“Don’t worry about it. You really didn’t have a chance to fire,” Pommel said as he rolled Clancy over. “Cold Deck Johnny Clancy, what do you know? Black Tom’s got every murdering scum in West Texas riding for him.”
“You know that guy?” Temple asked.
“Cold Deck Johnny and I had a run-in over a card game at Doan’s Crossing on the Chisholm Trail five or six years ago.”
“And?” Temple asked.
“I shot him in the foot,” Pommel answered reluctantly.
Temple stood silently without asking the obvious.
Pommel gave Temple a hard look when he realized that Temple was waiting for an answer. “Well, I was a little drunk.”
Temple smiled and nodded.
“I don’t know those two over there but one of the guards was Ace Sloan, another fine Red Leg gentlemen from Missouri,” Pommel said.
“How many men were there?” Temple asked.
“Five. Three here in camp and two night guards,” Pommel said.
Temple shook his head. “Five men. What a waste.”
“You need to toughen up, laddie. Before this affair is over, this little fracas might look like a school yard picnic.”
“I never heard of one man taking out five riders by himself,” Temple said.
“Back when you was a babe, there was this Comanche named Is-E-Tarack, Horse Track most folks called him. He took out fourteen Mexican vaqueros by himself before what was left of the outfit made it back to the Valdez Rancho. He carried nothing but a bow, a few arrows and a butcher knife. That son-of-a-bitch had all of us quaking in our boots for over a year before the Rangers ran him aground and strung him up. I ran many a cold camp during them months. About forgot what a hot cup of night coffee tasted like.”
“And Mom?” Temple asked.
Pommel rolled Holmes’ body and rifled his pockets before answering. “Them was tough times for your mother. You were a babe and we had that old Kickapoo, Andrew, as our only help. She took to sleeping in the rocking chair next to your crib with a muzzleloading twelve-gauge double in her lap. Hell, nobody came through that front door without knocking.”
“What are you doing? You’re not robbing these hombres?” Temple asked.
“I wouldn’t pass up any gold coin if I found it. I’m looking for something in writing. Something that might give us some proof to take to Austin that Colredge or Bent were in on this.”
Temple watched silently. He let his thoughts drift back to those days when his was small. He vaguely remembered his mother sitting in a rocking chair on the porch, shotgun in her lap, when Reese was a baby. He wondered how many lonely nights she spent, waiting for day and guarding the cabin.
Pommel gathered the weapons and straightened himself. “I’m getting too old for this. Seems like I can’t hardly do anything anymore without getting a backache.”
“Yeah, right,” Temple laughed. “You can’t hardly bury four men, ride thirty miles and kill five rustlers in one day without getting a backache.”
“Yeah,” Pommel answered without seeing the humor. “We all get old, I guess.”
Chapter X
Mary Fellows smiled when she noticed her daughter-in-law coming up the kitchen steps. She loved Sarah for the way she treated her son and the two granddaughters she bore him.
Sarah’s knock was firm and loud, nontypical of a woman of such dainty proportions and frail appearance.
Mary opened the door and welcomed her in. “Will you have some coffee and cake with me?”
“Thank you, Mom. I be a pleasured to,” Sarah said as her eyes searched the room for proof of her suspicions.
“Might as well come back into the kitchen. I’m peeling apples for a pie.”
As Mary poured the coffee and slipped a slice of chocolate cake on a plate she noticed that Sarah was quieter than normal and was not making eye contact. “What’s the matter, child? You don’t seem yourself,” she said taking a place across the table.
“I’ve been hiding something and I can’t keep it under wraps no more. I guess I was ashamed to say something earlier.”
Mary smiled. “I doubt that there is much of anything for you to be ashamed for.”
“Not so much ashamed as concerned. I have worried about how to approach you with the subject.”
Mary nodded and took a sip of her coffee. “You’re not having trouble in your marriage, are you?” she asked.
“No, nothing like that. I am being mysterious, aren’t I? I sent Martha over here the other day to see if you had some quilting pieces that I might use. She returned upset. She said that she saw a strange man sitting on the porch step. Rather than coming on in, you know how she is, she hid around the corner of the house. She said that you and the man were arguing and after he left, you left the house as well.”
“Is that all?” Mary asked, her grip tightening around her coffee cup.
“No, she said that the man said he had killed a man who was trying to kill her Uncle Temple. And then, she said that you stated that the man was their father and you had written him a letter asking for help.”
Mary studied Sarah as her eyes lowered to her cake. She tried to think of a story but determined that it would probably lead to trouble. “Does Reese know of this?” she asked.
“I didn’t say anything to Reese. I wanted to talk to you first.”
Mary nodded and took another sip of her coffee. “I appreciate that. I really do.”
“I have always thought that Reese’s father was dead. That’s what both of you have always said.”
“That is what Reese has always believed.”
They sat silently, each waiting for the other to make the next comment.
Mary sighed and tears formed in her eyes.
“If this is too difficult for you, I understand. I’ll say nothing more of it,” Sarah said.
Mary reached for Sarah’s hand and held it. “No. It’s time for the truth. I think you should know. All of this should come to light. I knew that Pommel’s returning would cause these questions. It is just that I was frightened and could think of no one else to turn to.”
“You mean the trouble at the ranch. Reese has not talked of this much. I knew he was concerned for Temple but he wouldn’t talk of any of it in front of the girls.”
“It is not only Temple who is in danger. We all are.”
“They surely wouldn’t come into town.”
“I believe that those men are capable of anything.”
“Why didn’t you say something to me?”
“Reese didn’t want to worry you. He asked me to keep my concerns to myself.”
“I don’t think that’s fair. I seems there are a lot of secrets being kept.”
Mary nodded. “Too many.”
“If Reese’s father is alive, don’t you think he has a right to know?”
“It’s more complicated than that. There’s Pac to consider.”
“Does Temple know?”
“Yes, he has known the truth all along.”
“And he never said anything to his brothers.”
“No, he never said.”
“Mother, I love you. I don’t want to cause you any pain. If this is too difficult for you, I’ll understand.”
Mary smiled and tightened her grip on Sarah’s hand. “What I’m going to tell you, I’ve never talked to anyone about except Fritz Blomberg. He’s the only one who knows the whole truth.”
“What about John?”
“John has always believed that I was a widow.”
“Did you divorce their father?”
“Fritz took care of that years ago.”
“Why all the secrets?”
“When Pommel went off to war, I remained on the ranch. Fritz watched over us but most of the time we were alone with only the old Indian, Tom, and Cap Morgan as our riders. They were gone most of the time. Temple and I took care of the ranch chores. Reese was just a baby. I lived a very lonely life. Sometimes I would go for months without seeing anyone other t
han the ranch hands.
One day a group of men came asking for work. Temple was gone checking on a calf. It’s just as well. They probably would have killed him. I told them that they would have to talk to my husband. I told them I expected him to be home that evening. They were rough looking men and they frightened me. They said they would wait but I told them that they needed to leave and come back another time. One of the men, a dark looking man with cruel eyes, laughed and said that he would wait. I went for my shotgun but he ran me down and dragged me into the house. He raped me and his men raped me. They were there most of the day. When Temple came home, I didn’t tell him. I hid the truth. I wanted to kill myself but couldn’t because of the boys. I couldn’t.”
Sarah began weeping. “I’m so sorry.”
“Then I realized that I was pregnant with Pac. When it became noticeable, I told Fritz Blomberg what had happened. He was angry that I hadn’t gone to him. It was too late by then to do anything about it. Neither of the men ever asked what happened. I suppose Cap figured it was none of his business. Who knows about Tom. He was always a strange one.”
“What did Pommel say?”
“When he returned, I was heavy with child. He just stared at me. When I tried to talk to him, he just went back to his horse and rode away. He rode away without a word.”
“That bastard,” Sarah cursed.
“I don’t know. I was afraid that he would kill me. He was always a violent man. Never to me or Temple but in other ways. He lived a rough and violent life. He went to war and left me and his sons alone miles from anyone. The killing was more important to him than we were. I received only two letters while he was away. None the last year. I thought he was dead. When he showed up, I waited for him in the house. I didn’t know how to tell him. I could see the anger and betrayal in his face when he stepped through the door. I went to him, begged him to say something and he just walked away. He never said a word. He never came back. A year later I received an envelope with eighty dollars. I received envelopes every year afterward, always with the money, never a note, never a word. When Reese turned eighteen, the envelopes stopped. In his own way, he did his duty, I guess.”
Sarah’s lips quivered with anger. “A few dollars in an envelope. You call that doing your duty?”
“It was more than I expected.”
“And Pac? Does he suspect anything?”
“Pac was never told the truth. How could I tell him? What could I say? It was my sin.”
“Don’t say that. Don’t ever say that. You didn’t fail anyone. That bastard is the one to blame. How could you have ever written him?”
“Because he owed it to his sons. He owed it and I wanted him to help. I knew where he was. I’ve known for years. Fritz knew as well. I knew what he was doing. He wouldn’t accept Pac and if he didn’t love me enough to even hear my story, I didn’t want him around. But when the other ranches were destroyed and the Ring became bolder, I wrote him for help. I don’t know what I thought. I figured he wouldn’t come but he did. Yet I did want him to come. I didn’t want John or Fritz to be killed and I wanted to protect the boys. He owed it to them so I wrote him. I guess I knew that this day would come.”
“And now?”
“When Reese comes home, send him to me. I’ll tell him then.”
“I could tell him, if it’s too difficult.”
Mary smiled through her tears. “No, I’ll tell him. Wait until I tell him in my own way.”
“And Pac?”
Mary’s face became grim and dark. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
“Maybe Reese and I should be with you when you decide to tell him.”
“No, I don’t want that. Pac wouldn’t handle that well. You know. I’m afraid I’ll lose him. Even if Pommel isn’t his real father, they’re more alike than I care to talk about. Pac is going to be a problem.”
Sarah nodded. She didn’t like Pac. She never had. She had always wondered how he could be so different from Temple and Reese. Now she knew. Her only concern revolved around her husband and how he would take the news. If Pac rode away, she didn’t care. But Reese was different. She loved him and wanted to help him with the pain of learning the truth. She didn’t want him doing anything stupid. She’d let Pac do that. She was certain he would.
Her thoughts turned to Pommel. As she watched her mother-in-law in silence, she felt the hate develop for a man she had never met. Her thoughts turned back to her husband. Was he like that as well? Would he do something like that? Leave her and the girls without a word?
She shook her head and tried to clear her thoughts. She hoped she would never have to lay eyes on Pommel McMurphy, afraid of what she would do or say. Her heart pounded. She was a mass of confused feelings. Love, hate, betrayal and suspicion ran through her as she thought of each member of the family. She wished she hadn’t sent Martha for those quilt pieces in the first place.
Chapter XI
Reese stepped from the ranch house to watch the riders coming into the yard. He was surprised that Temple was riding with only one man and wondered if the others had been told to stay with the herd.
Cap Morgan followed Reese out of the door. When he recognized Pommel, he stepped back into the kitchen to fetch his old revolver and holster from a cabinet. He strapped it on and returned to the porch without Reese noticing.
Pac led his horse from the barn and glared as Temple and Pommel rode past. He slipped his gun hammer loop and checked his Colt to see that he would flow cleanly from the holster before leading his pinto to the house.
Reese nodded toward the strangely familiar rider and smiled at Temple. “Where are the boys? You have them stay on the range?”
“Waco, Arch, Josh and Kroger are dead. Rustlers hit them four days ago,” Temple said as he swung down from his saddle.
Reese stepped down and took a seat on the porch steps. “Lord, I can’t believe it. Killed them?”
Pommel cut his eyes to Cap Morgan and nodded recognition before stepping to the ground. Cap smiled knowingly and nodded back.
“What’s going on?” Pac asked as he led his horse to the hitching rail.
“Rustlers killed the boys gathering the north herd,” Reese answered.
“Let’s get after them,” Pac said.
“Already have. We caught them just north of the Red and settled up with them,” Temple said as he stepped by Reese, patting him on the shoulder.
“How many were there?” Pac asked.
“Five. We got them all,” Temple answered.
Pac eyed Pommel sharply. “You help him with this?”
“Yep, I went along for the ride.”
“You just happen to be around?”
“I was riding with Temple when we found your riders.”
Pac looked confused. His hand tensed over his revolver.
“I wouldn’t be in a big hurry to shoot him,” Temple said. “He’s going to help us drive those steers to market.”
“Why would Pac want to shoot this hombre?” Reese asked.
“I met this feller once before. We had words,” Pac said sullenly.
“You got a name?” Reese smiled. “My brother doesn’t seem to like to make introductions these days.”
“For now, just call me Bob,” Pommel said as he shook Reese’s hand.
“Bob, huh. Well, Bob with no last name and only Bob for now, I’m Reese McMurphy. I’m the handsome brother of these other two. I take it you know Pac.”
“Yeah, I know Pac. Nice to see you again,” Pommel said shaking Pac’s hand.
“Yeah, right, I guess,” Pac stammered sullenly.
“I can tell you’re excited to meet him,” Reese said to Pac before turning to Pommel. “I appreciate you lending a hand. I’d hate to see ole Temple get blown away chasing rustlers alone.”
“Let’s step into the house. We got some planning to do,” Temple said.
Reese and Pac followed Temple through the door. Cap Morgan waited for Pommel as he climbed the steps.
>
“You know what you’re doing?” Cap asked after he was sure the brothers were out of earshot.
“It was Mary’s idea. Good to see you again, Cap,” Pommel answered quietly.
Cap nodded and smiled. “It’s been a while. This ought to prove to be a right interesting day.”
“Sure enough,” Pommel smiled as he stepped through the door.
“It was the Ring again. All the rustlers were riding Quick 5 brands,” Temple said as he poured himself a cup of coffee.
“I’m going to miss those boys. Waco has been with the outfit for quite a spell. Josh and I were planning a hunting trip. Hell, they was all good boys,” Reese said as he sat at the kitchen table.
“Did you recognize any of the rustlers?” Pac asked.
“Two gents named Calhoun and Sloan, Cold Deck Johnny Clancy, Ace Sloan and some other fellow with blond hair,” Pommel answered studying Pac’s reaction.
“You a Ranger or something?” Pac asked. “How the hell do you know those guys?”
“I been around,” Pommel said as he accepted a cup of coffee from Temple.
“Bob’s an old hand in these parts,” Cap said as he stepped by Pac toward the kitchen stove. “You boys are probably hungry. I’ll fire something up.”
“How come I ain’t never seen or heard of him?” Pac asked.
“You know every hombre in West Texas?” Reese asked mockingly.
“Shove it!” Pac said.
“Sit down,” Temple said to Pac. “We need to plan. I don’t need to hear you two go after each other.”
“It seems funny to me that this guy just shows up all of a sudden and everybody seems to know who he is. I heard you jawing with him on the porch, Cap,” Pac said.
Cap nodded and rolled his eyes.
“I asked him to come,” Temple said. “Bob’s an old trail boss and I want a professional to help us get the herd through.”
“I could have handled that,” Pac said.
“Yeah, between visits to Jesse Pearson’s daughter,” Reese said.
“Screw you!”
“Drop it, Reese. We need to talk,” Temple said. “I figure we’ve got a good seven hundred steers ready to go in the north and west herds. I want to run a swing and put together a herd to go out this week.”
The Red River Ring Page 7