“What’re we waiting for now?” Jonas asked. “There’s probably no more bounty hunters to compete with now.” They were hunched down in their own portion of the camp.
When darkness came and it came time to find cover and make camp for the night, the Beatties had made their own little camp a short distance away from The Wildcats.
“There’s still too many of them for the four of us. Especially since they picked up those other four. Besides, I’ve got my sights on bigger game than bounty.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Tell him Kirby,” Red said. “But keep it quiet.”
Kirby laughed. “You know what they got in that wagon?” He didn’t wait for an answer. He was too excited. “Silver.” He giggled. “A wagon full of silver.” He nodded the point of his chin at it. “Just a few feet away from us. I ain’t gonna be able to sleep all night.”
“Well, you’d better,” Red said. “‘Cause when we get the chance, you’d better be ready.” Then looking past Jonas’s shoulder, he lowered his voice. “Can it now. Here comes the girl.”
Kitty ambled over to the where the four Beattie boys were sitting. “You fellows don’t have to sit all the way over here by yourselves,” she said congenially. “You’re welcome to join us.”
“We figured that if anyone was about to attack you and the others, it would be best if we were a ways away where we wouldn’t be in the initial line of fire and we would be able to fight back for you. Splitting our defenses, you might say. It’s sort of a military tactic,” Red said, trying to exude an air of confidence and credibility. Somehow it just didn’t seem to ring true.
Kitty cocked her head to the side, thoughtfully, “I guess that kind of makes sense,” She seemed to agree, but didn’t quite understand.
Then she turned her attention to Willis who had just been sitting quietly and unresponsive. He hadn’t looked up at Kitty since she approached. “You’ve been awfully quiet since we met up today, Willis,” she said. “Aren’t you glad to see me?”
“Sure,” Willis answered curtly, glancing up briefly and looking back down at the ground again.
“I hope we’re still friends,” Kitty said, clearly sensing that something was wrong.
“I’m probably too young to be your friend,” Willis said, glaring up at her and fixing a stare.
“Friends can be any age, Willis,” Kitty tried to explain.
“It’s alright for guys to be older than girls. But not for girls to be older than guys. Isn’t that right?”
“No, it’s not. It can be both ways.”
“But you like an older man, don’t you?” He got up and stomped off into the dark.
“What is wrong with him?” Kitty said, watching him go.
“Growing pains,” Red said with a half grin. Britches gettin’ too tight for him, if you know what I mean?” He winked at Kitty slyly.”
“I most certainly don’t,” Kitty snapped with disdain. She wheeled on her heel and strode back to the side of the camp with her own people.
Arapahoe Brown and Chief Henry were sharing the same tree trunk for a back rest, sitting at right angles to each other. Rap had just taken a swig from his flask and had exaggerated his relish for Chief’s benefit. “Mighty good firewater,” Rap said. “Too bad, it’s agin the law to give firewater to an Injun. Sure wish I could share some with you.”
“How many times are you going to play this game with me, Rap. You know I’m a fake Indian. There’s no law against giving me a drink.”
“Then if I ain’t breakin’ no law, where’s the fun in givin’ you a drink? No sir. I can’t give you no drink. It’s just too bad you’re just a fake Injun.”
“You know, Rap,” Chief said. “You’re just too logical.” He snatched the flask out of Rap’s hand, took two deep swallows and handed it back. Rap looked stunned.
Chief stood up and brushed himself off. “I’m going over to see what Cy and Jeremy are up to.” He walked away.
Kitty approached as Chief left. “You two been at it again?” She said as she sat down at the tree where Chief had just been.
“Yep,” Rap smiled as he stoppered his flask and put it away. “I guess Chief is the best friend I ever had. That is except for you, Cy and Jeremy.”
“But you and Chief are always going at it all the time,” Kitty said.
“We both know we’re just funnin’. But, we’re like brothers”
“Did you ever have any brothers, Rap?” Kitty asked. For the first time, she wondered why she had never bothered to ask.
“Yeah, I had a brother. He was younger’n me. I liked him a lot.” Rap’s eyes saddened and his face lengthened.
Kitty wasn’t sure if she should pursue the conversation. She remained silent. After a moment, Rap continued.
“I don’t rightly remember his name, though. I mean his real name. Hell, I don’t even remember by own real name.”
“Oh,” Kitty said. “I never thought about you having a name other than Arapahoe. I should have. I assumed you got it because of some association with the Indian tribe.”
“Nah, it was nothin’ like that at all. You see my pappy died when me and my brother were both little and my ma married a real sumbitch of a low down skunk. When I got older, I found out that my real pappy didn’t just die, but this skunk had shot him.
“Anyways, he treated us real bad. My ma was a good ma and I remember her huggin’ me and how warm she was. But, she died too and left us all alone with this nasty man.
“He was always yellin’ at me and tellin’ me he’d wrap a hoe around my neck. Well when I finally lit out on my own I took the name of Arapahoe ‘cause I darn sure didn’t like the one the old man gave me.”
“What did he call you?” Kitty asked.
“He called me Pigswill and my brother Dogcrap. We got so use to it, we didn’t know we had any other names. One day he says to me, ‘Hey Dogcrap, get in here,’ and I says back to him, ‘Hey dad, I’m not Dogcrap. I’m Pigswill.’”
“So, when did you leave?” Kitty asked.
Rap seemed to be gazing far off before he said it. “I don’t know how old I was. Seven, eight, nine. Hell I don’t even know how old I am now. But I left right after my brother died.”
Kitty refrained from asking. After a moment Rap continued.
“One night, it was my brother’s turn to stoke the fire in the fireplace. He didn’t wake up in time and the fire was burning low. The place was getting chilly.
“The old man woke up while my brother was still trying to bring the fire up. He was mad as hell and took the hot poker to my brother and beat him to death, My brother screamed something fierce. I just couldn’t stand it no more.
“The dirty old man turned to me and said, “He was just a piece of dogcrap anyways
“I ran to the old man’s bed where his gunbelt was hanging on the post and pulled that big pistol out of it. I held it with both hands, pointing it at the old man and pulled the hammer back. He just laughed at me and called me dogcrap too. I shot the bastard right then and there. Boy, did that feel good. I shot him five more times. He fell back into the fire.
“I rode away and everything burned behind me.”
“Oh Rap,” Kitty said softly.
“But, now I got me an honest to gosh family, by golly.” He said hiding a lump in his throat. He took out his flask, unstoperred it and took a swallow. Just one swallow. Then covered it again and put the flask away.
Chief hunkered down next to Cyclone and Jeremy where they were sitting on the wagon tongue.
“Don’t you think it a little peculiar that those fellows showed up so coincidentally today, Cy?” He said.
“The thought has kinda crossed my mind a time or two,” Cyclone chuckled.
“You think they’ve been following us all along?”
“Don’t seem likely,” Cyclone said. “Can’t see no reason for it.”
“Maybe they’re after the bounty too,”
“I don’t know how they would’ve knowed about that and
followed us all the way down here. Besides, I don’t think they got enough gumption to try to take us on. Their too snivelin’ for that.”
“Then just what do you think they’re up to?”
“I dunno. Somethin’. Maybe nothin’. But I think we’ll soon find out.”
“Is that what you’re keeping those fellows around for, Cy?” Chief asked.
“You know the old sayin’ about keepin’ your friends close and your enemies closer?"
“What do you think they are hanging around for?” Chief asked.
“Jeremy says they’ve been sniffin’ around the wagon.” Cyclone said.
“They think we’ve got a load of silver and they’re probably looking for a chance to get it away from us,” Jeremy put in.
“Wouldn’t they be surprised if they knew for sure just what we got,” Chief chuckled.
“In the meantime,” Cyclone said, “Maybe we can use them if we get any more grief from them bounty hunters or Price’s men. We’ll just play along for a while and see what happens.”
“Alright, Cy,” Chief said, standing up. “I sure hope you know what you’re doing.”
“Me too, Henry,” Cyclone said as his friend walked away back to the tree where he had been sitting with Rap.
Kitty saw him returning and decided she had stayed long enough. “Talk to you later, Rap,” She said as she stood and started to walk away.
“Always good to talk with you, honey,” he said with a smile.
She greeted Chief as they passed each other.
“Hi, Grampa,” she said as she approached her grandfather and brother.
Both of them could detect the sadness in Kitty’s tone. Jeremy sensed this was a time that Kitty might need the shoulder of her grandpa. He said, “Hi Kit, I was just going to check on the horses. I’ll be right back, in a flash.” He jumped up and scooted off into the darkness.
Kitty sat down on the ground next to the wagon tongue. She didn’t say anything to start conversation.
“Somethin’ botherin’ you, babe?” Cyclone asked. “You’re lookin’ mighty down in the mouth.”
“I was just talkin’ to Rap. He was telling me about his childhood.”
“Don’t fret about, Rap. He don’t carry it with him none.”
“He did just now.”
“That was just for you, girl. He thinks a mighty lot of you. He wouldn’t of shared it with anybody else. He’s already chucked it away again by now.”
“And there’s that Willis Beattie boy. Grampa. He acts so strange toward me. Like I’ve done something wrong to him.”
“Well, the Beattie boys are a strange lot, anyways. Don’t let them get you down.
“Now do you want to tell your old Grampa just what is really botherin you?”
“Do you think he had anything to do with those bounty hunters coming down on us today? I mean, he just left us not long before they hit us?”
“Who? You mean that Kip Dalton fella? Shucks, no.”
“You mean that?” Kitty stared up into his old eyes.
“Course I do. For one thing, they came from the opposite direction from the way he went. He didn’t have time to let anyone know where we were. And ain’t he been helpin’ us right along?”
“Then you do like him and trust him, Grampa?” Kitty’s face brightened.
“I’m not sayin’ I like him. Besides, I still think he’s too old and slick for you. As for trustin’ him, you know I don’t trust nobody ‘ceptin’ my own.”
“Now Grampa.”
“And I don’t think you was worried about him betrayin’ us this afternoon nuther. I think you’re worried about him betrayin’ you tonight. You’re worried about him and that Baxter floozie.”
“I am not. He’s too refined to fall for an old hag like her.”
“Then why are you gettin’ so mad?” Cyclone asked.
“I’m not getting mad,” Kitty protested.
“Not to change the subject,” Cyclone said with a wry grin. “But I haven’t heard you mention Matt Starr lately.”
“Oh, Grampa. You know it’s impossible for me and Matt. Besides we haven’t seen each other in months. He’s probably found somebody else by now.”
“And now, you think you’ve found somebody else too?” Cyclone added
“At least he’s not someone who’s about to arrest me and put me in jail. Besides, Kip’s not like Matt. He’s a gentleman. He’s dignified, refined and elegant, like fine china.”
“Fine china is great to look at, and for special occasions but you don’t usually put it out for everyday use.” Cyclone said.
“So you’re saying you don’t approve of Kip?” Kitty said.
“I didn’t say that.”
“Then are you saying you approve of Matt?”
“I didn’t say that, nuther.”
“Well, just what are you saying, Aren’t you ever going to approve of anybody, I choose?”
“Well girl,” Cyclone said, “The way I see it, you got one whale of a job ahead of you. And it ain’t gonna be easy. You’re gonna hafta find yourself a fella just like your old grampa,”
Kitty laughed. “Oh sure, a grizzled, dried up, cantankerous old man.”
“Well, you know, I wasn’t always like this. There were some who considered me quite handsome and dashing.”
“You been reading those dime novels they write about you again,” Kitty chided.
“Well now, not everything in them is all made up, you know. I’ll have you know, your Gramma thought I was pretty sporty.” There was a glint in his eye as he mentioned her.
“I’m sure she did, Grampa.”
“Now there was a woman who wouldn’t accept less than me. Which means, she had to have everything. And a man shouldn’t accept a woman who doesn’t think enough of herself to demand everything, that is, as long as she appreciates what her man does for her. That’s the kind of woman you should be and that’s the kind of man you’ll get.”
“I wish I had known Gramma,” Kitty said.
“You do know her,” Cyclone said. “You’re a lot like her and you are part of her in the here and now. I wish I had understood that when I lost her. I thought we had everything, but you can’t let everything be everything. I rode away and left your Pa and Ma. I missed out on seeing you and Jeremy grow up. I know now that your Gramma wouldn’t have wanted that for me or for you. Somehow I think she had a hand in sending you to find me before I finished the trail.”
“The trail?” Kitty said.
“You know. The here and now. It’s just a trail through a pass between where we come from and where we’re goin’. We all have to get through the pass somehow. Some get through quicker than others. Some get through easier. But we all gotta get through. It sure helps to have someone to help you along the way.” He reached his big arms around Kitty’s shoulders and squeezed tight, like he never wanted to let her go.
Chapter Fourteen
The Return of Wildcat Kitty and the Cyclone Kid Page 18