Gunslinger Page 10

  The cat carcass was easy to move but it took both horses to haul the dead bear off to the side and into the woods. The bear would provide a lot of food for the denizens of the forest. They were on the way again once they got it moved. Janie's heartbeat had not returned to a normal pulse yet. The adrenalin was still flowing in her veins. It had stabilized and returned to near normal by the time they exited the woods. The flush had left her face, and she was breathing easier.

  They rode for a couple more miles when Clint motioned to Janie they should turn onto a faint trace that led up a small hill. Janie noticed that another horse had recently passed this way as she examined the ground. They reined the horses in as they crested the rise, stunned by the majesty of the view. A panorama not unlike a DeMille movie was in front of them.

  A homestead was below them in the big valley. There was a large main house, several bunkhouses, a smaller house, and five barns. They also spotted a windmill merrily turning, and there was a small stream that ran across the land a short distance behind the house. There were corrals at each barn and there was an area that was cross-fenced for pastures.

  "Oh my God, it's beautiful," Janie exclaimed, "Is this ours?"

  "Yes, my love. It's ours," came his reply.

  "Let's go, quick!" she shouted in excitement.

  "As you wish."

  She spurred her mount forward and was off. Clint was hard pressed to catch up to the racing steed. He was gaining on her but had no chance against the fast horse with the lighter rider. Janie skidded to a stop in front of the main house. Clint pulled up two seconds later. They dismounted and tied the winded horses to the rail. Someone had latched the gate of the white picket fence, and Clint unhooked it for Janie. He took her hand as they approached the steps to the porch.

  They ascended the stairs together. Janie couldn't wait and reached for the knob. The person or persons unknown, who had been there before them had locked the door. She turned toward Clint with a questioning look and saw that he already had the key held up in his right hand.

  "Allow me, Madame," he said with a fake French accent.

  He inserted the key, and they both heard an audible click as the lock's tumblers snapped into position. She made for the door again, but Clint stopped her.

  He swept her off her feet. She couldn't restrain her giggle.

  Everything seemed perfect.

  "Not yet," he told her. He encircled her in his arms, lifting her up off her feet with ease. Clint opened the door and stepped over the threshold. He caught her up in a kiss as her face turned towards him. Janie’s heart was racing again, for a different reason this time. A tingle raced through her as the butterflies returned.

  "Welcome home, my love" he told her as he deposited her on the floor once more. There was a thick covering of dust all over the place, and to her surprise, someone had already furnished the place.

  “What about this furniture?” Janie asked. “Why is it here?”

  “I was told the contents of the house were also forfeited for taxes. I bought our homestead complete with furnishings and even livestock. The cattle that we can round up out on the range belong to us. There has been plenty of rain these two years since Wilson defaulted and the pastures and tanks are in excellent shape as far as I looked.”

  The selling of ranches that had be forfeited for taxes came as is. Usually the owner sold everything they could before they turned the property over. In Wilson’s case, he died before he could do that. He didn’t even have time to sell what little cattle he had left.

  “I wonder how our cattle have done without the usual disturbances you find on a working ranch. I wonder how many little ones we’ve gained.”

  “I plan on sending Bruce and Timmy out to do a count once we get settled in. I would imagine we’ve gotten a great increase in stock in the years they’ve been left to their own devices.”

  Janie pulled Clint close and kissed him again.

  "I'm in love," she said.

  "I know," he replied.

  "Not you, Silly. That's a given. I’m talking about the property, I meant with the homestead. I love it."

  "Yes, I know," he replied.

  She slapped his arm, and he grinned. "Let's look."

  They spent the next few hours looking over the property. True to the agent's word, they set the place up to operate as a horse ranch. Three of the barns were full of hay. They fortunately covered it well, and the roof of each looked well made. Another barn looked like a maternity facility and the other contained haying machinery. Some rust had started due to the equipment disuse.

  “We should be able to get that machinery up and going again. I think we might need to get us a couple of Missouri mules to pull the cutter and the hay rake. I saw something that looked like a bailer, but it sat on the floor, no wheels or the usual hay scoop. I never heard of a stationary hay bailer before, have you?”

  “No dear, I haven’t,” she replied.

  The nearby bunkhouses would hold a crew of fifty total, and each had its own cooking facilities. They found two fully outfitted chuck wagons in excellent shape behind one barn. Someone parked them under an overhang attached to the side of the barn. The canvas covers would need replacing, however. The dry rot had taken its toll on the material.

  “Wow, this place was set up with every ‘modern’ piece of equipment available.” Janie exclaimed. “You sure made a killing on this deal.”

  “Well, on the equipment at any rate,” Clint agreed.

  The house itself was almost palatial even though it was in disrepair. A house standing vacant deteriorates almost right after the occupants leave. Three floors had plenty of rooms for growth and there were two kitchens. OK, one kitchen and one 'cooking porch’, anyway. It had a huge pantry and there was even food left. The bagged stuff was rancid or weevil infested, but there was some canned stuff that looked all right. Outside the back-kitchen door about ten yards was a root cellar that needed exploring and beyond that, was a well house of some sort near the stream.

  "Oh, look here, Clint," Janie exclaimed. "Here's a large milk pail sitting in the water, and this water is COLD!"

  Clint pointed to the water. "Someone has built this spring house over a cold spring. The water flows slow and steady out of the building and down a channel to the stream."

  On impulse, Clint picked up a bucket from the floor of the well house and filled it. They walked the short distance to the windmill, still spinning in the breeze. He poured a little water down the pipe and waited. Nothing happened, and he poured the rest in. It took hold this time, and water came spewing from the well.

  "The well just lost its prime, is all. Everything still works. But I best fix that flume, or the water will go to waste."

  He pulled the flume back together with a quick jerk and wrapped the loose wire around the wood, effecting the repair of the break. The newlyweds watched as the windmill pumped water. It delivered the water via the wooden ductwork to a large depression dug into the pasture area. They should have an adequate water hole filled to service any amount of horses if they let this mill run for a few days.

  "This place is perfect," Janie complimented Clint on his purchase. Taking the initiative next as she took Clint's hand, she pulled him back towards the house with a glint in her eye. She was laughing and smiling as they entered. She pulled him to the stairs again once inside. They reached the second floor, and she urged him down the hall and into a room. It looked like the master bedroom. He was getting the idea.

  It was late in the day when they remounted their horses and headed back to town.

  "I have one question, Darling," Janie started. "You paid for the ranch, but what do we do for money? I mean, you spent most of what we got from the bank and the reward for the bandits. How are we going to survive?"

  "You know that I had to pick up the loot from the McCluskey brothers, right?"

  "Yes, but you didn't tell me about that yet. We haven't had time."

  "Well, I stopped by the mortician's place and got all of that
stuff. Mr. Shriver doesn't go through any of it, ever. His standards are too high. I searched through the stuff he had collected. I didn't find much. A key was included in what was there. I checked around and they assigned the key to something new in these parts, a bank lockbox. I would guess that it's the forerunner of what we know as safety deposit boxes. Banker Barnes has a fortified room in his bank and rents out lockboxes."

  "I went to the bank. I showed Barnes the chit for the McCluskey brothers first off. I demanded gold and he paid in gold although he pitched a fit again. Banker Barnes tried to give me some grief about the key and the lockbox. I'd expected as much."

  "He knew that the McCluskey brothers died and he thought that he would cash in on the contents. He surprised me as he hadn't already looted the box. I guess that he didn't have the time. Or moreover he didn’t have the tools to force it open. So, I told him that the contents were mine since I killed the men, and I will get the Sheriff if I need to. He gave in at that and gave me access to the room. The bank box held a large strongbox."

  Clint showed something between twenty-four to thirty-six inches square with his hands. "I didn't count all the loot, but I made it to a thousand dollars in gold and didn’t even scrape the surface. I would imagine these spoils are the crooks’ ill-gotten gains. At any rate, I don't imagine we will need to worry about being successful, but we should be able to make the project go with the setup that we found. I gather that Bruce has experience in talking to him, but the money wasn't there. We have it and he will be invaluable as our foreman. What do you think?"

  Janie and Clint talked the rest of the ride back. She agreed with him on his assessment of the situation and they accepted and committed to working the ranch. Janie waved to Mrs. Madison as they rode back.

  "Y'all all right?" Dolly asked. "I thought I had heard there were a bunch of shootin' jest after you passed by."

  "We killed a bear," Janie replied, "A very LARGE bear. I don't think that we'll have any more problems in those woods. He was huge, and it took the two of us, but we got him. We don't want him, so you might get the bear meat if you send your man. The pelt has a LOT of holes in it and might not be worth trying to save."

  "It's good to find that you're all right, but it's a gosh darn shame about the pelt," Dolly commented as the pair continued on. She put her work down and moved inside to cook the evening meal. Her husband, Jim, would close the store at sundown and would look for dinner when he got home. Dolly was a good cook and her pastries were a hit at the store amongst the townspeople.

  Timmy was pitching hay into the corrals when they rode up to the stables. Clint hired Timmy to brush their horses out. He was happy to accept the two bits paid. Clint was sure that they treated their horses well. He escorted Janie back along the boardwalk to the hotel. He convinced her to change back into her dress so that they could go out. There was only one restaurant in town and someone attached it to the hotel. She changed as quickly as she could, and they made their way back down to the eatery.

  Dinner was enchanting. The maître d' also was an accomplished classical violinist. He hid that talent until this day. He had played 'fiddle' for the town dances. The restaurant owner placed two candles on their table, and then turned the wall lanterns down. The man rosined up the bow and played after they were served their food. The strains of Beethoven, Mozart, and the other classical composers enchanted the couple. The other diners quieted down, amazed at the skill of their fellow townsman. They, too, had been ignorant of his prowess.

  Clint and Janie finished eating and then sat holding hands while the violinist played for the lovers. Janie was tiring from the exciting day. Clint tried to tip the man, but he refused. He said that it was his wedding gift to the pair. They both thanked him as they returned to their room. They retired to the bedroom once inside, and they made no sound the rest of the evening.

  "Good morning, Beautiful," Clint said as Jane opened her eyes. "I love watching you sleep. Your nose twitches just like Samantha on the TV program. It's so cute."

  "I do not" she retorted, "Do I?"

  Clint nodded as he moved in to kiss her on the nose. She blushed a little at that gesture. Then he asked, "Is there any reason that you can think of not to move into our new home today?"

  Janie squealed with excitement. "No! I mean yes, let's do it!"

  Janie sprung from the bed before Clint could get anything else started and was half-dressed in her buckskins before Clint freed himself from the covers.

  "We'll eat first and then see about checking out. You might reconsider your wardrobe for today." Clint advised. Then he noticed what she was planning on wearing. "Oh, yes. OK, We will need more help though. I must round up someone to help us. Take your time and look nice for me?"

  She pounced on him, capturing his lips with hers in a sizzling kiss that got his attention. "You need to get out of here if I'm to be beautiful for you. I'll meet you."

  Clint left the room and knocked on Bruce's hotel room door. He repeated his knock when there was no answer. He heard movement and whispering in the room as he waited. The door opened a crack and Bruce stuck his head out.

  "Yeah, Boss. What's up?" he asked.

  "We're moving. Get dressed and tell whoever you have in there with you that you're busy for the rest of the day. You've got a permanent position on the ranch I bought if you're interested. It's the Wilson place west of town. It's a big spread and we'll need good men to run the place." He raised his voice as he added, "There's a full-size house there for the ranch foreman and his wife, too."

  He gave Bruce the short version of the purchase when he stepped out of his room for a moment, and Clint confirmed Van Horn's interest in working the ranch. Van Horn jumped on the chance. He said that he'd be ready in fifteen minutes. Clint laughed and told him there was plenty of time. They'd have to wait for Janie.

  "Oh, yeah. I understand. I have to wait, too." Bruce added.

  'Humm, I wonder if Bruce and Aggie hooked up. Well, it's none of my concern. That would be a good match to be frank. I'll have a little talk with Janie and play a little cupid while we're at it.'

  Clint trotted down to the stable once he finished with the necessary. Mr. Akin was just opening for business. He told Smitty that he was pulling out his animals today and asked if he knew of a buckboard and mule for sale. Smitty grinned.

  "I've got just the thing," he declared, as he beckoned for Clint to follow him. Entering a different barn, Smitty showed Clint a large farm wagon. "This comes with a young, stout Missouri mule. He's good, strong, and well-trained."

  "What would be the damages on that," Clint asked?

  "I have a hero's discount for you," Smitty smiled. "May you have many years together, you and the missus and lots of children!"

  "What???" Clint responded in confusion.

  "This is for your wife, but you may use it. She is much easier to look at than you. Just promise that you'll bring her to town often to make an old man happy."

  "I don't know what to say," he stammered.

  "Oh, come now, it's not that hard. Your answer is yes and thank you!"

  Clint agreed after a short argument, which he lost. He then went into a long series of thanking the man. Smitty helped load up the wagon with the tack and led the horses to the wagon. He hitched the mule up and then showed Clint the tricks of ‘Gee’ and ‘Haw’. The wagon pulled out of the end of the barn and into the street. Akin tied the Robertson horses up on rings attached to the rear of the box, except for Misty, the foal. She was nursing on her mother.

  Clint parked the wagon on the street outside the mercantile. He knew that there would need to be a shopping trip before they left. Walking across the street to the hotel, Clint found that the clerk and his boy had brought all their stuff down to the lobby. Clint seated the love of his life in a side chair, dressed in her wedding dress instead of the buckskins he thought she was going to wear.

  He hugged her as she rose and whispered in her ear "That dress is hot. You look gorgeous and you need to pay another vi
sit to Janet. I want you to get six more dresses. All you need to do is select the cloth since Janet has your measurements, and now let's do a little more shopping."

  Bruce came up at that point and Clint filled him in on what they were doing.

  "Hey, Buddy. We're getting a little shopping done at Jorgenson's store, just going to pick up stuff for the house. Why don't you go over to Madison's hardware and check out his prices? Tell him that it's for me and that we'll be in later with a complete list of what we'll need to fix the place up."

  Clint agreed with Bruce when he said that they should only buy for the house today, and they would come back for ranch supplies after surveying what they had on the ranch. The only exception was they would get a bag of fresh grain for the horses and mule today. Bruce said that he'd get that from Madison and deliver it to the wagon.

  It took Janie about two hours to select everything that she wanted for the house. Aggie came in while she was shopping. The women had a confab and didn't invite the men. They decided about what they would do, and Aggie left the store. She would soon return.