. That porch offered a good view of the trading post, and I was to cover everybody as they rode in and out.
When Palmer heard that he snickered and made a comment about me being sheltered from trouble.
I kept waiting for Kinrich to give him a good scolding. But he never did, and I was confused as to why he didn’t.
***
It was still dark when Kinrich woke me up the next morning.
“You’d best be getting on into town,” Kinrich said as he knelt beside me. “And remember: if anybody asks, you’re just passing through, looking for a ranch job.”
“I remember,” I replied groggily.
I got dressed. Then, after gulping down some coffee, I saddled Slim.
Kinrich stood by as I rode out.
“Remember, Button; things don’t always go as planned, so you be ready for anything.”
“I’ll remember,” I nodded.
As I trotted into town I thought my situation over.
I sure didn’t like the thought of having to shoot somebody, so I decided if it came to that I would just shoot over their heads.
I also thought some more about Kinrich.
He was sure acting odd, and I couldn’t figure out why. By now I was used to his mood changes. But this was something different, and it made me uneasy.
Whatever it was, I just hoped he would come out of it after the job was done.
When I reached the outskirts of town I pulled up Slim and looked the town over.
It was a small town. I located the general store and rode on in.
The town was still mostly asleep as I walked Slim down the main street. A dog sleeping by the hitching rail looked up momentarily as I dismounted, but that was all the attention I attracted.
I tied Slim good and tight, and then I awkwardly sat on a bench by the front door of the general store. Already I was nervous, and I’m sure I looked guilty as I sat there trying to look normal.
The longer I sat there the more nervous I got. After a while the town folks started showing up on the street, and I could feel sweat running down my face.
A few of the folks glanced curiously at me as they walked by, and I tried to smile and look cordial. There were a few “hellos” and “howdys”, but to my relief that was all.
The morning passed slowly.
Finally, down the street, I saw Cliff and Valdez riding in. They were supposed to ride to the blacksmith shop, which was directly across from the trading post.
My heart beat wildly as I watched them ride up and dismount. Kinrich and the rest of the boys would be coming next, and it could happen at any moment now.
My mouth was dry as I sat there wringing my hands. I kept looking up and down the street as I waited for them to come.
Suddenly, I saw a lone horseman on a light colored dun horse walking slowly into town.
There was something familiar about the rider, and I blocked the sun with my hat as I squinted at him.
I suddenly recognized him. It was Ryan Palmer, and he was riding straight toward me.
Something had gone wrong. Palmer was supposed to be coming into town with Kinrich and the rest of the boys, but I didn’t see Kinrich anywhere.
I took a quick look at Cliff and Valdez. They were both sitting in the shade beside the blacksmith shop, looking unconcerned.
I looked back at Palmer. He had his eyes on me, and I sure didn’t like the cruel, hard look he was giving me.
He rode up in front of the general store. He pulled up, dismounted, and tied his horse next to mine.
He stepped up onto the front porch, and as he walked up I could only stare at him in confusion.
“What are you doing here?” I asked in a low, urgent voice. “Where’s Kinrich?”
Palmer’s face was cold and expressionless.
“Plans have changed,” he said matter-of-factly. “I’m here to kill you.”
Chapter twenty-seven
I didn’t know what to do or say. Before I could think of something, Palmer reached down, unbuckled his gun belt, and tossed it aside.
“Stand up!” He said roughly. “Before I kill you I’m going to give you the whipping you deserve.”
“Are you crazy?” I asked in confusion. “You’re messing eve
rything up! Kinrich’s going to kill you!”
I was expecting an answer, but Palmer was through talking.
He swung his fist and connected with my jaw. The blast knocked me off the bench.
Before I could recover, he was on top of me. He swung both fists, and he peppered me in the face with short, powerful blows.
Within seconds my lips were busted, and blood flowed out my nose.
It was then that the feeling grabbed ahold of me. I felt a rage deep down, and I forgot all about the trading post and Kinrich. Instead, my only thoughts were of survival.
From somewhere inside me an outraged yell erupted, and I shoved Palmer off me. He flew off the porch and landed in the street.
Before he could recover I was on my feet. I unbuckled my gun belt, and then I viciously attacked.
Palmer tried to raise his hands to fend me off, but I didn’t give him the chance as I hammered away with both fists.
I heard a sharp, cracking sound in my left hand, but that didn’t stop me. I kept slamming away, and Palmer was really taking a beating.
But Palmer wasn’t done yet.
Suddenly he lashed out with a hard right to my midsection, and the blast left me momentarily stunned. He followed it with a smashing blow to the side of my face, and as I staggered backwards I barely kept on my feet.
I tasted blood, and my head throbbed with pain. But the feeling just wouldn’t let me quit, and with a wild fury I dove back at Palmer.
We both swung our fists as we stood toe to toe and slugged it out. We both were taking a beating, but finally Palmer’s knees buckled. He hit the ground, and I was right on top of him, still swinging away.
But suddenly, I felt huge, rough hands grab ahold of me from behind. I was yanked off Palmer, and I went flying through the air.
I hit the ground hard.
I looked up and saw a big man looking sourly at me. I also noticed that he wore a badge.
“Knock it off,” he said roughly.
I got to my feet slowly, and as I did I noticed that a huge crowd had gathered around us. It looked like the whole town had come a-running to see the fight.
The sheriff looked over at Palmer.
“Help that man up, mister,” he told me.
I went over and grabbed Palmer by the shoulder. I pulled him to his feet, and then Palmer shoved me away.
“Get your hands off me!” He muttered.
“I want to know what’s going on here,” the sheriff demanded.
Palmer just stood there looking sullen, so I turned to the sheriff.
“I don’t rightly know myself, Sheriff,” I said.
The sheriff studied us with cold, hard eyes.
“I ain’t seen you two before. Why are you here?”
“I’m just passing through, looking for a ranch job,” I replied as I wiped blood off my lips.
The sheriff frowned, and then he grunted.
“Well, you won’t be getting a job around these parts, I can guarantee it! You’re both leaving right now, and if I see either one of you in my town again I’ll arrest you on sight! This here’s a peaceful little town, and we don’t tolerate trouble makers.”
“Yes, sir,” I replied meekly.
“Now you two get outta my sight!”
It was embarrassing, being ordered out of town. While the whole town watched I grabbed my gun belt, and then I painfully climbed up onto Slim.
The sheriff made us ride out of town going in different directions, and I was glad for that. Now I could talk to Kinrich before Palmer did.
I rode to the designated hideout, and by the time I got there one eye had completely swelled shut.
Camp was busy. Everybody was packing up, and nobody even noticed me.
I dismounted and looked for Kinrich.
That’s when I saw the pack mules. They were both loaded down with furs, and I was suddenly confused.
“Button! You made it!” I heard Kinrich call out from behind me.
I turned around and saw Kinrich walking up with a big grin on his face. Lee was behind him.
“Where’s Palmer? Did you kill him?” Kinrich wanted to know.
“No, he should be riding in behind me,” I replied in a confused voice. “What’s going on here? Where did those furs come from?”
Kinrich was still smiling big.
“Well, after you left this morning Palmer came to me and started griping about you, saying that you tried to kill him and all. That’s when I decided to change things up a bit. Best way to rob anything is with a diversion, and you two did a good job.”
I was shocked.
“You sent Palmer into town to fight me?”
Kinrich was real proud of himself.
“I sure did. And it worked too. Nobody saw us when we robbed that trading post.”
“You could have warned me!” I said irritably.
“I needed it to look real,” Kinrich replied. “And besides, I did warn you to be ready for anything, remember?”
“Palmer tried to kill me back there!” I replied angrily.
“He did say he wanted to kill you, so I told him to go ahead and try it,” Kinrich replied calmly.
“You what?” I asked in astonishment.
“I told you before that I can’t have turmoil amongst my men. But Palmer wasn’t going to let it go, so I told him I’d give him this one chance. He failed, so now it’s over. He knows I’ll kill him if he tries anything else.”
I was angry.
“You used me as bait!”
Kinrich shrugged.
“That’s one way to look at it, I reckon. ’Course, I figured you were tough enough to handle Palmer, and I was right. But you sure did take a beating though. You don’t look so good.”
I was so mad I couldn’t reply, but Kinrich didn’t seem to notice.
“We’ll be leaving in a bit. Until then, why don’t you sit in the shade and take it easy.”
Kinrich walked off and left me there. I was still mad, so I walked out of camp a ways to collect myself.
After a while Lee came out and joined me.
“You all right?” He wanted to know as he sat beside me on a log.
I didn’t answer. Instead, I just shrugged, and Lee couldn’t help but smile.
“Ol’ Ben sure has a way of making a feller feel special, don’t he?”
“I reckon so,” I replied in a subdued voice.
“Palmer just rode back in. He looks worse than you do,” Lee said.
I tried to smile.
“Good.”
Lee looked me over.
“What’s wrong with your hand?” He asked.
I looked down at my swollen fist.
“I don’t know… I think I might have broke it.”
“And that ain’t the only thing,” Lee added as he looked at my face. “Your nose is broken for sure. Hold on, I’ll fix it.”
Lee grabbed my nose, and with a powerful twist he straightened it out. It stung, and I couldn’t help the tears that ran down my face.
“There, that should do it,” Lee said as he leaned back. “And as for your hand, wrap it real tight with some cloth. It should heal pretty quick.”
“Thanks,” I replied gratefully. “I’ll do that.”
Lee was silent, and then he said softly, “Kinrich is sorta hard to figure, ain’t he?”
I nodded soberly.
“Sure is.”
“Well, if you only learn one thing today; learn this,” Lee said seriously. “Don’t trust anybody, Rondo, not even me. We’re all a bunch of no good outlaws, and don’t you be thinking that we all will always stick together. Every man here is looking out for himself, and if there was anything to gain from it there ain’t a man here that wouldn’t kill you, ’cept for me and mebbe Brian.”
“I believe it,” I replied.
“Good,” Lee said as he stood. “And don’t you be forgetting it neither. It just might save your life one of these days.”
Lee started to leave, but on second thought he stopp
ed and turned back.
“By the way; I saw most the fight. I ain’t ever seen a feller fight with more guts than you did.”
“I was mad,” I explained dryly.
“Well, you got my respect,” Lee said. “I’d ride with you any day.”
“Thanks,” I said.
Lee nodded and left me alone, and as I sat there I thought some more about Kinrich.
It was then that I started to see him in a different light. Before I had always thought of him as a friend, but now I didn’t know what to think.
I did know one thing. From now on, I was going to be wary of Ben Kinrich.
Chapter twenty-eight
I stayed mad for a long time after the trading post robbery. But I finally got over it, and life went on.
My face was left with a few nasty scars, but in time both my hand and nose healed. My nose was a bit crooked, and Kinrich laughed often about it.
There was one thing that Kinrich didn’t laugh about, and that was when he heard that I got all of the credit for the trading post robbery.
A feller from the wagon train had seen the fight, and had recognized me. This feller then told the sheriff all about me killing Tom Benson, and it didn’t take the sheriff long to put two and two together.
Somehow word had also gotten out that I had killed Glen Harris, and word was also out that I had joined up with Ben Kinrich. In fact, there was even another story going around that I was Kinrich’s right hand man.
All this talk made me sound very dangerous. I now had the reputation of a gunfighter, and my name was a household name. I wasn’t very happy about this, but that’s just the way it was.
Life as an outlaw went by fast. Job after job started flying by, and over time I finally became accepted as one of the boys. Course, I remembered Lee’s warning, and I didn’t trust anybody.
Especially Palmer.
He left me alone because he had to, but he sure didn’t like it. I was the one getting the reputation he so badly wanted, and he hated me for it.
Every job Kinrich planned was successful, and to my relief no innocent folks were ever killed. A few shots were fired from time to time, and once Valdez got hit in the arm.
That was one thing that surprised me about being an outlaw. I had figured that we would get into all sorts of gunfights, but that just wasn’t the case. Most of the time folks were real quick to do what we asked, and Kinrich always planned things out so good that we were hardly ever put into dangerous situations.