North to the Salt Fork (12 page)

“I know you aren't real keen on it, but why don't you take on the cattle drive? They can pay you a small subscription fee to help cover your expenses until the drive.”

Jack scratched at his beard in contemplation. “You want me to do that? Why, I'd be gone six months.” He wasn't prepared to tell her his real reasons for not wanting the job.

“I understand that, but there really isn't much ditch digging needed around here.” She rose to fetch her coffee grinder out of the pannier. “I better get some coffee ready.”

“I bet there's lots of mustangs around here that I could gather,” he said. “They're bringing good prices in Fort Worth even when they're half broke.”

“There's some bands back west. You thinking of doing that?”

“Ain't no one knocking down the door to hire me, is there?”

She shook her head. “We'll make it somehow.”

He liked the idea of the mustang business. They'd swing through the country and look for some bands. It would keep him occupied and provide some excitement besides the damn hard work of building traps, which he'd been doing ever since he came to town.

On his feet, he stretched his arms over his head. She glanced up. “I'm glad we're camping by ourselves for a few days.”

“You don't know how glad I am to be out of that stinking jailhouse. Whew. They've got crazy people in there that wail all night or beat their tin cups on the bars. I've heard ‘Shut up back there' a thousand times. That meadowlark sounds like fiddle music to me after those five days in hell.”

She hugged him from behind, wrapping her slim arms around his waist. “I'll make us some pancakes if you have the time.”

“Lucy, I have all day for you, and tomorrow and the next day.” He turned around and pecked her on the forehead.

“Heavens to Betsy, I won't be that slow,” she joked.

 

In midafternoon he used his field glasses to scope the open country they were fixing to cross. So far that day he'd counted four bands led by stallions. But he was more interested in the cull males. You could sell a farmer a mare, but a cattleman wanted a horse to ride. At the perimeter of the herds were bands of outcast males and yearlings, which were kept away from the mares by the lead stallion. Those were the prizes he needed.

As they wandered around the open country they discovered some older, abandoned horse traps that looked almost functional.

“I'll drop back here in a few days and leave some salt in these traps,” Jack announced.

“That's a smart idea,” Lucy said encouragingly.

“I bet I could ride down toward Mexico and find me some hands that need work.”

“What about your rangers?” she asked.

“Hadn't thought of them. They might even do it on shares.”

“I bet they would. They've got the time on their hands too. I'd bet it'd beat hoeing corn any day.”

Jack chuckled at her words. “You bet it would.”

 

After three days of camping they headed back to her place in the late afternoon.

“Well, it's settled, then.” He reached over and clasped her hand on top of the saddle horn.

“If you're sure, then I sure am.”

“Next Saturday night we'll get married at the schoolhouse.”

“Yes and you be sure to invite your ranger pals.”

“Oh, I will. I'm certain there'll be a crowd show up. I don't think we can get away with that small wedding you wanted.”

She laughed. “Yes, no doubt. I better talk to Sister about making more accommodations.”

They descended the hill toward the house. The dogs started barking in anticipation as Tally stood out front with her hands on her hips and an about-time-you-two-got-back look on her face. Luke joined her on his crutches.

“They look glad to see us.” She laughed.

Jack smiled at the kids, who would soon be part of his family. “Looks that way to me.”

 

Gathering his rangers wasn't hard. He happened upon Jangles in the road the next day and told him about the wedding.

“Cap'n, we'll be there with our bib and tucker on.”

Jack chuckled appreciatively. “So I was thinking I'd do some mustanging after the wedding. Horses are bringing a good price in Fort Worth.”

“Hell, count me, Cotton and Arnold in on the deal if you need help. There's more boys that'd like to come along too, I'm sure.”

Jack was relieved to hear the news. “It'd be a partnership. We'd share the profits after expenses. I can't afford any wages. But I think if we start out just the four of us, we'll make out okay.”

Jangles nodded. “We trust you, Cap'n. By the way, Captain McIntyre has forty dollars for you from them Mexican horses and saddles he sold.”

Jack frowned at him. “You boys all get your split?”

“Sure did.”

He scowled at him. “You're lying to me.”

“Damn it, we want it that way.”

Jack gave him a hard stare, but could see the boy was set in his ways. “Alright. Wedding's at seven at Lost Creek on Saturday night. Supper follows.”

“We'll have bells on our toes and ribbons in our noses.” Jangles laughed aloud.

 

They parted with Jangles singing “Olde Dan Tucker.” Jack rode on to Shedville to talk to Mr. Volkner, who owned the general store. Lucy said the man would extend him credit for the supplies he'd need to go mustanging.

At the store he hitched his new horse, Gray, at the rack and started to go inside. Business looked slow in the small village. He stopped on the porch and listened to the sound of the blacksmith pounding on an anvil. Besides the store and smithy, there was a rusty tin-roofed saloon across the street—he'd have to go over and have a glass of beer when his deal was over with Volkner. He went inside and was immediately surrounded by the smell of garlic and new leather. At the sound of the bell over the door, a tall, thin man in a white apron came from the back of the store.

“Good day, sir,” the man said.

“Good day, my name is—”

“You must be Captain Starr. I've heard all about you.” They shook hands and the man, who had a distinctive German accent, invited him to come and sit on some ladder-back chairs.

After Jack explained his business and mustanging needs, Volkner told him he would set him up in style. “It is the least I can do for you.”

Jack beamed. “Business aside, I'd be pleased if you came to the wedding.”

“I
vill
be there,” the man promised.

Jack left the store, ready for a beer as soon as he stepped in the midday shade of the store's porch and spotted the rusty-looking saloon. It seemed pretty shabby to him, but he was building up a mighty thirst so he crossed the street and stepped through the open doorway.

A bushy-faced man looked up at him with a mean glint in his eye from behind the bar. “What'cha need?”

“One draft beer,” he motioned with a raised finger. He settled down at the bar, but noticed two hombres stand up at a side table, casting mean stares in his direction. Jack felt cold chills run up his spine. It was dark in the saloon and looked like it was stacked two deep in badgers.

As the men approached Jack started to shift in his seat. He had a bad feeling about them, but wanted to wait to see what they would do.

The shorter of the two, with a slick, black mustache, walked right up to him, his face even with Jack's. “You're the no-good cuss who wouldn't leave when he was told.” The second man rolled up his sleeves as if he were readying to throw a punch.

“Hold on, now,” Jack said, trying to make the men see reason. But before he knew it he heard a crash and felt a blow to his head. The lights went out and the last thing he remembered was an oily black mustache above a nasty smile.

 

As he came to his senses the first thing he heard was the sound of dragging poles. He could feel the bumps in the road as he went over them, jarring him in his seat. Jangles was singing “Sweet Betsy from Pike” and riding in front of him. He discovered, with a pounding headache, that he was riding in a crude travois with Jangles pulling the makeshift contraption.

“Oh, Cap'n, I was afraid ole Gray might not like them poles so I'm pulling you with my horse, Sam Brown. I left Gray in town, but we can fetch him tomorrow. We'll be at Mrs. Thornton's in an hour.”

“What—what happened?”

“You went in that wildcat saloon without backup,” Jangles said, letting out a low whistle. “Don't know as I'd do the same.”

“How did you find me?”

“Mr. Volkner sent word when he heard from some kids that you were unconscious and lying on the ground out back.”

“Who were those men that attacked me?”

“They collect for Hiram and I suppose they were mad at you for telling him to go to hell.”

“No, I want their names,” Jack said, sitting up with some difficulty and feeling a surge of anger course through him.

“Yes, sir, they're Dyke and Freeman, and the bartender is Gurley. None of us rangers ever go in there alone.”

“When I go in there again I'll damn sure be ready for them.”

“And we'll be there to back you.”

His head hurt and the back of his hair was matted with dried blood. He felt lucky to be alive. If he made any more dumb moves like that one he'd not be around to enjoy his new bride.

He was grateful, but his temples sure pounded.

“They tried to kill you,” Lucy said bitterly, using rubbing alcohol to clean the cut on the back of his head. The cure felt worse than the injury as the alcohol burned the raw flesh.

He winked and made faces at Tally, Luke and Jangles, who watched him anxiously as Lucy doctored him.

“Who did this to you anyway?” Lucy asked.

“Jangles named a Dyke and a Freeman as the most likely to have been my attackers.”

“Hiram Sawyer's men must frequent that tin can.”

“All I wanted was a draft beer,” Jack grumbled. “I wasn't lookin' for trouble.”

She leaned over and looked him in the eye. “Next time you'll know better.”

“Next time,” Jangles said, “his ranger company is coming along.”

“That old claptrap building might fall in on all of you,” Lucy said. “It's not sound and neither are the people in it.”

“I won't forget the warning,” Jack said with a quick kiss on her cheek. “But there's good news too. I got a line of credit established for the wild-horse business, so that's settled.”

“Well,” Lucy said, “we have a large canvas tarp and posts you can use to protect yourselves from the rain. Where will you set up camp?”

“I think Double Springs is the best place,” Jack answered. They'd seen it on their grand tour. Sweet flowing water near the horse traps they'd found, with lots of graze for their ponies at night.

“When does it start?” Lucy asked.

“Soon as Jangles gets me a crew.”

“I'll have them here tomorrow night. We can leave the next day.”

Jack winked at Lucy. “I think I have a wedding in there somewhere I better attend.”

“By gum, I forgot that too.” Jangles took off his floppy-brimmed hat and scratched the top of his head. “Can we go next week?”

“Sure. I'm thinking she'll let me go by then.”

“My, my, Jack Starr,” Lucy said. “You can go when you get ready.”

They all laughed.

 

What started out as a small wedding grew as fast as wildfire. Seven neighbor women came over early that Tuesday morning and ran off every male in the place. Led by Sister, they brought white lace material and silk to make a wedding dress for Lucy; they wanted nothing simple for the occasion. Wanting nothing more than to stay out of the way, Jack loaded Luke in the wagon and they went to find Captain McIntyre.

When they arrived at his place they found him busy shoeing horses under a great, wide, live oak. Swiping sweat off his forehead with the side of his finger, he gave them a grin. “You two got here just in time.”

In the air was the smell of coal burning in the forge for the horseshoes. He dug out the horse money and paid Jack. “Them boys told me you didn't owe them a thing.”

“I wanted them to have something. Texas won't ever pay them for their work.”

“Look at it like this, Jack. We've all got to pull our share and rangering's our part. We accept it as part of our lives.”

Jack nodded, and McIntyre changed the subject. “So, I hear there's going to be a wedding.”

“A wedding is in the works, alright. Saturday night. The whole town's invited.”

“Wouldn't miss it,” McIntyre said with another broad smile.

“By the by, Luke wants some pointers on shoeing. What horses are left?” Jack looked over the line of ponies tied on a lariat hitching rope.

“The sorrel, but watch him: he's snippy.”

“Luke, let's find something for you to sit on and we'll help Captain McIntyre out.”

“A nail keg inside that shed door should do the part.” McIntyre pointed out its whereabouts. “Your leg healing, Luke?”

“I think so, Captain, but not as fast as I'd like.”

“Well, now you'll have yourself some real help with the men's work.” He motioned toward Jack with a tip of his head.

“Yeah, sis and I sure like the idea of having him in the family.”

“He won't get much help out of me for a while,” Jack said. “I'm going to the west country to round up some horses. There's good cash up at Fort Worth for the usable ones.”