Finish the Western

ivylass · April 12, 2003, 12:54am

Wilson introduced Slim to everyone, and Caroline started brewing more coffee. Hank relieved Sally on watch so she could feed the chickens.

“You look familiar,” Slim said to Bart. “Do I know you?”

“Ayuh. We’ve played a few rounds of poker down on the Mississip. Cleaned me out, as I recall.”

Slim smiled modestly, “Well, if you’re going to make a living playing poker, it helps to be good at it.”

Sheriff Wilson hadn’t come in yet from the porch, but he called to Slim from outside. “How’d you find us, pardner?”

“I figured I’d come around this morning and see what happened to that guy Jim shooting up the saloon last night. I saw you riding off, and a couple of men following you, so I dropped back to keep an eye on them.”

Immediately a cacophony of voices rose, “What men?” “Where were they comin’ from?” “What did they look like?” “Did you see where they went?” Wilson strode inside, keeping the door open, and shushed everyone.

“Hold up, there. You better start from the beginning.”

Slim smiled at Caroline as she gave him a cup of coffee. “I left the saloon and I thought I’d visit the jail and see what happened with you and Jim while I was off chasing two jailbirds. You three were riding off, with two men behind you, hanging back, so I figured they weren’t part of your company. They followed you here, hid in the scrub over yonder, then rode back to town. I hid near the creek so they wouldn’t see me, then I came on up here. They didn’t seem like the friendly type, hanging around the yard instead of coming up to say hello, so I figured you’d need some help.”

“Damn,” Wilson said. “Now who could that be? I guess we better saddle up and head back to the Gulch.” Belle started gathering her gear when Wilson turned back.

“Jim? You know the guy who was shooting up the saloon?”

“I recognized his voice. Jim Conroy. Not a nice fellow.”

Belle and Bart stared at each other. “What does Jim look like?”

“He’s a big beefy man, more fat than muscle, actually.”

Belle glared at Bart. “What the hell is your son doing shooting up a saloon? Did you tell him about me during one of your drunken stupors?”

Baker · April 12, 2003, 2:38am

Parson Gray stepped into the jailhouse. “Morning again Doctor, mornin’ Zeke,” he greeted the two men. How are those two gentlemen you brought in last night?"

“Well” drawled Zeke, “don’t know as I’d call them gentlemen, mind you, but they’re back there in the cells if you want to see them. Keep your distance though, they’re gonna swing soon as the circuit judge gets here, for killing Joe from the Silverlode”

“Doesn’t mean we can’t treat them like men and not animals Zeke. They still have souls you know.” Zeke snorted sarcastically,
as the reverend made his way back to the cells. Al and Clem looked up blearily from the remains of the breakfast trays they’d received.

“Who the hell are you, the judge?” grumped Al.

“No, just a man of God here to help if I can.”

“Only help we need is to get out of here”

“'Sorry, can’t do anything about that, but I can…”

Angry voices sounded suddenly from the front room. Al and Clem were startled at the quickness with which the parson spun around snaked up against the door, to peer out warily. It didn’t fit their image of the usual “man of God”.

ivylass · April 13, 2003, 1:40pm

Matt and JB were dismayed. They didn’t plan on much interference breaking out their friends in this dreary town, but now there was a huge man blocking their path, and one angry pastor behind him, who didn’t look like he’d have a problem with the “Thou Shalt Not Commit Murder” commandment.

“If you want to see your friends, you need to leave me all your weapons,” Zeke said in a tone that brooked no argument. “Only one at a time. And I or Rev’rund here will go back with you.”

“I don’t see a star on your chest. Who the hell are you?” Matt said sullenly, trying to think.

“I am a resident of the Gulch, and I help out from time to time. Now, do you want to see your friends or not?”

“No,” JB said quickly, darting a quick look at Matt. “Our business is more with the sheriff. When will he be back?”

“Don’t rightly know.”

“C’mon, Matt,” JB said. “We best wait for the sheriff.” As the two left, Parson Gray turned to Zeke.

“I think I’ll go find Tommy. We can use an extra hand guarding the prisoners.”

“Good idea, Parson,” Zeke checked the loads in his pistol. “Stop by Bertha’s and see if you can rustle up some breakfast for these two while you’re at it. I ain’t goin’ anywhere.”

Baker · April 13, 2003, 6:47pm

Minor thing, ivylass them thar two varmints already had breakfast!

Doctor McCaulley let out a long breath, “Well, I guess I’ll be heading back for another checkup on my patient. He’ll recover all right, if I can keep him down. Took off a lot of legs before under worse conditions and they made it.” and he left.

The reverend turned back into the room with Al and Clem. "Now boys, I said I was here to help with what I could and I meant it. But I didn’t just fall off the turnip wagon back there either. You got anything to say that *might, * I say might help a judge go easier on you?

Meanwhile, out at the ranch:

Bart flinched just a little from the tone in Belle’s voice.

“Don’t know how much time we’ll have for this now, so I’d best make a long story short. Long time ago, as Belle here learned, I was married. She got fed up with me and my ways early on and left with our boy Jim, to go back east to her folks. Sent me the divorcement bill in the mail. Didn’t expect to ever her from them again. Then about two years ago Jim showed up. My wi…his mother hadn’t taught him manners none, but she had spoiled him plenty and filled him up with how I’d been awful to her. At least that last wasn’t true. Well, we didn’t get on none but he hung around, doing just enough to get by. This wasn’t too long before all the trouble with Archie and Connell and all. He pestered Belle, even though she was seeing a new beau, that Jesse. Never knew him well because I was drinkin’ a lot again, then I took off, leaving everyone hangin’ out to dry. Guess he’s back now, lookin’ for trouble again.”

"You promised you wouldn’t let him on to that fake “trip” I took. Belle accused. “You said you’d tell him I was gone for good! I didn’t need him and Connell on my trail!”

“Belle I swear I didn’t say anything! I don’t know how he picked up on you.”

“Well,” interjected Caroline, “he’s here now and we’ll have to think about how the skunk(beggin’ your pardon Bart) may fit into our plans.”

“He’s a skunk alright” muttered Bart and Belle both under their breaths.

Sheriff Wilson spoke up “He’s at Doc’ place, so we won’t have to worry I don’t think. Doc took part of his leg off after I shot him”

“Too bad the bullet didn’t go a little higher” muttered Belle again, too low for anyone else to hear,she thought. But Sally got a quizzical expression on her face, then turned beet red.

ivylass · April 13, 2003, 7:46pm

I was talking about Al and Clem in jail, not Matt and JB. Did I miss something?

Bart felt a pang of guilt. “I’m going into town to see my boy. I never done right by him, but if he’s lost a leg, I gotta see what I can do for him.”

Wilson stood up. “I best be going too. If the two men Slim saw sneaking back to town are still in the Gulch, chances are they’re up to no good. I still got two men at the jail with sore heads. Thanks for the breakfast, ma’am,” he said, nodding to Caroline.

“I’ll go, too,” Belle said. She jumped when Sheriff Wilson, Charging Bear, and Bart all cried, “No!”

“Why not?”

“I want to keep as much distance between Connell’s men and those papers you got,” Wilson said. “You’re safe here. I’ll go into town, check out what’s going on, then come back. I’ll be here by nightfall.”

“I’m not lettng Bart out of my sight,” Belle said stubbornly.

“I’ll come back,” Bart said. “I promise.”

Belle raised a quizzical eyebrow at his “promise.” But Bart didn’t drop his eyes, giving her look for look. After a moment Belle sighed.

“See that you do, Bart. Or I will hunt you down again. And I won’t be so understaning this time.”

Bart laughed. “You got your momma’s spunk. We’ll be back tonight.”

Baker · April 14, 2003, 8:01pm

Bart and Sheriff Wilson rode into the Gulch, after riding easy from the ranch. They didn’t want to wind their horses if they should need them again suddenly.

“Bart, the Doc’s place is down thataway” pointed Wilson, and Bart rode off. The sheriff hitched his horse and walked into the jail. He was surprised to see Zeke and Tommy both, until they explained the events of the last few hours, and how the parson had helped out. "Sheriff Wilson!“blurted Tommy, " parson said those two we got locked up told him that Connell sent them! They’re mighty sore too those other two no-gooders left them here.”

Sheriff Wilson told the two men about the goods Belle had on Connell, trusting them to be careful with the information. “What I figure we need to do now is keep those two rats back there alive until a trial. And we need to find those two other guns, there’s bound to be something I can arrest and hold 'em for. Connell may start to wonder what’s going on, so let’s keep an eye out for him too. And finally we have to get the judge to listen to Belle’s story. It’s my guess Anderson is in cahoots with Connell, although Bart Conroy thinks he might have just been suckered. But I never liked Anderson, and I always wondered why he stayed around when things went bust. This must be it.”

The sheriff was used to thinking things out like this, but all Zeke and Tommy did was shake their heads in amazement. "That’s all we got to do you said? laughed Zeke “Pretty tall order Clay.”

The sheriff hoped it would be an order he could fill. The next day or two were bound to be mighty interesting ones in Anderson’s Gulch.

Baker · April 14, 2003, 8:06pm

Bart and Sheriff Wilson rode into the Gulch, after riding easy from the ranch. They didn’t want to wind their horses if they should need them again suddenly.

“Bart, the Doc’s place is down thataway” pointed Wilson, and Bart rode off. The sheriff hitched his horse and walked into the jail. He was surprised to see Zeke and Tommy both, until they explained the events of the last few hours, and how the parson had helped out. "Sheriff Wilson!“blurted Tommy, " parson said those two we got locked up told him that Connell sent them! They’re mighty sore too those other two no-gooders left them here.”

Sheriff Wilson told the two men about the goods Belle had on Connell, trusting them to be careful with the information. “What I figure we need to do now is keep those two rats back there alive until a trial. And we need to find those two other guns, there’s bound to be something I can arrest and hold 'em for. Connell may start to wonder what’s going on, so let’s keep an eye out for him too. And finally we have to get the judge to listen to Belle’s story. It’s my guess Anderson is in cahoots with Connell, although Bart Conroy thinks he might have just been suckered. But I never liked Anderson, and I always wondered why he stayed around when things went bust. This must be it.”

The sheriff was used to thinking things out like this, but all Zeke and Tommy did was shake their heads in amazement. "That’s all we got to do you said? laughed Zeke “Pretty tall order Clay.”

The sheriff hoped it would be an order he could fill. The next day or two were bound to be mighty interesting ones in Anderson’s Gulch.

Baker · April 14, 2003, 8:09pm

I don’t remember hitting the “Submit” button twice!

ivylass · April 14, 2003, 8:50pm

Sally came in yelling for Caroline.

“Ma, there’s some man outside. He looks mighty hurt.”

Caroline and Belle rushed to the porch. In the distance they could see a man reeling down the trail toward the ranch, holding his side. He stumbled and fell, but got to his hands and knees and crawled a few more feet before collapsing again.

“Run get your Pa, Sally,” Caroline said. “Then fix up the spare bed. Belle, if you’ll help me bring him into the house we can help that poor soul.”

“What if he’s a bad guy?” Sally asked. Belle smiled at her.

“I don’t think he’s going to give us any trouble right now. And if we give him some Christian charity, he may feel differently about getting up to any mischief.” She grabbed her hat and followed Caroline down the porch steps.

Skywatcher · April 15, 2003, 4:01pm

Will and Paul left Bertha’s when Doc was going in. They greeted the Doc then Will asked, “How’s them prisoners doing?”

“Other than hungry, they seem to be fine. Just came over here to rustle up some grub for 'em. By the way, a couple of tough guys stopped in, said they were looking for the sheriff.”

Paul said, “Yeah, we was looking for him too. Have any idea where he might be?”

“When he left my office, he was on his way to the Silverlode.”

Will said, “Guess we we better look there next.”

“Won’t do you any good, he never made it there. Charlie and Hank met up with him then the three rode off toward the Flying I Ranch.”

“Then that’s where we’ll go.”

“Don’t bother, there’s Clay now!”

While Doc McCaulley went inisde, the two Andersons went to meet up with the Sheriff. They greeted him and Wilson filled them in on everything he could. Given these two aren’t very bright and not usually in town except on one of Gus’s errands, he figured he could pry a bit. “Why do you two fellas stick around here anyway?”

“Where Gus goes, we go,” replied Will.

“Yeah, he looks after us,” Paul added.

“What’s keeing him here, anyway?”

Will and Paul looked at each other, seeming to mull it over. Then Will said, “He aims to die here.”

“Is that it? I thought he might be in cahoots with that Connell fella.”

“We prob’ly shouldn’t say nothin’ but we think Gus is workin’ for the guv’nor.”

Baker · April 15, 2003, 5:00pm

By the time Caroline and Belle approached the man he wasn’t moving at all, face down in the dirt, his hat tumbled over his head. Caroline was slightly in the lead, so she knelt down and gently turned the man over to straighten him. There was a slight thump behind her and, looking back over her shoulder she saw Belle had collapsed onto the ground, her naturally light face even paler. “Didn’t think you were one to get upset over a case like this Belle,” she joshed, “Here, help me set him up so I can brush him up a little and see what we need to do.” In a shaking tone Belle whispered “but he’s dead!” “'Course he isn’t” replied Caroline, and if we take care of him he…what’s the matter?"
“That’s my Jesse” moaned Belle, “I thought he was dead and I left him. Oh God in Heaven, what must he think of me?” The tone of command came back into Caroline’s voice. “He’ll think a sight less of you if you leave him out here any longer!” Now come on!" Together the two women looked at Jesse’s bleeding and then, picking him up, supported him back to the house, shere a wide-eyed Sally held the door open for them. They redressed and bandaged his wound and put him to bed. Jesse had seemed to be just aware enough not be a dead weight when they handled him, but no more than that, and Belle began to worry. She held his hand for a long time, sitting at his bedside, but finally, as she rose to leave for a moment, and leaned over to kiss him gently on the forehead, he at last opened his eyes a bit, saw her face over his and smiled weakly, “Hey there, girl” he croaked, “Can I have another of those?” And tough as Belle could be, she burst into tears.

Skywatcher · April 15, 2003, 6:37pm

Wilson didn’t know if Will and Paul were just parroting something Gus told them but they could be telling the truth. He decided to pry further. “What in blazes are you talking about?”

Will and Paul looked around then Will whispered, “Remember when Jake Teague was trying to run all the Indians 'round here off their land? Gus helped shut 'im down, now he’s doing the same to that Connell fella.” Their errand to find out what’s going on complete, the pair turned to head home.

“Wait, how do I know you’re telling the truth?”

Paul replied, “Just ask our one-eyed watchdog.”

ivylass · April 15, 2003, 7:53pm

“He’s sleeping right now,” Doc said to Bart. Bart looked over at his son. He looked so forlorn.

“Is he going to live?” Bart asked, swallowing hard.

“It’s always a risk, taking a limb. If it heals clean, we can get his stump fitted with a wooden leg. He should be able to live a fairly normal life.”

Bart sat down in the chair next to the bed. Jim was sleeping fitfully, twitching and moaning in his sleep.

“I haveta write your Ma,” Bart whispered. “I don’t know if you want to go back East or stay with me. I don’t know that I can take care of an ailin’ son. It depends on what you were doing mixed up with Boss Connell.”

Jim stirred.

“Pa? Izzat you?” he mumbled.

Baker · April 16, 2003, 4:25am

Very interesting Jeff Olsen. Cynic that I am I had assumed Anderson was more likely a weasel too. Now it looks like it’s leaning the other way. But it sounds like Gus’s brothers are still losers, or am I wrong there too?

“Oh Jesse, what happened? I swear I wouldn’t have taken off like that if I knew you were alive!” sobbed Belle.

“That’s my girl, acting tough as nails one minute, then sweet as sugar. Think I don’t know my Belle? You did what you had to do. It’s a thing I love about you.”

Belle was beginning to recover, “Only one thing, Jesse Parker?” she shot back.

"Well, " said Jesse, with a glance at the door, where Hank, Slim, and the Charging Bear family were all gathered with big grins on their faces “Don’t think we need to go into all the other reasons just now. Besides, I need to rest so we can finish what we started with Connell. You still got the papers?”

“I sure do Jesse, and these folks here are going to help out. And we have the sheriff in the Gulch on our side and I found Bart Conroy…”

“That old soak?” asked Jesse"What can he do? I remember back when…"

“Oh, he’s changed Jesse. Hard to believe but it’s true. He and the sheriff rode back to the Gulch this morning. There’s a lot been happening the last couple of days. But I’ll tell you all about it later. You rest up and get well.”

“Oh, I can take it. I’m better than I thought I’d be, but that Cookie that kept me locked up is an awful cook, and a worse nurse.”

But even a Jesse protested how he could “take it” his voice got slower and he slid into sleep again without even realizing it. The smile left Belle’s face as she turned to the others and said coldly “Well, this is one more thing I’m going to add to the list of things Connell has to answer for!”

Baker · April 16, 2003, 4:42am