by Neil Hunter
I was angry too. Angry at the way life and property was so casually destroyed by men like Red Karver, Will Pike, and Tall Lyons. It was because of men like these that Seth and Jacob lay hurt, having come close to death. And it was because of these men that my friend Joel now lay dead, his young life snuffed out just as he was getting his first foothold.
The more I thought about it the greater became my anger. I’m not normally a vengeful man but vengeance was strong in my thoughts right at that moment. The utter ruthlessness of Karver’s action kept pushing to the front of my thoughts and a taunting voice seemed to be telling me that this was the way Karver had been operating for a long time and getting away with it. He got away with it because nobody ever stood up to him. Too many people were getting hurt and nobody wanted to get involved. Karver knew this and he played on their fear. It kept him on top. His confidence fed itself on the fear of others.
But Karver had made a mistake this time. He didn’t know it but he would do shortly. I went to my horse and got him ready to ride. I knew what I had to do, what I was going to do, and I just hoped that nobody got in my way.
Crown wandered across as I stood by my horse, thumbing fresh loads into my handgun. He watched me for a moment.
‘Need anyone to ride with you?’ he asked finally.
I glanced at him. ‘You figure I’m going somewhere?’ I asked.
‘I figure.’
‘Thanks, Joe, but this one is mine. No room for anyone else.’
He nodded. ‘Ride careful. Brig, that Karver bunch is all bad and mean as hell.’
I mounted up and took my horse out of camp without looking round. I knew I could be riding into more trouble than I could rightly handle but it did nothing to make me think twice about going. What I had to do was something from which there was no turning back. I was scared some, no use pretending I wasn’t, yet even that made no difference. I only had to think of Seth and Jacob and of Joel and all thought of quitting left my head. I was a little mixed up inside but on the surface I tried to appear calm. In a while I was going to need all my wits about me. I would need to be calm and steady and clear-headed.
It was late in the afternoon when I rode into Hope. The place was as busy as ever. It seemed almost wrong that life was still going on here, as though nothing had happened. Then I realized that I was thinking too much about things that were important to me. The killing of Joel Welcome would be little more than one more chunk of news to the people of Hope. To them he would be a name without a face, just another victim of this wild and violent land.
I reined in before one of Hope’s many saloons. This was the place where Karver hung out. He used the place almost like headquarters while he was in Hope. I wondered if he was in there right now. Knowing him like I did I reasoned that it was easily possible. Karver would have no qualms about returning openly to Hope, even though he had just committed murder.
As I sat there the swing doors parted and a man came out. He had a bottle in one hand and a couple more tucked under his arm. I called to him and he came to the edge of the boardwalk.
‘I’m looking for somebody,’ I said. ‘Name of Red Karver. You happen to see him in there?’
The man took a hefty swig from his bottle. He screwed up his face as if he didn’t like the taste of what he was drinking.
‘He’s in there,’ he said. ‘Him and Tall Lyons, an’ they’re drinkin’ like it was going out of fashion.’
‘Any more of Karver’s boys there? Will Pike maybe?’
‘Only the two of ‘em. Karver an’ Lyons.’ He eyed me boldly. ‘You a friend of ‘em?’
‘Kind of,’ I told him as I got down off my horse and tied the reins to the hitch-rail.
My informant watched me as I stepped up onto the boardwalk. He seemed to be debating something with himself. When I took out my gun and checked it he suddenly came to a dead stop in his debating. He turned on his heel and moved off up the walk.
I stood before the swing doors for a moment. Right there and then I had no idea what might happen once I went through those doors. A lot hung on what took place in that saloon. My future with Judith, my future with my brothers and the men I knew. All of these things could be lost to me in the next few minutes. I knew that but I also knew that if I didn’t go inside, if I walked away, I would never be able to face myself again.
I found myself thinking of Joel again. Joel, so young and full of ideas and ambition, driven by his father to prove himself able to stand on his own. He had done just that but he’d had no chance to enjoy that victory, and he never would. I remembered these things and it was that remembrance that propelled me across the boardwalk and through the doors, taking me into the saloon’s noisy, crowded interior.
Chapter Seventeen
As I eased my way through the crowd I saw Red Karver at the bar. His loud voice could easily be heard, even though there was some considerable noise. Karver was not alone, as I had been told. Tall Lyons stood next to him and as I neared them Lyons spotted me and nudged Karver. Turning from the bar Karver faced me, a confident look on his broad, ugly face.
Behind me the crowd suddenly quietened and I heard chairs scrape and boots scuff the wood floor. An empty space appeared around me as the crowd drew back. It was as if they knew why I was here, what I had intended.
‘You lookin’ for me, Tyler?’ Karver asked. He had moved away from the bar a little, so as to have an area of free movement.
‘I’ve come to even things for Joel Welcome,’ I told him and I could tell by his eyes that he knew what I’d come for.
He tried to bluff me out by laughing. ‘Now what do you mean by that? Who is this Joel Welcome you’re talkin’ about?’
‘The boy you cut down last night,’ I said.
‘What’s that you’re callin’ me?’ he asked and his tone was one of outraged defiance.
‘A murdering backshooter,’ I said. ‘You couldn’t scare my brothers or Joel off our claim, so you tried to drive them out. You almost killed Seth and Jacob with that cave-in but they’re alive. But you did kill Joel. Shot him in the back without giving him a chance.’
Karver was red-faced now. His right hand was flexing impatiently over his gunbutt. ‘I hear you right? Accusing me of murder?’
I didn’t answer this time but let the heavy silence drag on. Karver’s eyes flicked around the crowded saloon. This was the first time that anyone had ever made an open challenge to him. Maybe he was a little scared, maybe just a slight confused. I wasn’t sure which but I knew that something was due to happen.
Tall Lyons had begun to edge away from Karver. He was trying to distract me, I knew, trying to make it more difficult for me to watch them both. I knew that if I let it happen I would find myself in a crossfire.
‘Lyons,’ I said, without taking my eyes off Karver, ‘just stand easy. You move again and I’ll drop you first.’
My tone must have convinced him for he stopped moving and leaned casually back against the bar, his hands in plain sight.
Karver, somewhat more himself again, said, ‘What you aimin’ to do with me, boy?’
‘Like I said, I’ve come to settle with you for Joel Welcome. I know, and every man in this town knows, you’re a thieving murderer. You need putting down like a mad dog but I’m ready to give you a chance. That’s if you’ve got the guts to face a man who can shoot back.’
A smile played round the edges of Karver’s mouth, then vanished. He spat suddenly. ‘You figure you can take me?’
‘I didn’t come to talk,’ I told him.
Karver took a short step forward, and I tensed, knowing that something was about to happen.
On Karver’s right Tall Lyons’ hand eased towards his gunbutt. His hand was partly hidden by the way he stood but the movement was enough to catch my eye. I let my gaze flick towards Lyons, only for an instant, and as I did I realized I was being drawn into a trap.
The second I took my eyes off Karver he went for his gun, and by the time I’d figured what was going on, he h
ad it halfway drawn. If he’d been any faster I would not have walked away from that fight.
My own hand was sliding my Colt free as Karver’s gun rose and even in that moment of danger I heard the hammer go back. Then I threw myself forward, below the level of Karver’s gun. I hit the floor hard and as I did I pushed my drawn Colt forward, tilting the barrel up. The hammer was back and I pulled the trigger, putting a bullet into Karver saw him step back against the bar. His gun went off, the bullet going into the ceiling. He wasn’t about to give up though, for he made to pull his gun on me again, so I fired once more. The bullet caught him high in the chest and he spun sideways, going to his knees.
As I triggered my second shot I arched my body around, my eyes seeking Tall Lyons. He had his gun out and he pulled the trigger as I turned to face him. I felt his bullet burn my left shoulder but then I had my Colt on him, and I triggered two fast shots into him. My bullets took him in the chest, angling upwards and bursting out of his back. Lyons gave a ragged grunt and skidded along the edge of the bar for a way. Then his legs gave and he fell onto his face.
I rolled and came to my feet, turning, and as I did Red Karver’s gun roared. I felt the bullet hit my left side. The impact knocked me back a few steps. Then I swung my Colt and tripped the hammer back, bringing it to bear on Karver. He was on his knees, his left hand pressed over a spreading patch of blood on his chest. He was weak, losing a lot of blood, but he was still capable of handling a gun. He was dogging back the hammer again, and for a moment our eyes met, hate blazing in his as he faced me. I put my last two shots into him and he toppled over onto his back, his gun spilling from his fingers at half-cock.
I stood where I was for a moment. The stench of gunsmoke was heavy in the air. I felt a little dizzy. The wound in my side was starting to pain me some. Blood was covering my shirt and Levis. I put my empty gun away and turned slowly away, went out of the saloon, onto the street, ignoring the stares and sudden sound of raised voices. I paused on the boardwalk, breathing in the clean air, trying to calm my jangled nerves. It had come close in there. Too close. I had bucked the odds, risking my life, but it had been something I had to do. I had no regrets about killing Karver and Lyons. They had been of a kind that was all too evident in this violent country. As long as there were men who would work and sweat to develop the land’s riches, there would always be others who would come and take the result of those labors by force and violence. And until the law was established every man was going to have to do his own peacekeeping. I figured I had done my share this day.
I got onto my horse and turned him up the street. I rode out of Hope, heading back to the mine. I had a long three hour ride ahead of me and I wondered if I could stay in the saddle that long. It was turning cold again, my wound hurt, and I felt sicker by the minute, but I knew I had to stay in the saddle.
I never did remember the whole of that ride. A lot of the time I was close to passing out, but somehow I rode the entire way without falling off. I recall hearing Sachs shouting as my horse took me into camp. I forced open my eyes and saw him running towards me, with Joe Crown close behind. Then I just let go. Darkness swept over, the ground rushed up to meet me, and I blacked out.
Chapter Eighteen
I spent the next three days on my back, recovering from the wounds I’d received during my clash with Red Karver and Tall Lyons. I’d lost a fair deal of blood during my ride back to camp and although I wanted to be up and about I was too weak to be of much use to anyone.
Seth and Jacob fared some better than me. After a good day of rest they were able to start moving around again. They were stiff and sore, but apart from that there was little wrong with them.
On the second day Crown and Riley took a ride into Hope. When they came back late that evening they brought us up to date with the news from town. High on the list was the run-in I’d had with Karver and Lyons. It seemed that I’d started something. Every man who’d ever run with Karver had been told to get out of town. The order also extended to cover any man who figured he was in Hope for what he could get, by foul means. It meant that a lot of toughs and potential gun hands received the order to quit town and move on. A vigilante group had formed to help them on their way.
‘One thing, Brig,’ Crown said. ‘I heard that Will Pike’s been bragging.’
‘Now that sounds like trouble,’ I said.
‘It’s not a friendly greeting. Seems he’s joined up with the Reever boys now. Only he’s been saying he’ll kill you next time he sees you. One day he’s going to meet up with you and finish what you’ve started.’
‘He’ll have a long wait,’ I said. ‘I’m not hunting trouble. If it comes I’ll face it but I won’t go looking for it.’
Jacob leaned forward to refill his coffee cup. ‘Brother,’ he said, ‘I don’t think that will stop it happening.’
And though I was reluctant to agree with him, I had to admit that Jacob was right. But right there and then I don’t think any of us knew just how soon the matter would be resolved — or the way it would happen.
The second day since I’d been allowed to get up was clear and bright. A lot of the snow had cleared and what was left was thawing slowly. The air was fresh and good to breathe. I stood on the edge of camp, gazing out over the spread of the country that lay below our high place. A lot of greenery showed through the blanket of snow. The sky above was washed blue, with streaks of cloud. To the eye it was good land, spreading as far as the eye could see and then some. But it gave a man reason to pause when he thought what had to be sacrificed in order to tame the land. I was thinking of Joel. I wasn’t given to brooding but I was still feeling a great loss.
Karver and Lyons were dead but that didn’t bring Joel back. He was dead too and it was hard to realize. We had buried him just beyond camp, close to a stand of shady trees where he’d used to go and read. It was a quiet, peaceful spot and we had figured that it was a place he would have chosen himself. Sachs had cut a wooden marker and he’d carved Joel’s name on it like it was his own son he was burying. I’d taken it on myself to write to Joel’s father. It had taken me some time but I’d had a lot to say. I’d hoped that I had explained the way Joel had felt, why he’d come West, what he’d wanted to do. I’m not too good with words but I think I managed to say it all. If I’d been Joel’s father and if I had got such a letter, I would have been proud to say that my son had lived like a man, had made his way, and that though he had died, he had made his mark and had more than proved himself.
Yet I could not hide the fact that I would rather have had Joel himself standing beside me. All the words in the world could do little more than ease the sorrow. Only time could completely heal the hurt.
I heard Sachs calling me. It was close on noon and he had been getting a meal together. It seemed that all we had been doing for the past few days was eating and lazing around. I realized that it was time we all began to organize ourselves, to get our plans set out.
As I headed back into camp I happened to glance up at the tall hills beyond and saw a lone rider coming down out of the trees. I stopped and watched, for there was something familiar about the horse and the man riding it. It was the horse that I recognized first and with that recognition came shock. The horse was the one that William Thorpe rode and a moment later I saw that it was Thorpe who was riding it.
My first thought was for Judith. Had something happened to her? Was she hurt? Or worse? I brushed such imaginings aside. But I was sufficiently worried so that I crossed over to the horses, mounted up, and rode out to meet William Thorpe.
I reined in before him and saw straight off that something was wrong. Thorpe was dirty and unshaven, he looked tired too. There was a recent gash on the left side of his face, crusted with dried blood.
‘Thank God I’ve found you, Brig,’ he said. He gripped his saddle horn. For a moment it seemed he might fall but he pushed himself upright.
‘What’s happened?’
‘Will Pike and the Reevers raided the ranch. I trie
d to stand them off but there were too many. I had to quit, Brig, before Judith got hurt.’
I had a feeling there was more to come.
‘How is she?’ I asked.
‘They took her, Brig. There was nothing I could do. Will Pike said she would come to no harm. They took her for a hostage, so they’d be left alone. They run off the herd as well, not that it matters. But Judith does, Brig, and we’ve got to get her back.’
‘We will,’ I said.
We rode on into camp. My mind was working furiously. Will Pike had known exactly what he was doing when he’d taken Judith. Nobody else might have known but I did. He knew that I’d go after him the moment I heard what he’d done. And he was right. He was setting it up so that we would come to a showdown. If that was what he wanted, then he would get it. There was nothing that could prevent me from going after him now, short of being dead. Will Pike was a marked man now. Maybe he didn’t know it but he had set me on a trail that would only end when one of us was dead, and I had no intention of it being me.
While William Thorpe sat down with food and drink I laid out the situation for the others. I didn’t ask anyone to come along. I didn’t have to. There wasn’t a man there who would even have hesitated if I asked. I considered myself a lucky man to know them. Two of them were my brothers, I know, but it still gave me a good feeling.
We all ate first, then got our gear ready. Sachs piled foodstuffs into a couple of flour sacks. I broke into the ammunition supply I’d bought in Tarrant, passing it around. The way things were going it looked like we were going to need it.
William Thorpe took the lead as we rode out, up into the hills. I was glad that the snow was thawing. We would be able to make better time. Pike and the Reevers had a good start but they were hampered by the herd they were pushing. We had only ourselves to push.