by Sam Clancy
Turning back, he said, ‘Go on.’
‘There’s an issue with one of the brothers. I think his name is Cort. Apparently he used to be a sheriff’s deputy up north somewhere. Hays City I think they said.’
‘Yeah, so?’
Bowen’s eyes grew wide as he continued, ‘The old man didn’t know. He treats his sons like excreta, just quietly.’
Ford frowned at the diversion from the story and the writer grimaced. He went on, ‘They all thought he came straight back here from wherever he was. Which is technically true, but where he was, was Austin. He’s a Texas Ranger. They sent him here to spy on his kinfolk.’
‘Ain’t that one for the books,’ Ford said. ‘I bet the old man took that well.’
‘He tried to strike him down but Cort struck him instead. Then one of his brothers hit him from behind. They were going to lock him away in an upstairs room at the saloon while they dealt with you.’
Ford turned and looked at Hiram. ‘You hear that? Your brother’s a ranger.’
Hiram glared and said something that was muffled by the bandanna.
‘What are you going to do?’ Bowen asked.
‘I have no idea.’
‘You can’t just leave him there. I believe they mean to kill him.’
Ford thought for a moment and asked Bowen, ‘Do you feel like starring in a book you ain’t wrote yet?’
Fear crept across the man’s face. ‘I – ahh – I don’t know. What would you have me do?’
‘Nothing until after dark. How long have you been in town?’
Bowen frowned. ‘A couple of days, why?’
‘Do you know of a good place to hide a horse?’
Bowen looked at the roan and asked, ‘Him?’
The horse snorted at the writer.
‘Yeah, him. It looks like we might be hanging around town for a while and I need to hide him.’
The writer stood quietly for at least a minute while he thought, then his face changed and he pointed at the sky with an index finger. ‘Yes, there’s an old church on the edge of town which might do.’
Ford nodded. ‘OK, we wait until dark then hide the horse there.’
A sudden change seemed to overcome Bowen and the writer became excited, eager to help. ‘Is there anything else you want me to do now?’
Ford stared at Hiram and after a moment, looked about the room. He saw what he wanted and walked over to a barrel that had shovel handles in it. He took out four and then searched for something to cut them with. He found a small handsaw behind the counter.
Once that Ford had what he required, he gave them to Bowen.
‘What do you want me to do with these?’
The deputy marshal walked over to Hiram and slipped a dynamite stick from behind the rope. He tossed it to Bowen. The poor man’s eyes grew wide when he realized what it was. He dropped what he’d been holding, to catch the dynamite.
Fumbling it, he caught it then dropped it at his feet. Before it had touched the floorboards, Bowen had a finger in both ears and his eyes squeezed shut, waiting for the BANG!
When it never eventuated, he opened one eye and then the other. His chest heaved a huge sigh of relief.
Ford smiled at him. ‘Cut them handles up the same length as that.’
‘What are you going to do?’
Ford walked ‘I’m going to get us another horse.’
It was Joe who broke the news about the horse. He ran into the saloon and said, ‘Pa, we got a problem. The horse is dead.’
Charlie glowered at his son. ‘Already?’
‘Uh huh.’
Charlie was about to let loose a stream of invectives when the batwings flew back and Mart came storming in.
‘Pa, we got us a problem.’
‘Damn it, I know, Mart, the horse you got dropped dead too early.’
‘I think he means me.’
Everyone in the room looked at Ford as he came through the batwings. Sawn-off shotgun in one hand, double hammers eared back, and the collar of Gray’s shirt in the other as he pushed the man along before him.
Charlie Dent came to his feet. ‘By Christ, you got you some big cajones on you, mister.’
‘My horse is dead, I want another.’
‘What’s to stop me shooting you now?’
‘For starters, I got me a shotgun pointed at your son,’ Ford pointed out. ‘And the other reason is that I still have Hiram.’
‘But you are here, so I say shoot that son. He’s useless to me anyway. We’ll kill you and go and get Hiram.’
Alarm registered on Gray’s face. ‘Pa!’
‘Before you go and do that, you might want to know your son ain’t alone.’
Charlie smiled coldly at Ford. ‘I wasn’t born yesterday, Marshal. You’re lying. There ain’t no one over there.’
Ford started dragging Gray backward. ‘Follow me.’
They went outside onto the boardwalk. The sun was sinking in the west and the few shadows that were left, stretched beyond all proportion.
‘Can you hear me over there?’ Ford shouted.
‘I hear you loud and clear.’
Charlie frowned, puzzled.
‘Now do you believe me?’
‘Yeah, I believe you.’
‘Good. Now, I want another horse. Actually, make it two. My friend will be needing one.’
‘I’ll have to get them from out of town,’ Charlie said, trying to stall for time.
‘That’s fine. I changed my mind and wasn’t planning on leaving until morning now, anyhow.’
The rancher nodded.
‘Now, one other thing. If I turn and start walking back to the jail, none of your sons are going to try and shoot me down, are they?’
‘Nope. You’ll be given safe passage. For now.’
‘Thank you.’
Ford let Gray go and turned away. He’d only just started across the street when a shot rang out. The hot passage of the slug past the deputy marshal’s head told Ford how close it was. He went down on one knee, turned as he did so, and palmed up the Peacemaker.
‘Hold it!’ Charlie Dent boomed.
Ford was a hair away from killing the rancher who had stepped between Ford and Joe.
‘I see your word ain’t worth the breath it takes to give it,’ Ford’s voice was caustic.
‘I’ll deal with the boy. You keep going where you are. There’ll be no more gunfire.’
And there wasn’t. Ford made it back to the mining supplies store without further violation.
When Charlie saw the door close he whirled on Joe and struck him in the face with his fist. Joe sat down hard and looked up in bewilderment at his father. ‘What did you do that for?’
‘Because I gave the man my word, that’s why.’ Charlie looked around and saw Hogue. ‘Hogue, find a couple of horses.’
‘You ain’t going to do that are you, Pa?’ Gray blurted out.
‘We are going to do exactly what he wants. And tomorrow, when Jake has his Sharps, we’ll finish this once and for all.’
Ford slammed the door behind him and said, ‘We’re getting out of here.’
‘And go where?’ Bowen asked incredulously.
‘Once it’s dark, we’re moving to the cathouse down the street. While I take Hiram, you hide the horse. I’ll need a distraction, so use two sticks of dynamite. Make them go bang on the outskirts of town. I’ll put a decent fuse on the stuff so you have time to get away. Once you’re done, I’ll meet you at our destination. Now, let’s get this dynamite changed over.’
‘Where is it?’
‘What?’
‘The cat thingy.’
Ford sighed. ‘Come here.’
Both men crossed to the window and Ford pointed the whorehouse out to him. ‘See that there? The Pink Palace.’
‘Oh good Lord. It’s right next to the saloon. Where they are holed up.’
‘It also gives me access to the first-floor balcony so I can get that ranger out of there. I ain’t leaving withou
t him.’
Chapter 5
‘Hey, Joe, you know cousin Jeb had a back door to that place, don’t you?’
Joe stared at Billy and nodded. ‘Yeah, but it’s all got crates against it, this high.’ He held a hand palm down above the floor at neck level.
‘Not anymore. How else do you think that other feller got in there? It wasn’t through the front because I been watching it.’
Joe’s eyes lit up. ‘We should tell Pa.’
He turned to walk across to his father’s table when Billy placed a hand on his arm to restrain him. ‘Just hold on a minute there, brother. Let’s think this through.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘If we’re to go ahead and save old Hiram’s ass from the marshal, I reckon Pa would look mighty favourable upon us.’
Joe shot his father a cautious glance. The rancher was back at his table, toying with the shot glass.
‘I don’t know, Billy,’ Joe said. ‘I think we should tell him. He’s going to get real mad if we don’t.’
Billy shook his head. ‘No, he won’t. He’ll be too happy that we got Hiram out of there.’
The batwings screeched and heads turned to see Jake walk into the saloon, his much treasured ‘Big Fifty’ Sharps in his hand.
‘You’re forgetting about him too,’ Joe said, indicating his brother.
Charlie looked up at Jake and said, ‘Good, you’re back. Did you see Hogue?’
‘Yeah, he told me what happened with the horse. And about Cort.’
Being the eldest of the brothers, Jake was the rancher’s favourite. He was the one who’d take over the reins once the old man was gone.
He looked around the room. ‘Where’s Mart?’
‘I’m here.’
Jake looked up at the head of the stairs to see his brother begin to descend. He waited in silence until Mart was in front of him. There was no love lost between these two. In fact, there was none lost between Jake and any of them. To the Dent brothers, Jake was their enemy. He was the one standing in their way of a stake in their father’s empire.
‘What do you want?’
The butt of the Sharps snapped forward and caught Mart in his midsection. The younger Dent doubled over as the air whooshed from his lungs. He then sank to his knees and gasped for air.
‘Next time you might want to get it right when Pa asks you to do something,’ Jake growled. He cast a defiant glance around the room to see if anyone would protest his actions.
There were none.
He stared at his father. ‘Where’s Cort?’
‘Upstairs, locked away in a room.’
Jake put the Sharps on a scarred tabletop and walked towards the stairs, his stride purposeful. ‘It’s time me and him had us a little talk about where his loyalties lie.’
Loud stomps echoed around the dirty walls of the barroom as Jake ascended the steps. Once at the top, he disappeared along the hallway towards the rooms.
‘I’d hate to be in your brother’s boots right now, boys. Especially with Jake on the prod the way he is.’
Mart dragged himself up with the aid of a chair. The three sons stared at their father but said nothing.
The old man’s eyes glowered. ‘Why can’t you all be more like Jake?’
More silence.
‘Bah! I’m wasting my time.’
Charlie went back to his drink and brooded in silence.
Billy ushered Joe to one side. ‘Well? Are you in or out?’
Joe gave his father a sidelong glance and set his jaw firm. ‘Yeah, let’s do it. We’ll show the old son of a bitch we ain’t as worthless as he seems to think.’
Cort was sitting on the edge of the bed when the door swung open and Jake filled the doorway. Outside it was now dark, and a decorative wall sconce was the room’s only illumination. The room itself was small and consisted of the iron-framed bed, a washstand and dish, along with a chipped water jug, battered chair, and stained floor rug.
When Jake stepped into the room, Cort knew there was going to be trouble. Instead of waiting for it, however, he rose to meet his brother halfway.
The older Dent’s face screwed up and he snarled, ‘You traitorous son of a bitch.’
Cort said, ‘You talk too much.’ And with that, punched his brother in the mouth.
Jake was stunned by the blow. The last time the two had fought, Cort couldn’t have knocked a sick person off a chamber pot. It was evident that he’d toughened up substantially during his absence.
Wiping the thin trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth, Jake smiled. ‘Looks like you’ve hardened up some, little brother. Makes it more interesting.’
Once upon a time, Jake would have cut an imposing figure before Cort. Now he was no such thing. ‘Get on with it, Jake. I ain’t got all day.’
There was a hint of uncertainty in Jake’s eyes as he closed in on his brother. Cort saw it and used it to his advantage. He moved with speed, delivering two swift blows to Jake’s face. The older brother’s head rocked back after each one landed.
Cort expected him to step away again, but he didn’t. Instead, Jake let out an angry roar and charged.
Jake hit his brother hard with his right shoulder, the momentum carrying them across the room and sending them crashing against a timber chair, which folded into matchwood with a resounding crash.
The broken chair arm dug into Cort’s ribs, bringing forth a gasp of pain. He tried to roll left and dislodge his brother from on top, but Jake was substantially heavier and proved difficult to move. Pushing himself up a touch so that with a knee either side, he was astride Cort, Jake drove a hard punch into his brother’s face, cutting the flesh of the cheek.
He pulled his arm back ready to land another blow when Cort’s searching right hand grabbed a broken piece of chair and brought it up in a savage arc. With an audible crack, the timber laid solidly against Jake’s head caused enough damage, creating an opportunity for Cort to push the heavier man away to his right.
They staggered to their feet, and once more, charged each other like two bull buffalo. A quick flurry of blows drew further blood from each man. A left from Jake knocked Cort back against the bed, while a right from Cort caused his brother to stagger into the washstand. The jug and dish fell to the floor and shattered, water splashing on to the rug.
They drew back from each other, their breathing ragged. Both sucked in deep breaths before they went back to it.
‘You had enough yet, Jake?’
‘I got plenty left in me that’ll help wail the tar outta a traitor like you, Cort.’
The younger Dent wiped some of the blood from his face. ‘Hiram and Billy killed two marshals, Jake. It ain’t going to stop after you kill another. Now the rangers are involved too.’
Jake sneered at Cort. ‘The problem is, little brother, if the marshal takes in Hiram and Billy, it won’t be long before they come looking for me.’
Cort frowned at first, not sure what his sibling meant. Then: ‘You were behind it? The killing of the marshals?’
‘Sure I was. I killed the first one who came snooping around looking for Hiram. The second one, I was busy doing something else so I had Abel tell Billy and Hiram to take care of it.’
‘Did Pa order you to do it?’
Jake snorted derisively. ‘Silly old fool thinks that Billy and Hiram were behind the whole thing. They didn’t say nothing, though. They ain’t brave enough.’
‘So I’m next, is that it?’
Jake nodded. ‘That was the plan, but you seem to have toughened up some, Cort. Once Pa is gone I could use you to run things. And keep the others in line.’
Cort thought it was some kind of joke at first. But then he saw his brother’s eyes. ‘You’re serious?’
‘Damned right I am. What do you say? I’d rather have you beside me than have to kill you, Cort.’
The younger brother looked around the room as though considering the offer. He opened his mouth to speak, when the distant sound of gunfire filled
the night air.
Jake cursed and the six-gun on his right hip leaped into his hand. He held it on Cort and snapped, ‘You say here. I’ll expect an answer when I get back.’
With that, Jake backed out the door and closed and locked it behind him.
‘Get me another bottle, Harry, would you?’ Charlie called over to the barkeep. ‘This one kinda dried up.’
Mart and Gray sat with their father. Billy and Joe had disappeared. Jake was still upstairs with Cort, and his remaining hands were outside.
The batwings swung open and a thin woman in a blue dress entered, carrying a tray of biscuits. ‘I figured you could use these, Charlie. It ain’t a proper meal, but it’s something.’
‘Thank you, Maude, that’s right kind of you.’
Maude was Charlie’s sister-in-law, and although no one could understand why, had a soft spot for him.
She’d just placed the tray on the table when the sound of a shotgun going off in the distance made her jump. The throaty roar was preceded by a couple of shots from a six-gun.
Charlie came to his feet and stared at the door. He looked around the room and then back at Gray and Mart. ‘Where are your brothers?’
They shrugged.
‘Ah hell, no,’ Charlie groaned.
He was about to make for the batwings when Jake thundered down the stairs.
‘Jake, I think it’s your brothers. I think it’s Joe and Billy.’
A snarled expression came across Jake’s face. ‘Stupid bastards.’
The four men hurried outside on to the boardwalk. Charlie looked at one of his hands and snapped, ‘What’s going on?’
‘It came from around the back of the store, Mr Dent.’
‘C’mon,’ Jake said, and stepped down onto the street.
They were headed for a side alley when Joe came stumbling out of the darkness into the light cast by the lantern outside the saloon. He was covered in blood from his head down to his waist. One look was enough to tell them that something had gone awfully wrong.
Alarm registered on Charlie Dent’s face. ‘Joe, where’s your brother?’
Joe stared into the distance as he started to walk past his father. Charlie reached out and grabbed him. ‘Joe?’