Gunslinger's Moon (18 page)

Grady asked, “What’s the plan, boss?”

Instigating a fight with one side led the chance for the other. Letting the two sides fight could easily turn into a massacre of the surrounding innocents. Priority did lie with eliminating the werewolves first, whom seem ready to begin a bloodbath. Despite advocating for peace, Jed did not trust the vampires.

“We wait.” Eventually, Jed decided nothing could be done without the confiscated shotguns. Revolvers were his weapon of preference, because he had trained them to be an extension of his arm. The one wonderful thing about shotguns was the lack of need to aim. Pointing ahead at the right distance would hit the target.

Ben when asked if he had made any progress on reacquiring the guns, said “No luck yet.”

“Pressure the sheriff,” Jed responded. “He is more likely to persuade Douglas.”

Then it came to the issue of money. Four of the men were here on the promise of a paycheck. In the aftermath of the war, especially in the war torn south, monsters roamed the land. Gunslingers had an abundant number of bounties. Those that lived received good wages. Jed had been one of the best and he had survived to boot. So unfolding the wands of cash he held was the work of years and the product of painful experiences. Not the least of one was saving a Senator’s family from black mailing vampires.

Each man was given fifty dollars, an outrageous sum considering none had done anything yet. “You’ll get twenty-five a week, starting Sunday,” Jed disclosed. “Surviving members, after this is all said and done, will receive a hundred dollars. Shares of any who died will split amongst the others.”

There was a couple of whistles and raised eyebrows as they collected the money. Unlike many of the miners, they had struck gold. They adjoined the meeting, holding the next in a couple of nights.

Obadiah was out getting supplies when he saw the wagon moving down the street. In the back were coffins stacked on each other. A quick count brought the number to five. Driving the wagon was Grigor, the hunchback assistant of Dr. Heinrich.

Angling Indomitable, he intercepted the wagon. “Something happen?”

Grigor grunted, “Mine collapse.”

“Another one!” Obadiah shook his head.

That mine seemed to be more dangerous than being a gunslinger. He let Grigor pass, continuing on his errands. Jed had told Obadiah to purchase bottles of whiskey. The only man selling liquor in the town was Bjorn and Obadiah was nervous when he walked inside alone. Resisting the urge to touch the handles of his revolvers, he placed his order. Bjorn gave him a strange look, but did not say anything. Not hurrying he left, holding a half dozen bottles between his arms until he placed them in his saddlebags.

At the general store he bought almost as many gardening tools. Almost no one in town needed the tools and they just sat there. Carrying the tools, he made a strange sight riding back to the house. People who saw him, shook their heads and carried on with their business.

Getting past the door was a difficult task. Shifting all the tools under one shoulder, Obadiah used his free hand to grab the doorknob. As he twisted, several tools slipped out, crashing on the ground. Suddenly the door opened, Jed stuck his head out. He was looking pale and miserable. He helped Obadiah gather all the materials inside.

Lying on the living room floor was the rest of the iron bars. Earlier the blacksmith had stopped by, dropping off his finished order. Jed grabbed one of the gardening tools, a hoe, slanting the long wooden handle up with the iron head on the ground. Using his boot he broke the iron head off. Then he broke the wooden part in half, leaving him two functioning stakes. Tossing one of the pieces to Obadiah, Jed drew a large sharp knife to the jagged wooden end.

As he scraped out a spear point for the stake, Jed taught, “Werewolves have tougher skin. It is harder for the bullet to enter and make them hurt. Their ability to heal though, is weaker once a bullet gets in deep. Vampires have skin about as tough as ours. However, they can heal from just about anything. Place a dozen bullets in their chest and you can watch all twelve pop out. Stabbing them with a stake in the heart prevents that. They won’t be able to push it out.”

“A silver bullet to the heart can do the same thing, right?” Obadiah inquired.

“Not quite. Doing that to a werewolf kills them. I’ve seen a vampire get popped in the heart and push it out. Mind you it was a powerful vampire and it was still severely weakened. Remember you cannot shoot these things to many times.”

Finished with the first stake, Jed broke the next gardening tool. The handles were long enough to create at least two stakes about two feet long each. Upon completing that task, Jed showed Obadiah how to create firebombs. A Russian immigrant had shown the process. On occasion it had been extraordinarily handy. Using the whiskey bottles, he drained some of the whiskey. Then he poured in tar, the thick sludge slowly entering the small top. The last ingredient was a rag stuffed in the hole.

Jed said, “When you want to use it, give it a quick shake, light the rag on fire, and then toss it.”  He stored all of the bottles in a cupboard that way. 

Working on barricading the windows, and the door by using iron bars to slide in a hole created on the floor, Obadiah mentioned the mine collapse. That afternoon saw the final completion of their job. The house was protected as well as they could make it. Outside it appeared to be the same pleasant house with white walls and a shaded porch. It was now akin to a fortress, the first indication was the dying garden out front. Whatever Nadi had done to make it grow was now failing. Harsh heat dried the now withered flowers and herbs.

Chapter 12

Trouble was abound the next day. Heavy knocking pounded on the front door. Obadiah beat Jed to the door, hands brushing against his guns. Swinging the door open they saw one of Bjorn’s werewolves. Holstered at his belt was a gun.

“He wants to see you,” ordered the man.

Bjorn wanting to see them did not seem like a friendly request. The gunslingers followed him. Down the street a crowd was forming around the space between two buildings. Sheriff Carter and his deputy were trying to push people back. Gasps and mutterings came from the crowd, though what they were looking at could not be identified.

Their guide pushed through the onlookers, daring any of them to say a word. Following in his wake, they arrived at the scene of the crime. Dried blood covered the sand all over the body. A body whose head was mostly unattached to the rest of him. The murder weapon was a shovel, blood stained the edge.

Bjorn was standing over it, furious anger in his eyes, hands tightly bound in a fist. He was not the only werewolf there. Several others stood inside the ground by the body. Jed noticed the body was one of the werewolves Bjorn came with.

Bjorn gazed up, meeting Jed’s eyes. It was not cold fury displayed in his brown eyes, but a raging torrent. “It appears you are right about Douglas,” he rumbled.

It was not the right time for the sides to fight each other. Jed needed more time. “Wait,” he presented an idea. “I don’t think.” He paused lowering his voice so no one else could hear “A vampire did this.”

“It is obvious they did,” asserted Bjorn. “Will you ride with me to destroy the vile bloodsuckers? We shall hunt them tonight.”

Jed looked around, taking in all the bystanders. The lawmen were pushing them back, telling them to go home. “Hold on Bjorn. Take a look at the wound.”

Bjorn’s face almost erupted in anger. “I have seen it,” he hissed.

Jed had to throw his cards in now. Stepping in close Jed avowed, “You looked but did not see. Even the weakest vampires are stronger than a man. Would a vampire sneak up on a werewolf? Do you think your man allowed a vampire to catch him off guard? The head is not decapitated. Had a vampire done that, he would be completely decapitated. Look at all that blood, Bjorn, could a vampire let that go to waste?”

The mighty German paused, absently stroking his mustache. The points were well made. In a much softer voice he said, “Then we are dealing with a man.”

Jed advised, “Allow Carter to investigate. Give him a couple of days. I will talk to Douglas. The worst thing to happen is get hot blooded and start a war unprepared. Right now see to your friend.”

Bjorn nodded. Calling for two of his men, he commanded them to collect their fallen comrade. Placing him on a blanket, they carried him away. The victim departing, the townsfolk started dispersing.

Jed quickly found and spoke to Carter. “Do you have any idea who did this? Was this Douglas?”

The sheriff looked aghast. “Of course not. Why would he? Everything is peaceful.”

Ross probed, “Why do you think the mayor had anything to do with this?”

The gunslinger sighed. The deputy was still uniformed about the vampires. Ignoring Ross, Jed said, “See what you can find. I’m going to speak with Douglas.”

He started walking away. Ross demanded, “Answer me.” Placing a rough hand on Jed he tried slowing him down. Obadiah pushed the deputy away. This only enraged Ross. His features darkened, “Watch it boy,” he warned.

Obadiah scoffed, “Do your job and find out who is responsible.”

A dark chuckle came from Ross. “You think you’re something. Wear two guns at your belt and suddenly you think you’re the most dangerous gun in the west. Don’t go telling me what to do or I will prove you wrong.”

Crossing his lanky arms Obadiah defied him. “Try it and you’ll end up in a shallow grave.”

Jumping in before one of them challenged the other Jed said, “Cut it out. Obadiah we got somewhere to be.”

“What do you want me to do?” Obadiah asked eagerly as they left.

“Stay at the house. I will send the others to meet with you. Once I’m back we will decide what happens next.”

Going the other way, Jed went to the bank. Grady and Samuel were playing cards again when he entered. Without greeting he said, “Get to the house when you can, be wary. Let your friends know.”

Just as fast as he entered he wheeled around and left, leaving them to bewilderment. In short time, Jed was on the trail to Douglas. Arriving at the dark house he swung off his horse without tying it to a post. Swinging open the door he strode inside. Behind him a guard muttered surprise. Ignoring him he found Douglas and Beth reading over some papers on a desk.

“Tell me you didn’t,” Jed declared.

Glancing up Douglas raised his eyebrows, the lines in his face set in a frown. “Excuse me?”

Placing his hands on the oak desk Jed said, “Did you send men to kill one of the werewolves?”

Douglas met his eyes, staring at them without blinking. Moments passed as they glared at each other. Beth was the one to speak. “Of course we did not,” she refuted.

“We are not ready for a fight,” Jed stated. “Right now Bjorn believes it was one of your men. I tried to persuade him otherwise, but I don’t know if it worked.” Then he coughed, mercifully it was short and he subdued it.

Folding his hands, the mayor responded, “I did no such thing. Now if you are done wasting our time, I have work to do. I assure you Jed, that when I strike the werewolves you will have ample time to prepare.”

Rapping the desk, Jed walked away. The shadowed rooms created a malevolent atmosphere, and the guard he had walked past had gleaming eyes. Parting his mouth slightly, Jed saw the two elongated teeth. It disappeared and the guard extended his hands to the door.

Opening the door he left, back into the sun and the heat. Following him, Beth called out, “Wait, Jed.” He paused and turned. She stepped out and froze in the sun. Holding a hand to shade her eyes from the sun, she said, “She found a cure, Jed! Nadi found a cure!”

“Then why aren’t you human,” he asked dispassionately.

“We will,” Beth said eagerly. “As soon as we destroy the werewolves.”

Jed thought about the guard, a second ago, and Douglas. He thought about all the vampires he had seen and slain. “Beth,” he said squarely, “Some people don’t want a cure.” Tipping the front of his hat, he mounted Boy and rode away.

Beth watched him leave, confused and upset. It was only a matter of time until she was cured. She was not sure why he did not recognize that. The light was tingling her skin, a feature that always did in the sun. Her skin should be aflame, not this simple feeling of intense heat. The sensation was akin to holding a hand over a candle, an inch away from the fire. Yearning for the day when she could embrace the sun and humanity, Beth turned and went inside. Cool and dark.

Douglas had not resumed working yet. “Did you tell him?” he entreated.

“Yes, though his reaction was unusual,” she replied biting her lip. “I’m not sure if he trusts us. But then he does not know what it is to live as we do.”

He tried to reassure her. “I doubt he trusts anyone. We only need a few more days.”

Sitting down she said, “You have still not told me what you are planning.”

“Jonathon and I are working on the details. Don’t worry it will all be over soon.”

Beth nodded and began looking over the reports. “None of the miners who died had family. Just like the other ones.” Douglas murmured absently. She tsked, “Jonathon must be told to be more careful. We have lost over a dozen from mining collapses. With all the recent trouble, spirits are low among the men.”

“I will handle it.”

Not far along on the ride before someone called Jed’s name again. The irritable gunslinger pulled the reins. It was Davey, the one who informed him about the dug up bodies. “Mr. Jed, can I have a word?” he beseeched.

“What is it Davey?” Tired and hungry the gunslinger wanted to collapse on a bed.

“Yesterday a service was held and they buried the bodies of the poor fellows killed in the mine. Last night I got to thinking if anyone was going to dig them back up, I should be on the lookout. Well last night I did see people digging up them bodies. I was too scared to follow them, but I did see them.”

“Don’t worry Davey, I will get right on it,” Jed dismissed him.

Clicking his heels to Boy, Jed rode on before Davey could respond. Was there anything normal about the town, he wondered bitterly. It would take an entire regiment to clean it and lots of time. Neither of which he had.

Once he entered the house, Jed saw Dane and Ben. The three bank guards were not there. Obadiah asked, “What did Douglas say?”

“Says he did not do anything.” Jed did not mention the apparent cure Beth said Nadi found. He was not sure he believed it. In any case that was not the pressing concern. “Have you seen any of the werewolves out?”

“Everything has been quiet. Oh, Samuel stopped by said he needed to speak with you privately. I’m not sure about what.”

“Where?”

“Behind the bank I think. They said whenever you had the time. It sounded important.”

Contemplating not going, Jed decided he should. Samuel and the others should have been here already. While he was out, he would drag them over here. The chances someone would rob the bank was abysmal, not that Jed cared if someone did. He was soon back in the heat, rubbing his chest to relieve the pain emanating there. It did not work.

He saw the bank and walked to the back. Since most of the town was built so the buildings were clustered, the back of the bank gave view to the empty land surrounding the town. Both Samuel and Grady were back there.

“Good you’re both here,” Jed began. “I want to thank you for the help last night. It could’ve gotten quite ugly without you all. What did you want say?”

“We’ve been thinking,” Grady said. “Fighting monsters is dangerous work.”

Samuel spat a stream of tobacco on the ground. “We’d not rather get ourselves kill’d.”

There was the sound of crunching dirt. Jed half turned to see Tobias, the third bank guard, Colt in hand. Grady said, “We’ve decided it would be best to relieve you of your money and bail town.”

Jed scratched his forehead. “Boys, this is liable to not turn out the way you reckon.” Relaxing his hands, the tips of his fingers brushed against the leather of his holsters.

“I think it will, provided you hand over your money peacefully.”

The gunslinger’s eyes narrowed. “Thinking can get one killed faster than anything else.”

A moment they stared. Jed moved fist, bringing the crook of his elbow to his mouth as he furiously coughed, unable to help the explosion of hacking. The sudden movement startled Samuel and Grady, they drew and fired wildly. Coughing, Jed rushed backwards, dodging their fire. The bank guard Tobias was to close and Jed punched him and grabbed him with his free hand. Shoving him toward the other gunmen, Jed ran to the corner, collapsing on his rear.

Colt in hand, he fired blindly from the cover of the wall. Suppressing him, the guards approached.

Somehow Tobias was hit dead in the chest, dropping to the ground. Jed was not sure if it was from him or friendly fire. Samuel and Grady sent several rounds blazing to Jed. Bits of dried clay shattered as they hit the adobe wall of the bank. Without looking, the gunslinger fired back. Grady cursed and fled to the front where his horse was parked.

Samuel was left alone, firing madly, determined to kill the gunslinger. Taking a deep breath, Jed finally subdued his coughing. A calm swept over him. Moving quick, Jed jumped from his cover rolling on the ground. He came up shooting. Two sprouts of blood erupted from Samuel’s chest. Running before the tobacco chewing guard fell, Jed sprinted to the front. Grady was riding like a bat out of hell.

Suddenly out from nowhere Bjorn leapt from the side, clutching Grady and pulling from the saddle. Pulling back a fist, Bjorn hurled a blow. There was an audible crack as Grady’s neck broke from the single punch, snapped like a dry twig. The neck limply rolled to the back. Satisfied Grady was dead, Jed went to make sure the others were as well.

Samuel was still breathing raggedly. Blood mixed with tobacco juice, and the combination drooled from his mouth. Kicking the gun from his reach, Jed checked Tobias. As he suspected the man was dead. It had been a lucky shot, the bullet striking barely below the heart. Whose lucky shot, Jed was not sure. Samuel was dead when Jed faced him again.

Bjorn stuck his head out from the corner, seeing the two dead he stepped from the side. “Here’s your murderers Bjorn.”

The German peered at the bodies. “You think it was them?”

“They tried to rob me. Most likely they tried the same with your man. Got more than they bargained for and killed him before he turned. Three of them could manage that.” That was a lie, but Jed needed even more time before the fighting began. His mood was only worse once his three men died. A bunch of cowards, came his angry thought.

Folk began arriving, hearing the gunfire end. Carter and Ross arrived. “Have you been shot?” the sheriff asked.

Splotches of blood stained Jed’s shirt. He was surprised the amount he had coughed up. “No,” he answered wearily. Just as Carter left to examine the bodies Obadiah arrived. Dane and Ben were slightly behind him, staying to the back of the crowd.